Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) in Different Hispanic Countries: An Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Approach.

Parental burnout is a unique and context-specific syndrome resulting from a chronic imbalance of risks over resources in the parenting domain. The current research aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA) across Spanish-speaking countries with two consecutive studies. In Study 1, we analyzed the data through a bifactor model within an Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) on the pooled sample of participants (N = 1,979) obtaining good fit indices. We then attained measurement invariance across both gender and countries in a set of nested models with gradually increasing parameter constraints. Latent means comparisons across countries showed that among the participants' countries, Chile had the highest parental burnout score, likewise, comparisons across gender evidenced that mothers displayed higher scores than fathers, as shown in previous studies. Reliability coefficients were high. In Study 2 (N = 1,171), we tested the relations between parental burnout and three specific consequences, i.e., escape and suicidal ideations, parental neglect, and parental violence toward one's children. The medium to large associations found provided support for the PBA's predictive validity. Overall, we concluded that the Spanish version of the PBA has good psychometric properties. The results support its relevance for the assessment of parental burnout among Spanish-speaking parents, offering new opportunities for cross-cultural research in the parenting domain.

Relationship between self-care activities, stress and well-being during COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-cultural mediation model.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the mediation role of self-care between stress and psychological well-being in the general population of four countries and to assess the impact of sociodemographic variables on this relationship. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, online survey. PARTICIPANTS: A stratified sample of confined general population (N=1082) from four Ibero-American countries-Chile (n=261), Colombia (n=268), Ecuador (n=282) and Spain (n=271)-balanced by age and gender. PRIMARY OUTCOMES MEASURES: Sociodemographic information (age, gender, country, education and income level), information related to COVID-19 lockdown (number of days in quarantine, number of people with whom the individuals live, absence/presence of adults and minors in charge and attitude towards the search of information related to COVID-19), Perceived Stress Scale-10, Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale-29 and Self-Care Activities Screening Scale-14. RESULTS: Self-care partially mediates the relationship between stress and well-being during COVID-19 confinement in the general population in the total sample (F (3,1078)=370.01, p<0.001, R2=0.507) and in each country. On the other hand, among the evaluated sociodemographic variables, only age affects this relationship. CONCLUSION: The results have broad implications for public health, highlighting the importance of promoting people's active role in their own care and health behaviour to improve psychological well-being if stress management and social determinants of health are jointly addressed first. The present study provides the first transnational evidence from the earlier stages of the COVID-19 lockdown, showing that the higher perception of stress, the less self-care activities are adopted, and in turn the lower the beneficial effects on well-being.

Different Responses to Stress, Health Practices, and Self-Care during COVID-19 Lockdown: A Stratified Analysis.

The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to analyze the differential impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown (3 April 2020) on stress, health practices, and self-care activities across different Hispanic countries, age range, and gender groups. One thousand and eighty-two participants from Spain, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador took part in this study. Irrespective of the country, and controlling for income level, young people, especially females, suffered a greater level of stress, perceived the situation as more severe, showed less adherence to health guidelines, and reported lower levels of health consciousness, in comparison to their male peers and older groups. However, in the case of self-care, it seems that older and female groups are generally more involved in self-care activities and adopt more healthy daily routines. These results are mostly similar between Colombia, Ecuador, and Spain. However, Chile showed some different tendencies, as males reported higher levels of healthy daily routines and better adherence to health guidelines compared to females and people over the age of 60. Differences between countries, genders, and age ranges should be considered in order to improve health recommendations and adherence to guidelines. Moreover, developing community action and intersectoral strategies with a gender-based approach could help to reduce health inequalities and increase the success of people's adherence to health guidelines and self-care-promoting interventions. Future studies should be addressed to explore the possible causations of such differences in more cultural-distant samples and at later stages of the current outbreak.

Initial validation of the Basque version of the Parental Burnout Assessment (B-PBA).

The aim of the present study was to validate the Parental Burnout Assessment in a Basque sample of parents. The Basque version of the PBA (B-PBA) was administered to 250 parents, with at least one child living at home. We investigated whether the four-dimensional structure of the PBA held in a sample of male and female parents. Furthermore, we examined the relationships between PBA and several sociodemographic variables such as participants' age, gender, number of children, family type, level of education, socioeconomic level, being in paid employment, and time spent with children. The results confirm the four-factor structure of the B-PBA including exhaustion in one's parental role, contrast with previous parental self, feelings of being fed up, and emotional distancing from one's children. The B-PBA shows good psychometric properties. Regarding sociodemographic variables, mothers present higher levels of parental burnout in comparison with fathers. In the rest of the sociodemographic variables there are weak relationships regarding parental burnout. In the discussion, we provide feedback on the hypotheses and results obtained and we interpret the results; we highlight the relevance of the parental burnout construct in the Basque Country; and we present practical implications as well as future perspectives.

Validity and reliability of the Self-Care Activities Screening Scale (SASS-14) during COVID-19 lockdown.

