Personal Variables of Protection against Cannabis Use in Adolescence: The Roles of Emotional Intelligence, Coping Styles, and Assertiveness as Associated Factors.

(1) Background: Many public bodies have warned of the increased consumption of cannabis, particularly among adolescents. From the Positive Youth Development approach, the promotion of personal protective factors takes on special importance against some risks, such as the consumption of addictive substances. (2) Methods: This research is one of the first to study the role of trait and ability emotional intelligence in relation to cannabis use and with respect to other personal variables of protection, such as coping styles and assertiveness. For this purpose, a final sample of 799 schoolchildren was obtained. (3) Results: After controlling for age and gender, the results of the regression analyses revealed that emotional perception, emotional facilitation, emotional clarity, emotional repair, active coping style, and assertiveness were inversely and significantly associated with cannabis use behaviors. On the other hand, the emotional attention and avoidant coping style factors were positively and significantly associated with these behaviors. (4) Conclusions: These findings provide new evidence that could be useful in terms of guiding health-promoting clinical and educational interventions at an early age.

¿Qué Aporta la Inteligencia Emocional al Estudio de los Factores Personales Protectores del Consumo de Alcohol en la Adolescencia? / How does emotional intelligence contribute to the study of personal protective factors for alcohol consumption in adolescence?

Diversos organismos alertan sobre el incremento del consumo de alcohol y de su uso extendido en los adolescentes. Algunas investigaciones dan cuenta de la relevancia que posee la inteligencia emocional (IE) como nuevo constructo que puede ayudar a explicar esta problemática. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la contribución de la IE rasgo y habilidad a la comprensión del consumo de alcohol respecto a otros factores protectores personales previamente estudiados como la autoestima, la autoeficacia y la asertividad. Esta investigación desarrolla una metodología de corte cuantitativo y de tipo correlacional en una muestra de 799 estudiantes. Los resultados revelan que los factores de percepción emocional, claridad emocional, reparación emocional, autoestima y asertividad se asociaron de manera significativa e inversamente con las conductas de consumo de alcohol, al contrario que el componente de atención emocional. Estos hallazgos proporcionan nueva evidencia empírica que podría orientar intervenciones preventivas a edades tempranas

A lot of public bodies have warned against an increase in alcohol intake and its extended use among adolescents. Some studies have revealed the relevance of emotional intelligence (EI) as a novel construct that may be useful in explaining this problem. The objective of this study is to analyze the contribution of trait and ability EI to the understanding of alcohol consumption with respect to other personal protective factors such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, and assertiveness previously studied. A correlational and quantitative methodology was used on a sample of 799 students. The results suggest that the factors of emotional perception, emotional clarity, emotional repair, self-esteem, and assertiveness were significantly and inversely related to alcohol consumption behaviors, unlike the emotional attention component. These findings offer new empirical evidence that may assist in establishing preventive interventions targeting young people

Empatía, estilos de afrontamiento y actitudes hacia el consumo como factores de protección del consumo intensivo de alcohol y el policonsumo en la adolescencia / Empathy, coping styles and attitudes towards consumption as protective factors for heavy alcohol consumption and polydrug use in adolescence

Desde el enfoque del desarrollo positivo adolescente cobra especial importancia la promoción de recursos personales de protección frente a algunos riesgos como el consumo de drogas. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la influencia de la empatía, los estilos de afrontamiento y las actitudes hacia el consumo respecto al uso intensivo de alcohol y el policonsumo en 799 estudiantes. Los resultados del análisis de regresión revelaron que el afrontamiento improductivo predijo un mayor consumo intensivo de alcohol, mientras que la actitud de rechazo ante el ofrecimiento de alcohol y la actitud de admiración hacia personas no usuarias de drogas institucionalizadas se asociaron con un menor hábito de consumo. Con relación al policonsumo, tanto la empatía afectiva, como el afrontamiento activo, la actitud contraria y de rechazo al consumo de drogas, así como la actitud de admiración hacia personas no usuarias de drogas institucionalizadas predijeron un menor uso simultaneo de alcohol y cannabis. Estos hallazgos aportan nuevas evidencias que podrían ser de utilidad para orientar intervenciones promotoras de la salud a edades tempranas (AU)

