The Coronavirus Anxiety Scale: Cross-national measurement invariance and convergent validity evidence.

Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) is a widely used measure that captures somatic symptoms of coronavirus-related anxiety. In a large-scale collaboration spanning 60 countries (Ntotal = 21,513), we examined the CAS's measurement invariance and assessed the convergent validity of CAS scores in relation to the fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S) and the satisfaction with life (SWLS-3) scales. We utilized both conventional exact invariance tests and alignment procedures, with results revealing that the single-factor model fit the data well in almost all countries. Partial scalar invariance was supported in a subset of 56 countries. To ensure the robustness of results, given the unbalanced samples, we employed resampling techniques both with and without replacement and found the results were more stable in larger samples. The alignment procedure demonstrated a high degree of measurement invariance with 9% of the parameters exhibiting noninvariance. We also conducted simulations of alignment using the parameters estimated in the current model. Findings demonstrated reliability of the means but indicated challenges in estimating the latent variances. Strong positive correlations between CAS and FCV-19S estimated with all three different approaches were found in most countries. Correlations of CAS and SWLS-3 were weak and negative but significantly differed from zero in several countries. Overall, the study provided support for the measurement invariance of the CAS and offered evidence of its convergent validity while also highlighting issues with variance estimation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Intervenciones de mHealthpara reducir el impacto del consumo de sustancias en jóvenes: una revisión sistemática / mHealthinterventions to reduce the impact of substance use on youths: a systematic review

El objetivo de la presente revisión sistemática fue examinar las características de las interven-ciones centradas en reducir el consumo de sustancias, sus potenciales consecuencias negativas o incrementar el uso de estrategias de protección en jóvenes impartidas a través de medios tecnológicos. Las intervenciones fueron categorizadas según el formato de implementación (i. e., mensajes, páginas webs o apps). Se identificaron 29 intervenciones. Las intervenciones por mensajes y páginas web impactaron positivamente en las tres variables dependientes analiza-das. Ninguna de las intervenciones por apps mostró cambios significativos. La mayoría de las in-tervenciones estuvieron dirigidas a estudiantes universitarios y centradas en el consumo de al-cohol. Esto destaca la necesidad de desarrollar y evaluar intervenciones dirigidas a población no-universitaria y centradas en sustancias diferentes al alcohol. La síntesis proporcionada po-dría ser útil para guiar el diseño de intervenciones mediadas por tecnologías para reducir el impacto del consumo de sustancias en jóvenes. (AU)

The aim of the present systematic review was to examine the characteristics of mHealth in-terventions focused on reducing substance use, negative consequences or increasing protective behavioural strategies use in young adult population. Interventions were categorized accord-ing to the format of implementation (i. e., messages, web page or apps). We identified 29 in-terventions. Interventions delivered by messages and web pages impacted on the three de-pendent variables analysed. None of the interventions delivered by app showed significant changes. Most of the interventions were intended for college students and focused on alcohol consumption. Our results stand out the need to develop and evaluate interventions for non-college population and focused on substances different to alcohol. The evidence provided could be a useful for designing mHealth interventions focused on reduce substance use among young people. (AU)

Alcohol consumption, alcohol expectancies, and drinking contexts in young Argentinean college students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a one-year follow-up study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns are known to affect alcohol consumption. This study examines drinking expectancies and contexts upon alcohol consumption of Argentinean students.Objectives: To assess within-person changes in alcohol consumption in Argentinean college students (aged 18-24), from August 2019 with a one-year follow-up during the COVID-19 lockdown, considering alcohol expectancies, drinking contexts, and main socio-demographic variables. To validate the stability of these predictors, we discuss the effects on the alcohol consumption across dependent and independent measures.Methods: We assessed one longitudinal (N = 300, 70% female) and one cross-sectional (N = 165, 78% female) sample via online surveys and applied multilevel analysis and regressions, respectively.Results: Alcohol consumption significantly increased during lockdown compared to one-year before (mean: 6.91 and 8.26 alcohol units, correspondingly). In the longitudinal sample, social facilitation (medium effect sizes [ES]: 0.21, 0.22) and parental presence (medium ES: 0.12, 0.21) significantly and stable (through time) predicted increasing effects on consumption. In the cross-sectional sample, stress control (high ES: 0.78) and parental presence (high ES: 0.42) were associated with higher consumption during lockdown.Conclusion: College students increased their alcohol consumption during lockdown, suggesting that restrictive sanitary measures may negatively affect consumption. Literature is not conclusive as both decreases and increases in alcohol consumption in students from developed countries were reported. Before and during COVID-19 lockdown, parental presence is a stable predictor of increased alcohol consumption, though unusual according to the literature. Health policies aimed at modifying the behavior of parents who promote/share alcohol consumption with their offspring may help reduce drinking in college students.