BACKGROUND: In a context where there is no treatment for the current COVID-19 virus, the combination of self-care behaviours together with confinement, are strategies to decrease the risk of contagion and remain healthy. However, there are no self-care measures to screen self-care activities in general population and which, could be briefly in a lockdown situation. This research aims to build and validate a psychometric tool to screen self-care activities in general population. METHODS: Firstly, an exploratory factor analysis was performed in a sample of 226 participants to discover the underlying factorial structure and to reduce the number of items in the original tool into a significant pool of items related to self-care. Later a confirmatory factor analyses were performed in a new sample of 261 participants to test for the fit and goodness of factor solutions. Internal validity, reliability, and convergent validity between its score with perceived stress and psychological well-being measures were examined on this sample. RESULTS: The exploratory analyses suggested a four-factor solution, corresponding to health consciousness, nutrition and physical activity, sleep, and intra-personal and inter-personal coping skills (14 items). Then, the four-factor structure was confirmed as the best model fit for self-care activities. The tool demonstrated good reliability, predictive validity of individuals' perception of coping with COVID-19 lockdown, and convergent validity with well-being and perceived stress. CONCLUSIONS: This screening tool could be helpful to address future evaluations and interventions to promote healthy behaviours. Likewise, this tool can be targeted to specific population self-care's needs during a scalable situation.

The role of emotional intelligence and self-care in the stress perception during COVID-19 outbreak: An intercultural moderated mediation analysis.

Background: The relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and stress has been widely studied, as well as the beneficial role of self-care to maintain health and wellbeing. However, the joint contribution of EI and self-care in predicting stress has not been examined during COVID-19 lockdown. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of self-care in the relationship between EI and stress and the potential moderator role of gender. Methods: A sample of 1082 participants from four Hispanic countries completed measures related to socio-demographic, trait emotional intelligence (Trait Meta-Mood Scale), self-care activities (Self-care Activities Screening Scale) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale). Results: Mediation analyses revealed that self-care increased the explained variance of the prediction of stress by EI dimensions after controlling gender and age. However, gender only moderated the relationship between self-care and stress in the mediation model corresponding to emotional attention. Conclusions: Data supported a general model for the interaction of EI and self-care as contributing factors of stress. Further research is needed to replicate it in more culturally distant samples and to fully explore the potential role of gender differences. Future intervention programs should include a balanced combination of EI and self-care to increase their benefits on people's health.

A meta-analysis of the possible behavioural and biological variables linking trait emotional intelligence to health.

Trait Emotional Intelligence (trait EI) is a constellation of correlated emotion-related traits that capture an individual's typical way of processing emotion-related information and reacting in emotional situations. Numerous studies have shown that trait EI is a significant predictor of both subjective and objective health. This correlational meta-analysis (k = 106, N = 45,262) aims to explore the behavioural and biological variables that could account for these effects. It also aims to provide a roadmap for future research by identifying what should be studied (pinpointing dead-end roads and promising paths) and how (methodological improvements needed to draw stronger conclusions). The results revealed large associations of trait EI with social support, sleep quality, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in challenging situations as well as medium associations with dietary habits, physical activity, and substance use. Other candidate pathways have given rise to much less research. Based on both theoretical predictions and preliminary findings, the paper categorises these pathways as promising or not promising. Future research would benefit from using more diverse samples, measuring behavioural variables more objectively, controlling for personality, and systematically examining to what extent changes in EI (e.g., following training) lead to changes in behaviours and/or biological parameters.

Corrigendum: Integrating emotion regulation and emotional intelligence traditions: a meta-analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00160.].

Alexithymia and risk preferences: Predicting risk behaviour across decision domains.

Risk-taking is a critical health factor as it plays a key role in several diseases and is related to a number of health risk factors. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of alexithymia in predicting risk preferences across decision domains. One hundred and thirteen participants filled out an alexithymia scale (Toronto Alexithymia Scale-TAS-20), impulsivity and venturesomeness measures (I7 scale), and-1 month later-the Cognitive Appraisal of Risky Events (CARE questionnaire). The hierarchical regression analyses showed that alexithymia positively predicted risk preferences in two domains: aggressive/illegal behaviour and irresponsible academic/work behaviour. The results also highlighted a significant association of the alexithymia facet, externally oriented thinking (EOT), with risky sexual activities. EOT also significantly predicted aggressive/illegal behaviour and irresponsible academic/work behaviour. The alexithymia facet, Difficulty Identifying Feelings, significantly predicted irresponsible academic/work behaviour. The results of the present study provide interesting insights into the connection between alexithymia and risk preferences across different decision domains. Implications for future studies and applied interventions are discussed.

Resilience as a Mediator of Emotional Intelligence and Perceived Stress: A Cross-Country Study.

