Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire: Factor structure and psychometric properties / Cuestionario de Evitación Cognitiva: estructura factorial y propiedades psicométricas

Cognitive avoidance refers to strategies and efforts toward prevention of aversive experiences and events that provoke anxiety. The present study analyzed the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ; Sexton & Dugas, 2008), an instrument that assesses five worry-related cognitive avoidance strategies. The Spanish translation was administered to a non-clinical sample of 614 participants (18-82 years). The total scale and subscales showed good to excellent internal consistency. Using confirmatory factor analysis, a five-factor model showed a good fit between the theoretical structure and the empirical data. Evidence of convergent and discriminant validity was obtained through analysis of the correlations of the questionnaire with measures of worry, thought suppression, rumination and coping styles. The results yielded satisfactory preliminary data on the Spanish adaptation of the CAQ, which could provide for further advances in clinical practice and research on cognitive processes and anxiety disorders

La evitación cognitiva se refiere a las estrategias y esfuerzos dirigidos a prevenir experiencias negativas y eventos aversivos que provocan ansiedad. El presente estudio analizó la estructura factorial y las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española del Cuestionario de Evitación Cognitiva (CAQ; Sexton & Dugas, 2008), un instrumento que evalúa cinco estrategias de evitación cognitiva relacionadas con la preocupación. La traducción al español se administró a una muestra no clínica de 614 participantes (18-82 años). La escala total y las subescalas mostraron una consistencia interna de buena a excelente. Utilizando el análisis factorial confirmatorio, se halló un modelo de segundo orden (i.e., cinco factores de primer orden y un factor de segundo orden) que mostró el mejor ajuste entre la estructura teórica y los datos empíricos. Se obtuvo evidencia de validez convergente y discriminante a través del análisis de las correlaciones del cuestionario con medidas de preocupación, supresión del pensamiento, rumiación y estilos de afrontamiento. Los resultados arrojaron datos preliminares satisfactorios sobre la adaptación española del CAQ que podría proporcionar mayores avances en la práctica clínica y la investigación sobre procesos cognitivos y trastornos de ansiedad

Older adults' memory for medical information, effect of number and mode of presentation: An experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze different ways of presenting medical information to older adults, tailoring the information and its presentation to the characteristics of memory function in old age. METHODS: Experimental study. We took into account the following variables: amount of information, type of information and mode of presentation, and time delay. RESULTS: The greater the number of recommendations, the lower the recall; visual presentation does not enhance verbal presentation; lifestyle information is recalled better than medication information; after ten minutes the percentage of memory decreases significantly; the first and last recommendations are better remembered. CONCLUSION: As a whole, these findings show that older adults remember more medical information when very few recommendations are provided in each session. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: It is inadvisable to overload older adults with a large amount of information: It is better to program more consultations and provide less information.

Age and Gender Differences in Emotion Regulation Strategies: Autobiographical Memory, Rumination, Problem Solving and Distraction.

Our study tested the hypothesis that older adults and men use more adaptive emotion regulatory strategies but fewer negative emotion regulatory strategies than younger adults and women. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that rumination acts as a mediator variable for the effect of age and gender on depression scores. Differences in rumination, problem solving, distraction, autobiographical recall and depression were assessed in a group of young adults (18-29 years) compared to a group of older adults (50-76 years). The older group used more problem solving and distraction strategies when in a depressed state than their younger counterparts (ps .06). Ordinary least squares regression analyses with bootstrapping showed that rumination mediated the association between age, gender and depression scores. These results suggest that older adults and men select more adaptive strategies to regulate emotions than young adults and women with rumination acting as a significant mediator variable in the association between age, gender, and depression.

Age and gender differences in emotion regulation strategies: autobiographical memory, rumination, problem solving and distraction

Our study tested the hypothesis that older adults and men use more adaptive emotion regulatory strategies but fewer negative emotion regulatory strategies than younger adults and women. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that rumination acts as a mediator variable for the effect of age and gender on depression scores. Differences in rumination, problem solving, distraction, autobiographical recall and depression were assessed in a group of young adults (18-29 years) compared to a group of older adults (50-76 years). The older group used more problem solving and distraction strategies when in a depressed state than their younger counterparts (ps < .05). The younger participants reported more rumination (p < .01). Women scored higher in depression scores and lower in distraction than men (ps < .05). There were no significant effects of age, gender, or interaction of age by gender on the recall of specific autobiographical memories (ps > .06). Ordinary least squares regression analyses with bootstrapping showed that rumination mediated the association between age, gender and depression scores. These results suggest that older adults and men select more adaptive strategies to regulate emotions than young adults and women with rumination acting as a significant mediator variable in the association between age, gender, and depression (AU)

