Intake of foods high in saturated fats, vegetarian dietary pattern, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with body weight in Peruvian university students.

Background: The prevalence of obesity continues to increase among university students and the general population. Consumption of a diet high in saturated fats could be one of the risk factors. Objective: The consumption of foods high in saturated fats, the vegetarian diet pattern, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with excess body weight (overweight/obesity) were evaluated in Peruvian university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out selecting 5,608 Peruvian university students through no probabilistic convenience sampling. The survey was carried out during the months of February and April 2022. The Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between diet (saturated fats intake and dietary pattern) and sociodemographic factors with excess body weight in a cross-sectional analysis. Results: It was observed that students who reported high consumption of foods high in saturated fats (ORB = 1.14) and those who had a non-vegetarian dietary pattern (ORB = 2.76) were found to be more likely to have excess body weight. On the contrary, students who reported adherence to the vegetarian diet pattern for more than 5 years were less likely to be overweight or obese (ORB = 0.84). Being ≥26 years of age (ORB = 3.28), living in urban areas (ORB = 1.68) and coastal areas of the country (ORB = 1.17), and enrolled in the engineering faculty (ORB = 1.19), were significantly associated with excess body weight. Conclusion: The findings of the current study evidenced several factors associated with excess body weight in university students. Therefore, it is necessary to promote and implement healthy lifestyle programs, considering sociodemographic and dietary aspects such as age and dietary intake to control and prevent obesity in university students.

Body mass index and healthy lifestyle practices among Peruvian university students: a comparative study among academic discipline.

Background: Excess body weight and an unhealthy lifestyle are a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases. University students are susceptible to unhealthy habits and obesity. This study compared body mass index (BMI) and healthy lifestyle practices among university students from four academic disciplines: Health Sciences, Business Sciences, Human Sciences and Education, and Engineering/Architecture. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a sample of 6,642 university students selected by non-probability convenience sampling. The Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS), the Peruvian validation of the Vegetarian Lifestyle Index (VLI), was used to assess healthy lifestyle practices. Results: Students in the areas of Business Sciences and Engineering/Architecture had a higher BMI than their peers in Health Sciences (B = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15-0.56 and 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13-0.52; p = 0.001). Additionally, these students tended to adopt less healthy lifestyle (B = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.20 to -0.01 and -0.09, 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.00; p < 0.05) compared to those in Health Sciences. Conclusion: Although students of Health Sciences and Human Sciences and Education exhibited healthy lifestyle patterns, there is a clear need to improve eating and living habits in general among the university population to mitigate the risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases.

Evidence of validity and reliability of the environmental action scale in Peruvian university students.

Background: The environmental action scale is used to measure the degree of participation in collective environmental actions and has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties in developed countries. However, there are still no studies that have evaluated its performance in the Peruvian population. Methods: In this instrumental study, the environmental action scale (EAS) was translated, adapted, and validated. The EAS was administered to 352 university students between 18 and 35 years of age (Mage = 23.37, SD = 2.57) from different cities in Peru. A validity analysis was performed using two sources of evidence: content validity and internal structure, carrying out an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: The structure of the scale has been organized into three oblique factors. The findings confirmed the reliability and validity of the three dimensions of the EAS. Conclusion: Therefore, this scale is considered a valid option for assessing environmental action.

The relationship between positive and negative stress and posttraumatic growth in university students: the mediating role of resilience.

BACKGROUND: Information on understanding the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and positive and negative stress among students is limited. The objective of this research was to evaluate the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between positive and negative stress and PTG in university students. METHODS: The research was carried out using an associative strategy with an empirical approach and explanatory design, with a sample of 507 participants whose average age was 22.38 years ([Formula: see text]= 3.758), the sample was mostly composed of women (70.4%). RESULTS: The results allow us to describe that resilience plays a complete mediating role in the relationship between negative stress and PTG. On the other hand, mediation was partial when resilience mediated the relationship between positive stress and PTG. In addition, multigroup invariance analyses according to gender and geographic context show that there is no difference in males, females, and the region where they reside. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the hypothesis that resilience fulfills the mediating function is ratified.

Psychometric Properties of the Peruvian Version of the MOS Scale for Social Support in Cancer Patients and Convergent Network with Quality of Life.

