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.

Posttraumatic growth indicators in Brazilian and Pakistani samples / Indicadores de crecimiento postraumático en una muestra brasileña y pakistaní / Indicadores de crescimento pós-traumático em amostra brasileira e paquistanesa

We investigated indicators of posttraumatic growth (PTG) in victims of disasters. Six hypotheses were tested: the symptoms of re-experiencing and avoidance, typical of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), would be positive predictors of PTG (h1); the Pakistanis would have lower PTG rates when compared to Brazilians (h2); higher number of traumatic events (h3), bombings and terrorism (h4) and pathological personality traits (h5) would be negative predictors of PTG; and the religiosity factor would be a positive indicator of PTG (h6). Participants included 202 subjects, 64.9% male with age ranges between 18 and 66 years (M = 28.07; SD = 8.82). Instruments used included the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and the Clinical Dimensional Personality Inventory-Screening. All hypotheses were partially corroborated. We discuss the implications of the transposition of Western evaluation methods and the posttraumatic perspective to Non-Western contexts.

Investigou-se indicadores de crescimento pós-traumático (CPT) em vítimas de desastres por meio de seis hipóteses: os sintomas de reexperimentação e evitação, típicos do transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT), seriam preditores positivos de CPT (h1); os paquistaneses teriam menores taxas de CPT quando comparados a brasileiros (h2), maior número de eventos traumáticos (h3), bombardeios e terrorismo (h4) e traços patológicos de personalidade (h5) seriam preditores negativos de CPT e o fator religiosidade seria um indicador positivo do CPT (h6). Participaram do estudo 202 indivíduos, 64,9% homens com idades entre 18 e 66 anos (M = 28,07; DP = 8,82). Os instrumentos utilizados incluíram o Inventário de Crescimento Pós-Traumático, o PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 e o Inventário Dimensional Clínico da Personalidade-Versão Triagem. As hipóteses foram parcialmente corroboradas. Se discute a transposição de métodos de avaliação ocidentais e perspectiva pós-traumática para contextos orientais.

Se han investigado indicadores de crecimiento postraumático (CPT) en víctimas de desastres a través de seis hipótesis: los síntomas de re experimentación y evitación, típicos del trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT), serían predictores positivos de CPT (h1); los paquistaníes tendrían menores tasas de CPT cuando comparados a brasileños (h2), mayor número de eventos traumáticos (h3), bombardeos y terrorismo (h4) y rasgos patológicos de personalidad (h5) serían predictores negativos de CPT y el factor religiosidad sería un indicador positivo del CPT (h6). Participaron 202 individuos, 64,9% hombres con edades entre 18 y 66 años (M = 28,07, DP = 8,82). Los instrumentos utilizados incluyeron el Inventario de Crecimiento Post-traumático, la lista de verificación del PTSD para el Checklist for DSM-5 y el Inventario Dimensional Clínico de la Personalidad - Versión EvaluaciónTriage. Las hipótesis fueron parcialmente corroboradas. Se discute la transposición de métodos de evaluación occidentales y perspectiva post-traumática para contextos orientales.

Causal attribution for mental illness in Cuba: A thematic analysis.

Explanatory models (EMs) for illness are highly relevant for patients, and they are also important for clinical diagnoses and treatment. EMs serve to capture patients' personal illness narratives and can help reveal how culture influences these narratives. While much research has aimed to understand EMs in the Western hemisphere, less research has been done on other cultures. Therefore, we investigated local causal attributions for mental illness in Cuba because of its particular history and political system. Although Cuban culture shares many values with Latin American cultures because of Spanish colonization, it is unique because of its socialist political and economic context, which might influence causal attributions. Thus, we developed a qualitative interview outline based on the Clinical Ethnographic Interview and administered interviews to 14 psychiatric patients in Havana. We conducted a thematic analysis to identify repeated patterns of meaning. Six patterns of causal attribution for mental illness were identified: (1) Personal shortcomings, (2) Family influences, (3) Excessive demands, (4) Cultural, economic, and political environment in Cuba, (5) Physical causes, and (6) Symptom-related explanations. In our sample, we found general and Cuba-specific patterns of causal attributions, whereby the Cuba-specific themes mainly locate the causes of mental illness outside the individual. These findings might be related to Cubans' socio-centric personal orientation, the cultural value of familismo and common daily experiences within socialist Cuban society. We discuss how the findings may be related to social stigma and help-seeking behavior.

