Validation of the Spanish version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) to identify and assess psychosocial problems among early adolescents in Chile.

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of mental disorders in early adolescents, and their consequences, encourage the need for validated instruments to identify and assess psychosocial problems. OBJECTIVES: i) To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) questionnaires (PSC-Y, 35 items, and PSC-17-Y) and its subscales (Attention, Internalizing and Externalizing subscales), including the assessment of the item structure, concurrent validity, and reliability; and ii) To assess possible associations between bullying experiences, school climate and school membership with psychological problems identified by the PSC questionnaire. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 39 schools in Santiago, Chile. The sample consisted of 3,968 adolescents aged between 10 and 11 years. A descriptive analysis of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist was performed along with measures of dimensionality, reliability, and correlations with a validated questionnaire exploring similar constructs, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Finally, associations of bullying, school climate, and school membership with the three subscales of the PSC were explored. RESULTS: Both versions of PSC had problems with item #7 (Act as if driven by motor), which did not load in any of the latent factors. It was removed from later analyses. The three-factor structure of PSC was confirmed. All remaining items had high factor loadings in their corresponded latent factors, and the reliability was high for the total scales (PSC-34-Y, ω = 0.78; PSC-16-Y, ω = 0.94) and the subscales of PSC-16-Y (Attention, ω = 0.77; Internalizing, ω = 0.79; Externalizing, ω = 0.78). The goodness of fit was adequate, and the correlation between PSC subscales and SDQ subscales was high. Victimization and perpetration were associated with all PSC subscales, and higher school climate and stronger school memberships were negatively associated with PSC symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings seem to demonstrate that the Spanish version of the PSC is a valid and reliable instrument for identifying and assessing psychosocial problems in early adolescents.

The effectiveness of a tablet-based video game that stimulates cognitive, emotional, and social skills in developing academic skills among preschoolers: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that children from low-income families begin the preschool stage with less academic and non-academic skills development compared to higher-income families. There are several successful experiences of early stimulation of cognitive and social-emotional skills; however, there is scarce evidence of the effectiveness of a video game that incorporates the stimulation of these skills simultaneously. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a video game in stimulating cognitive, emotional, and social competence skills in developing academic skills in socioeconomically disadvantaged preschool children. METHODS: A cluster-randomized controlled trial design will be used. A tablet-based video game that stimulates cognitive and socio-emotional skills to improve the development of academic skills is compared with a tablet-based game where students draw and paint with no explicit stimulation of cognitive and socio-emotional skills. Eighteen schools and 750 Chilean preschool students will be recruited. The effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed using a direct evaluation of children on literacy learning and pre-calculation skills at baseline, immediately after stimulation, and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post-intervention. The mediating effect of working memory, inhibitory control, emotion recognition, and prosocial behaviours will be assessed on the effectiveness of the intervention. DISCUSSION: The proposed study will be the first to test the effectiveness of a tablet-based video game stimulating cognitive and social-emotional skills to improve academic skills in socioeconomically disadvantaged preschool children in Chile, controlling for gender, age (in months), mental health, and baseline conditions of stimulated skills. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05224700. Registered on February 2022.

The Social Competence Promotion Program among Young Adolescents (SCPP-YA) in Chile ("Mi Mejor Plan") for substance use prevention among early adolescents: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Substance use is highly prevalent among children and adolescents in Chile, and it is known how it impacts their health and social adjustment. The call for effective prevention of substance use among children adolescents has resulted in numerous school-based programs, and particularly, the Social Competence Promotion Program among Young Adolescents (SCPP-YA) has been proved to be successful for promoting social and problem-solving skills in addition to preventing substance abuse in the US population. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of the Social Competence Promotion Program among Young Adolescents (SCPP-YA) in Chile ("Mi Mejor Plan"). METHODS: This is a cluster randomized controlled trial, parallel-group type, where "Mi Mejor Plan" is compared to standard school preventive curricula in control schools. A total of 10 schools and 600 adolescents are expected to be recruited and randomized with 1:1 allocation. During formative work, the SCPP-YA program was culturally adapted to Chile. The effectiveness of this program will be assessed using the European Drug Addiction Prevention Trial Questionnaire (EU-Dap), measuring substance use prevalence and risk and protective factors in baseline, post-intervention, and 4 months after the end of the intervention. DISCUSSION: The proposed study will be the first to test the effectiveness of the Social Competence Promotion Program among Young Adolescents (SCPP-YA) in Chile in a cluster randomized control trial and also the first study evaluating this program in Spanish-speaking Latin America. SCPP-YA has been implemented successfully in the USA. Thus, if the effects of the program are positive, wide implementation in Chile and Latin American countries is possible soon. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials NCT04236947 . Registered on January 22, 2020.

