Factors predicting mental health in youth during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Spain.

BACKGROUND: The first COVID-19 lockdown decreed in Spain by the government resulted in a significant disruption in the daily lives of youth that may have affected their mental health. The aim of this study was to identify factors that influenced youth mental health during this period. METHODS: Between March and May 2020, a sample of 1205 youths (age range 18-24 years) from across Spain completed a questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic, mental health, loneliness, coping with humour and healthy habits. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling. RESULTS: The proposed model showed good fit values, and significant variables explained 37% of mental health. loneliness, coping humour, healthy and unhealthy habits, and gender significantly predicted youth mental health. CONCLUSIONS: The consequences of the pandemic and confinement derived from COVID-19 seemed to be especially severe for youth, increasing their mental health vulnerability. It is recommended that evaluating the long-term effects of confinement on this population, the mental health needs they may have and the support resources that would help meet them in situations of isolation, paying special attention to females.

Loneliness and associated factors among older adults during COVID-19 lockdown in Spain.

Considering the health outcomes of loneliness, it is important to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for older adults to facilitate detection and intervention. The aim of this study was to examine loneliness among Spanish older adults during the first wave lockdown and associated factors, in comparison to younger adults. An online survey was completed by 3508 adults (401 aged 60 or above). Older adults felt higher social loneliness than younger adults, but lower emotional loneliness. Living alone, poor mental health, and poor healthy habits were related to higher loneliness for both age groups. The results suggest that loneliness should be an important factor in primary care, and prevention efforts should be taken, e.g., by generating open and safe community spaces and contexts for social interaction and promoting the access and ability to use technologies that maintain social connections.

What Factors Explain Family Quality of Life in Neurodegenerative Diseases?

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a major cause of dependency among elderly and affect the entire family unit. However, the literature has paid little attention to Family Quality of Life (FQOL) and focused on the patient and the main caregiver. The aim was to analyze the FQOL of people with NDs from a systemic perspective and to identify associated factors. A sample of 300 family caregivers from the cross-border region of Spain-Portugal completed the FQOLS - ND, which collected FQOL global and domain-level scores in terms of attainment and satisfaction. The highest rates of FQOL were obtained for the domain Family relations and the lowest for Support from services. The level of perceived barriers to social-health services emerged as the strongest predictor of global FQOL in all models. It is essential to reduce the obstacles to access social-health services and provide the family with resources according to their needs, especially in rural areas.

Human Tau Aggregates Are Permissive to Protein Synthesis-Dependent Memory in Drosophila Tauopathy Models.

Tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease, are characterized by progressive cognitive decline, neurodegeneration, and intraneuronal aggregates comprised largely of the axonal protein Tau. It has been unclear whether cognitive deficits are a consequence of aggregate accumulation thought to compromise neuronal health and eventually lead to neurodegeneration. We use the Drosophila tauopathy model and mixed-sex populations to reveal an adult onset pan-neuronal Tau accumulation-dependent decline in learning efficacy and a specific defect in protein synthesis-dependent memory (PSD-M), but not in its protein synthesis-independent variant. We demonstrate that these neuroplasticity defects are reversible on suppression of new transgenic human Tau expression and surprisingly correlate with an increase in Tau aggregates. Inhibition of aggregate formation via acute oral administration of methylene blue results in re-emergence of deficient memory in animals with suppressed human Tau (hTau)0N4R expression. Significantly, aggregate inhibition results in PSD-M deficits in hTau0N3R-expressing animals, which present elevated aggregates and normal memory if untreated with methylene blue. Moreover, methylene blue-dependent hTau0N4R aggregate suppression within adult mushroom body neurons also resulted in emergence of memory deficits. Therefore, deficient PSD-M on human Tau expression in the Drosophila CNS is not a consequence of toxicity and neuronal loss because it is reversible. Furthermore, PSD-M deficits do not result from aggregate accumulation, which appears permissive, if not protective of processes underlying this memory variant.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Intraneuronal Tau aggregate accumulation has been proposed to underlie the cognitive decline and eventual neurotoxicity that characterizes the neurodegenerative dementias known as tauopathies. However, we show in three experimental settings that Tau aggregates in the Drosophila CNS do not impair but rather appear to facilitate processes underlying protein synthesis-dependent memory within affected neurons.