Características psicosociales en la Distrofia Miotónica de Steinert / Psychosocial characteristics in Steinert's Myotonic Dystrophy

La psicología en el siglo XXI tiene la misión de acercarse cada vez más al bienestar psicológico de las personas, tarea que está presente en la búsqueda de alternativas interdisciplinarias para el enfrentamiento a enfermedades como la Distrofia Miotónica de Steinert (DMS), enfermedad genética, neuromuscular de progresivo deterioro de la calidad de vida de quienes la padecen. Esta investigación pretende la identificación de características psicosociales de los enfermos para contribuir a la modelación futura de estrategias especializadas de asesoramiento y acompañamiento a los enfermos y a las redes de apoyo con que cuentan estos sujetos. Ha sido empleada la metodología mixta, con un predominio del enfoque cuantitativo. Fue aplicada una entrevista semiestructurada y la elaboración de un familiograma a cada uno de los 15 pacientes con Distrofia Miotónica de Steinert estudiados en el período de enero a marzo de 2016 en el Instituto de Neurología y Neurocirugía de La Habana, Cuba. Los datos recogidos en una matriz fueron procesados con ayuda del programa SPSS (20.0), aplicó el cálculo porcentual y elementos de la estadística descriptiva (media y desviación típica). Entre los resultados sobresale como elemento preocupante la falta de conocimiento previo sobre la enfermedad en estos pacientes, aun cuando muchos tienen familiares con el mismo padecimiento. Conclusión central: Dado la carencia de información evidenciada sobre estos pacientes en Cuba, se requiere de un estudio multidisciplinar de mayor alcance para contribuir al bienestar psicológico de los mismos(AU)

Psychology in the 21st century has the mission of getting closer to the psychological wellbeing of people, a task that is present in the search for interdisciplinary alternatives for the confrontation of diseases such as Steinert's Myotonic Dystrophy (DMS), genetic disease, neuromuscular disease of progressive deterioration of the quality of life of those who suffer it. This research aims to identify the psychosocial characteristics of the patients to contribute to the future modeling of specialized strategies for counseling and accompanying patients and the support networks that these subjects have. Mixed methodology has been employed, with a predominance of the quantitative approach. A semi-structured interview and the elaboration of a familiogram were applied to each of the 15 patients with Steinert's Myotonic Dystrophy studied in the period from January to March, 2016 at the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Havana, Cuba. The data collected in a matrix were processed using the SPSS program (20.0), applied the percentage calculation and elements of descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation). Among the results, the lack of previous knowledge about the disease in these patients stands out as a worrying element, even though many have relatives with the same disease. Central Conclusion: Given the lack of information evidenced on these patients in Cuba, a multidisciplinary study of greater scope is required to contribute to the psychological wellbeing of the same ones(AU)

Determinación de la percepción de riesgo de la población ante los productos químicos peligrosos / Determination of risk perception of the population about hazardous chemicals

Introducción: En la comunidad no existe una adecuada percepción de riesgo ante el manejo de los productos químicos peligrosos. Objetivo: Analizar la percepción del riesgo de la comunidad en el manejo de estos productos. Métodos: Investigacón exploratoria-descriptiva realizada entre el 2012-2014. El universo lo constituyeron 1 142 practicantes sistemáticos en el manejo de productos químicos peligrosos en el área de Pogolotti-Finlay-Belén y 1 338 pertenecientes al municipio de Mantilla, ambos en La Habana. La muestra seleccionada es intencional (377), se obtuvo de forma no probabilística. Se diseñaron variables asociadas al manejo responsable de estos productos, que conjuntamente con una encuesta aglutinada con dichas variables, permitió evaluar la percepción de riesgo en el grupo humano estudiado. Resultados: La percepción del riesgo ante los productos químicos peligrosos tuvo un comportamiento similar en ambas comunidades, con valores de 1,83 para Pogolotti-Finlay-Belén y 1,84 para Mantilla, que indican una subestimación del riesgo. Las variables que más aportaron a esta subestimación fueron la baja comprensión del riesgo, la alta voluntariedad a exponerse, el bajo pánico, el bajo clima de seguridad y el bajo aporte por la composición social de la vivienda. Los grupos que tenían menor percepción de riesgo en cuanto al manejo de estos productos correspondieron a los jóvenes adultos, seguidos de los adultos. Conclusiones: En ambos grupos se identificaron dificultades en la percepción de riesgo, que develan las insuficientes acciones que inciden directamente en una mejor percepción en el manejo de los productos químicos peligrosos, donde el conocimiento, la responsabilidad, entre otros; son necesarios para garantizar una adecuada y consciente gestión(AU)