From a positive youth development perspective, the promotion of personal protective resources against certain risks such as drug consumption is especially relevant. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of empathy, coping styles, and attitudes related to consumption with respect to binge drinking and polyconsumption in a sample of 799 students. The results of a regression analysis revealed that unproductive coping predicted binge drinking, while attitudes such as turning down a drink and admiration of non-users of institutionalized drugs were associated with a lower consumption habit. As for polyconsumption, affective empathy, active coping, a negative attitude to, and the rejection of drug consumption, as well as the admiration of non-users of institutionalized drugs, predicted a lower simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis. These findings offer new evidence that may be useful in guiding interventions to promote healthy habits at early ages (AU)

Trait and ability emotional intelligence as factors associated with cannabis use in adolescence. / Inteligencia emocional rasgo y habilidad como factores asociados al consumo de cannabis en la adolescencia.

Many international organisms have warned of the increased consumption of cannabis and its extensive use by adolescents. This study is one of the first with the aim of analyzing the role of ability and trait emotional intelligence, based on the model of Mayer and Salovey, with regards to the consumption of cannabis by adolescents. The study participants were 799 Spanish nationals aged 12 to 16. They were administered a self-report on trait emotional intelligence (EI), a test of maximum EI performance and were asked about their habits relating to cannabis consumption. This cross-sectional study used a quantitative, correlational methodology. The main results obtained from the regression analysis once gender, age and context of residence were controlled for, revealed negative associations between the factors of understanding and emotional repair of trait EI and the cannabis consumption variables, in contrast to emotional attention. On the other hand, with regards to ability EI, the factors of perception and facilitation were inversely associated with cannabis consumption in adolescents. The results suggest that both trait and ability EI are complementary constructs that help to explain cannabis consumption during this life stage. These findings offer empirical evidence that may help guide clinical and educational interventions focused on prevention of consumption during this period.

Diversos organismos internacionales alertan sobre el incremento de consumo de cannabis y de su uso extendido entre los adolescentes. El presente estudio ha sido uno de los primeros con el objetivo de analizar el papel de la inteligencia emocional rasgo y habilidad, basada en el modelo de Mayer y Salovey, en relación al consumo de cannabis en adolescentes. En este estudio participaron 799 jóvenes españoles con edades comprendidas entre los 12 y los 16 años. Se administró un autoinforme de inteligencia emocional (IE) rasgo, un test de rendimiento máximo de IE y se preguntó sobre los hábitos relacionados con el consumo de cannabis. Este estudio de tipo transversal se llevó a cabo a través de una metodología de corte cuantitativo y de tipo correlacional. Los principales resultados obtenidos mediante los análisis de regresión una vez controlados el género, la edad y el contexto de centro, revelaron asociaciones negativas entre los factores de comprensión y reparación emocional de la IE rasgo y las variables de consumo de cannabis, al contrario que la atención emocional. Por otro lado, en relación con la IE habilidad, los factores de percepción y facilitación se asociaron de manera inversa al consumo de cannabis en los adolescentes. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que tanto la IE rasgo como la IE habilidad son constructos complementarios que ayudan a explicar el consumo de cannabis. Estos hallazgos proporcionan evidencias empíricas que podrían orientar intervenciones clínicas y educativas enfocadas a la prevención del consumo en esta etapa.

Inteligencia emocional rasgo y habilidad como factores asociados al consumo de cannabis en la adolescencia / Trait and ability emotional intelligence as factors associated with cannabis use in adolescence

