Psykhe

Cognitive Training in Childhood: Analysis of Relationships Between Effects and Individual Variables

Yesica Aydmune, Santiago Vernucci, Sebastián Urquijo, Isabel Introzzi — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Cognitive inhibition (CI) is important for performance in childhood. It is not yet known which variables are linked to the likelihood of optimizing it from interventions. We analyzed the effects of CI training in schoolchildren at 6 and 7 years of age on performance in CI, working memory (WM) and abstract reasoning tasks. We investigated whether variables such as baseline cognitive performance and intervention characteristics are linked to training effects at each age. An experimental design was applied with an experimental group (EG, who received the training) and a control group (CG) by age, with pre and post-test (where tasks were administered to assess CI, WM and abstract reasoning). We worked with a non-probabilistic sample of 65 schoolchildren from two educational institutions in Mar del Plata, Argentina. At 6 years, the EG showed improvements from pre to posttest in WM, Z = -2,99, p = 0,003. At 7 years, the groups differ at post-test in CI, Z = -2.15, p = 0.033, and the GE presented improvements from pre to post-test in abstract reasoning, Z = -2.83, p = 0.005, Only at 7 years the effects are linked to baseline performance on the CI task. The effects are low and differential by age. The development of age-specific assessment and intervention strategies is discussed. Partial evidence is provided for the compensation hypothesis and individual variability.

Gender Norms and Health Risk Behaviors: A Systematic Review in Latin-American Men

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Research has shown a relationship between traditional gender norms and the increase in health risk behaviors. However, there are no reviews that systematize findings about this relationship in Latin-American men. The aim of this study was to identify and systematize the available evidence regarding the relationship between traditional gender norms, masculinity, machismo and non-traditional gender norms, and health risk behaviors in Latin-American men. A systematic review was conducted, guided by the PRISMA criteria, in 5 databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Medline y Scielo). Scientific articles reporting empirical studies published since the year 2000 were selected, which included variables related to gender norms and their relationship with health risk behaviors. After the selection stage, 62 articles were included in the review. Results allowed the identification of the most studied variables (traditional gender norms and risky sexual behaviors) and gaps in the literature (non-traditional gender norms and unhealthy eating and exercise behaviors). In addition, conclusive evidence regarding the link between different groups of traditional gender norms, higher substance use, and violent behavior was found. The importance of precise conceptualization and operationalization of gender norm-related variables and their potential effect on specific health behaviors are discussed.

Positive Parenting and Prevention of the Child and Adolescent Population in relation to their Mental Health: An Updated Review

Marta Morán Del Castillo, Juan Luis Martín Ayala — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Positive parenting is presented as a new challenge for today's society in which mental health professionals and psychoeducational professionals provide families with parenting programs to strengthen family functioning and empower parents in relation to the upbringing of their children. The present work seeks to describe a set of scientific publications in order to search for significant correlations between positive parenting and the prevention of the future infant-juvenile population in relation to their mental health, based on strengthening of family functioning and the reduction of the impact of adverse experiences during childhood and adolescence. An exploratory systematic review of the topic was carried out with a screening of the parameters "Positive parenting AND Mental disorders AND Prevention" through research articles published in peer-reviewed journals and with review in four databases —Redalyc, the Virtual Health Library (BVS), PubMed, and ScienceDirect—, from which 229, 31, 20 and 48 articles were examined, respectively. The articles were selected based on predefined criteria and using limiters. Finally, a total of 61 articles were selected, analyzed and categorized into the corresponding sections.