Existing literature provides evidence of the connection between emotional intelligence and resilience, both concepts being adversely related to perceived stress. Nevertheless, there is little evidence from cross-cultural and/or cross-country studies of the simultaneous relationship between these psychological variables. The objective of this study was to address this lack of research, examining the associations between emotional intelligence, resilience and perceived stress in a cross-country context. A total sample of 696 undergraduate students from two universities in the United States and the Basque Country (an autonomous community in northern Spain) participated in the study. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the effects of emotional intelligence and resilience that may affect students' perceived stress. The results revealed that emotional intelligence functions as a negative predictor of perceived stress through the mediating variable resilience for the American and Basque students. The findings suggest that university students with better emotional intelligence and resilience present lower perceived stress. Thus, improving emotional intelligence and resilience could prevent students from suffering perceived stress in higher education. Implications and directions for further research are discussed; in particular, it is highlighted that intervention programs that improve both EI and resilience could be helpful in reducing perceived stress.

Efectos de un programa de inteligencia emocional en factores socioemocionales y sintomas psicosomáticos / Effects of an emotional intelligence program on socioemotional factors Emotional and psychosomatic symptoms

Resumen El estudio tuvo dos objetivos: (a) evaluar los efectos de un programa que fomenta la inteligencia emocional, y (b) explorar si el programa afectó diferencialmente en función del sexo. La muestra se configuró con 148 adolescentes (13-16 años). El estudio utilizó un diseño cuasiexperimental de medidas repetidas pretest-postest con grupos de control. Se administraron cuatro instrumentos de evaluación antes y después del programa así como en el seguimiento un año después de concluir la intervención. Los instrumentos administrados evalúan las variables dependientes objeto de estudio: inteligencia emocional, felicidad, salud física y grandes rasgos de personalidad. Los análisis de covarianza pretest-postest evidenciaron que el programa aumentó significativamente la inteligencia emocional en los participantes experimentales y disminuyó los síntomas psicosomáticos. La felicidad aumentó, pero las diferencias no fueron estadísticamente significativas. Los análisis de covarianza pretest-seguimiento evidenciaron un aumento de la inteligencia emocional y la felicidad, así como una disminución de los síntomas psicosomáticos y la inestabilidad emocional. En general no se encontraron diferencias significativas en función del sexo. El debate plantea la importancia de implementar programas para fomentar el desarrollo socioemocional.

Abstract This study pursued two objectives: (a) evaluating the effects of an intervention program to develop emotional intelligence; and (b) exploring whether the program had an impact, differentially by gender. The sample included 148 adolescents (13-16 years old). The study used a quasi-experimental repeated measurements pre-test-post-test design, with control groups. Four assessment tools were administered before and after the program, as well as in the follow-up. The tools administered assess the dependent variables under study: emotional intelligence, happiness, physical health, and personality traits. The analysis of pre-test-posttest covariance revealed that the program significantly stimulated an increase in the emotional intelligence in the experimental participants, thereby decreasing psychosomatic symptoms. Happiness increased, but the change was not statistically significant. The analysis of pre-testfollow- up covariance confirmed that the program significantly enhanced emotional intelligence and happiness, decreasing psychosomatic symptoms and emotional instability. In general, there were no significant changes as regards gender. The discussion focuses on the importance of implementing programs to promote social-emotional development during adolescence.

Effects of an emotional intelligence program in variables related to the prevention of violence.

In recent decades, numerous studies have shown a significant increase in violence during childhood and adolescence. These data suggest the importance of implementing programs to prevent and reduce violent behavior. The study aimed to design a program of emotional intelligence (EI) for adolescents and to assess its effects on variables related to violence prevention. The possible differential effect of the program on both genders was also examined. The sample comprised 148 adolescents aged from 13 to 16 years. The study used an experimental design with repeated pretest-posttest measures and control groups. To measure the variables, four assessment instruments were administered before and after the program, as well as in the follow-up phase (1 year after the conclusion of the intervention). The program consisted of 20 one-hour sessions. The pretest-posttest ANCOVAs showed that the program significantly increased: (1) EI (attention, clarity, emotional repair); (2) assertive cognitive social interaction strategies; (3) internal control of anger; and (4) the cognitive ability to analyze negative feelings. In the follow-up phase, the positive effects of the intervention were generally maintained and, moreover, the use of aggressive strategies as an interpersonal conflict-resolution technique was significantly reduced. Regarding the effect of the program on both genders, the change was very similar, but the boys increased assertive social interaction strategies, attention, and emotional clarity significantly more than the girls. The importance of implementing programs to promote socio-emotional development and prevent violence is discussed.

Integrating emotion regulation and emotional intelligence traditions: a meta-analysis.

Two relatively independent research traditions have developed that address emotion management. The first is the emotion regulation (ER) tradition, which focuses on the processes which permit individuals to influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how they experience and express these emotions. The second is the emotional intelligence (EI) tradition, which focuses-among other things-on individual differences in ER. To integrate these two traditions, we employed the process model of ER (Gross, 1998b) to review the literature on EI. Two key findings emerged. First, high EI individuals shape their emotions from the earliest possible point in the emotion trajectory and have many strategies at their disposal. Second, high EI individuals regulate their emotions successfully when necessary but they do so flexibly, thereby leaving room for emotions to emerge. We argue that ER and EI traditions stand to benefit substantially from greater integration.