Mental Health and Related Factors Among Undergraduate Students During SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Mental health problems among undergraduates are a significant public health concern. Most studies exploring mental health in this population during the pandemic have been conducted in high-income countries. Fewer studies come from Latin American countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and suicide risk, and explore the association with several relevant variables in personal, family, university, and SARS-CoV-2 pandemic domains. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chile in a medium-size private University. Outcome variables were explored with valid instruments: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Independent variables from personal (e.g., sex, age, sexual orientation, history of mental health problems, substance use), family (e.g., parental educational background, family history of mental health problems, family functioning), university (e.g., course year, financial support, psychological sense of university belonging, history of failing subjects) and SARS-CoV-2 domains (e.g., history of personal and family contagion, fear of contracting SARS-CoV-2, frequency of physical activity, keeping routines and social contact). Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted for each outcome, after univariable and domain-specific multivariable models. The significant variable at each step was selected if the p-value was ≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 5,037 students answered the survey-the global response rate of 63.5%. Most of the students were females (70.4%) and freshmen students (25.2%). The prevalence of mental health problems was high: depression (37.1%), anxiety (37.9%), and stress (54.6%). Insomnia was reported in 32.5% of students, and suicide risk in 20.4% of students. The associated variables at personal domain were history of mental health problems, substance use, and sexual orientation; at family domain, family functioning and family history of mental health problems; at university domain, violence victimization and sense of belonging; and in SARS-CoV-2 domain, having a daily routine and fear to contracting SARS-CoV-2 by students themselves or others. Conclusions: The prevalence of mental health problems is high among undergraduate students and some of the associated factors, such as victimization and a sense of belonging can be used in preventive interventions.

The Unplugged program in Chile ("Yo Sé Lo Que Quiero") for substance use prevention among early adolescents: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Substance use is among the main contributors to disease among children and adolescents in the Americas region. The call for effective prevention of substance use among adolescents has resulted in numerous school-based programs, and particularly the Unplugged program has been proved to be successful in reducing the prevalence of different substances in seven European countries. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of the Unplugged program in Chile ("Yo Sé Lo Que Quiero"). METHODS: This is a cluster randomized controlled trial, parallel-group type, where "Yo Sé Lo Que Quiero" is compared to standard school preventive curricula in control schools. A total of 70 schools and 8400 adolescents are expected to be randomized with 1:1 allocation. During formative work, the Unplugged program was culturally adapted to Chile, and the instrument to assess the primary and secondary outcomes was validated. The effectiveness of this program will be assessed using the European Drug Addiction Prevention Trial Questionnaire (EU-Dap), measuring substance use prevalence and risk and protective factors in baseline, post-intervention, and four months after the end of the intervention. DISCUSSION: The proposed study will be the first to test the effectiveness of a school-based substance use prevention program in Chile in a cluster randomized control trial and the first study evaluating the Unplugged program in Spanish-speaking Latin America. A model for disseminating the Unplugged program inside Europe already exists and has been implemented successfully in several countries. Thus, if the effects of the program are positive, wide implementation in Chile and Latin American countries is possible soon. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04236999 . Registered on January 17, 2020.

Use of Technology and Its Association With Academic Performance and Life Satisfaction Among Children and Adolescents.

