Differences in anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance between subtypes of social anxiety disorder.

Both anxiety sensitivity (AS) and experiential avoidance (EA) have been linked to social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, previous studies did not consider their joint variance and the heterogeneity of SAD. In this mixed methods cross-sectional survey, we examined 121 online participants (age range: 16-70 years) who self-reported as socially anxious. We compared AS and EA levels in individuals with a primary fear of noticeable anxiety symptoms vs. behaving ineptly. AS and EA were highly prevalent across the sample. Surprisingly, the noticeable symptoms subtype showed slightly lower AS and EA levels than the inept behavior subtype. The noticeable symptoms subtype scored notably lower on social anxiety measures (mean = 69.8) than the inept behavior subtype (mean = 89.3). EA was uniquely associated with social anxiety in both subtypes, while AS was uniquely associated with social anxiety only in the inept behavior subtype. The joint variance explained substantially more of the noticeable symptoms subtype's social anxiety (32.5%) compared to the inept behavior subtype's (9.4%). Qualitative themes aligned with these findings, indicating a self-reinforcing dynamic between high AS, high EA, and social anxiety symptoms. Potential clinical implications are discussed. Future research should examine causality in the AS-EA-SAD dynamic, considering the heterogeneity of SAD.

Organizational identification and burnout syndrome in healthcare workers: The mediating effect of organizational justice.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers typically perform their work under adverse conditions, increasing their susceptibility to developing burnout syndrome (BO). The paucity of research on the relationship between organizational identification (OI) and perceptions of organizational justice has created the need to address this topic more deeply. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the relationship between OI and BO, identifying whether perceptions of organizational justice act as mediating variables. METHODS: In total, 402 healthcare workers (physicians, professionals, and nursing assistants) completed Colquitt's (2001) Organizational Justice Scale, Mael and Ashforth's (1992) Organizational Identification Scale, and Maslach's (1986) Burnout Inventory. Two competing structural equation models were evaluated. RESULTS: Our partial mediation model showed that the direct relationship between OI and BO was not significant (ß= -0.16; p = 0.07). Therefore, a total mediation model was selected, showing that the indirect effects of OI on BO through perceptions of distributive justice (ß= -0.16; p = 0.00) and interpersonal justice (ß= -0.11; p = 0.02) were significant. CONCLUSION: Adjusting the processes of health institutions considering a vision of organizational justice and increasing the worker's sense of belonging to his or her organization and his or her work team would, in turn, result in a lower probability of experiencing burnout syndrome.

Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Scale Form B: Validation for Spanish health professionals.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to culturally adapt and validate the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Scale Form B (FATCOD-B) in Spanish health professionals. METHOD: A cultural adaptation and scale validation was carried out to evaluate the validity of appearance, content and construct, reliability and feasibility. The psychometric validation of the FATCOD-B was carried out on a sample of 2,446 Spanish physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers and students of these disciplines, between January 2017 and December 2018. This sample was selected by intentional sampling. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample. An exploratory multi-group factor analysis was performed, internal consistency was evaluated by calculating Cronbach's α and stability by test-retest. RESULTS: A total of 2,446 people participated in the study, 1,134 students and 1,312 professionals. The exploratory multi-group factor analysis revealed a two-dimensional factor structure, with a total of 17 items retained in the model from the 30 of the original scale. The results showed that this version has adequate reliability (α = 0.79) and for each subscale, and stability (ICC = 0.843, p < 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: FATCOD has been used with physicians and nurses from different countries. However, no reports have been found in the literature of its use with psychologists and social workers. It is important to have an instrument that allows us to know the attitudes of these professionals since they are all directly involved in the care of patients at the end of their lives and their families. The Spanish version of FATCOD-B has proven to be a reliable and valid instrument for its use in Spanish health professionals while allowing comparisons between disciplines.

Interactions Between Intensive Care and Palliative Care Are Influenced by Training, Professionals' Perceptions and Institutional Barriers.

