The Moderating Role of Perceived Efficacy of COVID-19 Prevention Measures on the Relation Between Perceived Risk and Perceived Mental Health / El rol moderador de la eficacia percibida de las medidas de prevención frente al COVID-19 en la relación entre la percepción de riesgo y la salud mental percibida

La pandemia del COVID-19 ha llevado a los países a adoptar severas y prolongadas medidas que —junto con el alto número de contagios y muertes y la continua información negativa— ha afectado la salud mental de las personas. Este estudio analiza el impacto de la crisis sanitaria del COVID-19 en España explorando el rol moderador de la eficacia percibida de las medidas de contención en la relación que establece la percepción del riesgo del COVID-19 con el estrés y la depresión. Un total de 478 adultos residentes en España (un 66.9% mujeres; Medad = 36.30, DT = 15.32) completaron un cuestionario con escalas concebidas para medir el riesgo percibido del COVID-19, la eficacia percibida de las medidas de protección, el estrés y la depresión entre el 16 de mayo y el 6 de junio de 2021. Los resultados confirmaron el rol moderador de la eficacia percibida, la cual actuó como un factor protector del estrés y la depresión al disminuir el impacto negativo que la percepción de riesgo del COVID-19 tiene en ambas variables relacionadas con el distrés mental. La percepción que tienen los individuos sobre la efectividad de las medidas de protección parece ser un factor protector relevante en relación con la salud mental durante una pandemia. Se subraya la relevancia de intervenciones psicológicas y de políticas gubernamentales que mejoren la comunicación positiva del riesgo y la información adecuada sobre la eficacia de las medidas de protección.(AU)

The pandemic situation caused by COVID-19 led countries to adopt harsh and prolonged (over time) measures that—along with the high number of infections and deaths and continuous negative information—have affected the mental health of individuals. In this study, the impact on mental health of the COVID-19 health crisis in Spain was explored through the perceived efficacy of pandemic containment measures as a moderator of the relationship that COVID-19 perceived risk establishes with stress and depression. A questionnaire composed of scales conceived to measure COVID-19 perceived risk, perceived efficacy of COVID-19 prevention measures, stress, and depression was completed by 478 adults living in Spain (66.9% females, Mage= 36.30, SD= 15.32) between May 16, 2021, and June 6, 2021. The results confirmed the moderating role of per-ceived efficacy. Perceived efficacy acted as a protective factor for stress and depression by decreasing the negative impact that perceived risk had on both variables related to mentaldistress. Also, the perception that par-ticipants had about the effectiveness of prevention measures appeared to be a relevant protective factor regarding mental health during the pandem-ic. This study highlights the relevance of psychological interventions and government policies that improve positive risk communication and pro-vide adequate information regarding the effectiveness of health-prevention measures.(AU)

Mediterranean diet adherence and glycemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

To effectively manage type 1 diabetes (T1D) insulin is essential, with dosages based on lifestyle. The Mediterranean diet has demonstrated its advantages in preventing and enhancing the management of chronic diseases. Our objective was to investigate the potential mediation of sensor activity on the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and glycemic control in children and adolescents. A total of 150 children and adolescents (mean age = 13.09, SD = 3.54; 44% female) with T1D were recruited. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the KIDMED questionnaire which evaluates 16 items and gives higher scores when adherence is higher. Glycemic control and the duration of sensor activity were evaluated with data from flash glucose monitoring. The data confirmed our hypothesis by revealing that adherence to the Mediterranean diet positively influenced glycemic control (direct effect = 1.505; P < 0.01) and that this relationship was mediated by the duration of sensor activity (indirect effect = 0.531; P < 0.01).  Conclusions: Our results support the increased utilization of glycemic control devices, as they contribute to improve glycemic control and mediate on the positive relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and adequate glycemic control. Furthermore, our findings highlight the importance of incorporating Mediterranean diet recommendations to achieve better glycemic control in children and adolescents with T1D. What is Known: • The Mediterranean diet and glycemic control have proven benefits in improving cardiovascular health in the general population. Scarce evidence exists of these benefits among children and adolescents with T1D. What is New: • Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and greater use of glucose monitoring devices in children and adolescents with T1D are related to better glycemic control. These variables can be enhanced by psychoeducational interventions such as structured diabetes education programs or peer group-based sessions, which highlights the importance of focusing on these aspects.

Influence of Family Social Support and Diabetes Self-Efficacy on the Emotional Wellbeing of Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Longitudinal Study.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic disease that is usually diagnosed in childhood, underscoring the importance of early disease control for overall wellbeing. Our aim was to design an explanatory model of subjective emotional wellbeing in children and adolescents with T1D. A longitudinal study was conducted at the Reina Sofia University Hospital in Cordoba (Spain). A total of 151 patients (mean age = 14.50, SD = 2.67; 41.1% girls) participated at T1, while 97 participated at T2 (mean age = 14.93, SD = 2.56; 39.2% girls). Participants completed a self-report questionnaire. Descriptive, reliability, correlation, path, and mediation analyses were performed. The explanatory model showed excellent fit indices [χ2 (10) = 8.62, p = 0.57, RMSEA = 0.00, 95% [0.00, 0.10], CFI = 1.00, GFI = 0.98, AGFI = 0.93, and TLI = 1.01]. The results showed significant and positive relationships between family social support and subjective emotional wellbeing and improved self-care skills. Self-efficacy presented a mediating role between family social support and subjective emotional wellbeing. Given that self-efficacy is a self-regulatory mechanism and a determinant of health, it is argued that future psychoeducational interventions could aim to improve self-efficacy to manage chronic diseases, to achieve greater emotional wellbeing in children and adolescents with T1D.

