Impacto psicológico de la pandemia COVID-19 en cinco países de Latinoamérica / Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on five Latin American countries

Resumen Introducción: El distanciamiento social y la cuarentena han probado tener efectos negativos en la salud mental de las poblaciones, a saber: miedo, ansiedad, depresión y sintomatología de estrés postraumático. La resiliencia emerge como variable amortiguadora del impacto. El objetivo del estudio fue comparar el impacto psicológico del COVID-19 en varios países latinoamericanos. Método: se obtuvo una muestra de 1184 participantes de México, Cuba, Chile, Colombia y Guatemala; cuya edad osciló entre 18 y 83 años (M = 38.78, DT = 13.81). Se aplicó una encuesta sobre síntomas médicos asociados al COVID-19 con tres instrumentos para evaluar: (1) síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés, (2) impacto del evento y (3) resiliencia. Resultados: Las personas más jóvenes, con mayor cantidad de síntomas médicos y con mayores puntajes de impacto del evento tienden a presentar mayor sintomatología depresiva, ansiosa y estrés, siendo el impacto del evento el predictor más determinante. La resiliencia fue el predictor protector contra la depresión, ansiedad y estrés. Conclusiones: Los resultados muestran las diferencias en la respuesta psicológica ante la pandemia del COVID-19 en cada país, y sugieren la necesidad del desarrollo de políticas públicas enfocadas en la prevención y la promoción de la salud integral ante emergencias sanitarias.

Abstract Introduction: Social distancing and quarantine have proven to have negative effects on the mental health of populations, namely fear, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Resilience emerges as a buffering variable for such impact. The objective of this study was to compare the psychological impact of COVID-19 in several Latin American countries. Method: A sample of 1184 participants from Mexico, Cuba, Chile, Colombia and Guatemala was obtained; whose age ranged from 18 to 83 years old (M = 38.78, SD = 13.81). A survey on medical symptoms associated with COVID-19 and three instruments to evaluate: (1) depression, anxiety and stress, (2) impact of the event and (3) resilience were administered. Results: Younger people, with more symptoms associated with COVID-19 and those who reported higher scores of impact of event tended to present greater depressive, anxious and stress symptomatology. The impact of the event was the most determinant predictor. Resilience was protective against the impact of event, depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusions: The results show the differences in the psychological response to COVID-19 in each country and suggesting the need to develop public policies focused on prevention and promotion of integral health when facing sanitary emergencies.

Precautionary Behaviors during the Second and Third Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparative Study in the Latin American Population.

The population's behavioral responses to containment and precautionary measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have played a fundamental role in controlling the contagion. A comparative analysis of precautionary behaviors in the region was carried out. A total of 1184 people from Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, and Guatemala participated through an online survey containing a questionnaire on sociodemographic factors, precautionary behaviors, information about COVID-19, concerns, maintenance of confinement, and medical symptoms associated with COVID-19. Cubans reported the highest scores for information about COVID-19. Colombians reported less frequent usage of precautionary measures (e.g., use of masks), but greater adherence to confinement recommendations in general, in contrast to the low levels of these behaviors in Guatemalans. Chileans reported greater pandemic-related concerns and the highest number of medical symptoms associated with COVID-19. These findings allow a partial characterization of the Latin American population's responses during the second and third phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the importance of designing and managing public health policies according to the circumstances of each population when facing pandemics.

Driver stress in five Spanish-speaking countries: Construct validity of the LatinSET / Estrés en conductores de cinco países hispanoparlantes: validez de constructo para el LatinSET

INTRODUCTION: Driver stress is a phenomenon many have studied in probably all five continents. It has been the focus of curiosity for all sorts of disciplines, and science has been unable to curb it, much less park it. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to generate a unique scale that can be used in Spanish speaking countries regardless of culture or geography. Method and Materials: A sample of 1954 drivers from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Chile and Spain was comprised. Through this study, the original 21 items of the ISET (Stressful Situations in Transit Inventory, in Spanish) were used to carry out both an Exploratory Factorial Analysis as well as a Confirmatory Factorial Analysis. RESULTS: As a result, a 9 item scale was created that is valid for use in Spanish countries. CONCLUSIONS: Although further research is warranted, the LatinSET is now valid for its use in Spanish-speaking countries

INTRODUCCIÓN: El estrés en conductores es un fenómeno que muchos han estudiado en probablemente los cinco continentes del mundo. Ha sido el enfoque de estudio de una gran variedad de disciplinas, pero la ciencia no ha podido desgranarlo, ni mucho menos eliminarlo por completo. OBJETIVOS: Este estudio tiene como objetivo generar una nueva escala que pueda ser usada en países de habla hispana sin importar la cultura o la geografía. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Una muestra de 1,954 conductores de México, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Chile y España fue recolectada. A través de este estudio, el juego original de 21 ítems del ISET (Inventario de Situaciones Estresantes en el Tránsito) fueron utilizados para llevar a cabo análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio. RESULTADOS: Como resultado, una escala de 9 ítems fue creada que es válida para su uso en países hispanoparlantes. CONCLUSIONES: A pesar de que se requiere de más estudios relevantes, el LatinSET está listo para ser usado