Use of the Therapy App Prescinde for Increasing Adherence to Smoking Cessation Treatment.

Tobacco use poses major health risks and is a major contributor to causes of death worldwide. Mobile phone-based cessation apps for this substance are gaining popularity, often used as a component of traditional interventions. This study aimed to analyze adherence to an intervention using a mobile phone application (App-therapy Prescinde (v1)) as a function of sociodemographic variables (age, gender, educational level, and profession) as well as the primary activities supported by the app (reducing tobacco or cannabis use and increasing physical exercise). The participants were recruited through the web pages of the Occupational Risk Prevention Service and the Psychology Clinic of the University of Granada during the COVID-19 confinement period. The application's contents include three components (self-report, motivational phrases, and goal setting). Our findings indicate that being male, being aged between 26 and 62, having a high school education, and being unemployed increase the likelihood of adherence to the Prescinde therapy app three months after usage. Our findings highlight the importance of developing new therapeutic approaches and conducting in-depth studies on the factors associated with adherence to tobacco cessation and cannabis cessation treatments via mobile phone applications.

Self-efficacy beliefs in managing positive emotions: Associations with positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction across gender and ages.

Two studies were carried out on a Spanish population to explore the extent to which different self-efficacy beliefs in managing positive emotions are associated with common indicators of wellbeing, such as positive and negative affect or life satisfaction. The first study was conducted on 483 participants and attested to the factorial structure of three different self-efficacy beliefs: (a) perceived self-efficacy in expressing positive emotions; (b) perceived self-efficacy in retrieving memories of positive emotional experiences; and (c) perceived self-efficacy in using humor. The second study was carried out on 1,087 individuals between 19 and 80 years of age, and it provided evidence of the factorial invariance of the scales across age and gender. Furthermore, this latter study showed the association of self-efficacy in managing positive affect (SEMPA) with high chronic positive and low negative affect, and with high life satisfaction, controlling for gender and age. In younger participants, stronger associations were found between perceived self-efficacy in using humor and life satisfaction compared to older subjects. These findings may guide the design of interventions aimed at enhancing the potential benefits that could be drawn from the proper management of positive emotions.

Impulsivity and Compulsivity and Their Relationship with Non-Adherence to Treatment in the Prison Population.

The main challenge of interventions in penitentiary institutions is the re-education and reintegration of inmates, i.e., that inmates have the intention and ability to live law-abiding lives. Therefore, an increase in self-control or, on the contrary, the decrease or elimination of impulsive versus compulsive behaviors becomes necessary. This study aimed to evaluate the role of impulsivity versus compulsivity in treatment adherence in the prison population. The study included 134 men from the Penitentiary Center of Granada who were divided into two groups. Group 1 was considered treatment adherent, and Group 2 was considered non-adherent to treatment. The following instruments were used: Symptom Inventory (SCL-90-R), Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI), Impulsivity Scale (UPPS-P), and Compulsive Belief Questionnaire (OBQ-44). Statistically significant differences were found in impulsivity in the dimensions of negative urgency, sensation seeking, and positive urgency, with higher scores in all cases for the non-adherent group than for the adherent group. We also found statistically significant differences in responsibility/inhibition, perfectionism/uncertainty, and importance/control, with higher scores for the non-adherent group compared to the adherent group. Treatment adherence is inversely related to impulsive and compulsive behaviors.

Gender Differences in Visuospatial Abilities and Complex Mathematical Problem Solving.

Mathematical problem-solving and spatial visualization are areas in which performance has been shown to vary with sex. This article describes the impact of gender on spatial relations measured in 331 secondary school students (202 males, 129 females), 145 (105 males, 40 females) of whom had been selected to participate in a mathematical talent stimulation project after passing a complex problem-solving test. In the two tests administered, the Differential Aptitude Tests-Space Relations (DAT-SR) and the Primary Mental Abilities-Space Relations (PMA-SR), performance was assessed on the grounds of both absolute scores and the ratio to the number of items answered. The students participating in the talent program earned higher scores on both tests, although no interaction was identified between mathematical abilities and gender in connection with the differences in spatial habilities observed. In PMA-SR, boys answered more items and scored higher, whereas in DAT-SR girls tended to omit more items. None of the indicators studied exhibited differences between the sexes in both tests and in some cases the differences in the absolute values of the indicators were absent when expressed as ratios.

