Pandemic Grief and Suicidal Ideation in Latin American Countries: A Network Analysis.

This study aimed to characterize the network structure of pandemic grief symptoms and suicidal ideation in 2174 people from eight Latin American countries. Pandemic grief and suicidal ideation were measured using the Pandemic Grief Scale and a single item, respectively. Network analysis provides an in-depth characterization of symptom-symptom interactions within mental disorders. The results indicated that, "desire to die," "apathy" and "absence of sense of life" are the most central symptoms in a pandemic grief symptom network; therefore, these symptoms could be focal elements for preventive and treatment efforts. Suicidal ideation, the wish to die, and the absence of meaning in life had the strongest relationship. In general, the network structure did not differ among the participating countries. It identifies specific symptoms within the network that may increase the likelihood of their co-occurrence and is useful at the therapeutic level.

Análisis psicométrico de dos versiones del Big Five Inventory-15 en estudiantes universitarios chilenos: estructura interna, invarianza de edición y asociación con bienestar subjetivo

El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar la estructura interna de dos versiones del Big Five Inventory-15 (BFI-15), invarianza de medición y su relación con el bienestar subjetivo en estudiantes universitarios chilenos. Participaron 1011 estudiantes (mujeres = 54.80 %; M edad = 21.55 años; DE edad = 2.11 años). Los resultados indican que la versión peruana del BFI-15 (BFI-15p) tiene indicadores más consistentes con relación a su estructura interna (e.g., cargas factoriales) en comparación a la versión alemana (BFI-15a), así como una estructura invariante entre hombres y mujeres, y una asociación significativa con las dimensiones del bienestar subjetivo. Finalmente, la confiabilidad del constructo y de las puntuaciones alcanzó magnitudes adecuadas. Se concluye que el BFI-15p presenta propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para su uso en universitarios chilenos.

O objetivo desta investigação foi analisar a estrutura interna de duas versões do Big Five Inventory-15 (BFI-15), invariância de medição e a sua relação com o bem-estar subjetivo em estudantes universitários chilenos. Participaram 1011 estudantes universitários (mulheres = 54.80%; M idade = 21.55 anos; DP idade = 2.11 anos). Os resultados indicam que a versão peruana do BFI-15 (BFI-15p) tem indicadores mais consistentes em relação à sua estrutura interna (por exemplo, cargas fatoriais) em comparação com a versão alemã (BFI-15a), bem como uma estrutura invariante entre homens e mulheres, e uma associação significativa com as dimensões do bem-estar subjetivo. Por fim, a confiabilidade do construto e das pontuações atingiram magnitudes adequadas. Conclui-se que o BFI-15p apresenta propriedades psicométricas adequadas para uso em estudantes universitários chilenos.

The purpose of this research was to analyze the internal structure of the Big Five Inventory-15 (BFI-15), measurement invariance and its association with subjective well-being, in Chilean college students. A sample of 1011 college students (female = 54.80%; M age = 21.55 years; SD age = 2.11 years) was used. Results showed the Peruvian version of BFI-15 (BFI-15p) has more consistent indicators regarding their internal structure (e.g., factor loadings) compared to the German (BFI-15a) version, an invariant structure between men and women, and a significant association with subjective well-being was found. Finally, the construct reliability and scores reliability reached adequate magnitudes. It is concluded that the BFI-15p has adequate psychometric properties for use in Chilean college students.

Cross-cultural invariance of the Spanish version of the COVID-19 Assessment Scorecard to measure the perception of government actions against COVID-19 in Latin America.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of a general measure of the perception of governmental responses to COVID-|19 (COVID-SCORE-10) in the general population of 13 Latin American countries. METHODS: A total of 5780 individuals from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries selected by non-probabilistic snowball sampling participated. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the alignment method was used to evaluate invariance. Additionally, a graded response model was used for the assessment of item characteristics. RESULTS: The results indicate that there is approximate measurement invariance of the COVID-SCORE-10 among the participating countries. Furthermore, IRT results suggest that the COVID-SCORE-10 measures with good psychometric ability a broad spectrum of the construct assessed, especially around average levels. Comparison of COVID-SCORE-10 scores indicated that participants from Cuba, Uruguay and El Salvador had the most positive perceptions of government actions to address the pandemic. Thus, the underlying construct of perception of government actions was equivalent in all countries. CONCLUSION: The results show the importance of initially establishing the fundamental measurement properties and MI before inferring the cross-cultural universality of the construct to be measured.

Assessment of Obsessive Thoughts About COVID-19 in 7 Latin American Countries: Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Obsession With COVID-19 Scale.

