Adaptation of the Cuban version of the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale.

This study explores the psychometric properties of the Cuban version of Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). The sample comprised 376 Cuban participants. Concurrent validity and reliability were examined. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed. The CAS showed excellent psychometric characteristics. The internal consistency was very good (α = 0.88). There was a positive correlation between the CAS and the FCV-19S and an inverse association between anxiety and self-perceived quality of health. The results confirmed the presence of a single factor. The CAS is a valid and reliable instrument to explore the experience of anxiety in the Cuban population.

Anxiety, Health Self-Perception, and Worry About the Resurgence of COVID-19 Predict Fear Reactions Among Genders in the Cuban Population.

The resurgence of COVID-19 could deepen the psychological impacts of the pandemic which poses new challenges for mental health professionals. Among the actions that should be prioritized is the monitoring of the groups that have shown greater psychological vulnerability during the first stage of the pandemic. The first aim of our study is to explore the fear reactions to COVID-19 between genders during the second wave of the outbreak in Cuba. Second, establish possible predictors of fear of COVID-19 in relation to gender. Specifically, we will evaluate how anxiety related to COVID-19, health self-perception, and worry about the resurgence of COVID-19 predict fear reactions among women and men in the Cuban population. A cross-sectional online study was designed. The research was conducted between August 16 and October 18, 2020. A total of 373 people completed the online survey. A socio-demographic questionnaire, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale were used. An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare the fear, worry, anxiety and self-perceived health scores, between genders. The relationship between those variables and fear of COVID-19, was investigated using Pearson correlation coefficient. Finally, multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the possible associations (predictors) related to fear of COVID-19. In our study, women, compared to men, presented greater fear reactions, greater concern about resurgence of COVID-19 and poorer self-perceived health. Anxiety reactions in our sample showed no differences between genders. In women, anxiety of COVID-19, worry about resurgence of COVID-19, and self-perceived health are associated with fear reactions to COVID-19. In the case of men, the self-perceived health showed no associations with fear reactions. Our results confirm the results of several related investigations during the first wave of the pandemic where women have shown greater psychological vulnerability compared to men. However, we cannot rule out that the real impact of the pandemic on mental health in men is much greater than that described by the studies conducted to date. Additional studies are needed on the psychological impact of COVID-19 on men.

The Risk Perception COVID-19 Scale (RP-COVID19-S): Initial Validation and Its Relationship with Gender and Age in a Cuban Population Sample.

BACKGROUND: Risk perception about COVID-19 constitutes an important variable contributing to promotion of personal protection practices. The aims of this study were to exploring the factorial structure of the risk perception COVID-19 scale (RP-COVID19-S) in a sample of Cuban adults and to identify its relationship with variables such as gender and age. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey design was conducted. The sample comprised 394 Cuban participants. Categorical Principal Component Analysis (CATPCA) was used to explore internal factorial structure of the scale. Logistic regression was modeling to identify variables independently associated with RP about COVID-19. RESULTS: CATPCA allowed identifying a three-dimensional factorial structure into the scale: knowledge and beliefs, emotional reactions and behavioral dissonance, and motivations for change. The odds of a woman with middle RP compared to low RP was 2.17 times more than for a man. Also, the odds of a woman with high knowledge and beliefs compared to low knowledge and beliefs were 1.96 times more than for a man. The odds of a person in older group, with middle risk perception compared with low level, was 5.0 (global risk perception), 3.33 (knowledge and beliefs), and 3.13 (emotional reactions and behavioral dissonance) times more than for a person in younger group, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Risk Perception to COVD-19 Scale (RP-COVID-19-S) showed satisfactory psychometric properties to evaluated risk perception related to COVID-19 in Cuban population sample. Middle level of global risk perception was found in the sample. High level of risk perception about COVID-19 was found on participants older than 42 years old and in woman.

Subjective Well-being during the Pandemic: A Pilot Study in the Cuban Population.