"Our Daily Trauma": Subjective Construction About Suicidal Processes of Trans* Youth

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Several studies have demonstrated that young people who identify with a transgender identity are at a higher risk of suicide. This is due to various social factors, such as gender discrimination, experiences of marginalization, family rejection, and internalized stigma. This study aimed to understand the experiences of a group of young people living in Chile who self-identify as transgender and have survived a suicide attempt. A multiple-case design was used, and qualitative interviews were conducted with seven participants. The interviews were analyzed using discovery-oriented biographical analysis (DOBA), which allowed an understanding of the organization, interpretation, and meaning of the participants' experiences. From this analysis, we identified a model consisting of four phases or stages was identified, linking aspects of the transgender identity emergence process with suicidal risk factors. Two cross-cutting elements in each stage were also identified: social violence and the body and its dimensions. The study concludes that the process of transgender identity emergence intertwines with narratives of suicidal experiences and, therefore, sensitive and competent interventions with young people could be preventive.

Quality of Life of Young People with Intellectual Disability in Argentina, Chile, and Spain

María Lucía Morán Suárez, Laura Elísabet Gómez Sánchez — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The construct of quality of life (QoL) has moved from a philosophical perspective to the development of a paradigm of supports to people with intellectual disability (ID). However, these advances have been focused mostly on the adult stage. Therefore, the goals of this study were: (1) to assess the association between personal and environmental factors and the QoL of children and adolescents with ID and (2) to describe QoL-related personal outcomes in the childhood and adolescence stages. The sample was composed of 546 participants from 49 organizations located in Argentina, Chile and Spain. Ages ranged from 4 to 21 years old (M = 13.3; SD = 4.6) and assessments were conducted by 154 professionals and relatives. The KidsLife Scale was used. The scale comprises 96 items divided into the eight QoL domains. Significant differences were found in QoL-related personal outcomes depending on the age, level of ID, level of support needs, type of schooling and country. Furthermore, the lowest scores were obtained in the social inclusion and self-determination domains. This study contributes to enhance the knowledge of the construct of QoL in children and youth with ID. Also, it serves as a guide for the development of supports, programs, and social policies aimed at promoting their QoL.

Fear of Getting Sick and Alcohol Consumption During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chile

Dustin Amador, Alex Behn — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

COVID-19 is a rapidly transmitted respiratory disease that became a pandemic. Many countries implemented quarantines and social distancing as preventive measures, which could have consequences on mental health. The fear of getting sick from the virus could increase psychological distress, which could influence alcohol consumption behavior as a coping strategy. The study explores the trajectory of alcohol consumption during 15 days of the first wave of COVID-19 in Chile. The convenience sample consisted of 164 adults, with an average age of 32.2 years and 60.6% women. A general information questionnaire was used, the SENDA Alcohol Consumption Questionnaire, the FIVE questionnaire and the PHQ-9. For data analysis, a growth curve analysis of the consumption trajectory was performed, including predictors: fear of getting sick, age, sex, depressive symptoms and economic stress. The main results indicate that, although differences are observed between individuals in initial consumption, this remains stable over time. Furthermore, controlling for the different covariates, a higher level of fear of COVID-19 and specifically, the fear of limitations and difficulties in meeting basic needs associated with the disease, would be a predictor of a higher level of consumption at baseline and would predict a slight reduction in the consumption pattern over the measurement time, which could be due to the fact that fear could motivate behaviors such as reducing alcohol consumption.

Validation of Readiness for Change Scale in Chilean Educational Institutions

Luis Felipe De la Vega Rodríguez, María Teresa Yáñez Cifuentes — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Readiness for change (RFC) has been little explored—even less measured—in education, as a way to support capacity development work, educational leadership and promote school improvement processes. This article presents the validation of a RFC measurement scale, based on the theory of planned behavior, adapted to the Chilean context. 181 officials from eight educational establishments in three regions of Chile participated. Non-probabilistic convenience sampling was used, considering only municipal educational establishments. The analysis considered the measurement of the reliability of the instrument and, subsequently, the evaluation of the construct validity. This initiative was successful, considering the different tests made to the construct and its reliability. The measurement of the RFC –which includes individual and collective aspects in three dimensions: attitude, subjective norm and perception of control– may be relevant to identify the contribution of leaders’ practices and their influence on school improvement, since it is a variable that shows the attitude of members of their community to participate in the transformations they seek to implement. The article recommends further progress in the development of a line of research and debate, considering conceptual and methodological aspects.