Diversos organismos internacionales alertan sobre el incremento deconsumo de cannabis y de su uso extendido entre los adolescentes.El presente estudio ha sido uno de los primeros con el objetivo deanalizar el papel de la inteligencia emocional rasgo y habilidad, basada en el modelo de Mayer y Salovey, en relación al consumo decannabis en adolescentes. En este estudio participaron 799 jóvenesespañoles con edades comprendidas entre los 12 y los 16 años. Seadministró un autoinforme de inteligencia emocional (IE) rasgo, untest de rendimiento máximo de IE y se preguntó sobre los hábitosrelacionados con el consumo de cannabis. Este estudio de tipo transversal se llevó a cabo a través de una metodología de corte cuantitativoy de tipo correlacional. Los principales resultados obtenidos mediantelos análisis de regresión una vez controlados el género, la edad y elcontexto de centro, revelaron asociaciones negativas entre los factoresde comprensión y reparación emocional de la IE rasgo y las variablesde consumo de cannabis, al contrario que la atención emocional. Porotro lado, en relación con la IE habilidad, los factores de percepción yfacilitación se asociaron de manera inversa al consumo de cannabis enlos adolescentes. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que tanto laIE rasgo como la IE habilidad son constructos complementarios queayudan a explicar el consumo de cannabis. Estos hallazgos proporcionan evidencias empíricas que podrían orientar intervenciones clínicas y educativas enfocadas a la prevención del consumo en esta etapa. (AU)

Many international organisms have warned of the increased consumption of cannabis and its extensive use by adolescents. Thisstudy is one of the first with the aim of analyzing the role of abilityand trait emotional intelligence, based on the model of Mayer andSalovey, with regards to the consumption of cannabis by adolescents.The study participants were 799 Spanish nationals aged 12 to 16.They were administered a self-report on trait emotional intelligence(EI), a test of maximum EI performance and were asked about theirhabits relating to cannabis consumption. This cross-sectional studyused a quantitative, correlational methodology. The main resultsobtained from the regression analysis once gender, age and context ofresidence were controlled for, revealed negative associations betweenthe factors of understanding and emotional repair of trait EI and thecannabis consumption variables, in contrast to emotional attention.On the other hand, with regards to ability EI, the factors of perceptionand facilitation were inversely associated with cannabis consumptionin adolescents. The results suggest that both trait and ability EI arecomplementary constructs that help to explain cannabis consumptionduring this life stage. These findings offer empirical evidence thatmay help guide clinical and educational interventions focused onprevention of consumption during this period. (AU)

Myths about Sexual Aggression, Sexual Assertiveness and Sexual Violence in Adolescent Romantic Relationships.

Sexual violence is a worldwide health and social issue. However, little is known about the sexual violence that occurs in the context of romantic relationships. This study analyzes the existence of sexual violence in adolescents' romantic relationships, the possible associations between such violence (both committed and suffered) and myths about sexual aggression and sexual assertiveness, and the possible gender-related distinctions. A sample of 329 students aged between 15 and 19 (M = 16.3; SD = 0.79) was surveyed; all participants were in a romantic relationship when the data were collected. The results reveal that both genders report the existence of sexual violence in their romantic relationships; however, in heterosexual relationships, males were more often the perpetrators of sexual violence. Additionally, myths about sexual aggression and sexual assertiveness were found to be significantly associated with both perpetration and victimization. Accordingly, these predictors should be focal points in prevention programs for adolescent sexual violence. The findings of this study show the de-prioritization of sexuality education in the Spanish educational system, as well as the need to strengthen the competence of adolescents in this area.

The Protective Association of Trait and Ability Emotional Intelligence with Adolescent Tobacco Use.

The present study is one of the first to analyze the predictive capacity of both trait and ability Emotional Intelligence (EI) based on the Mayer and Salovey model, in relation to tobacco use in a sample of Spanish adolescents. In this study, 799 students between the ages of 12 and 16 participated. A self-report on trait EI, an EI peak performance test, and questions about habits relating to tobacco use were administered. This cross-sectional study developed a quantitative and correlation-type methodology. The main results of the regression analyses, once the sex and age of the participants were controlled, revealed negative associations between the factors of clarity and emotional repair of the trait EI with respect to the variables of tobacco use, and a positive association was found for them and emotional attention. By comparison, with respect to ability EI, emotional perception and understanding were inversely related to adolescent tobacco use. These results underscore the importance of EI skills as protective factors against early initiation and subsequent tobacco abuse.

Bullied Adolescent's Life Satisfaction: Personal Competencies and School Climate as Protective Factors.