Validation of a Spanish Questionnaire on Mobile Phone Abuse.

Mobile phone addiction has attracted much attention recently and is showing similarity to other substance use disorders. Because no studies on mobile phone addiction had yet been conducted in Spain, we developed and validated a questionnaire (Cuestionario de Abuso del Teléfono Móvil, ATeMo) to measure mobile phone abuse among young adults in Spanish. The ATeMo questionnaire was designed based on relevant DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and included craving as a diagnostic symptom. Using stratified sampling, the ATeMo questionnaire was administered to 856 students (mean age 21, 62% women). The MULTICAGE questionnaire was administered to assess history of drug abuse and addiction. Using confirmatory factor analysis, we found evidence for the construct validity of the following factors: Craving, Loss of Control, Negative Life Consequences, and Withdrawal Syndrome, and their association with a second order factor related to mobile phone abuse. The four ATeMO factors were also associated with alcoholism, internet use, and compulsive buying. Important gender differences were found that should be considered when studying mobile phone addictions. The ATeMo is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used in further research on mobile phone abuse.

Anxiety and psychological wellbeing in couples in transition to parenthood / Ansiedad y bienestar psicológico de la pareja en la transición a la paternidad

The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of anxiety and psychological well-being of couples in the transition to parenthood. A sample of 256 participants was divided into five groups: 54 "not seeking pregnancy", two groups seeking pregnancy, 50 "infertile that did not get pregnant" and 50 "infertile that achieves pregnancy", 50 "natural pregnancy", and 52 "fertile with children". State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Psychological Well-being in Couple Scale (EBP in Spanish) were used. The "infertile group that achieves pregnancy" gets the highest state-anxiety levels, even though regarding the anxiety-trait the group that is "not seeking pregnancy" shows the highest levels. Regarding psychological wellbeing in couples, the "natural pregnancy" group shows the lowest scores. These results demonstrate the possible functional role that anxiety-state in non-clinical levels can play in getting pregnant and confirm that psychological well-being in couple's relationship decreases only during pregnancy

El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el impacto de la ansiedad y el bienestar psicológico de la pareja en la transición a la paternidad. Una muestra de 256 participantes se dividió en cinco grupos: 54 "no buscan embarazo", dos grupos que buscan el embarazo, 50 "infértil que no consiguen embarazo" y 50 "infértil que logra el embarazo", 50 "embarazo natural" y 52 "fértil con niños". Se utilizó el Inventario de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo (STAI) y la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico de la pareja (EBP). El "grupo infértil que logra el embarazo" es el que tiene más altos niveles de ansiedad estado, aunque, en relación con la ansiedad rasgo, es el grupo que "no busca embarazo" el que muestra los niveles más altos. En cuanto al bienestar psicológico en la pareja, el grupo "embarazo natural" es el que muestra las puntuaciones más bajas. Estos resultados demuestran el posible papel funcional que la ansiedad estado en los niveles no clínicos puede jugar en el embarazo y confirma que el bienestar psicológico en la relación de pareja disminuye sólo durante el embarazo

Estados emocionales y afectivos en infertilidad: un estudio comparativo con personas fértiles / Emotional and affective states in infertility: a comparative study of fertile people