Introduction: In the last years, there has been a rise in the use of technology among children and adolescents, which has led to a greater concern about its impact on their socioemotional and cognitive development. Aims: To explore the time spent using technology, the risk perception of its use by students, and the association between frequency of technology use and life satisfaction and academic performance among children and adolescents in Chile. Additionally, we explored the mediating effect of sleep deprivation on these outcomes. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, where 2,440 students (9-12 years old) from 13 schools participated. Data was collected using an online survey answered by students during school hours. The association analyses were performed using multivariable regression models considering life satisfaction and academic performance as dependent variables. Additionally, mediating analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling. Results: Time watching television and using cellphones were similar on weekdays, and playing video games was the most frequent activity during weekends. A 42.1% of students reported playing online video games with strangers, and 12.7% had sleep deprivation. Lower self-reported academic performance was associated with cyberbullying victimization, sleep deprivation, being hacked, exposure to violent content, time spent using cell phones during weekdays and weekends, and playing video games during weekdays. Students who perceived that playing video games after 9 pm affected their sleep had a higher academic performance. There was a clear mediating effect of sleep deprivation in the relationship between time spent using a cellphone during weekdays and weekends and playing video games during weekdays and GPA. Conclusions: Time spent using technological devices was not associated with life satisfaction; however, the time spent using cell phones and playing video games was related to lower self-reported academic performance, mediated by sleep deprivation. Future research may focus on a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the effect of technology use on sleep routines among adolescents and potential interventions to reduce its impact on academic performance.

Validation of the European Drug Addiction Prevention Trial Questionnaire (EU-Dap) for substance use screening and to assess risk and protective factors among early adolescents in Chile.

BACKGROUND: Substance use is highly prevalent among Chilean adolescents, and the damage it causes at the neurobiological, psychological, and social levels is known. However, there are no validated screening instruments that also assess risk and protective factors for this population in Chile, which is essential for evaluating future prevention interventions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the psychometric properties of the European Drug Addiction Prevention Trial Questionnaire (EU-Dap) questionnaire. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 13 schools in the city of Santiago de Chile. The sample included 2261 adolescents ranging from 10 to 14 years old. Linguistic and cultural adaptation was assessed using focus groups with adolescents, the construct validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis, and measures of its reliability were also determined. Furthermore, the associations regarding risk and protective factors with substance use were explored. RESULTS: Substance use questions were well understood and seemed to adequately capture the consumption of different drugs. Regarding the subscales of risk and protective factors, the analyses showed that most subscales had good psychometric properties, and few needed some degree of improvement (e.g., some items were removed). After the changes, most final subscales had good or adequate goodness of fit adjustments and good or acceptable internal consistency. Finally, the main associated factors with the substance use outcomes were: future substance use and school bonding for tobacco use; negative beliefs about alcohol, future substance use, school bonding and refusal skills for alcohol use; and negative beliefs about marihuana, positive attitudes towards drugs, risk perception, and substance abuse index for marihuana use. Normative beliefs increased the risk for all substances use. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that the EU-Dap is a valid and reliable instrument, and it may help to evaluate the effectiveness of drug use prevention interventions.

Brief Research Report: The Association Between Educational Experiences and Covid-19 Pandemic-Related Variables, and Mental Health Among Children and Adolescents.

Introduction: Mental health problems among children and adolescents are frequent. Today, the world is facing a pandemic with a novel coronavirus, which is related to the higher rates of mental problems reported worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the Covid-19 related experiences, educational experiences, and family functioning on mental health and wellbeing among children and adolescents in Chile during the Pandemic and lockdown health measures. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of the first wave of an ongoing longitudinal study among girls and boys of Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade (4-18 years old) in Santiago, Chile. The sample consisted of 979 students from eight different schools. The method of data collection was online surveys administered to parents and adolescents. The dependent variables were mental health problems and wellbeing. Several independent variables were assessed (sociodemographic variables, Covid-19 related experiences, related educational experiences, and family functioning). A descriptive analysis and univariable and multivariable regression models were performed to study the association between variables. Results: Positive educational experiences, primarily academic self-concept, reduced the probability of mental health problems and increased wellbeing. Among covid-19 related variables, practicing meditation or praying reduced emotional problems, while having family or health problems increased emotional problems among adolescents. No clear association between Covid-19 related experiences variables among children was found. Conclusions: Our findings may help educational and public health authorities to plan future school preventive interventions to improve mental health and wellbeing in this population.