Background: There is growing interest in the use of a Palliative care approach in Intensive care. However, it tends to remain inconsistent, infrequent or non-existent, as does its acceptance by intensive care physicians. This study sought to explore the perceptions, level of knowledge, perceived barriers, and practices of physicians regarding palliative care practices (PC) in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Methods: Descriptive-correlational study. Participating physicians working in ICU in Colombia (n = 101) completed an ad hoc questionnaire that included subscales of perceptions, knowledge, perceived barriers, and PC practices in ICU. A Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) was used to examine the reciprocal relationships between the measured variables and those that could predict interaction practices between the 2 specialties. Results: First, results from the measurement model to examine the validity and reliability of the latent variables found (PC training, favorable perceptions about PC, institutional barriers, and ICU-PC interaction practices) and their indicators were obtained. Second, the structural model found that, a greater number of hours of PC training, a favorable perception of PC and a lower perception of institutional barriers are related to greater interaction between PC and ICU, particularly when emotional or family problems are detected. Conclusions: PC-ICU interactions are influenced by training, a positive perception of PC and less perceived institutional barriers. An integrated ICU-PC model that strengthens the PC training of those who work in ICU and provides clearer guidelines for interaction practices, may help overcome perceived barriers and improve the perception of the potential impact of PC.

Job Tension Growth and Emotional Intelligence in Challenge-Based Learning.

This paper presents a study that aims to identify the trajectory of job tension during a challenge-based learning (CBL) activity and study the role of student workgroup emotional intelligence in such a context. More longitudinal research on student stress is deemed necessary. The authors used Karasek's demand-control model (1979), collected longitudinal data (gathered at ten time points) from a 73-member team participating in an international student competition, and analyzed the data using the latent growth model approach. To the authors' knowledge no research has used panel data with multiple time points to explore the trajectory of job tension during a challenge-based learning activity. The findings indicate that the job tension of teams participating in a challenge-based learning activity has a quadratic rate of change, and that student work group emotional intelligence predicts individual differences with respect to team-level job tension. Practical implications include actions to improve the implementation of CBL tasks and to better deal with job tension and emotional intelligence in working groups.

The relationship between positive aspects of caring, anxiety and depression in the caregivers of cancer patients: The mediational role of burden.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine how the burden of caregivers of patients with an advanced oncological illness mediates the relationship between positive aspects of care, depression and anxiety. METHODS: Quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. One hundred informal adult caregivers of patients with advanced oncological illness who attended the pain and palliative care unit or the psychological unit at the Instituto de Cancerologia Clinica las Americas (Medellin, Colombia) completed self-report assessments including positive aspects of care (PAC), burden and anxiety/depression measured using the HADS (Hospitalized Anxiety Depression Scale). The partial least squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach was selected to validate the hypotheses of the study. RESULTS: Most of the participants were women (86%), with a mean age of 46.52 years (SD=15.05). Most of the participants reported experiencing both PAC and anxiety. They also scored low for burden. PAC exerted a negative effect on Burden, whereas Burden contributed positively to Anxiety and Depression. The indirect impact of PAC on Anxiety and Depression was significant p < .00. CONCLUSIONS: Positive aspects of care in advanced cancer caregivers constitutes a protective factor against caregiver's burden, depression and anxiety. Health staff can promote caregivers' adaptation and wellbeing emphasizing these PAC.

Cognitive behavioral therapy reduces illness perceptions and anxiety symptoms in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm.

The main purpose of this study was to assess the relation between cognitive behavioral therapy and possible changes in illness perceptions and anxiety in patients diagnosed with unruptured intracranial aneurysm. An observational study of an intervention with 67 patients with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm from two medical centers in a Colombian city (n = 35 on the intervention group) was carried out. To assess changes, measurements were taken at baseline and at one-year follow-up with the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Illness Perception Questionnaire, brief version, taking into account the importance of perceptions in the process of adjusting to illness and acquiring healthy life habits. Hypotheses were tested by a structural model. The results obtained from this study showed that illness perceptions were related to anxiety levels at both time points; however, the relations were stronger before cognitive behavioral therapy (ßt0 = 0.61, p < 0.01; ßt1 = 0.37, p < 0.01). Cognitive behavioral therapy was found to be a moderator of changes in both illness perceptions and anxiety at the time of follow-up (ß = -0.31, p < 0.01; ß = -0.26, p < 0.01). The structural model suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy is associated with less anxiety (ß = -0.17, p < 0.05) and better illness perceptions (ß = -0.35, p < 0.01) in patients diagnosed with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Personality and anxiety are related to health-related quality of life in unruptured intracranial aneurysm patients selected for non-intervention: A cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Personality traits and mental health problems have been previously reported in unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) patients; however, few studies have clarified the relations between these variables and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study was designed to characterize the personality traits, HRQoL and mental health of patients with UIA and to evaluate whether personality has an influence on HRQoL and whether this is mediated by the patients' emotional symptoms. METHODS: Sixty-three patients with UIAs (mean age 62.6 years, 83.9% women) answered questionnaires for depression, anxiety, HRQoL and personality traits between June 2016 and May 2019. RESULTS: Eight percent of the sample had depression, and 27.4% had anxiety. Participants showed high levels of responsibility, kindness and neuroticism and low levels of extraversion and openness. HRQoL scores were normal compared with the Colombian population. Structural equation analysis showed that patients' HRQoL was negatively affected by anxiety levels and that the latter are associated with the patient's personality, where neuroticism is directly associated with symptomatology and inversely associated with extraversion. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed the importance of personality and emotional symptoms in the HRQoL of UIA patients. These results are important for developing strategies for psychological counseling in patients with UIAs.