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Effects of instructions and cue subjectiveness on specificity of autobiographical memory recall / Efectos de las instrucciones y de la subjetividad de la palabra clave en el recuerdo específico de la memoria autobiográfica

The first aim of this study was to determine the power of instructions on the specificity of autobiographical memory as obtained with the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT; Williams & Broadbent, 1986) and the efficacy of cue word criteria selection based on subjective parameters obtained with a standardized lexical program. Results showed a high power of specific instructions in its written version in contrast to non-directed memory recall to the same list of words three weeks later in a counterbalanced repeated measures within-subjects design. This effect was stronger when subjects previously were faced to the non-specific recovery task. Matched word lists using the "Buscapalabras" program (Davis & Perea, 2005) showed a very similar behaviour. These results point out that the same stimuli can be used repeatedly to obtain voluntary and involuntary retrieval with changes at instructional level. Additionally, standardized lexical programs can be employed to adapt cue-words of memory recall systems controlling for subjective differences related to language parameters (frequency, imageability and familiarity)

El principal objetivo de este trabajo es determinar la influencia de las instrucciones en la especificidad de los recuerdos autobiográficos obtenidos mediante el Test de Memoria Autobiográfica (Autobiographical Memory Test; Williams & Broadbent, 1986) y la eficacia de los criterios de selección de palabras clave basados en parámetros subjetivos derivados un programa de léxico estandarizado. Los resultados mostraron una elevada potencia de las instrucciones específicas en la versión escrita en comparación con el recuerdo no dirigido ante la misma lista de palabras repetidas tres semanas más tarde mediante un diseño intrasujeto contrabalanceo de medidas repetidas. Este efecto era mayor cuando los participantes habían realizado en primer lugar la tarea de recuerdo no dirigido. Las diferentes listas de palabras seleccionada mediante el programa Buscapalabras (Davis & Perea, 2005) mostraron resultados similares. Estos resultados señalan que los mismos estímulos pueden utilizarse de forma repetida para obtener recuerdos voluntarios e involuntarios mediante cambios en las instrucciones. Además, los programas léxicos estandarizados pueden emplearse para seleccionar palabras clave que evoquen recuerdos controlando las características subjetivas relacionadas con parámetros del lenguaje (por ejemplo, frecuencia, nivel de abstracción y familiaridad)

Diseño y análisis del funcionamiento del Test de Memoria Autobiográfica en población española / Design and analysis of the performance of the autobiographical memory test in Spanish population

Aunque existe un amplio desarrollo teórico y experimental que muestra una relación entre la memoria autobiográfica (MA) y la aparición de trastornos emocionales, el procedimiento que se utiliza para evaluar la MA presenta algunas limitaciones metodológicas. Actualmente no existe un instrumento estandarizado para la evaluación de los procesos implicados en el recuerdo autobiográfico que controle los sesgos subjetivos. Este trabajo analiza el funcionamiento del Test de Memoria Autobiográfica (AMT) en población española controlando la subjetividad de los ítems mediante el uso de un programa psicolingüístico. Los resultados muestran un funcionamiento satisfactorio del procedimiento elegido para seleccionar las palabras. Sin embargo, se observan algunas diferencias en la respuesta de MA en función de variables de tipo emocional y psicológico, lo cual apoya la importancia de la subjetividad asociada a la MA. Esta versión española del AMT puede considerarse como un instrumento apropiado para la obtención de recuerdos específicos voluntarios (AU)

Although there has been a wide theoretical and experimental development showing some evidence of the relationship between this type of memory and emotional disturbance, the procedure employed to obtain memories has methodological restrictions. Nowadays, a standardized instrument to assess memory recovery processes controlling for subjective bias is not available. This work analyzes the behaviour of the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT) among Spanish population controlling for such subjective bias employing a psycholinguistic programme to opt for cue-words. Results showed a satisfactory functioning of the chosen procedure to select Spanish cue-words. However, some differences between emotional and psychological variables and specific recall were also reported, according to recent research that support the presence of important subjective elements linked to autobiographical retrieval. The Spanish version of the Autobiographical Memory Test, obtained as a result of the current work, is considered an appropriate instrument to obtain specific voluntary memories for Spanish samples (AU)

Life review therapy using autobiographical retrieval practice for older adults with clinical depression / Terapia de revisión de vida mediante la recuperación de recuerdos autobiográficos en adultos mayores con depresión clínica

The aim of this experiment was to examine the efficacy of life review based on autobiographical retrieval practice for treating depression in older adults. Thirty-seven clinically depressed older adults aged 64-83, who were also receiving pharmacological treatment, were randomly assigned to life review therapy or to a placebo condition with supportive therapy. Results indicated decreased depression for both conditions, with no significant differences between the two therapies. There was some indication of greater gain in production of specific memories among those in life review therapy. Patients who produced higher numbers of specific memories decreased their depression scores at a faster rate (AU)