El objetivo del estudio es conocer el grado de ajuste emocional, afecto positivo y negativo y recursos adaptativos en pacientes infértiles en una fase anterior a la del tratamiento médico, así como la capacidad de expresión de emociones o alexitimia, y manifestaciones de ansiedad estado y rasgo, estableciendo además las posibles diferencias de sexo. El grupo experimental está constituido por 101 personas (50 hombres y 51 mujeres) que asistieron a una unidad de reproducción asistida para solicitar un estudio de fertilidad y el grupo control por 90 personas con hijos (36 hombres y 54 mujeres). El análisis de los resultados pone de manifiesto que las mujeres infértiles muestran mayores niveles de desajuste emocional, de ansiedad-estado y afecto negativo que las mujeres fértiles. También se ha encontrado que las mujeres infértiles muestran mayor desajuste emocional, ansiedad-estado, ansiedad-rasgo y afecto negativo que los hombres infértiles. Finalmente, el grupo de hombres en su totalidad presenta mayores niveles de alexitimia que las mujeres. Los resultados de esta investigación sirven para entender los procesos subyacentes a la enfermedad crónica de la infertilidad (AU)

The objective of this research is the assessment of emotional maladjustment, positive and negative affect and adaptive resources in infertile patients in a stage previous to medical treatment, as well as the ability to show emotions or alexithymia, and state and trait anxiety, establishing also the gender differences in those variables. The experimental group was formed by 101 patients with fertility problems (51 men and 50 women) who had requested a fertility study in a reproductive assistance center, and the control group was formed by 90 participants with children (36 men and 54 women) from general population. The results concluded that infertile women showed higher levels of emotional maladjustment, state-anxiety and negative affect than fertile women. It was also found that infertile women showed higher levels of emotional maladjustment, trait-anxiety, state-anxiety, and negative affect than infertile men. Finally, men exhibit higher levels of alexithymia than women. The results of this research help to understand the infertility underlying processes

Cronicidad de los trastornos del estado de ánimo: relaciones con actitudes ognitivas disfuncionales y con alteraciones de la personalidad / Chronicity of mood disorders: their relationship with dysfunctional cognitive attitudes and personality alterations

El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar la triple relación entre la cronicidad detrastornos del estado de ánimo, actitudes cognitivas disfuncionales y comorbilidadcon alteraciones de personalidad. Se esperaría que a mayor cronicidadse presentase mayor comorbilidad y mayores puntuaciones en actitudes disfuncionales.Participaron 37 pacientes ambulatorios diagnosticados con trastornosdepresivos asignados a dos grupos en función de la cronicidad de sudepresión. Se utilizaron los siguientes instrumentos: Inventario Clínico Multiaxialde Millon (MCMI-II) (1999), Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo deSpielberger (STAI) (1982), Inventario de Depresión de Beck (BDI) (1961) y Escala de Actitudes Disfuncionales de Weissman y Beck (DAS) (1978). De acuerdocon las hipótesis, no hubo diferencias entre los grupos en la Escala de ActitudesDisfuncionales y se encontró una alta comorbilidad entre trastornos depersonalidad y depresivos. Sin embargo, aunque la tendencia fue en la líneade lo esperado, no encontramos diferencias significativas entre grupos en latriple relación. Se cuestiona el alto grado de cronificación con que los pacientesson derivados a los Servicios Especializados de Salud Mental

The objective of this study was to assess the triple relationship between thechronicity of mood disorders, the co-morbidity with personality alterations andthe dysfunctional cognitive attitudes. The prediction is that the higher thechronicity the higher the probability of co-morbidity and the dysfunctional attitudesscores. A sample of 37 outpatients diagnosed with depressive disorderswas assigned to two different groups according to the chronicity of theirdepression. A number of self-report measures were administered: Millon’sClinical Inventory-II (MCMI-II) (1999), Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) (1982), Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI)(1961), and Weissman andBeck’s Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS) (1978). As hypothesized, therewere no between-group differences in the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale. Therewas a high co-morbidity between mood and personality disorders. However,no between-group differences were found in the triple relationship, althoughthe tendency was as expected. The high degree of chronicity of patients sentto specialized Mental Health Services is questioned

Efecto del tiempo de subida del estímulo acústico sobre la respuesta cardíaca de defenca y el reflejo motor de sobresalto / Effect of manipulating the risetime of an acoustic stimulus on two protective reflexes: cardiac defense and motor startle