Regulatory emotional self-efficacy and anxiety in times of pandemic: a gender perspective.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdown and containment measures have instigated substantial changes in our daily lives and have affected many people's mental health. This paper reports two studies exploring gender-based differences with regard to the impact of COVID-related confinement on individuals' self-efficacy to regulate negative emotions (RESE-NE) and anxiety. Methods: Study 1 (cross-sectional; 269 participants; 52% women) explored the evolution of RESE-NE and anxiety. To this end, participants assessed their status at two time points: a retrospective assessment of the period before confinement in Spain, and a current assessment during confinement. Study 2 (longitudinal; 114 participants; 72.2% women) explored the evolution of the variables by adding a post-confinement time point and analyzed the mediating role of RESE-NE in the positivity-anxiety and resilience-anxiety relationships. Results: The results confirmed that: (a) RESE-NE decreased and anxiety increased more among women than among men during confinement (Study 1); (b) women recovered their pre-pandemic levels of mental health more slowly than did men following confinement; and (c) the mediating role of RESE-NE could be observed in the two relationships under analysis. Conclusion: In practical terms, the research highlights the need to pay special attention to women undergoing mental health interventions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to the differential burden that the pandemic may entail for men and women and to the contrasting social roles traditionally attributed to them. From the gender differences identified, it is possible to infer how stereotypes and social roles influence the behavior and mental health of men and women, leading them to cope differently with stressful situations such as confinement.

Spanish Validation of the Self-Perceived Food Literacy Scale: A Five-Factor Model Proposition.

Food literacy is a combination of functional, critical, and relational skills that pave the way for navigating the food system properly, taking personally and contextually available resources into account. The aim was to validate the Spanish version of the self-perceived food literacy scale in university students to explore the factorial structure of it and to correlate food literacy with other variables. The sample was composed of 362 Spanish university students (314 women). The full questionnaire was administered online and also assessed adherence to a Mediterranean diet, impulsivity, and health-related quality of life for convergent validity testing purposes. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to determine the factor structure of the food literacy scale. The Spanish version of the scale showed good indices of internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.894). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a five-factor model that had a better fit index than the seven-factor model of the original scale. External validity was assessed by showing significant correlations with the rest of the variables. Therefore, the Spanish version of the scale is a reliable and valid measure of food literacy. It could be used to promote policies at Spanish universities to improve the food-related behaviors of students.

Psychoeducational Interventions in Children and Adolescents with Type-1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review / Las intervenciones psicoeducativas en los menores y adolescentes con diabetes tipo 1: una revisión sistemática

The effectiveness of psychoeducational interventions in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes is unclear. A systematic review was developed in accordance with PRISMA. Relevant databases (Pubmed, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and PsyARTICLES) were analyzed. Articles of the last decade with type 1 diabetes population between 6 and 18 years participating in psychoeducational interventions were the inclusion criteria. Twenty studies were reviewed, and improvements were found in glycosylated hemoglobin, diabetes knowledge, and psychosocial variables. The results support the positive effect of these interventions. The characteristics that seem to be behind the success of these interventions are the design appropriate to the characteristics of the population, the participation of psychologist and educators, the continuity of the program over time, and the use of digital tools and interaction strategies. Further studies need to be carried out and replicated in different groups of children and adolescents.

Hay dudas acerca de la efectividad de las intervenciones psicoeducativas en menores y adolescentes con diabetes tipo 1, motivo por el cual se realizó una revisión sistemática de acuerdo con el protocolo PRISMA. Se analizaron distintas bases de datos (Pubmed, Cochrane, PsycINFO y PsyARTICLES) con los siguientes criterios de inclusión: artículos de los últimos diez años, con población con diabetes tipo 1 de edades comprendidas entre los 6 y 18 años que hubieran participado en cualquier intervención psicoeducativa. Se revisaron 20 estudios y los resultados mostraron una mejora en la hemoglobina glicosilada, en el conocimiento de la enfermedad y en algunas variables psicosociales tras estas intervenciones. Las características que parecen estar detrás del éxito de estas intervenciones psicoeducativas son el diseño adecuado a las características de la población, la participación de profesionales de la psicología y de la educación, la continuidad del programa en el tiempo y el uso de herramientas digitales y otras estrategias de interacción. Se destaca la necesidad de realizar más estudios y que sean replicados en diferentes grupos de menores y adolescentes.