Introduction: One of the key psychosocial factors that impact mental and emotional health is social support. While much research has been conducted on the role of social support in the lives of cancer patients, there is a lack of studies that consider populations who need specific tools to assess this concept. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the MOS Social Support Scale (1991) in 499 Peruvian cancer patients between the ages of 18 and 87 (M= 46.30, SD = 15.747). Methods: In this study, three models of the MOS were analyzed based on 19-item versions (four factor, second order and bifactor model). Results: The results showed a better psychometric fit in the 19-item bifactor model with optimal fit indices through the structural equation method (SB-χ2/df = 1.94, CFI = 0.966, TLI= 0.955, SRMR = 0.038 and RMSEA = 0.058). Additionally, there was evidence of configural, metric and scalar invariance with this instrument according to the gender of the surveyed cancer patients. Convergent validity using a network analysis approach revealed positive associations between social support dimensions and quality of life. Conclusion: Emotional support and positive interactions dimensions were found to be important interconnections in the overall network, as indicated by their greater centralities. Therefore, this instrument could be suggested as a reliable way to evaluate cancer patients and their perceived support.

Structure and factorial invariance of the Grit-Original scale and convergent validity of the network with job satisfaction and happiness.

Background: The concept of Grit refers to a person's ability to maintain perseverance and passion in the pursuit of long-term objectives. However, research on the applicability of the Grit-Original scale (Grit-O) in the Latin American context is limited. Objective: This instrumental design study aimed to analyze the structure of this scale and its factorial invariance in relation to gender, as well as to examine its convergent validity with job satisfaction and happiness. Methods: A sample of 364 Peruvian workers that were selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling in 2021. Results: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the two-dimensional structure of 12 items presented adequate goodness-of-fit indices. Additionally, the instrument is invariant between men and women. Likewise, the convergent relationship between the Grit scale, job satisfaction, and happiness variables was confirmed, which supports the validity of the instrument in the study context. Conclusion: The findings of the study confirm that the GRIT-O is a measure with adequate psychometric properties in the Peruvian context.

Psychometric Network Analysis of the Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPUS) in Peruvian Adults.

Objective: The aim of this research was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPUS). Methods: A sample of 704 Peruvian youth and adults aged 18 to 62 years (M = 26, SD = 6.0) was considered, of which 56% were female and 43% male. The participants were from various cities in Peru: Lima (84%), Trujillo (2.6%), Arequipa (1.8%), and Huancayo (1.6%). The validity of the theoretical structure of the PPUS was carried out by means of two techniques: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Graphical Analysis (EGA), a new effective and efficient dimension evaluation technique, whose measure consists of verifying the fit of the dimension structure. Results: Using the bifactor model, the hypothesis that PPUS has a unifactorial behavior was corroborated. These approximations of unidimensionality are also corroborated by the EGA method, where the centrality parameters and network loadings are found to have acceptable estimates. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the validity of the PPUS, contrasting with the factor model and verifying the unidimensionality of the construct, which provide useful directions for future studies on the instrumentalization of problematic pornography use scale.

Una alternativa de análisis de redes en la exploración de los estados de salud mental, condiciones crónicas y COVID-19

El análisis de redes es una técnica estadística gráfica que permite visualizar e interpretar intuitivamente asociaciones entre síntomas y múltiples variables vinculadas al funcionamiento y espectro de diversas condiciones de salud. Siendo de relevancia clínica en el contexto actual de la pandemia de COVID-19, y ante su poca difusión en Sudamérica, se tuvo como objetivo un análisis narrativo de este modelo de red durante la pandemia. Se realizó una revisión narrativa de los estudios empíricos publicados desde mayo de 2020 a julio de 2021 en la base de datos de PubMed y ScienceDirect. Se seleccionaron las investigaciones que utilizaron redes psicométricas de correlación parcial en participantes evaluados durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Esta revisión reporta 13 estudios de red que utilizaron mayormente síntomas relacionados a la ansiedad (7 estudios), depresión (6 estudios) y estrés (6 estudios). La información resultante se agrupa en 3 grupos (publicaciones en revistas de psiquiatría, ciencias psicológicas, medicina y afines). La revisión presentada refiere que este análisis de red permite una nueva forma de identificar aspectos clínicos importantes como la comorbilidad, concurrencia de los síntomas y medidas no sintomatológicas, agrupaciones de síntomas con otras variables de naturaleza latente u observable que comparten una causa común, la exploración de nuevas hipótesis clínicas holísticas con variables epidemiológicas, psicológicas, biomédicas y contextuales de mayor interés, como la comparación de sistemas de asociación causal de variables de múltiples niveles en el proceso psicobiológico y sus factores de riesgo y protección en varios periodos de tiempo.