Listening to families with a person with neurodegenerative disease talk about their quality of life: integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of a neurodegenerative disease (ND) produces profound changes in the quality of life of the affected families. Despite the vital importance of these processes, the scientific literature has addressed this topic almost exclusively relating to the main caregiver or using limited approaches. Thus, the main objective of this research is to achieve a deeper understanding of the quality of family life of people with a neurodegenerative disease, following a mixed-method approach that combines quantitative and qualitative methodology. METHODS: The quantitative instrument was the Spanish version of the Family Quality of Life Survey-Neurodegenerative Disease (FQOLS-ND), which was completed by 300 participating families. The qualitative methodology was used in two focus groups with family caregivers, with a total of 21 participants. RESULTS: On the one hand, confirmation of the dimensional structure of the scale in the focus groups was obtained and, on the other hand, the results of family quality of life in attainment and satisfaction were shown to be high for Family Relations and Careers and Planning for Careers and low for Support from Services and Leisure and Recreation. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study, through the combination of quantitative and qualitative information, helps to identify key issues to optimize services that respond to the priority needs of families.

Factors Related to Mental Health During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain.

The COVID-19 disease has forced governments to adopt exceptional measures. The lockdown decreed in Spain in 2020 required citizens to stay confined at home, which might have affected their mental health. The objective is to identify factors that influenced adults' mental health during this period. A sample of 3,508 adults from the Spanish general population completed an online survey that collected sociodemographic data and information about daily planning and activities, healthy habits, loneliness, coping humor and mental health. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. According to the results, the proposed model showed good fit values, and latent variables explained 30% of the variance in mental health. Loneliness, coping humor, healthy habits, age and gender had a significant weight in the prediction of mental health during lockdown. Area of residence, number of days of confinement and number of people in the household were not related to mental health. This study addresses the effect of COVID-19 and social distancing measures by identifying risk and protective factors for the development of mental health difficulties. There is a need to target specific and early interventions aimed at mitigating the psychological impact of the pandemic while increasing well-being, especially in more vulnerable groups.

Transcultural adaptation and psychometric properties of Family Quality of Life Survey for caregivers of people with neurodegenerative disease: a study of Spanish families who live in the rural Spain-Portugal cross-border.

BACKGROUND: Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are one of the main causes of disability and dependence that have a great impact both on the quality of life of people with disabilities and their families. A majority of people with NDs receive care and support from the family, but there is no tool in Spain with which to measure whole-family QOL. The aim of this study was the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the FQOLS-Dementia into Spanish to assess FQOL among family members of individuals with NDs who live in the Spain-Portugal cross-border area. METHOD: The Spanish version was translated and adapted following the international guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation tests. A sample of 300 family caregivers was interviewed, applying an adapted version of the Family Quality Survey (FQOLS-Dementia). Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to validate the factor structure, and convergent validity was examined with Pearson's correlation coefficients of the global FQOL with the domains. Internal consistency reliability was determined using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The domain structure of the FQOLS-ND showed a good fit. In the convergent validity, it was found that the total score and the subscale domain scores were associated with the global FQOL score, except for the Values domain. Internal consistency of nine domain subscales was strong (α = 0.80 to 0.91), and excellent for the total FQOL (α = 0.85) and the global FQOL (α = 0.87). CONCLUSION: The FQOLS-ND presented good validity and reliability in caregiver families with individuals with ND, so its application shows its usefulness in detecting areas of improvement and intervention strategies for FQOL in the Spain-Portugal cross-border area.

Adult Attachment, Conflict Resolution Style and Relationship Quality among Spanish Young-adult Couples.