A longitudinal study on depression and anxiety in college students during the first 106-days of the lengthy Argentinean quarantine for the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The Argentinean quarantine is among the strictest and longest quarantines in the world. To determine if a worsening pattern on mental health would emerge with a prolonged quarantine duration, a longitudinal analysis pertaining to the lengthy mandatory Argentinean quarantine was conducted. AIM: To examine depression and anxiety changes in college students, as a function of quarantine duration, demographic and health-related factors, during successive time cuts of the lengthy mandatory quarantine in Argentina. METHODS: We used a longitudinal design, N = 1492 college students. For the first measurement, successive samplings were carried out across quarantine sub-periods of up to 106-days duration. The follow-up was one month later. RESULTS: Particularly women, young, and having a history of mental disorder and suicidal behavior, were more depressed and anxious under mandatory restrictive quarantine conditions. Repeated measures of both depression and anxiety scores remained constantly high during the more restrictive quarantine sub-periods of up to 13 and 53-days duration, and decreased during the less restrictive quarantine sub-period of up to 106-days duration, but with small effect sizes (0.10-0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Restrictive quarantine has negative effects on mental health outcomes. Partial spontaneous remissions of depression and anxiety symptoms may be expected with further quarantine relaxations.

Análisis factorial confirmatorio de la Escala de Dificultades en la Regulación Emocional Estado en una muestra argentina / Confirmatory Factor Analysis of State Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale in an Argentine Sample

Resumen La desregulación emocional es un constructo multidimensional determinado por formas poco adaptativas de responder frente a las emociones. Las personas adultas emergentes (i.e., entre 18 y 25/30 años de edad), particularmente universitarias, son vulnerables a involucrarse en comportamientos riesgosos en contextos emocionales. La Escala de Dificultades en la Regulación Emocional Estado (S-DERS) resulta adecuada para medir dimensiones de desregulación emocional momentánea en esta población; sin embargo, no se conocen estudios confirmatorios de su estructura factorial ni estudios de adaptación al idioma español. El objetivo del presente estudio fue examinar las propiedades psicométricas de la S-DERS. Se evaluaron 178 adultos emergentes universitarios argentinos (18-28 años; 53.9% mujeres; Medad= 22.03; DE ±2.06). Se analizó la estructura y la consistencia interna del modelo original (S-DERS; cuatro factores: aceptación, conciencia, claridad y modulación) y un modelo alternativo (S-DERS-R; 3 factores) sin el factor claridad. Ambos modelos presentaron un ajuste satisfactorio de su estructura factorial y valores aceptables de consistencia interna, a excepción de la subescala claridad. Mayormente, para las subescalas aceptación y modulación y puntajes totales de ambos modelos, se obtuvieron evidencias de validez convergente con dos escalas de desregulación emocional rasgo concurrente con una escala de afecto positivo y negativo y predictiva con una medida de activación emocional. Los resultados muestran propiedades psicométricas adecuadas. S-DERS-R, que prescinde del factor claridad, mejora el ajuste y mantiene valores de consistencia interna aceptables respecto a S-DERS. Se espera que este instrumento sea útil en estudios transversales y longitudinales de la desregulación emocional estado en universitarios.

Abstract: Emotion dysregulation is a multidimensional construct determined by maladaptive ways of responding to emotions. Emerging adults (i.e., aged from 18 to 25/30), particularly college students, are vulnerable to involvement in risky behaviors under emotions. The State Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (S-DERS) became suitable to measure facets of momentary emotion dysregulation in this population; however, there are no confirmatory studies or studies of adaptation to the Spanish language. The aim of this study was to examine psychometric properties of S-DERS. A sample of 178 Argentine emerging college-age adults was evaluated (18-28 years old; 53.9% women; Mage= 22.03; DE ± 2.06). Internal structure and consistency of the original model (i.e., S-DERS; four factors: Nonacceptance, Awareness, Clarity, Modulation) and an alternative model without Clarity (i.e., S-DERS-R; three factors) was analyzed. Both models presented a factor structure with satisfactory fit and acceptable values of internal consistency, with the exception of the Clarity subscale. Mainly to Nonacceptance and Modulation subscales, we observed evidence of convergent validity with two-trait emotion dysregulation scales, concurrent validity with a positive and negative affect scale, and predictive validity with an emotion arousal measure. Results show suitable sychometric properties. The S-DERS-R model (i.e., without Clarity factor) improves the model fit and maintains acceptable internal consistency values with respect to the S-DERS model. This instrument is expected to be useful in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of state emotion dysregulation in college students.

A Longitudinal Study on the Changes in Mental Health of Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: This study examines Argentinean health care workers in order to 1) test self-perceived job performance levels and the presence of psychological symptoms compatible with common mental disorders, and 2) examine within-person changes in general discomfort and psychological distress, adjusting for demographic factors, region, and health-related factors during two time points of the COVID-19 pandemic.Method: This longitudinal study comprised 305 healthcare workers who completed a survey at two time points approximately 4 months apart. We used the General Health Questionnaire and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale to measure mental health outcomes. To address the first aim we calculated differences (Student's t test for paired samples) and correlations (Pearson's r coefficient). To address the second aim we used fixed effects model by means of a multilevel approach, a linear model that considers dependency in the data.Results: Self-perceived job performance deteriorated across time. From the first measurement to the four-month follow-up, more health care workers presented common mental disorders (40% vs 45.57%), depression, and/or anxiety (52.46% vs 62.62%). A meaningful worsening of mental health was observed in healthcare workers who expressed concern about being infected with COVID-19, whether asymptomatic (greater general discomfort and psychological distress) or symptomatic (greater general discomfort). Likewise, there were significant interactions between a history of mental disorder and concern about COVID-19 infection.Conclusions: Among healthcare workers, the uncertainty about the COVID-19 infection may have larger negative mental health impacts than actually being infected.