Hábitos alimenticios de Leporinus friderici (Anostomidae: Teleostei) durante un ciclo hidrobiológico en el río Vaupés, Colombia / Feeding habits of Leporinus friderici (Anostomidae: Teleostei) during a hydrobiological cycle in Vaupés River, Colombia

ResumenLa especie más importante de la pesquería del río Vaupés es un pez conocido como Warakú tres puntos (Leporinus friderici), un carácido migratorio representativo del departamento del Vaupés, Colombia, de importancia para la seguridad alimentaria de comunidades indígenas. Con el propósito de contribuir en el conocimiento biológico básico de la especie, el presente estudio determinó los hábitos y preferencias alimenticias de Leporinus friderici durante un ciclo hidrobiológico (marzo 2014 a mayo 2015) en el río Vaupés, Colombia. Fueron muestreados tres lugares, dos a lo largo del río Vaupés (comunidades indígenas de Yacayacá y Santa Cruz) y uno en el río Cuduyarí afluente del río Vaupés (comunidad de Piracemo). Se analizaron 316 contenidos estomacales aplicando los métodos de frecuencia de ocurrencia (FO), índice gravimétrico (W), coeficiente de vacuidad (CV) e índice de importancia relativa (IIR). De igual modo, se determinaron parámetros físicos y químicos del agua superficial y profunda. La profundidad del río en época de aguas ascendentes fue de 3.7 ± 0.6 m, aguas altas de 5.9 ± 1.4 m, aguas descendentes 4.6 ± 1.3 m y en aguas bajas 2.4 ± 1.0 m; se registró mayor acidez y turbidez del agua en las ascendentes. El CV fue de 14.5 %; sin embargo, el CV alcanzó un valor del 40 % en aguas ascendentes. En general se observó una mayor FO de material vegetal en los estómagos de los individuos muestreados (44.4-66.7 %), seguido por los insectos (21.1-33.3 %, dietas secundarias). Los índices gravimétricos reflejaron que el material vegetal fue el ítem consumido en mayor cantidad, seguido de los insectos y en casi igual proporción invertebrados y material animal. Las diferencias en la composición de la dieta confirman la naturaleza oportunista de esta especie con predominio de hábitos omnívoros.Este estudio puede ser utilizado como parte integral del conocimiento de la ecología trófica de la especie, con el fin de crear estrategias para la protección del L. friderici en la región del Vaupés.

AbstractThe most important fish species of the Vaupes river is known as a Warakú tres puntos (Leporinus friderici), the most representative migratory Characidae from the Vaupés state, Colombia, with a significant importance in food security of indigenous communities. To contribute with the knowledge of its basic biology, we determined the habits and food preferences of Leporinus friderici, during one hydrobiological cycle (March 2014 to May 2015) in the Vaupés river, Colombia. Three sites were sampled, two of them along the Vaupés river (Yacayacá and Santa Cruz communities) and the other one in the Cuduyarí river, tributary of the Vaupés river (Piracemo community). Physical and chemical water parameters from the surface and depth level of the river were determined. Stomach contents from 316 fish were analyzed by frequency of occurrence (FO), gravimetric index, vacuity index (VI) and relative importance index (RII). Vaupés's average depth in ascending water period was of 3.7 ± 0.6 m, during rainy season of 5.9 ± 1.4 m, in descending water period of 4.6 ± 1.3 m and during dry season of 2.4 ± 1.0 m. The higher acidity and turbidity were observed during the ascending water period. The average VI was 14.5 % for the period, but it reached 40 % in descending waters. In general, a FO of plant material was the most frequent (44.4-66.7 %), followed by insects (21.1-33.3 %, secondary diets). The gravimetric indices showed that plant material was the most consumed item, followed by insects, and in almost in equal proportion, invertebrates and animal material. The differences in diet composition confirm the opportunistic nature of this species with a predominance of omnivorous habits. This study can be used as an integral part of the feeding ecology of L. friderici knowledge, in order to develop strategies for its protection in the Vaupés region because of its importance for local communities.