The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) among seven Latin American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Although the OCS has been used in several countries and languages, there is a need for approaches that better integrate the cross-cultural equivalence of the scale. A total of 3185 people participated in the study. The results indicated the presence of a unidimensional structure and good reliability indices for the OCS in each country. The alignment method indicated that the OCS is an invariant measure of COVID-19 obsession among the populations of seven Latin American countries. The findings based on IRT analysis indicated that all OCS items had adequate discrimination and difficulty parameters. The findings contribute to the understanding of the internal structure of the scale in different countries at the same time, something that has been pending evaluation.

Relationship Between Fear of COVID-19, Conspiracy Beliefs About Vaccines and Intention to Vaccinate Against COVID-19: A Cross-National Indirect Effect Model in 13 Latin American Countries.

The present study explored the predictive capacity of fear of COVID-19 on the intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and the influence in this relationship of conspiracy beliefs as a possible mediating psychological variable, in 13 Latin American countries. A total of 5779 people recruited through non-probabilistic convenience sampling participated. To collect information, we used the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Vaccine conspiracy beliefs Scale-COVID-19 and a single item of intention to vaccinate. A full a priori Structural Equation Model was used; whereas, cross-country invariance was performed from increasingly restricted structural models. The results indicated that, fear of COVID-19 positively predicts intention to vaccinate and the presence of conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines. The latter negatively predicted intention to vaccinate against COVID-19. Besides, conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines had an indirect effect on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 in the 13 countries assessed. Finally, the cross-national similarities of the mediational model among the 13 participating countries are strongly supported. The study is the first to test a cross-national mediational model across variables in a large number of Latin American countries. However, further studies with other countries in other regions of the world are needed.

Cross-cultural invariance of the Spanish version of the COVID-19 Assessment Scorecard to measure the perception of government actions against COVID-19 in Latin America

Abstract Objectives The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of a general measure of the perception of governmental responses to COVID--19 (COVID-SCORE-10) in the general population of 13 Latin American countries. Methods A total of 5780 individuals from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries selected by non-probabilistic snowball sampling participated. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the alignment method was used to evaluate invariance. Additionally, a graded response model was used for the assessment of item characteristics. Results The results indicate that there is approximate measurement invariance of the COVID-SCORE-10 among the participating countries. Furthermore, IRT results suggest that the COVID-SCORE-10 measures with good psychometric ability a broad spectrum of the construct assessed, especially around average levels. Comparison of COVID-SCORE-10 scores indicated that participants from Cuba, Uruguay and El Salvador had the most positive perceptions of government actions to address the pandemic. Thus, the underlying construct of perception of government actions was equivalent in all countries. Conclusion The results show the importance of initially establishing the fundamental measurement properties and MI before inferring the cross-cultural universality of the construct to be measured.

Research-related coursework and research experiences in doctor of pharmacy programs.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the research-related coursework and research experiences in doctor of pharmacy programs and compare the findings to those of 2 previous studies. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 88 colleges and schools of pharmacy in the United States and Puerto Rico. The survey instrument sought information on formal research-related coursework; required and elective research experiences; and perceptions of student-conducted research. RESULTS: Seventy-nine colleges and schools completed the questionnaire for a response rate of 88%. Most colleges (>90%) required students to study/complete courses in biostatistics and drug information/literature evaluation; approximately half required research methods coursework. Twenty-five percent required some form of project and requirements were not influenced by class size. Students could often work in teams to complete projects. Respondents generally thought participation in research had some value for motivated students. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the variability in extent of research-related coursework and research experiences in PharmD programs across the country.

Vacunacion con virus poliomielitico atenuado en una colectividad : Estudio controlado / Mass vaccination with attenuated poliomyelitis virus : Controlled study

The Journal of the American Medical Association, June 20, 1959 (English)

Genero y conflicto parental en Santa Cruz. El efecto sobre los hijos

1. El contexto sociocultural enfatiza la expresividad en las mujeres y las sitúa en el ámbito privado; asimismo, remarca la instrumentalidad en los hombres y los sitúa en el ámbito público. Esta diferenciación hace que la socialización de niñas y niños sea distinta. 2. Los niños y niñas presencian y/o saben de las discusiones de sus padres, y éstas les afectan de distinta manera. Las niñas, educadas para ser ser más receptivas a las expresiones de emociones, tienden a magnificar el problema y vivirlo con mucha intensidad. Los niños, educados en un rol más activo, tienden a involucrarse más en los problemas de sus padres, muchas veces intentando proteger a la madre. Tienden también a culpabilizarse por las peleas de sus padres, exponiéndose a sentimientos de inadecuación que pueden minar seriamente su autoestima y capacidad de enfrentarse a situaciones problemáticas en general. 3. Los padres tienden a permitir menos licencias en cuanto a lo considerado masculino que a lo considerado femenino. Esta adopci n al estándar tradicional será más extrema en los hombres mayores y los de mayor ingreso dentro de la familia 4. En las familias en las que los roles de género están más diferenciados, el conflicto parental es mucho más destructivo para los hijos que en las otras. Esto se acentúa cuando la mujer trabaja y lleva el peso de la casa sola