The evidence of the interrelationships between adult attachment, conflict resolution style and relationship quality in couple relationships shows some inconsistencies and it is mostly based on English-speaking adult samples, as well as on individuals' rather than on both couple members' reports. Therefore, the aim was to examine the associations between adult attachment, conflict resolution style and relationship quality from a dyadic approach. A sample of 405 heterosexual young couples completed online the brief version of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Questionnaire, the respondent version of the Conflict Resolution Styles Inventory, and a 4-item measure of relationship quality. Avoidance attachment showed a stronger negative correlation than anxiety with relationship quality. Withdrawal and conflict engagement styles were more highly correlated with avoidance and anxiety, respectively. At a dyadic level, relationship quality was negatively predicted by actor avoidance attachment and positively predicted by partner relationship quality. No actor or partner effects of conflict resolution style on relationship quality were observed. Overall, partners with higher attachment anxiety and avoidance reported more dysfunctional conflict resolution styles and less satisfaction with the relationship.

Adult attachment style combination, conflict resolution and relationship quality among young-adult couples / Combinación de estilo de apego adulto, resolución de conflictos y calidad de la relación en parejas de adultos jóvenes

Abstract: The objective was to analyze whether romantic partners' conflict resolution style and perceived relationship quality are influenced by the dyadic configuration of adult attachment, specifically, by: a) attachment style matching; b) the number of couple members with a secure (vs. insecure) style. A sample of 405 Spanish heterosexual couples of young adults completed an online survey. Results showed no differences between couples with matched versus unmatched attachment styles. However, the presence of one or two members in the couple with a secure style was significantly associated with higher relationship quality and lower use of dysfunctional conflict resolution styles. In conclusion, for insecurely attached young adults, it is more beneficial to be in a relationship with a securely-attached partner than with a similarly-attached partner.

Resumen: El objetivo es analizar si el estilo de resolución de conflictos de los miembros de una pareja y la calidad de la relación percibida se ven influidos por la configuración diádica del apego adulto, específicamente, por: a) la coincidencia del estilo de apego; b) el número de miembros de la pareja con un estilo seguro (vs. inseguro). Una muestra de 405 parejas heterosexuales de adultos jóvenes españoles completó una encuesta en línea. No se encuentran diferencias entre parejas con estilos de apego coincidentes frente a no coincidentes. Sin embargo, la presencia de uno o dos miembros en la pareja con estilo de apego seguro se asoció significativamente con mayor calidad de la relación y menor uso de estilos de resolución de conflictos disfuncionales. En conclusión, para los adultos jóvenes con apego adulto inseguro, es más beneficioso tener una pareja con un estilo seguro que una pareja con un estilo de apego similar.

Research on childhood sexuality: limitations and recommendations / La investigación sobre sexualidad infantil: limitaciones y recomendaciones

Children may display behaviours and have feelings of a sexual nature. However, due to the paucity of research, society often fails to acknowledge developmentally appropriate sexual experiences in childhood, and there is no consensus on which behaviours are normative. The purpose of this article is to review empirical evidence on the sexuality of children up to 12 years old. Specifically, the article aims to describe the main conclusions of studies, as well as to analyse the knowledge gaps, the methodological shortcomings, and the resulting recommendations for future research. According to the findings, studies should pay more attention to thoughts and feelings related to sexuality, the children's perspective; normative, healthy sexual expressions; and the relevant sexual socialization factors. Both direct and indirect methods, quantitative and qualitative techniques, should be combined to enhance the richness and validity of findings. The article also presents ethical tips. In conclusion, there is a need to further examine childhood sexuality from a comprehensive and ecological approach that provides an empirical basis for the development of interventions in children's sexual health

Los niños pueden tener comportamientos y sentimientos de naturaleza sexual. Sin embargo, dada la escasa investigación científica, la sociedad a menudo no reconoce las experiencias propias del desarrollo sexual infantil, y no hay consenso sobre qué conductas son normativas. Por ello, el objetivo de este artículo es aportar una revisión de las evidencias empíricas disponibles sobre la sexualidad de los niños de hasta 12 años. Concretamente, se pretende describir las principales conclusiones alcanzadas en este campo, y analizar las lagunas de conocimiento y limitaciones metodológicas existentes, con las consiguientes sugerencias para futuras investigaciones. Los resultados indican que debe prestarse más atención a las cogniciones y sentimientos relacionados con la sexualidad, la perspectiva de los niños, las manifestaciones sexuales saludables y normativas, y los factores de socialización sexual relevantes. Se aconseja combinar métodos directos e indirectos, así como técnicas cuantitativas y cualitativas para una mayor riqueza y validez de los hallazgos. También se aportan consideraciones éticas. En conclusión, es necesario profundizar en la investigación de la sexualidad infantil desde una perspectiva integradora y ecológica que aporte una base empírica para el desarrollo de intervenciones en salud sexual infantil