El objetivo de este experimento era examinar la eficacia de la revisión de vida basada en la práctica del recuerdo autobiográfico para el tratamiento de la depresión en adultos mayores. Treinta y siete adultos mayores con depresión clínica de edad comprendida entre 64-83, quienes también estaban recibiendo tratamiento farmacológico, fueron aleatoriamente asignados a terapia de revisión de vida o a una condición placebo de terapia de apoyo. Los resultados indican una disminución de la depresión en ambas condiciones, sin diferencias significativas entre las dos terapias. Aparecen indicadores de un mayor aumento en la producción de recuerdos específicos de aquellos que realizaron la terapia de revisión de vida. Los pacientes que muestran un mayor número de recuerdos específicos disminuyen más las puntuaciones en depresión (AU)

Life review therapy using autobiographical retrieval practice for older adults with clinical depression.

The aim of this experiment was to examine the efficacy of life review based on autobiographical retrieval practice for treating depression in older adults. Thirty-seven clinically depressed older adults aged 64-83, who were also receiving pharmacological treatment, were randomly assigned to life review therapy or to a placebo condition with supportive therapy. Results indicated decreased depression for both conditions, with no significant differences between the two therapies. There was some indication of greater gain in production of specific memories among those in life review therapy. Patients who produced higher numbers of specific memories decreased their depression scores at a faster rate.

Hábitos, preferencias y satisfacción sexual en estudiantes universitarios / Habits, preferences and sexual satisfaction in university students

Objetivo. Aproximarnos a las costumbres, preferencias y satisfacción sexual de una muestra de jóvenes universitarios. Diseño. Estudio observacional de carácter transversal. Emplazamiento. El estudio se llevó a cabo en el contexto universitario de Castilla-La Mancha durante el curso 2009/10. Participantes. Participaron 199 estudiantes universitarios con edades comprendidas entre los 18-29 años. Mediciones principales. Se recogieron datos sobre las costumbres sexuales de los participantes, sus preferencias, la satisfacción con su vida sexual y sus datos sociodemográficos. Resultados. La edad media de inicio de las relaciones sexuales es 17,3 años. El 51,9% de los participantes tienen relaciones sexuales entre 3 y 10 veces al mes, aunque en el caso de aquellos sin pareja estable esta frecuencia es menor. Mediante la escala de satisfacción sexual ISS se ha determinado que los participantes están satisfechos con sus relaciones sexuales, y que no existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la satisfacción sexual entre hombres (media: 20,1) y mujeres (media: 16,8), t (121) = 1,62, p = 0,11. El 77,1% de la muestra dice alcanzar el orgasmo siempre o casi siempre. La postura preferida para los hombres es la relación sexual con el hombre detrás de la mujer, mientras que las mujeres prefieren estar colocadas encima del hombre. El preservativo masculino es el anticonceptivo más habitual y sólo el 1,1% de la muestra no utiliza habitualmente métodos anticonceptivos. Conclusiones. La edad de la primera relación sexual tiende a disminuir y las personas con pareja estable tienen una mayor frecuencia de relaciones sexuales. Tanto hombres como mujeres se muestran satisfechos con su vida sexual e informan de una elevada frecuencia de orgasmos en sus relaciones sexuales. Existe un elevado uso de anticonceptivos por parte de los jóvenes (AU)

Objective. To investigate the sexual habits, preferences and satisfaction of a sample of young university students. Design. Cross-sectional, observational study. Setting. Performed in a university setting in Castilla-La Mancha during 2009/10. Participants. One hundred and ninety-nine university students aged between 18-29 years. Main Measurements. Data were collected on the sexual habits of the participants, their prefe- rences, satisfaction with their sexual life and sociodemographic data. Results. The mean age at first sexual relation was 17.34 years. Fifty-two percent of participants had sexual relations between 3 and 10 times a month, although in those without a stable partner this frequency was lower. Using the index of sexual satisfaction (ISS) it was found that participants are satisfied with their sexual relations, and that sexual satisfaction did not differ between men (Mean: 20.07) and women (Mean: 16.79), t (121) = 1.62, p = 0.11. Seventy-seven percent of the sample reported achieving orgasm always or almost always. The preferred position for males was sexual intercourse from behind the female, whereas women tended to prefer being on top of the man. The condom was found to be the most common form of contraception and only 1.1% of the sample reported not usually using contraceptive methods. Conclusions. Age of first sexual relation appears to be decreasing and those people with a stable relationship have a higher frequency of sexual relations. Both men and women appear to be satisfied with their sexual lives and report a high frequency of orgasm. It was found that contraceptive use is high among young people in the study population (AU)