Introduction: adequate risk perception about the handling of hazardous chemicals is nonexistent at the community setting. Objective: To analyze the risk perception of the community about the handling of hazardous chemicals. Methods: Exploratory and descriptive research conducted from 2012 to 2014. The universe of study was 1 142 systematic handlers of hazardous chemicals from the Pogolotti-Finlay-Belen area and 1 338 from Mantilla neighborhood in La Habana province. The selected and intentional sample of 377 individuals was obtained in a non-probabilistic way. Several variables linked to the responsible handling of these products were designed, which together with a survey combined with such variables, allowed evaluating the risk perception in the studied human group. Results: The risk perception about hazardous chemicals behaved similarly in both communities, being 1.83 for Pogolotti-Finlay-Belen and 1.84 for Mantilla, and expressed a risk underestimation. The most contributing variables were little understanding of risk, great willingness to exposure, little panic, low safety climate and low contribution due to the social composition of dwelling. The groups that had lower risk perception were young adults and adults. Conclusions: Difficulties in risk perception were detected in both groups, which reveal that the actions having a direct impact on a better perception of handling of dangerous chemicals are insufficient, and that knowledge and responsibility, among others, are necessary to guarantee adequate and conscious management(AU)

Determinación de la percepción de riesgo de la población ante los productos químicos peligrosos / Determination of risk perception of the population about hazardous chemicals

Introducción: En la comunidad no existe una adecuada percepción de riesgo ante el manejo de los productos químicos peligrosos. Objetivo: Analizar la percepción del riesgo de la comunidad en el manejo de estos productos. Métodos: Investigacón exploratoria-descriptiva realizada entre el 2012-2014. El universo lo constituyeron 1 142 practicantes sistemáticos en el manejo de productos químicos peligrosos en el área de Pogolotti-Finlay-Belén y 1 338 pertenecientes al municipio de Mantilla, ambos en La Habana. La muestra seleccionada es intencional (377), se obtuvo de forma no probabilística. Se diseñaron variables asociadas al manejo responsable de estos productos, que conjuntamente con una encuesta aglutinada con dichas variables, permitió evaluar la percepción de riesgo en el grupo humano estudiado. Resultados: La percepción del riesgo ante los productos químicos peligrosos tuvo un comportamiento similar en ambas comunidades, con valores de 1,83 para Pogolotti-Finlay-Belén y 1,84 para Mantilla, que indican una subestimación del riesgo. Las variables que más aportaron a esta subestimación fueron la baja comprensión del riesgo, la alta voluntariedad a exponerse, el bajo pánico, el bajo clima de seguridad y el bajo aporte por la composición social de la vivienda. Los grupos que tenían menor percepción de riesgo en cuanto al manejo de estos productos correspondieron a los jóvenes adultos, seguidos de los adultos. Conclusiones: En ambos grupos se identificaron dificultades en la percepción de riesgo, que develan las insuficientes acciones que inciden directamente en una mejor percepción en el manejo de los productos químicos peligrosos, donde el conocimiento, la responsabilidad, entre otros; son necesarios para garantizar una adecuada y consciente gestión(AU)

Introduction: adequate risk perception about the handling of hazardous chemicals is nonexistent at the community setting. Objective: To analyze the risk perception of the community about the handling of hazardous chemicals. Methods: Exploratory and descriptive research conducted from 2012 to 2014. The universe of study was 1 142 systematic handlers of hazardous chemicals from the Pogolotti-Finlay-Belen area and 1 338 from Mantilla neighborhood in La Habana province. The selected and intentional sample of 377 individuals was obtained in a non-probabilistic way. Several variables linked to the responsible handling of these products were designed, which together with a survey combined with such variables, allowed evaluating the risk perception in the studied human group. Results: The risk perception about hazardous chemicals behaved similarly in both communities, being 1.83 for Pogolotti-Finlay-Belen and 1.84 for Mantilla, and expressed a risk underestimation. The most contributing variables were little understanding of risk, great willingness to exposure, little panic, low safety climate and low contribution due to the social composition of dwelling. The groups that had lower risk perception were young adults and adults. Conclusions: Difficulties in risk perception were detected in both groups, which reveal that the actions having a direct impact on a better perception of handling of dangerous chemicals are insufficient, and that knowledge and responsibility, among others, are necessary to guarantee adequate and conscious management(AU)