El tiempo de subida es una característica paramétrica del estímulo que permite diferenciar entre reflejos psicofisiológicos. El objetivo del presente estudio fue examinar el efecto del tiempo de subida de un estímulo acústico en dos reflejos protectores: la respuesta cardiaca de defensa y el reflejo motor de sobresalto. 100 participantes realizaron una prueba de reactividad psicofisiológica ante cinco presentaciones de un estímulo auditivo intenso (ruido blanco de 105 dB) bajo una de cinco condiciones de tiempo de subida: 0, 24, 48, 96 y 240 milisegundos. La energía total del estímulo se mantuvo constante mediante el incremento de la duración base del estímulo (1.000 milisegundos) en un tercio del tiempo de subida. Los resultados indican que el tiempo de subida afecta significativamente al reflejo motor de sobresalto pero no a la respuesta cardiaca de defensa. La amplitud del sobresalto disminuye linealmente a partir de tiempos de subida superiores a 24 milisegundos. Por otra parte, la repetición del estímulo afecta significativamente a la respuesta cardiaca de defensa pero no al reflejo motor de sobresalto. Estos resultados cuestionan la diferenciación tradicional entre sobresalto y defensa basada en el tiempo de subida

The risetime is a parametric characteristic of the eliciting stimulus frequently used to differentiate among psychophysiological reflexes. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of manipulating the risetime of an acoustic stimulus on two protective reflexes: cardiac defense and motor startle. 100 participants underwent a psychophysiological reactivity test to five presentations of an intense acoustic stimulus (105 dB white noise) under one of five risetime conditions: 0, 24, 48, 96, and 240 ms. Total energy of the stimulus was controlled by increasing the base duration of the stimulus (1000 ms) by one third of the risetime. Results showed that risetime significantly affected motor startle but not cardiac defense. Startle amplitude decreased linearly with increasing risetime after 24 ms. On the other hand, repetition of the stimulus significantly affected cardiac defense but not motor startle. These results question the traditional differentiation between startle and defense based on risetime

Un nuevo instrumento para la evaluación de la ansiedad /fobia social: el “Cuestionario de interacción social para adultos” (CIO-A) / A new instrument for the assessment of social phobia/anxiety: The “Social Interaction Questionnaire for Adults” (CISO-A)

La ansiedad social constituye uno de los problemas psicológicos más frecuentes hoy día. Su diagnóstico y evaluación dependen de diversas medidas, especialmente entrevistas y cuestionarios. La mayoría de estas últimas pruebas se han originado en países de habla inglesa y su adaptación a países de habla española no ha sido muy cuidad en general. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido la elaboración de un nuevo cuestionario de ansiedad/fobia social utilizando situaciones sociales informadas por una variedad de sujetos a lo largo de seis años. De las más de 10000 situaciones recogidas inicialmente se construyó una versión inicial del “Cuestionario de interacción social para adultos” (CISO-A) con 512 ítems más 4 preguntas de sinceridad. El instrumento se pasó a 1573 sujetos de diversas regiones de España y con diferentes estudios. El análisis factorial exploratorio de la primera versión reducida del CISO-A, con 112 ítems, arrojó una estructura de cinco factores claramente definidos que explicaban el 45,5% de la varianza total: a) Situaciones de interacción con desconocidos, b) Falta de habilidad en el manejo de situaciones de interacción, c) situaciones de expresión de molestia, desagrado o enfado, d) Situaciones de hablar/actuar en público y relacionarse con superiores y e) situaciones de interacción con el sexo opuesto. El alfa de Cronbach era de 0.98. La prueba de fiabilidad de las dos mitades arrojó una puntuación de 0.98. Próximos estudios seguirán reduciendo y afinando aún más el CISO-A como un nuevo instrumento para la evaluación de la ansiedad/fobia social en adultos