Levels and predictors of depression, anxiety, and suicidal risk during COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina: the impacts of quarantine extensions on mental health state.

This research is aimed to: analyze differences in mental health state (MHS) indicators (depression, state-anxiety, trait-anxiety, and suicidal risk), during three quarantine sub-periods (starting since the first quarantine extension); assess multiple relationships between each MHS indicator and potentially affecting factors. We used a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample including 1100 participants. Data were collected online. Depression revealed a worsening pattern as quarantine sub-periods went by. Anxiety (both state and trait), just like suicidal risk, partially follow such a pattern, with mean scores increasing from the first to the second/third quarantine extensions, but then maintaining to the fourth extension. Predictors having protective effects on almost all the MHS indicators were: availability of current economic income (except for state-anxiety, without significant effect) and absence of suicide attempt history. Conversely, sex (woman), younger age, and mental disorder history had an increasing risk effect on all the MHS indicators. Overall, our findings indicate that quarantine have negative mental health impacts and that quarantine duration is a relevant aspect to be taken into account when measuring such an impact. More attention needs to be paid to vulnerable groups such as the young, women, and people with history of mental disorder.

Changes in Healthcare Workers' Anxiety During Two Time Points of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From a Longitudinal Study.

Evidence on the within-person changes of healthcare workers' mental health across waves of COVID-19 cases during this pandemic is absent. The aim of this study is to examine the within-person changes of anxiety in Argentinean healthcare workers, adjusting for main demographic factors, region of residence, mental disorder history, and COVID-19 contagion, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A longitudinal web survey (N = 305) was conducted during two time points of the pandemic, one of which was an infection peak. Anxiety significantly increased across time. However, there were significant interaction effects modulating anxiety levels. The largest anxiety increases occurred in healthcare workers who were not sure if they had contracted COVID-19 while symptomatic. Irrespective of the time point, anxiety was the highest in healthcare workers from a region inside the country who were not sure if they had contracted COVID-19, either asymptomatic or symptomatic. An interaction effect between the mental disorder history and the COVID-19 contagion suggested that the anxiety outcomes were mainly due to the concern about the COVID-19 contagion, rather than due to pre-existing mental health vulnerabilities. Regardless of the starting point in anxiety levels, an increasing anxiety outcome may be expected among healthcare workers as the pandemic progresses. The uncertainty regarding COVID-19 contagion is a preventable and modifiable interacting factor to produce the worst anxiety outcomes among healthcare workers.

Suicidal risk and impulsivity-related traits among young Argentinean college students during a quarantine of up to 103-day duration: Longitudinal evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM: This study aimed to examine longitudinal changes on suicidal risk levels, adjusting for impulsivity-related traits, quarantine duration, main demographic factors, mental disorder history, and loneliness, in young Argentinean college students with (ideation; attempt) and without suicidal behavior history, during a quarantine of up to 103-day duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A longitudinal design with two-repeated measures was used (N = 1202). Follow-up was a month later from the first measurement. Three groups were analyzed: with suicidal ideation history, with suicide attempt history, and without suicidal behavior history. RESULTS: Percentages of college students with high or moderate suicidal risk were alarming (accumulated: 62.23% first measurement, 57.65% second measurement). Multilevel analysis on the three groups showed that suicidal risk diminished from the first measurement to the follow-up, having mental disorder history predicted higher suicidal risk, and negative urgency had the largest increasing effects on suicidal risk which persisted over time. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal risk widely affects college students during lengthy quarantines of the COVID-19 pandemic and it should be tracked in those having pre-existing vulnerabilities, but also in those without. Education on managing negative emotions may help decrease suicide risk in college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental Health Impacts in Argentinean College Students During COVID-19 Quarantine.

Background: We aimed to: (1) analyze differences in both general (in terms of psychological well-being/discomfort, social functioning and coping, and psychological distress) and specific (depression, trait-anxiety, negative alcohol-related consequences, and suicidal risk) mental health state (MHS) in college students, residing in four different Argentinean regions (center, north, south, and the most populated) exposed to different spread-rates of the COVID-19; (2) analyze between-group differences in both general and specific MHS indicators at four quarantine sub-periods (twice prior, and twice following the first quarantine extension). Methods: We used a cross-sectional design with a convenience sample including 2,687 college students. Data was collected online during the Argentinean quarantine. We calculated one-way between-groups ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test. Results: Regionally, the center and the most populated area differed in psychological well-being/discomfort and negative alcohol-related consequences, but not in the remaining MHS indicators. According to the quarantine sub-periods, there were differences in psychological well-being/discomfort, social functioning and coping, psychological distress, and negative alcohol-related consequences. Negative alcohol-related consequences were the only MHS indicator improving over time. For all of the remaining MHS indicators, we found a similar deterioration pattern in the course of time, with mean scores decreasing from the first to the 2nd week of the quarantine pre-extensions, then increasing toward the 1st week of the quarantine post-extension (with some MHS indicators reaching mean scores worse than the start), and then continued to increase. Conclusion: A worsened mean MHS during quarantine suggests that quarantine and its extensions contribute to negative mental health impacts.