Factores psicosociales asociados al estrés en profesores universitarios colombianos

Resumen Objetivo: evaluar los factores psicosociales asociados al estrés en una muestra de profesores de una universidad privada colombiana. Método: Estudio descriptivo correlacional de una muestra intencional de 61 profesores (rango de edad 25 a 63 años; 65,6 % hombres). Se utilizaron el cuestionario de salud del paciente PHQ-9, Cuestionario de Ansiedad generalizada GAD-7, Escala de estrés percibido PSS-14 y un cuestionario sobre factores psicosociales laborales. Adicionalmente se midió la presión arterial. Resultados: El 21,3 % de los profesores presentan niveles significativos de estrés. Hay mayor necesidad de trabajar en casa, interferencia familia-trabajo y trabajo-familia en profesores con estrés, mientras que el control es menor. Cabe anotar que estos profesores también presentan mayor sintomatología emocional. El modelo final mostró que la necesidad de trabajar en casa y la interferencia familia - trabajo explican el 45,6 % de la varianza en el estrés laboral de los profesores.

Abstract Objective: to evaluate the psychosocial factors associated with stress in a sample of professors from a private Colombian university. Method: Correlational descriptive study of an intentional sample of 61 professors (age range 25 to 63 years, 65,6 % men). The patient's health questionnaire PHQ-9, Generalized Anxiety Questionnaire GAD-7, Perceived Stress Scale PSS-14 and a questionnaire of psychosocial work factors were used. In addition, blood pressure measurements were taken. Results: 21,3 % of professors had significant levels of stress. There are more need to work at home, family-work and work-family interference in professors with stress, while control is lower. It should be noted that these teachers also have greater emotional symptoms. The final model showed that the need to work at home and the family - work interference explain 45,6 % of the variance in teachers' work stress.

Potential Therapeutic Targets in People with Emotional Dependency.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between the components of emotional dependency (ED) with anxious, depressive, and impulsive symptomatology. METHOD: 98 university students (68% women, age M = 20.2 years, ED = 2.19) responded to the ED Questionnaire (EDQ) (Lemos & Londoño, 2006), the Beck Depression Inventory II (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 2011), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck & Steer, 2011), and the short version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale BIS-15S (Spinella, 2007). RESULTS: The structural model indicated that a fear of being alone is associated with separation anxiety, which in turn gives rise to plan modification (PM), search for emotional expression (SEE) and attention-seeking (AS). We found that PM was associated with depression, SEE with anxiety, and that impulsivity could lead to AS. CONCLUSION: These results identify potential therapeutic targets in people with ED.

OBJETIVO: Examinar la relación entre los componentes de la dependencia emocional (DE) con sintomatología ansiosa, depresiva e impulsividad. MÉTODO: 98 estudiantes universitarios (68% mujeres, edad M = 20.2 años, DE = 2,19) respondieron el Cuestionario de DE (CDE) (Lemos & Londoño, 2006), el inventario de depresión de Beck II (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 2011) y el de ansiedad (Beck & Steer, 2011) y la escala de impulsividad de Barratt en su versión reducida BIS-15S (Spinella, 2007). RESULTADOS: el modelo estructural señaló que el miedo a la soledad se asocia con la ansiedad de separación, de la que se despliegan las estrategias de modificación de planes (MP), búsqueda de expresión afectiva (BEA) y búsqueda de atención (BA). Se observó asociación de MP con depresión, de BEA con ansiedad, y que la impulsividad podría llevar a la BA. CONCLUSIÓN: Estos resultados señalan blancos terapéuticos en personas con DE.