Respuesta clínica al tratamiento con hormona de crecimiento en niños con retraso de crecimiento intrauterino sin recuperación posnatal de talla en Castilla y León / Clinical response to growth hormone in children with intrauterine growth retardation without catch-up growth in Castilla y León (Spain)

Introducción y objetivos: La hormona de crecimiento recombinante humana (rhGH) se utiliza en niños con crecimiento intrauterino retardado sin recuperación posnatal de talla. En 2010 se inició el Comité Asesor de Castilla y León para aplicar de forma homogénea los criterios de utilización de la rhGH. El objetivo es valorar la evolución antropométrica y clínica de niños sometidos a tratamiento. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, longitudinal, con pacientes de Castilla y León diagnosticados de crecimiento intrauterino retardado sin crecimiento recuperador a partir del año 2010, con al menos 3 años de tratamiento. Se evaluaron las modificaciones en diferentes parámetros antropométricos, clínicos y analíticos. Resultados: Se incluyeron 43 niños con una edad media de 6,06 años (58,14%<5 años), tratados con una dosis media de 0,038mg/kg/día. Se observó un aumento significativo en la talla (−3,05 hasta −1,58DE). El peso se incrementó durante todo el estudio, así como el IMC (14,51 hasta 15,80kg/m2). La velocidad de crecimiento alcanzó su pico máximo durante el primer año de tratamiento (0,74DE). Los valores de IGF-1 se incrementaron durante todo el estudio (99,96 hasta 392,88ng/ml). Se observaron incrementos significativos de la glucohemoglobina en el primer año y de la glucemia y de la insulinemia basal durante el segundo año, así como un descenso en el cociente LDL/HDL (1,70 hasta 1,50). Conclusión: El tratamiento con hormona de crecimiento favorece el crecimiento de niños con crecimiento intrauterino retardado, observándose su máximo efecto en los primeros 12 meses, siendo mayor si la edad de comienzo es anterior a los 5 años de edad

Introduction and objectives: Growth hormone (rhGH) is used in children with intrauterine growth retardation without catch-up growth. The Advisory Committee of Castilla y León was implemented in 2010 to watch for consistent application of the criteria for using rhGH. The aim is to assess anthropometric and clinical changes in children treated with growth hormone. Patients and methods: A retrospective, longitudinal study of patients diagnosed with intrauterine growth retardation without catch-up growth in Castilla y León since 2010 who have received treatment for at least 3 years. Changes in anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory parameters were assessed. Results: Forty-three children with a mean age of 6.06 years (58.14%<5 years) were enrolled and treated with a mean dose of 0.038mg/kg/day. A significant increase was seen in height (−3.05 to −1.58SD). Both weight and BMI (14.51 to 15.80kg/m2) increased throughout the study. Growth rate peaked during the first year of treatment (0.74SD). IGF-1 levels increased throughout the study (99.96 to 392.88ng/mL). There were significant increases in glycosylated hemoglobin levels in the first year, and in basal blood glucose and insulin levels during the second year. The LDL/HDL ratio decreased during the study period (1.70 to 1.50). Conclusion: Treatment with rhGH promotes growth in children with intrauterine growth retardation. Peak effect occurs in the first 12 months of treatment, and is greater when growth hormone is started before the age of 5 years