Longitudinal evidence on mental health changes of college students with and without mental disorder background during the Argentina's lengthy mandatory quarantine.

This study examined the changes in the mental health state of college students with and without mental disorder background, during successive time cuts of the Argentina's lengthy mandatory quarantine, while adjusting for quarantine duration, sex, age, suicidal behavior history, loneliness, and region of residence. We used a longitudinal design (N = 1615, 26% with mental disorder history). Successive samplings were performed from three days before quarantine start and across quarantine phases of up to 103-days duration. Follow-up was one month later. Sex (woman) and age (younger) were significant predictors of worse mental health only in college students without mental disorder background. Having any suicidal behavior background significantly predicted worse mental health in college students both with and without mental disorder history. Loneliness and region of residence were not statistically significant. In the between-groups comparisons, college students having mental disorder background had worse mental health than those without such a background. However, in the within-subject comparisons, no statistically significant changes occurred across time in the mental health of college students having mental disorder history. Conversely, significant changes occurred in those without such a background, but only when the interaction between time and quarantine duration was considered. Worsening mental health occurred during the most heavily restrictive quarantine phases, while some of the remissions occurred during the longest, but less restrictive ones.

Lithium in drinking water, altitude, and suicide rates in rural areas of Argentinean Andes.

The Lithium Triangle in the Andean plateau involves high altitude (>3,000 m asl) hydrological systems having high lithium graded waters. This research was carried-out in rural areas of north westernmost Argentinean Andes and was aimed: 1) to determine concentrations of lithium in drinking waters; 2) to calculate suicide mortality rates based on available official data (2003-2013); 3) to analyze bivariate differences between lithium concentrations in drinking water, mean rates of suicide mortality, altitude of sampling sites, and water sources; 4) to analyze bivariate correlations between lithium concentrations in drinking water, mean rates of suicide mortality, and altitude; 5) to test predictive models for mean rates of suicide mortality, when considering the predictors lithium concentrations in drinking water, altitude, and water sources. Lithium determinations in drinking waters were performed by Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometer. Nonparametric tests were applied to analyze differences and correlations. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to fitting models for mean rates of suicide. Drinking waters contained up to 2.98 mg L-1 of lithium. Mean rates of suicide mortality (per 100,000 inhabitants) were high, ranging from 19.12 (± 19.83) to 30.22 (± 16.70). Lithium but not altitude was positively correlated with suicide mortality when analyzing bivariate correlations (Li: rho = 0.76, p-value < 0.001). However, when GLM were calculated, a significant interaction effect was found between lithium and altitude (p-value < 0.001). This interaction effect would act in some way restraining the suicide mortality rates.

Altitude and latitude variations in trait-impulsivity, depression, anxiety, suicidal risk, and negative alcohol-related consequences in Argentinean adolescents.

The aims of this research were threefold: 1) to analyze mental health state both general (GMHS, i.e., self-perceived health and psychological distress) and specific (SMHS; i.e., depression, trait-anxiety, negative alcohol-related consequences, and suicidal risk), and impulsivity-related traits (i.e., negative urgency, positive urgency, [lack of] perseverance, [lack of] premeditation, and sensation seeking) in a sample of Argentinean adolescent college students, in function of sex (women, men) and three different altitude-latitude regions (high-north, middle-center, low-south), for identifying common and specific features; 2) to analyze relationships between impulsivity-related traits and indicators of GMHS and SMHS, in the entire sample and in each altitude-latitude region, for understanding the importance of impulsivity-related traits in these forms of mental disorders; and 3) to analyze bivariate relationships between depression, trait-anxiety, negative alcohol-related consequences, and suicidal risk, in the entire sample and considering the three altitude-latitude regions, for testing two-disorder comorbidities. Scores on impulsivity-related traits differed by sex and by altitude-latitude region. GMHS and SMHS differed by sex but not by altitude-latitude region. Several relationships were found between impulsivity-related traits, GMHS, and SMHS as well as between indicators of SMHS. Some of these relationships were dependent on altitude-latitude regions, and implications of these findings were discussed.

Argentine validation of the Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (CFC-14) / Validación argentina de la escala de Consideración de las Consecuencias Futuras (CFC-14)

Abstract Consideration of future consequences is the extent to which people anticipate and are influenced by the potential future consequences of their current behavior. A well-established tool to measure this behavior is the 14-item Consideration of Future Consequences Scale (CFC-14). The CFC-14 has shown appropriate psychometric properties in several languages. This scale comprises two factors: the CFC-Immediate (CFC-I, 7 items) and the CFC-Future (CFC-F, 7 items). The main goal of this study was to assess the psychometric properties and internal consistency of the CFC-14 Scale in Spanish, using an Argentine sample. A second goal was to determine its convergent validity with impulsivity, and determine differences and invariance across gender and age groups. Using a web-based survey, data were collected from 512 participants (75.2% women) aged 13-74 years (M = 30.8). CFA showed a two-factor model as the best solution for the 13-items version (CFI .961, TLI .952, RMSEA .064 90%IC .054/.074, WRMR 0.979). Standardized regression weights (p ≤ .05) ranged from .50 to .66 for CFC-F and between .43 and .83 for CFC-I. Composite reliability was also adequate: CFC-F achieved p = .80 and CFC-I p = .82. There were no differences across gender and age, but there was a progressive invariance between these groups. The CFC-F and UPPS-P subscales correlations were negative and significant, highlighting the negative and moderate correlation between CFC-F and the lack of premeditation (r=-.41). Thus, CFC-14 has adequate psychometric properties in an Argentine population, although more studies are necessary to determine the robustness of these findings.