Summary Network analysis is a graphical statistical technique that allows visualizing and intuitively interpreting the spectrum of various health conditions, being of clinical relevance in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given its limited dissemination in South America, we aimed at a narrative analysis of this network model during the pandemic. A narrative review of empirical studies published from May 2020 to July 2021 in the PubMed and ScienceDirect database was performed. We selected research that used partial correlation psychometric networks in participants assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review reports 13 network studies that used mostly symptoms related to anxiety (7 studies), depression (6 studies) and stress (6 studies). The resulting information is grouped into 3 clusters (publications in psychiatry, psychological sciences, medicine and related journals). The presented review refers that this network analysis allows a new way of identifying important clinical aspects such as comorbidity, concurrence of symptoms and nonsymptomatologic measures, groupings of symptoms with other variables of latent or observable nature that share a major common cause, the exploration of new holistic clinical hypotheses with epidemiological, psychological, biomedical and contextual variables of major current interest such as the comparison of causal association systems of multilevel variables in the psychobiological process, and their risk and protective factors in various time periods.

Relationship Between Satisfaction With Medical Care, Physical Health, and Emotional Well-Being in Adult Men: Mediating Role of Communication.

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases and psychiatric pathologies are the health problems that most affect the population in the United States. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the mediating role of patient-centered communication (PCC) in the relationship between satisfaction with medical care, physical health, and emotional well-being in American men. METHODS: A cross-sectional - predictive study was carried out. The variables analyzed were satisfaction with medical care, physical health, and emotional well-being. Information from the Health Information National Trends Survey Data (HINTS) was used; HINTS 5, cycle 3 (collected between January and June 2019) and 4 (2020). Data from 3338 men were considered (mean age: M = 55.40, SD = 19.53). Data analyses were carried out using structural equation modeling (SEM) to represent the statistical mediation model with latent and observable variables. RESULTS: Analyses showed that the variables were significantly related (P < .01). In the mediation model, there is evidence that satisfaction predicts communication (ß = .764, P < .001) and this, in turn, is related to physical health (ß = .079, P = .007) and emotional well-being (ß = .145, P < .001). In addition, the standardized estimates of the structural multiple mediation model presented acceptable goodness-of-fit indices: χ2/gl = 2.24, CFI = 0.999, TLI = 0.999, RMSEA = 0.019 [90% CI: 0.013-0.022], SRMR = 0.018. CONCLUSION: Patient-centered communication plays a significant dual mediating role in the relationship between satisfaction with medical care, physical health, and emotional well-being, respectively. Therefore, PCC is essential in healthcare for American men.

Network Analysis of Depressive Symptomatology in Underweight and Obese Adults.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms can affect people's quality of life and social environment. In addition, in severe situations, they can lead to suicidal behaviors. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the differences in depressive symptoms in underweight and obese Peruvian adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out based on secondary data obtained from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI), Lima, Peru. A sample of 10 053 participants was considered, of which 55.96% were women. Two Gaussian plot models were estimated and the levels of depressive symptomatology were compared between the 2 groups (adults with underweight and obese). RESULTS: A total of 1510 (15.02%) were underweight adults and 8543 (84.98%) were obese adults. There were differences in the reporting of depressive symptoms in the underweight group; the most central items were "Depressed mood" (PH2), "Tiredness/low energy" (PH4), and "Psychomotor difficulties" (PH8). CONCLUSION: This study provides new evidence on the dynamic relationship between depressive symptoms according to the body mass index categories (underweight and obese) assessed.