Although adolescence has been defined as a stage of vulnerability, due to the biopsychosocial changes that happen throughout this developmental stage, it is also one of growth. Some of the core personal competencies that have been identified to promote positive development at this stage while simultaneously preventing risks are: (1) a positive sense of self, (2) self-regulation, (3) decision-making skills, (4) a moral system of belief, and (5) prosocial connectedness. There are many factors and contexts that influence adolescent development. The school climate, for example, has the capacity to promote positive development and life satisfaction, yet on the other hand, it is a context within which different forms of violence, such as bullying, can occur. The principal aim of this study, therefore, is to analyze the influence that bullying has on one's life satisfaction, while taking into account participants' socio-demographic characteristics (i.e., gender and developmental stage), their core personal competencies (i.e., problem solving strategies, empathy, emotional repair, self-esteem, and values), and the school climate. To obtain data, a hierarchical regression analysis was conducted with a sample of 647 Spanish students (53.3% female), ranging in age from preadolescence (10-13 years old; 60.3%) to mid-adolescence (14-18 years old; 39.7%), and belonging to diverse socio-economic contexts (15.3% rural) and schools (32.1% public). After gaining informed consent from both the participants and their parents, students completed the survey voluntarily, and under anonymity. Initially results show that gender, developmental stage, and having been bullied were predictors of participants' levels of life satisfaction. When the core personal competencies were also considered in data analysis process, self-esteem, emotional repair, and social values were those demonstrating significant effects on one's life satisfaction; moreover, being bullied was a significant predictor too. Finally, after taking school climate into account, only this variable as well as self-esteem and emotional repair were significant predictors of life satisfaction: the other assessed variables were no longer found to be significant predictors (i.e., gender, developmental stage, being bullied, and social values). These results have important implications for education objectives, methodologies, and school functioning: school climate, self-esteem and emotional repair seem to be particularly important for promoting student life satisfaction and for preventing the negative consequences associated with being bullied.

Trait and ability emotional intelligence as predictors of alcohol consumption in adolescents / Inteligencia Emocional rasgo y habilidad como predictores del consumo de alcohol en la adolescencia

Background: Past studies have suggested that emotional intelligence (EI) is a new construct that may help to explain alcohol abuse. This study is one of the first to examine the predictive capacity of both trait and ability EI, based on the Mayer and Salovey model, with regards to distinct variables of alcohol consumption in an adolescent population. Method: A survey was conducted on 844 school children who completed a self-report and performance-based EI test, as well as a selection of items on alcohol consumption. Results: Regression analyses revealed that trait EI was the most predictive. Clarity and emotional Repair showed significant negative correlations with alcohol consumption, as opposed to emotional Attention. Likewise, the abilities of Perceiving and Using emotions were found to be protective factors for consumption in schoolchildren. Conclusion: The results suggest that trait and ability EI are complementary dimensions that may help in the understanding and intervention of alcohol abuse in adolescents. The results are discussed in the EI research context, as well as their educational implications and future research lines

Antecedentes: diversas investigaciones muestran que la inteligencia emocional (IE) es un nuevo constructo que puede ayudar a explicar el consumo abusivo de alcohol. El presente estudio es uno de los primeros en examinar la capacidad predictiva de la IE rasgo y de la IE habilidad, basada en el modelo de Mayer y Salovey, sobre diversas variables de consumo de alcohol en población adolescente. Método: se realizó una encuesta a 844 escolares que cumplimentaron un autoinforme y un test de rendimiento máximo de IE, así como una selección de ítems de consumo de alcohol. Resultados: los análisis de regresión revelaron que la IE rasgo fue la más predictiva. La Claridad y la Reparación emocional mostraron relaciones significativas negativas con el consumo de alcohol, al contrario que la Atención emocional. Asimismo, la habilidad de Percepción y Facilitación emocional resultaron ser factores protectores del consumo en los escolares. Conclusión: los resultados sugieren que la IE rasgo y habilidad son medidas complementarias que pueden ayudar en la comprensión e intervención sobre el problema del abuso del alcohol en la adolescencia. Se discuten los resultados en el contexto de la investigación sobre la IE, así como su implicación educativa y futuras líneas de investigación