Resumen La consideración de las consecuencias futuras se define como el grado en el cual las personas anticipan y son influenciadas por las potenciales consecuencias futuras de su comportamiento actual, y una herramienta muy utilizada para medirla es la Escala de Consideración de las Consecuencias Futuras (CFC-14). Esta escala ha exhibido propiedades psicométricas adecuadas en varios idiomas y se encuentra conformada por dos factores: CFC-Inmediato (CFC-I, 7 ítems) y CFC-Futuro (CFC-F, 7 ítems). El objetivo principal de este estudio fue evaluar las propiedades psicométricas y la consistencia interna de la versión en español de la CFC-14 en una muestra argentina, además de identificar las evidencias de validez convergente con la Escala de Impulsividad y la invarianza en función del género y la edad de los participantes. Para esto, se evaluó mediante una encuesta online a 512 participantes (75.2 % mujeres) de 13 a 74 años (M = 30.8) y se realizó un AFC en el que se encontró un modelo de dos factores como aquel con mejor ajuste para una versión de la escala de 13 ítems (CFI = .961; TLI = .952; RMSEA = .064; IC 90 % = .054-.074; WRMR = 0.979). Específicamente, los pesos de regresión estandarizados (p ≤ .05) fueron de .50 a .66 para CFC-F y de .43 a .83 para CFC-I; los valores de confiabilidad compuesta fueron adecuados, con un p = .80 para CFC-F y un p = .82 para CFC-I; no se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en función del sexo y la edad de los participantes, no obstante, hubo una invarianza progresiva entre estos grupos; y las correlaciones entre las subescalas de la Escala de Impulsividad (UPPPS-P) y la CFC-F fueron negativas y significativas, siendo llamativa la correlación negativa y moderada entre la falta de premeditación y la CFC-F (r = -.41). De este modo, la CFC-14 mostró propiedades psicométricas adecuadas en una muestra argentina, aunque se necesita de más estudios para determinar la robustez de estos resultados.

[Temporal, socio-demographic and diagnostic profile of psychologically assisted cases at an Emergency Medical Service - Jujuy.] / Perfil temporal, sociodemográfico e diagnóstico de casos atendidos psicológicamente en Servicio de Guardia general - Jujuy.

AIM: The objective of this study was to know temporal, socio-demographic and diagnostic features of psychologically assisted patients at the General Emergency Service of the major hospital in Jujuy. METHODS: The study was transversal (01/20/2018 to 09/13/2018). Temporal, socio-demographic and diagnostic variables (according to ICD-10) were analyzed in 657 cases. For data analysis RStudio was used. Frequencies and descriptive statistics were reported. We evaluated differences in age according to sex (women-men) and according to age categories (adolescents-adults) with Wilcoxon Test, and differences in diagnostic clusters according to sex and age with Kruskal-Wallis Test. The type I error was set at ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Cases assisted during weekends prevailed. From the total, 57.53% were women. The mean age in both sexes was 34.35 years (±15.08; Median = 32). A decreasing pattern of cases from younger to older age groups were found. There were no differences in age according to sex (p-value = 0.22), but they were differences according to age categories (p-value < 0.001). Cases with single marital status and employment were prevalent. The prevalent general diagnostic groups were: Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (31.51%); Disorders due to psychoactive substance use (12.48%); Intentional self-harm (10.20%); Assault (9.59%). CONCLUSIONS: We present the first diagnostic profile of mental health emergency-assisted casuistry in Jujuy. We highlight the need to design prevention strategies for alcohol and other psychoactive substances related disorders, aimed primarily at adolescents and young people. We discuss further implications of the results.