Clinical response to growth hormone in children with intrauterine growth retardation without catch-up growth in Castilla y León (Spain). / Respuesta clínica al tratamiento con hormona de crecimiento en niños con retraso de crecimiento intrauterino sin recuperación posnatal de talla en Castilla y León.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Growth hormone (rhGH) is used in children with intrauterine growth retardation without catch-up growth. The Advisory Committee of Castilla y León was implemented in 2010 to watch for consistent application of the criteria for using rhGH. The aim is to assess anthropometric and clinical changes in children treated with growth hormone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective, longitudinal study of patients diagnosed with intrauterine growth retardation without catch-up growth in Castilla y León since 2010 who have received treatment for at least 3 years. Changes in anthropometric, clinical, and laboratory parameters were assessed. RESULTS: Forty-three children with a mean age of 6.06 years (58.14%<5 years) were enrolled and treated with a mean dose of 0.038mg/kg/day. A significant increase was seen in height (-3.05 to -1.58SD). Both weight and BMI (14.51 to 15.80kg/m2) increased throughout the study. Growth rate peaked during the first year of treatment (0.74SD). IGF-1 levels increased throughout the study (99.96 to 392.88ng/mL). There were significant increases in glycosylated hemoglobin levels in the first year, and in basal blood glucose and insulin levels during the second year. The LDL/HDL ratio decreased during the study period (1.70 to 1.50). CONCLUSION: Treatment with rhGH promotes growth in children with intrauterine growth retardation. Peak effect occurs in the first 12 months of treatment, and is greater when growth hormone is started before the age of 5 years.

Impacto del consumo de tabaco sobre la mortalidad en España en el año 2012 / Smoking impact on mortality in Spain in 2012

Antecedentes y objetivo: El tabaquismo constituye un importante problema de salud pública, siendo una de las principales causas de morbimortalidad evitable y prematura. El objetivo del estudio es describir la mortalidad atribuible al consumo de tabaco en España en 2012, y compararla con resultados de años anteriores. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, realizado en población española de más de 18 años. Las fuentes de los datos fueron la encuesta nacional de salud 2011-2012 y las estadísticas vitales del Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Se calculó la proporción de muertes atribuibles al tabaco por sexo y grupo de edad a partir de la fracción etiológica poblacional. Asimismo, se calcularon los años potenciales de vida perdidos (APVP) y la media de años potenciales de vida perdidos (MAPVP). Resultados: La prevalencia global del tabaquismo en 2012 ha sido del 23,62%, y ha provocado 60.456 muertes. El 15,23% de las muertes ocurridas en España en 2012 son atribuibles al consumo de tabaco. El cáncer de tráquea-bronquios-pulmón en varones y otras cardiopatías en mujeres fueron las que más contribuyeron a dicha mortalidad. Los APVP fueron 184.426, y la MAPVP fue de 3,25 años en varones y de 2,42 en mujeres. Conclusiones: En el año 2012 han muerto al día 125 varones y 40 mujeres por causas atribuibles al consumo de tabaco. La prevalencia global del tabaquismo ha disminuido con respecto a años anteriores, mientras que el número y el porcentaje de muertes atribuibles al tabaquismo han aumentado en los últimos 20 años (AU)

Background and objective: Smoking is an important public health problem, and is one of the main avoidable causes of morbidity and early mortality. The aim was to estimate the mortality attributable to smoking and its impact on premature mortality in Spain in the year 2012. Patients and methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out on the Spanish population aged ≥ 18 years in 2012. The prevalence of smoking by age and sex was obtained from the National Health Survey 2011-2012, and the number of deaths by age, sex and cause was obtained from the vital statistics of the National Institute of Statistics. The proportion of deaths attributable to smoking was calculated according to sex and age group, from the etiological fraction of the population. Likewise, loss of potential years of life lost (PYLL) and the mean potential years of life lost (MPYLL) were also calculated. Results: In 2012, smoking caused 60,456 deaths which accounted for 15.23% of all deaths. Trachea-bronchial-lung cancer in men and other cardiopathies in women mostly contributed to this mortality. The PYLL were 184,426, and the MPYLL were 3.25 years in men and 2.42 years in women. Conclusions: In 2012, every day, 125 men and 40 women die from smoking-related conditions. The smoking prevalence has diminished in comparison with previous years and the number and percentage of deaths attributable to the smoking have increased in the last 20 years (AU)

Dating Violence among Youth Couples: Dyadic Analysis of the Prevalence and Agreement.