Estructura factorial y de red de una escala breve de soledad (RULS-6) en adolescentes peruanos / Factor and network structure of a brief loneliness scale (RULS-6) in Peruvian adolescents

La soledad es un fenómeno psicológico que puede afectar a la salud de los adolescentes. Genera una gran sensación de aislamiento social, amenazapersonal y falta de control que puede llevar a una mayor vulnerabilidad a desarrollar algún trastorno mental. Sin embargo, hasta ahora no se cuenta conuna medida de soledad adaptada en adolescentes hispanos. El objetivo fue validar la medida de 6-items Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (RULS-6)en adolescentes peruanos. El estudio incluyó a 456 adolescentes peruanos (49% eran mujeres) estudiantes de nivel secundaria entre 12 y 17 años(M = 14,57, DT = 1,64). Primero se realizó la traducción y la revisión lingüística de la escala de soledad revisada de la UCLA. Luego se procedió a lacalificación de una versión adaptada recientemente de seis ítems (RULS-6) mediante la evidencia de validez basado en el contenido. Posteriormente,se realizó el análisis factorial confirmatorio, que presentó resultados óptimos de la unidimensionalidad del instrumento y su fiabilidad. Asimismo, seanalizó la invarianza entre hombres y mujeres y según grupos de edad, que permitió determinar la equivalencia entre los grupos categóricos de hombresy mujeres y según la edad (entre 12 y 14 años y, 15 y 17 años). Finalmente se realizó el análisis de red para evaluar las relaciones entre los elementosdel RULS-6. Los resultados refieren que la medida RULS-6 es una prueba unidimensional consistente y fiable, que arroja resultados válidos en adolescentes peruanos. (AU)

Loneliness is a psychological phenomenon that can affect the health of adolescents. It generates a strong sense of social isolation, personal threat and lack of control that can lead to a greater vulnerabilityto developing a mental disorder. However, so far there is no measure of loneliness adapted to Hispanic adolescents. The objective was to validatethe 6-items Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (RULS-6) in Peruvian adolescents. The study included 456 Peruvian adolescents (49% were female)high school students between 12 and 17 years of age (M = 14.57, SD = 1.64). First, translation and linguistic revision of the revised UCLA loneliness scale was performed. We then proceeded to the scoring of a newly adapted six-item version (RULS-6) using content-based validity evidence,followed by confirmatory factor analysis, which presented optimal results of the instrument’s unidimensionality and reliability. Likewise, the invariancebetween males and females and according to age groups was analyzed, which made it possible to determine the equivalence between the categorical groups of males and females and according to age (from 12 to 14 years and from 15 to 17 years). Finally, network analysis was performed toevaluate the relationships between the RULS-6 items. The results indicate that the RULS-6 measure is a consistent and reliable unidimensional test,which yields valid results in Peruvian adolescents. (AU)

Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages Associated With Physical Health Status in Adults: Secondary Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey Data.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol consumption constitutes one of the main modifiable risk factors that contribute to the increase in the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the consumption of alcoholic beverages on the state of physical health and its equivalence according to gender. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) (n = 3865), collected during 2020 were used. Structural equation modeling was applied to assess the fit of the model, which included the prediction of measures of alcohol consumption in physical health and the equivalence of measurements of the proposed structural model in men and women. RESULTS: The proposed structural model reported adequate goodness-of-fit indices (SBχ²/gl = 3.817, CFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.968, RMSEA [90% CI] = 0.027 [0.016-0.039]; SRMR = 0.016). Frequent alcohol consumption had a negative effect on physical health (b = -0.13, P < .01). Similarly, occasional alcohol consumption negatively predicted elevated BMI and chronic conditions such as, diabetes, hypertension, CVD, and cancer (b = -0.09, P < .01). In addition, drinking patterns of alcoholic beverages affect physical health in equal ways for men and women. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight that frequent and occasional alcohol consumption significantly affected physical health in a negative way. Future interventions could address ways to encourage the adoption of a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risks of chronic conditions derived from excessive alcohol consumption.