Objetivo: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo conocer características temporales, sociodemográficas y diagnósticas de usuarios asistidos psicológicamente en el Servicio de Guardia general del principal hospital de Jujuy. Métodos: El estudio fue transversal (20/01/18 al 13/09/18). Se analizaron variables temporales, sociodemográficas y diagnósticas (según la CIE-10) en 657 casos. Para los análisis de datos se usó RStudio. Se informaron frecuencias y estadísticos descriptivos. Se evaluaron diferencias en edad según sexo (mujeres-varones) y según categorías de edad (adolescentes-adultos) con prueba de Wilcoxon y diferencias en agrupaciones diagnósticas según sexo y edad con prueba de Kruskal-Wallis. El error tipo I se fijó en ≤ 0.05. Resultados: Prevalecieron los casos asistidos durante fines de semana. Del total, el 57.53% fueron mujeres. La media de edad en ambos sexos fue de 34.35 años (±15.08; Mediana = 32). Hubo un patrón decreciente de casos desde franjas etarias menores a mayores. No hubo diferencias en edad según sexo (p-valor = 0.22), pero sí según categorías de edad (p-valor < 0.001). Prevalecieron casos con estado civil soltero y ocupación laboral. Las agrupaciones diagnósticas generales prevalentes fueron: Trastornos neuróticos, relacionados con el estrés y somatomorfos (31.51%); Trastornos debidos al uso de sustancias psicoactivas (12.48%); Lesiones autoinfligidas intencionalmente (10.20%); Agresiones (9.59%). Conclusiones: Se presenta el primer perfil diagnóstico de casuística asistida por urgencias en salud mental en Jujuy. Se destaca la necesidad de diseñar estrategias de prevención para trastornos relacionados con alcohol y otras sustancias, dirigidas principalmente a adolescentes y jóvenes. Se discuten otras implicancias de los resultados presentados.

Is unemployment less important than expected for suicide attempted in developing regions? Occupational profile of suicide attempts in Jujuy, north westernmost Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Mental health practices consider unemployment as a suicide main risk factor, based on models built for populations of developed countries. AIM: This study assesses the association between the occupational risk factor and suicidal behaviors, by considering sex, age and temporal distribution, in a Latin American Andean population from north westernmost Argentina. METHODS: Data include 481 suicide attempt cases assisted by emergency service psychologists at a head hospital in the Jujuy Province, northern Argentina, during two biennials. General categories and specific types of occupational situation, sex, age and temporal distribution were analyzed. RESULTS: 83.58% of cases corresponded to the with occupation category, but without occupation characterized male cases (p-value = .01). The type no referred occupation (19.15%) mainly contributed to this association (p-value = .02). Unemployed only represented 1.6%. These features revealed independent from the biennial period of assistance (p-value = .96 (general), p-value = .86 (specific)). Associations by age ranges did not seem to be specific of suicidal attempts. CONCLUSION: The present contribution provides an occupational characterization of suicide attempts in an Andean population from north westernmost Argentina. Unemployment is not associated with suicidal behavior in this population, suggesting that dissimilar patterns underlie suicidal behavior of populations from developed and developing regions.

General Mental Health State Indicators in Argentinean Women During Quarantine of up to 80-Day Duration for COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: Argentinean quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most long-lasting worldwide. We focused on the first 80-days of this quarantine on Argentinean women. Our aims were to analyze differences in general mental health state (MHS) indicators, by the (1) sites of residence with different prevalence of COVID-19 cases, and (2) quarantine duration; (3) to assess multiple relationships between each general MHS indicator and potentially affecting factors. Methods: We used a cross-sectional design with convenience successive sampling (N = 5,013). The online survey included a socio-demographic questionnaire (elaborated ad hoc) with standardized and validated self-reported questionnaires (General Health Questionnaire, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) measuring the MHS indicators: self-perceived health, psychological discomfort, social functioning and coping, and psychological distress. Results: Worse self-perceived health and higher psychological discomfort affected significantly more women residing in sites with high prevalence of COVID-19 cases, compared to those residing in sites with intermediate prevalence, but effect sizes were small. Mean scores of all general MHS indicators were significantly worse for longer quarantine sub-periods (up to 53, 68, and 80-day duration) than for shorter sub-periods (up to seven, 13, and 25-day duration). Being a younger age, having mental disorder history, and longer quarantine durations were associated to worsening MHS, while the lack of previous suicide attempt has a protective effect. Discussion: Our findings show that a worse MHS during quarantine may not be attributed to the objective risk of contagion (measured greater or less), and under quarantine, women MHS-as indicated by group central tendency measures-got worse as time went by. This strongly suggests that special attention needs to be paid to younger women and to women with history of mental disorder. Along with physical health, mental health must be a priority for the Government during and after quarantine and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Does social status matter for resource distribution? / A hierarquia social é importante para a distribuição dos recursos? / ¿La jerarquía social es importante para la distribución de los recursos?

Abstract Resources are distributed unequally depending on the social status (SS) of people. Researchers have often used experiments to explain the role of SS in economic decisions. However, the diverse ways of inducing SS has produced contradictory results. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of SS on the distribution of monetary resources in students aged 18 to 25 years from Córdoba (Argentina). Three experiments using mixed factorial designs were conducted. Different ways of inducing SS and the effect on decisions in different games were examined. In Experiment 1, the effect of two SS induction techniques on the decisions of the Ultimatum Game (UG) and Dictator Game (DG) was compared. In Experiment 2, the effect of SS on the same games, including Social Value Orientation (SVO) and Subjective Social Status (SSS) as covariates was analyzed. In Experiment 3, the role of SS, SVO and SSS in the DG and the Dictator Game Taking (DGT) was examined. In the three experiments, it was not found that SS had any effect on the decisions of the games. However, more rejection and negative valence was observed (Exp. 1: p < .001, n 2 p =.72; Exp. 2: p < .001, n 2 p = .65) for unfair offers than for fair ones (Exp. 2: p < .001). Also, pro-social individuals made fairer offers in the DG (Exp. 2: p < .05) and participants offered more money in the DGT than in the DG (Exp. 3: p = .01). Those findings showed that the effect of SS on behavioral responses is not robust, which highlights the need to obtain new experimental evidence to investigate its role in those decisions.