Although dating violence takes place within the context of a couple, there are few studies exploring how the prevalence data change when violence is reported by one partner or both, and to what extent partners agree about the existence of violence. The aim of this study is therefore to analyze and compare the reports about the prevalence of violence obtained from participants and their partners, together with interpartner agreement concerning victimization and perpetration of threats, physical, verbal-emotional and sexual violence. A total of 105 young heterosexual couples answered a questionnaire about victimization and the perpetration of violence in their relationship during the previous year. The results indicated that prevalence rates varied, depending on who reported the violence -the man, the woman or the couple- perhaps because interpartner agreement was low, except for the occurrence of verbal-emotional violence and the absence of physical violence. These findings suggest the need to develop more systematic research, especially through the use of reports from both members of the couple.

[Smoking impact on mortality in Spain in 2012]. / Impacto del consumo de tabaco sobre la mortalidad en España en el año 2012.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Smoking is an important public health problem, and is one of the main avoidable causes of morbidity and early mortality. The aim was to estimate the mortality attributable to smoking and its impact on premature mortality in Spain in the year 2012. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out on the Spanish population aged ≥ 18 years in 2012. The prevalence of smoking by age and sex was obtained from the National Health Survey 2011-2012, and the number of deaths by age, sex and cause was obtained from the vital statistics of the National Institute of Statistics. The proportion of deaths attributable to smoking was calculated according to sex and age group, from the etiological fraction of the population. Likewise, loss of potential years of life lost (PYLL) and the mean potential years of life lost (MPYLL) were also calculated. RESULTS: In 2012, smoking caused 60,456 deaths which accounted for 15.23% of all deaths. Trachea-bronchial-lung cancer in men and other cardiopathies in women mostly contributed to this mortality. The PYLL were 184,426, and the MPYLL were 3.25 years in men and 2.42 years in women. CONCLUSIONS: In 2012, every day, 125 men and 40 women die from smoking-related conditions. The smoking prevalence has diminished in comparison with previous years and the number and percentage of deaths attributable to the smoking have increased in the last 20 years.

Dating violence among youth couples: dyadic analysis of the prevalence and agreement

Although dating violence takes place within the context of a couple, there are few studies exploring how the prevalence data change when violence is reported by one partner or both, and to what extent partners agree about the existence of violence. The aim of this study is therefore to analyze and compare the reports about the prevalence of violence obtained from participants and their partners, together with interpartner agreement concerning victimization and perpetration of threats, physical, verbal-emotional and sexual violence. A total of 105 young heterosexual couples answered a questionnaire about victimization and the perpetration of violence in their relationship during the previous year. The results indicated that prevalence rates varied, depending on who reported the violence -the man, the woman or the couple- perhaps because interpartner agreement was low, except for the occurrence of verbal-emotional violence and the absence of physical violence. These findings suggest the need to develop more systematic research, especially through the use of reports from both members of the couple (AU)

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Comparison of multi-stage dose-response mixture models, with applications.

This article concerns the analysis of a stochastic model that we propose for the population that generates a response (response measure) to the dose with the multi-stage model. The parameter uncertainty is dealt with via random dose and random size of the population at risk. The response measure is modeled by a random sum of mixed Bernoulli random variables with arbitrary distribution for the mixing parameters. Some extensions of the model are defined by functionals of the infection probability, fulfilling some convexity properties. We analyze the response by stochastic comparisons under different stochastic relations on the random dosages and the random sizes of the population at risk; or on the random infection rates. We provide stochastic exact bounds of the mixture model for the response, using inequalities and the positive quadrant dependence. Numerical bounds of the response by a dose having a scalar value or having an exponential or uniform distributions are obtained. Some conclusions are derived: the lower estimation of the response measure in the increasing convex order sense by replacing the dosages by their means; effects of the variation of the dose on the magnitude of the probability distribution of the response; effects of parameter correlation on the degree of variability of the response to any random dose; the low-dose region assessment; and also, the classical multi-stage model is compared versus the mixture model featuring independence and versus that with positive quadrant dependence.