Trait and ability emotional intelligence as predictors of alcohol consumption in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Past studies have suggested that emotional intelligence (EI) is a new construct that may help to explain alcohol abuse. This study is one of the first to examine the predictive capacity of both trait and ability EI, based on the Mayer and Salovey model, with regards to distinct variables of alcohol consumption in an adolescent population. METHOD: A survey was conducted on 844 school children who completed a self-report and performance-based EI test, as well as a selection of items on alcohol consumption. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that trait EI was the most predictive. Clarity and emotional Repair showed significant negative correlations with alcohol consumption, as opposed to emotional Attention. Likewise, the abilities of Perceiving and Using emotions were found to be protective factors for consumption in schoolchildren. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that trait and ability EI are complementary dimensions that may help in the understanding and intervention of alcohol abuse in adolescents. The results are discussed in the EI research context, as well as their educational implications and future research lines.

School Functioning of a Particularly Vulnerable Group: Children and Young People in Residential Child Care.

A large proportion of the children and young people in residential child care in Spain are there as a consequence of abuse and neglect in their birth families. Research has shown that these types of adverse circumstances in childhood are risk factors for emotional and behavioral problems, as well as difficulties in adapting to different contexts. School achievement is related to this and represents one of the most affected areas. Children in residential child care exhibit extremely poor performance and difficulties in school functioning which affects their transition to adulthood and into the labor market. The main aim of this study is to describe the school functioning of a sample of 1,216 children aged between 8 and 18 living in residential child care in Spain. The specific needs of children with intellectual disability and unaccompanied migrant children were also analyzed. Relationships with other variables such as gender, age, mental health needs, and other risk factors were also explored. In order to analyze school functioning in this vulnerable group, the sample was divided into different groups depending on school level and educational needs. In the vast majority of cases, children were in primary or compulsory secondary education (up to age 16), this group included a significant proportion of cases in special education centers. The rest of the sample were in vocational training or post-compulsory secondary school. Results have important implications for the design of socio-educative intervention strategies in both education and child care systems in order to promote better school achievement and better educational qualifications in this vulnerable group.

Sexual Violence History and Welfare in Transgender People.

This study focuses on sexual violence experiences suffered by Spanish transgender individuals throughout the life span. Using a cross-sectional design, 33 face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted which included questions regarding the presence and/or absence of sexual violence, the nature of said sexual violence, by whom sexual violences were committed, coping mechanisms used, and certain mental health indicators. Results found a high percentage of transgender individuals to have been victims of sexual violence during childhood, to use avoidance as a coping mechanism for said experiences, as well as the frequent recurrence of experiences of sexual violence, showing victimization processes. In addition, the relationship between said experiences and mental health indicators were observed. This study highlights the importance of and need for addressing sexual violence among this population, and discusses and analyzes possible components of future educative and clinical intervention strategies.

Promoción de recursos personales para la prevención del consumo abusivo de alcohol / No disponible

En este trabajo se presenta una reflexión teórica sobre las características específicas del consumo de alcohol en adolescentes españolesy sus implicaciones para el diseño de programas preventivos. A partir del análisis de un contexto sociocultural que normalizael consumo adolescente, la influencia de unas estrategias publicitarias de bebidas alcohólicas que coexisten con las campañas gubernamentales,regionales y escolares para prevenir el consumo, y la especificidad de un consumo que se realiza principalmente losfines de semana, con amigos, para divertirse y cada vez más, buscando deliberadamente la intoxicación etílica, se consideran diversosargumentos que ponen de relieve la necesidad de reorientar el diseño de las intervenciones preventivas hacia la potenciaciónde los recursos del propio adolescente, con el fin de poder afrontar mejor la influencia de los distintos agentes de socialización (AU)

This work offers a theoretical reflection upon the specific characteristics of alcohol consumption in Spanish adolescents and their implicationswhen designing preventive programmes. Based on the analysis of a sociocultural context that views adolescent consumptionas normal, the influence of advertising strategies for alcoholic beverages that coexist alongside governmental, regional andschool campaigns aimed preventing consumption, and the specificity of a consumption that takes place primarily at weekends, withfriends, for fun and often as an increasingly deliberate attempt to reach a state of alcohol intoxication, we present several differentarguments outlining the need to reorient the design of preventive interventions towards giving a more important role to the resourcesthat adolescents themselves have, in order to be able to better deal with the influence of the various socialising agents (AU)