Análisis de red de síntomas de angustia psicológica, estrés postraumático y miedo por COVID-19 en adultos peruanos

RESUMEN Introducción: la pandemia del coronavirus (COVID-19) y las medidas de distanciamiento social utilizado para mitigar la propagación del virus puede tener graves consecuencias para la salud mental. Objetivo: investigar la red de componentes de la sintomatología de la angustia psicológica, estrés y el miedo al COVID-19 en adultos peruanos durante la primera oleada pandémica en el Perú durante el 2020. Métodos: fueron incluidos 609 adultos peruanos (57,51% mujeres; M edad: 27,04) de la ciudad Metropolitana de Lima, quienes respondieron los instrumentos adaptados al español: Impact of event scale-revised-R (IES-R), Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) y Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), cuyas respuestas de los reactivos representaron el análisis de red con las medidas de centralidad y estabilidad de los nodos. Resultados: se observaron mayores medidas de centralidad en los reactivos de estado de ánimo depresivo, miedo al contagio y miedo a la muerte por COVID-19. Las mayores conexiones de red se encontraron entre los síntomas depresivos, síntomas postraumáticos de evitación, síntomas emocionales del miedo al COVID-19. Asimismo, se demostró la estabilidad de las medidas de centralidad de fuerza y la precisión de los nodos o variables de la red. Conclusiones: los participantes manifestaron mayores niveles de síntomas de depresión y miedo al COVID-19, tales síntomas fueron más centrales en la red y reportaron conexiones de mayor activación en la red, cuya consideración es determinante para una mejor eficacia en la intervención y prevención ante la pandemia para los profesionales de las ciencias de la salud y del comportamiento

ABSTRACT Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and the social distancing measures used to mitigate the spread of the virus may have serious mental health consequences. Objective: To investigate the components network of the symptomatology of psychological distress, stress and fear of COVID-19 in Peruvian adults during the first pandemic wave in Peru during 2020. Methods: Six hundred nine Peruvian adults were includeds (57.51% women; M age: 27.04) from the Metropolitan city of Lima, who responded to the instruments adapted to Spanish: Impact of event scale-revised-R (IES-R), Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), whose item responses represented the network analysis with measures of centrality and stability of the nodes. Results: Higher measures of centrality were observed for the depressed mood, fear of contagion and fear of death items by COVID-19. The greatest network connections were found among depressive symptoms, post-traumatic avoidance symptoms, emotional symptoms of fear of COVID-19. Also, the stability of the strength centrality measures and the accuracy of the network nodes or variables was demonstrated. Conclusions: Participants manifested higher levels of symptoms of depression and fear of COVID-19, such symptoms were more central in the network, and reported higher activation connections in the network, the consideration of which is determinant for better effectiveness in pandemic intervention and prevention for health and behavioral sciences professionals

Evidencias psicométricas mediante SEM y análisis de red del “Inventario de crecimiento postraumático” en adolescentes peruanos / Psychometric evidence through SEM and network analysis of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory Peruvian adolescents

El crecimiento postraumático es la capacidad psicológica para percibir cambios positivos ante eventos altamente estresantes o potencialmente traumáticos y puede ser especialmente útil para amortiguar sus efectos en la vida de los adolescentes. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la adaptación peruana del “Inventario de crecimiento postraumático” (PTGI). Participaron 2103 adolescentes (50,7% hombres) de entre 13 y 19 años, quienes estuvieron expuestos a algún evento altamente estresante en los últimos cinco años. Se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio, invarianza factorial, análisis de red y se correlacionó el PTGI con una medida de bienestar. Se observó el mejor ajuste parsimonioso en un modelo unidimensional de 21 ítems, el PTGI mostró ser invariante según el sexo, el análisis de red determinó mayor medida de centralidad de fuerza en el ítem 2 (apreciación de la vida). Estos resultados indican que el PTGI es una prueba con validez de constructo, invariante, fiable y adecuado para evaluar el nivel de crecimiento psicológico en adolescentes peruanos que sufrieron algún evento estresante durante los últimos cinco años (AU)

Posttraumatic growth is the psychological capacity to perceive positive changes in the face of highly stressful or potentially traumatic events and may be especially useful in buffering their effects in the lives of adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Peruvian adaptation of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). A total of 2103 adolescents (50.7% male) between 13 and 19 years of age, who were exposed to some highly stressful event in the previous five years, participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analysis, factorial invariance, network analysis and correlation of the PTGI with a measure of well-being were performed. The best parsimonious fit was observed in a 21-item unidimensional model, the PTGI was shown to be gender invariant, and network analysis determined a greater measure of strength centrality in item 2 (appreciation of life). These results indicate that the PTGI is a test with construct validity, invariant, reliable and adequate to evaluate the level of psychological growth in Peruvian adolescents who suffered some stressful event during the previous five years (AU)