Vínculos afectivos en la infancia y calidad en las relaciones de pareja de jóvenes adultos: el efecto mediador del apego actual / Parental attachment in childhood and quality of the romantic relationships of young adults: the mediating effect of adult attachment

En este trabajo se persiguen dos grandes objetivos: a) conocer la asociación entre la vinculación afectiva con los padres en la infancia y la calidad percibida de las relaciones de pareja en la juventud; b) analizar el posible efecto mediador, en esa asociación, de la experiencia de apego adulto experimentado en la relación de pareja. En el estudio participaron de manera voluntaria 133 parejas heterosexuales (17-25 años). A través de un cuestionario on line, se evaluaron, en los dos miembros de la relación, la calidad de las relaciones con el padre y la madre en la infancia, el apego con la pareja actual (Ansiedad-Evitación), y la calidad percibida de la propia relación. Los resultados mostraron asociaciones significativamente positivas entre la vinculación afectiva en la infancia y la calidad de la relación, comprobándose además el efecto mediador del apego actual. Por último, se encontraron asociaciones negativas entre la ansiedad y evitación de cada miembro de la pareja y su propia experiencia relacional, y en algún caso, con la experiencia relacional del otro. Estos resultados se discuten en términos de la teoría del apego y su importancia de cara a la calidad de la relación de pareja

This paper has two main aims: firstly, to explore the relationship between parental attachment in childhood and perceived quality of romantic relationships in youth; secondly, to assess the possible mediating effect of adult attachment in the romantic relationship. A total of 133 heterosexual couples (ages 17-25) voluntarily participated in the study. An online questionnaire was applied to both partners to evaluate the quality of the relationships with the father and the mother in childhood, the attachment to partner (Anxiety-Avoidance), and the perceived quality of the romantic relationship. The results showed significant positive associations between parental attachment in childhood and the quality of the romantic relationship, which were mediated by the adult attachment to partner. Furthermore, negative associations were detected between anxiety and avoidance of each partner and their own relational experience (and the other’s relational experience, in some cases). These results are discussed in terms of attachment theory and their significance to the quality of the romantic relationship

Minors’ exposure to online pornography: Prevalence, motivations, contents and effects / La exposición de los menores a la pornografía en Internet: prevalencia, motivaciones, contenidos y efectos

En virtud del aumento de la disponibilidad de material pornográfico en Internet, ha surgido la necesidad de investigar las características y consecuencias de la exposición de los niños y adolescentes a este tipo de material. Partiendo de informes retrospectivos de una muestra de 494 estudiantes de la Universidad de Salamanca recogidos con una encuesta online, este estudio analiza la prevalencia y el grado de exposición de los menores a la pornografía en Internet, las razones de la exposición, los tipos de imágenes que ven, y las reacciones a dichas imágenes. Según los resultados, el 63% de los chicos y el 30% de las chicas presenciaron pornografía online durante su adolescencia. Un porcentaje mayor de varones lo hicieron alguna vez durante más de 30 minutos. Ambos sexos recuerdan haber presenciado imágenes variadas, incluidos contenidos de dominación, pornografía infantil y violación. Con mayor probabilidad, los chicos informan de un consumo deliberado de pornografía y de búsqueda de excitación sexual, mientras que las chicas recuerdan haberse visto expuestas involuntariamente. En uno de cada seis casos, la pornografía observada produjo un fuerte impacto. Los chicos recuerdan en mayor medida reacciones de excitación sexual y masturbación, y las chicas, de evitación, asco y preocupación (AU)

Since Internet has made pornographic materials more available, there is a need for more research on the characteristics and implications of children’s and adolescents’ exposure to such materials. This study examined the prevalence and extent of minors’ exposure to online pornography, the reasons for exposure, the types of images seen and the strong effects of exposure, as reported by college students. We used an online survey to collect retrospective reports of a sample of 494 students of the University of Salamanca. Results show that 63% of boys and 30% of girls were exposed to online pornography during adolescence. Boys are more likely to have ever been exposed for more than 30 minutes. Boys are more likely to report deliberate consumption and sexual excitement seeking, whereas girls are more likely to report involuntary exposure. Both genders remember viewing a variety of images, including contents of bondage, child pornography and rape. One in six of exposed participants remember strong reactions. While more boys report sexual excitement and masturbation, more girls report avoidance, disgust or concern (AU)