Background: The study of aspects related to positive mental health and well-being in the general population with a gender approach is a necessity in the current context imposed by COVID-19. Objective: To explore gender as a predictor of subjective well-being during COVID-19 in a sample of the Cuban population. Design: A cross-sectional web-based survey design was adopted. The sample consisted of 129 Cuban participants. The Subjective Well-being-Reduced Scale (SW-RS) was used to explore subjective well-being in the sample. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the participants' characteristics. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify variables independently associated with the participants' subjective well-being. Results: The gender of participants significantly predicted subjective well-being levels. The probability of males having middle or high levels of subjective well-being, rather than low levels, was 4.16 times greater than in females. The probability of males having a high self-image instead of a low one was 4.35 times greater than in females. According to the self-satisfaction dimension, the odds of males having high rather than low self-satisfaction were five times more than in females. In this sample, gender did not predict whether participants had middle or high levels of the hedonic dimension. Conclusion: Our results corroborated international studies that have indicated the coincidence of lower well-being and greater psychosocial risk in women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results also indicated the need to dig deeper into the experiences of subjective well-being from a gender perspective, and to strengthen the sufficiency and effectiveness of the actions and guidance that are offered to the population from psychological care services, the media, and public policies.

Revisión sistemática sobre conducta suicida en niños menores de 12 años en Cuba / Systematic Review about Suicidal Behavior in Children under 12 Years of Age in Cuba

Introducción: La complejidad del comportamiento suicida en niños menores de 12 años, así como las dificultades en el reporte y descripción epidemiológica de este problema de salud en Cuba, complejizan su estratificación sociodemográfica y, por tanto, el conocimiento de los profesionales que lo atienden. Objetivo: Caracterizar el comportamiento suicida en población menor de 12 años en Cuba. Métodos: Con un enfoque de investigación mixto, se desarrolló una revisión sistemática. Los artículos se extrajeron de las bases de datos: Web of Science, SCOPUS y SciELO; mediante una estrategia de búsqueda definida. Los documentos recuperados se procesaron utilizando el gestor bibliográfico Endnote X7. Primeramente se eliminaron duplicados, y posteriormente se realizó un análisis de contenido de los títulos y resúmenes a partir de los siguientes criterios: 1) artículos académicos sobre conducta suicida en niños menores de 12 años, 2) todos los estudios realizados en Cuba desde 1973 hasta el 2018. Los resultados se procesaron mediante un análisis cuantitativo para describir características bibliométricas de los artículos, seguido de un procesamiento cualitativo del contenido de los mismos. Conclusiones: Se han publicado 16 artículos, la mayoría con enfoque epidemiológico sobre los factores de riesgo de los intentos suicidas. Según contenido, las causas se relacionaron con antecedentes de conducta suicida personal y familiar, así como vivencias de violencia intrafamiliar. El estado de la producción científica demuestra la necesidad de investigaciones que profundicen desde perspectivas más psicológicas sobre este comportamiento en menores de 12 años(AU)

Introduction: The complexity of suicidal behavior in children under 12 years of age, as well as the difficulties in epidemiological description and report of this health concern in Cuba, complicates its sociodemographic stratification and, therefore, the knowledge of the professionals who attend it. Objective: To characterize suicidal behavior in a population under 12 years of age in Cuba. Methods: With a mixed research approach, a systematic review was developed. The articles were extracted from the databases Web of Science, SCOPUS, and SciELO, using a defined search strategy. The recovered documents were processed using the reference manager Endnote X7. Firstly, duplicates were eliminated, and later a content analysis of the titles and abstracts was carried out based on the following criteria: 1) academic articles on suicidal behavior in children under 12 years of age, 2) all studies carried out in Cuba from 1973 to 2018. The results were processed using quantitative analysis to describe the bibliometric characteristics of the articles, followed by a qualitative processing of the content of the articles. Conclusions: 16 articles have been published, most of which present an epidemiological approach about the risk factors of suicide attempts. Regarding content, the causes were related to a history of personal and family suicidal behavior, as well as experiences of intra-family violence. The state of scientific production shows the need for research that elaborates, from more psychological perspectives, on this behavior in children under 12 years of age(AU)