Resumo Os recursos são normalmente distribuídos de maneira desigual em função do status social (SS) das pessoas, razão pela qual diversos pesquisadores utilizam experimentos para explicar o papel do SS nas decisões econômicas. No entanto, as diversas formas de induzir o SS geraram resultados contraditórios. No presente trabalho, investigou-se o efeito do SS na distribuição dos recursos monetários em estudantes de 18 a 25 anos da cidade de Córdoba, na Argentina, por meio de três experimentos com desenhos experimentais mistos. Especificamente, foram avaliadas diferentes técnicas para manipular o SS e seu efeito nas decisões econômicas: no Experimento 1 comparou-se o efeito de duas técnicas de manipulação do SS nas decisões do Jogo do Ultimato (JU) e do Ditador (JD); no Experimento 2 analisou-se o efeito do SS nos mesmos jogos, incluindo a orientação de valores sociais (SVO) e o status social subjetivo (SES) como covariáveis e, no Experimento 3, indagou-se o papel do SS, da SVO e do SES no JD e no Ditador de Tomar (do inglês, Dictator Taking Game). Nos três experimentos observou-se que o SS não teve efeito nas decisões dos jogos. Não obstante, evidenciou-se maior rejeição (Exp. 1: p < .001, n 2 p = .72; Exp. 2: p < .001, n 2 p = .65) e valência negativa para as ofertas injustas do que para as justas (Exp. 2: p < .001). Além disso, descobriu-se que quanto maior a pró-socialidade, maior a quantidade ofertada no JD (Exp. 2: p < .05) e que no JDT se oferece mais dinheiro do que no JD (Exp. 3: p = .01). Os resultados observados evidenciam que o efeito do SS nas respostas comportamentais não é robusto, por isso se destaca a importância de continuar investigando seu papel em tais decisões.

Resumen Los recursos son usualmente distribuidos de manera inequitativa en función del estatus social (ES) de las personas, razón por la cual diversos investigadores utilizan experimentos para explicar el rol del ES en las decisiones económicas; sin embargo, las diversas formas de inducir el ES han generado resultados contradictorios. En el presente trabajo se investigó el efecto del ES en la distribución de los recursos monetarios en estudiantes de 18 a 25 años de la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina, por medio de tres experimentos con diseños experimentales mixtos. Específicamente, se evaluaron distintas técnicas para manipular el ES y su efecto en las decisiones económicas: en el Experimento 1 se comparó el efecto de dos técnicas de manipulación del ES en las decisiones del Juego del Ultimátum (JU) y del Dictador (JD); en el Experimento 2 se analizó el efecto del ES en los mismos juegos, incluyendo la orientación de valores sociales (SVO) y el estatus social subjetivo (SES) como covariables; y en el Experimento 3 se indagó el rol del ES, de la SVO y del ESS en el JD y en el Dictador de Tomar (JDT). En los tres experimentos se observó que el ES no tuvo efecto en las decisiones de los juegos. No obstante, se evidenció mayor rechazo (Exp. 1: p < .001, n 2 p = .72; Exp. 2: p < .001, n 2 p = .65) y valencia negativa para las ofertas injustas que para las justas (Exp. 2: p < .001). Además, se encontró que a mayor prosocialidad, mayor cantidad ofertada en el JD (Exp. 2: p < .05), y que en el JDT se ofrece más dinero que en el JD (Exp. 3: p = .01). Los resultados observados evidencian que el efecto del ES en las respuestas comportamentales no es robusto, por lo que se destaca la importancia de continuar investigando su rol en dichas decisiones.

LATEMO-E: A Film Database to Elicit Discrete Emotions and Evaluate Emotional Dimensions in Latin-Americans / LATEMO-E: Banco de Dados de Filmes para Suscitar Emoções e Avaliar Dimensões Emocionais para Latino-Americanos / LATEMO-E: Set de Fragmentos de Películas para Inducir Emociones y Evaluar Dimensiones Emocionales en Latinoamericanos

Abstract Introduction: Film clips are the most used stimuli to induce different emotional states. Objective: Identify, select, and evaluate a set of film clips according to dimensionality and discreteness of emotions. Film experts suggested 437 fragments, but only 70 met the criteria to be included in the LATEMO-E film-clip database. Study 1: The 70 film clips were tested for their ability to induce disgust, anger, fear, sadness, amusement, tenderness, and neutral (n = 147 participants; mean age = 20.64 years, SD ±2.21 years). Results: A total of 28 film clips presented adequate scores on intensity and discreteness. Study 2: A total of 28 selected film clips were assessed again in a new sample of 106 participants (mean age = 20.96 years, SD ±2.45 years). Results: Anger and amusement film clips were the most extreme in the valence and activation dimensions. Anger and fear film clips were the most extreme categories in the intensity, certainty, and control dimensions. Conclusions: These stimuli were useful for inducing emotional states that can be judged from both the dimensional perspective of emotions and the basic emotions perspective. Evoked emotions could be differentiated according to cognitive patterns of evaluation that guide behavior in response to emotional stimulation.