Validación de dos herramientas para la evaluación de cambios en las actitudes de alumnos en situaciones frecuentes en cuidado paliativo / Validation of two instruments to assess attitude changes of students in common situations in palliative care

Objetivo: determinar las propiedade psicométricas de dos escalas utilizadas para evaluar las actitudes en torno a los cuidados paliativos: La Escala de Confort en Cuidados Paliativos (ECCP) de Pereira et al., y la Escala de Tanatofobia (ET) de Merrill et al. Método: Participaron 77 alumnos de 7 cursos virtuales de aspectos psicosociales en cuidados paliativos entre 2010 y 2013. Estos respondieron las escalas de medida antes y después del curso. Se examinó la validez y la fiabilidad de la ECCP y de la ET a través de un análisis de componentes principales, el coeficiente de consistencia interna y el test-retest. Se realizó una comparación de los resultados pre-curso y post-curso para determinar cambios en las actitudes evaluadas. Resultados: El análisis de componentes principales se ajustó satisfactoriamente a los datos y se extrajeron 3 componentes: dos para la ECCP y uno para la ET, explicando el 55,37% de la varianza. El Alfa de Cronbach fue satisfactorio en todos los casos. Las correlaciones test-retest en t1 y t2 no resultaron significativas, esto indica que la relación entre la primera y la segunda medición en las escalas no fue estrecha. Los cursos ocasionaron un cambio significativo en el confort en la atención al paciente (p = 0,004), en el confort en la atención a las familias (p = 0,001), mas no en el grado de tanatofobia (p > 0,05). Conclusiones: Ambas escalas son válidas y confiables. Evalúan de forma satisfactoria las actitudes, y sus cambios relacionados con la práctica de los cuidados paliativos, en lo referente a la atención de aspectos psicosociales

Objective: To determine the psychometric properties of two scales designed to examine attitudes regarding palliative care: Comfort Scale in Palliative Care (CSPC, Pereira et al.) and Tanatophobia Scale (TS, Merrill et al.) Method: Seventy-seven students who completed an online course on psychosocial aspects of palliative care offered by the Latin American Association of Palliative Care participated in the study. They also completed the scales before and after the course. Construct validity and reliability of the CSPC and the TS were assessed using a Principal Components Analysis, internal reliability coefficient and test-retest reliability. Further, comparative statistics between the pre-course and post-course results were obtained in order to determine changes in attitudes. Results: The Principal Components Analysis showed satisfactory fit to the data. 3 components were extracted: two for the CSPC and one for the TS, which explained 55.37% of the variance. Internal consistency coefficients were satisfactory in all cases and Cronbach´s Alphas were satisfactory for all the scales, particularly for the CSPC. Testretest reliability in t1 and t2 was found to be non significant, indicating that measures were not related in time. Regarding pre-course/ post-course comparisons, significant changes in comfort assisting patients (p = 0.004) and comfort assisting families (p = 0.001) following the course were identified, but changes in thanatophobia were non significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: both scales are valid and reliable. Attitudes regarding the practice of palliative care and how they change, particularly regarding psychosocial issues, can be accurately measured using the examined scales

Work Engagement as Mediator between Perceived Participation, Supervisor Support and Altruistic Behaviors: Empirical Results from the Italian Social Enterprise Sector / Compromiso con el trabajo como mediador entre participación percibida, aporte de supervisor y comportamientos altruistas: resultados empíricos desde el sector italiano de empresas sociales

This research note presents an empirical study conducted in a number of social cooperatives (SCoops). Democratic governance has been identified as a defining aspect of this kind of social enterprise. Using the work and organizational psychology approach, the authors studied the effects of democratic governance and supervisor support on workers' engagement and organizational citizenship behaviors. The convenience sample technique was used for gathering the data. Data was collected with a self-administered questionnaire. The sample consisted of258 participants from three different Scoops situated in northern Italy. Statistical analysis results suggest that worker's perceived participation and supervisor support enhance work engagement, and subsequently, altruistic behaviors. Finally, the authors comment on the limitations of the study giving methodological suggestions for future empirical research.

El presente artículo presenta una investigación realizada con la colaboración de varias cooperativas sociales (SCoops). El gobierno democrático es una de las principales características de este tipo de empresa social. A partir de la perspectiva de la psicología del trabajo y de las organizaciones (WOP), se estudiaron los efectos del gobierno democrático y del apoyo del superior sobre el compromiso hacia el trabajo y los comportamientos organizacionales de ciudadanía de los empleados. Se realizó un muestreo por conveniencia. Los datos fueron recogidos a través de un cuestionario autoadministrado. La muestra comprendió 258 empleados de tres SCoops situadas en el norte de Italia. Los análisis estadísticos realizados indican que la participación en la toma de decisiones y el apoyo del superior percibidos por los empleados, tienen una influencia positiva sobre su compromiso hacia el trabajo y sobre sus comportamientos altruistas. Por último, se presentan algunas sugerencias de carácter metodológico para la futura investigación.