Social anxiety is one of the most frequent psychological problems nowadays. Its diagnosis and assessment depend on different measures, particularly interviews and questionnaires. Most of these measures have been developed in English-speaking countries and their adaptation to Spanish-speaking countries has not been very accurate. The goal of this work has been the development of a new questionnaire of social phobia/anxiety using social situations reported by a variety of people during six years. From more than 10000 situations recollected, an initial version of the “Questionnaire of Social Interaction for Adults” (CISO-A) was built with 512 items plus 4 questions on sincerity. The instrument was applied to 1573 subjects from diverse Spanish regions and with different studies. Through diverse strategies (analysis f each individual item, exploratory factorial analysis, etc), the questionnaire was reduced to 112 items. A second exploratory factorial analysis of the first reduced version produced a structure of five clearly defined factors that explained 45,5% of the total variance: a) Interactions with strangers, b) Lack of skills in the management of social interactions, c) expression of annoyance, disgust or displeasure, d)speaking/performing in public and interactions with authority figures, and e) interactions with the opposite sex. Cronbach alpha was 0.98 for the reduced version. Split-half reliability was also 0.98. Further analyses will the necessary to establish the validity and utility of this new questionnaire assessing social phobia/anxiety

[Effect of manipulating the risetime of an acoustic stimulus on two protective reflexes: cardiac defense and motor startle]. / Efecto del tiempo de subida del estímulo acústico sobre la respuesta cardíaca de defensa y el reflejo motor de sobresalto.

Effect of manipulating the risetime of an acoustic stimulus on two protective reflexes: cardiac defense and motor startle. The risetime is a parametric characteristic of the eliciting stimulus frequently used to differentiate among psychophysiological reflexes. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of manipulating the risetime of an acoustic stimulus on two protective reflexes: cardiac defense and motor startle. 100 participants underwent a psychophysiological reactivity test to five presentations of an intense acoustic stimulus (105 dB white noise) under one of five risetime conditions: 0, 24, 48, 96, and 240 ms. Total energy of the stimulus was controlled by increasing the base duration of the stimulus (1000 ms) by one third of the risetime. Results showed that risetime significantly affected motor startle but not cardiac defense. Startle amplitude decreased linearly with increasing risetime after 24 ms. On the other hand, repetition of the stimulus significantly affected cardiac defense but not motor startle. These results question the traditional differentiation between startle and defense based on risetime.

La eficacia general como predictora de la cronicidad del consume de drogas / General efficacy as predictor of chronic substance use

El objetivo de este estudio es comprobar si existe relación entre algunas variables de personalidad y de tratamiento (autoeficacia general, autoeficacia social y número de intentos de tratamiento) con la cronicidad del consumo de drogas (alcohol, cannabis y cocaína). Para ello participaron en este estudio 175 drogodependientes policonsumidores (alcohol, cannabis y cocaína). Los sujetos comenzaba su tratamiento en 44 centros de trabamiento y rehabilitación en tres departamentos de Bolivia: La Paz, Cochabamba y Santa Cruz. Los instrumentos que se utilizaron fueron la Escala de Autoeficacia de Sherer et al. (1982), la y la , de López- Torrecillas (1996). Se encontró que la autoeficacia general interviene en la predicción de la cronicidad del consumo de alcohol, cannabis y cocaína. Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de incluir programas de intervención destinados a la modificación de esta variable psicológica

The goal of this study is to test the existence of a relationship among some variables of personality and treatment (general self-efficacy, social self-efficacy and number of treatment intents) with chronic sustance use (alcohol, cannabis and cocaine). They begun their treatment in 44 treatment and rehabilitation centers in three regions of Bolivia: La Paz, Cochabamba y Santa Cruz. The assessment instruments applied were the Self-efficacy Scale (Sherer et al., 1982) and the by López-Torrecilla (1996). The results show that General Self-efficacy mediates the prediction of chronic alcohol, cannabis and cocaine use. These results point to the need to develop intervention programs devoted to the modification of this psychological variable