Resumo Introdução: os clipes são os estímulos mais utilizados para induzir diferentes estados emocionais. Objetivo: identificar, selecionar e avaliar um conjunto de clipes de filme de acordo com a discrição e dimensionalidade da emoção. 437 fragmentos foram sugeridos por especialistas em filmes, mas 70 atenderam aos criterios de inclusão em um banco de dados de filmes. Estudo 1: os 70 clipes foram testados em sua capacidade de induzir: nojo, raiva, medo, tristeza, diversão, ternura e neutro (N = 147 participantes; M = 20,64; DP ±2,21). Resultados: 28 clipes apresentaram escores adequados de intensidade e discrição. Estudo 2: 28 clipes selecionados foram reavaliados em uma nova amostra de 106 participantes (M = 20,96; DP ±2,45). Resultados: os clipes de raiva e diversão foram os mais extremos nas dimensões de valência e ativação. Clips de raiva e medo foram as categorias mais extremas nos indicadores de intensidade, certeza e controle. Conclusões: os estímulos foram úteis para induzir estados emocionais que podem ser julgados tanto pela perspectiva dimensional das emoções quanto pela perspectiva básica das emoções. Além disso, as emoções evocadas são diferenciadas de acordo com os padrões cognitivos de avaliação que guiam o comportamento em resposta à estimulação emocional.

Resumen Introducción: los fragmentos de películas están entre los estímulos más usados para inducir distintos estados emocionales. Objetivo: identificar, seleccionar y evaluar un set de fragmentos de películas según la discreción y la dimensionalidad de la emoción. Expertos en cine sugirieron 437 fragmentos, pero solo 70 fueron identificados como aquellos que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión en un set de fragmentos de películas. Estudio 1: los 70 fragmentos fueron evaluados en su capacidad para inducir: asco, ira, miedo, tristeza, diversión, ternura y neutro (N = 147 participantes; M = 20.64; DE ±2.21). Resultados: 28 fragmentos presentaron puntuaciones adecuadas en intensidad y discreción. Estudio 2: los 28 fragmentos fueron reevaluados en una nueva muestra de 106 participantes (M = 20.96, DE ±2.45). Resultados: los fragmentos de ira y diversión fueron los más extremos en las dimensiones valencia y activación. Ira y miedo fueron las categorías más extremas en los indicadores intensidad, certeza y control. Conclusiones: los estímulos resultaron útiles para inducir estados emocionales que pueden ser juzgados desde la perspectiva dimensional de las emociones, así como desde el enfoque de las emociones básicas. Además, las emociones provocadas se diferencian en función de patrones cognitivos de evaluación que guían la conducta en respuesta al estímulo emocional.

Further considerations regarding PANAS: Contributions from four studies with different Argentinean samples

Abstract In this research we analyzed the psychometric properties of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) in samples coming from four independent studies: university students (Study 1, n = 392; Study 2, n = 395), general adult population (Study 3, n = 316), and athletes (Study 4, n = 533). Through confirmatory analyses we evaluated the following models: (a) two-factor model (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988), (b) three-factor model by Mehrabian (1997), (c) three-factor model by Gaudreau, Sánchez and Blondin (2006) and (d) bi-factor model (Leue & Beauducel, 2011), all of them in their oblique and orthogonal variants. Several models presented an acceptable fit, but only after allowing correlated errors and excluding the items alert and excited. While orthogonal solutions of the three models showed the best fit in Studies 2, 3 and 4, oblique solutions presented the best fit in Study 1. Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability and omega indexes oscillated between .55 and .89. Considering the original theoretical model and the practical utility of the PANAS, we favor the model of two orthogonal factors, excluding the aforementioned items.

Resumen En esta investigación analizamos las propiedades psicométricas del Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) en muestras de cuatro estudios independientes: estudiantes universitarios (Estudio 1, n = 392; Estudio 2, n = 395), población general adulta (Estudio 3, n = 316) y atletas (Estudio 4, n = 533). Mediante análisis confirmatorios evaluamos los siguientes modelos: (a) dos factores (Watson, Clark & Tellegen, 1988), (b) tres factores por Mehrabian (1997), (c) tres factores por Gaudreau, Sánchez and Blondín (2006) y (d) bi-factorial (Leue & Beauducel, 2011), todos en sus variantes oblicua y ortogonal. Varios modelos presentaron un ajuste aceptable, pero solo después de permitir correlacionar los errores y excluir los ítems alerta y excitado. Mientras que las soluciones ortogonales de los tres modelos mostraron un mejor ajuste en los Estudios 2, 3 y 4, las soluciones oblicuas presentaron un mejor ajuste en el Estudio 1. El alfa de Cronbach, la confiabilidad compuesta y el índice omega oscilaron entre .55 y .89. Considerando el modelo teórico original y la utilidad práctica del PANAS, nos inclinamos hacia el modelo de dos factores ortogonales, excluyendo los ítems antes mencionados.