Daily Life, Transformations and Emotions during the Pandemic. Stories from Home Referrals

Guido García-Bastán, Horacio Luis Paulín, Lucía Angélica Arias — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this paper, we present part of the results of a project aimed at analyzing inequalities and access to rights during the COVID-19 pandemic in households in the city of Córdoba, Argentina. Following the guidelines of Grounded Theory, from a qualitative strategy based on interviews with 40 household referents, we analyze the transformations in daily life, the differential experiences in relation to specific social markers and the role of emotions in the configuration of these experiences. Our findings indicate that, for all socioeconomic levels, confinement was an intensive experience in terms of the reorganization of household units. The analysis of markers of generation, gender and socioeconomic level reveals unequal ways of experiencing the most critical moments of the pandemic and confinement. Likewise, the exploration of the emotional dimension in the testimonies made it possible to reconstruct the evaluations that different sectors made of the role played by the State during the pandemic, a central aspect to advance in the evaluation of public policies oriented to the care of the population.

Back to Basics: Conceptual Frameworks for the Undergraduate Training of Psychologists in Chile

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study sought to identify a basic conceptual compendium for those completing their undergraduate training in any psychology degree program in Chile. This effort arose from the need to reach a consensus on minimum curricular contents that would provide a clear conceptual scaffolding and contribute to provide quality guarantees for the training of all students. In specific terms, the study consisted of identifying, with the help of expert judges, the 100 most important concepts to know and handle in each of the following 12 disciplinary sub-areas: Basic Psychological Processes, Biological Bases of Behavior, Motivation and Emotion, Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Processes, Quantitative Research Methods, Qualitative Research Methods, Social Psychology, Personality Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, History of Psychology and Psychometrics. The research team compiled twelve preliminary lists of concepts from indexes and glossaries of texts and manuals, which were prepared and presented randomly by remote administration to the expert judges in each subarea through online forms. A total of 104 academics from 22 universities, with an average of 11.2 years of teaching experience, agreed to evaluate the importance, in their opinion, of each of the 100 concepts in their area for the training of a psychology graduate. This article presents the results of this process and argues in favor of the importance of generating standards for undergraduate training in psychology.

Efectos del Sexo, los Estereotipos y la Identidad de Género en la Motivación Lectora de Estudiantes Hombres y Mujeres

Ana María Espinoza, Katherine Strasser, Héctor Carvacho — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Este estudio buscó contribuir a nuestra comprensión de la brecha del sexo biológico en la motivación lectora del estudiantado, que se centró en el rol de variables relacionadas con el género. 303 estudiantes chilenos/as de enseñanza media (51% mujeres) respondieron cuestionarios de autorreporte. Se utilizaron modelos de ecuaciones estructurales para evaluar si la identidad de género del estudiantado mediaba en la relación entre el sexo biológico y la motivación por la lectura (autoconcepto y valor), así como para evaluar los efectos diferenciales de la identidad de género y de los estereotipos de género asociados a la lectura en la motivación lectora de estudiantes hombres y mujeres. Los resultados revelaron efectos directos del sexo biológico del estudiantado, pero no efectos indirectos. El análisis multigrupo mostró que para las estudiantes mujeres, la adherencia a estereotipos de género asociados a la lectura tuvo un efecto positivo en su autoconcepto lector, mientras que para los estudiantes hombres tuvo un efecto negativo en el valor que atribuyen a la lectura. Se discuten las implicancias de estos hallazgos para la promoción de la equidad en la enseñanza y aprendizaje de la lectura en educación secundaria.

Digital Divide and Older People: Thoughts from the Professionals in Peñalolén (Santiago, Chile)

Herminia Gonzálvez-Torralbo, Francisca Ortiz-Ruiz, Carla Bravo-Rojas — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the digital world, only some people can participate actively. Older people in situations of vulnerability or social exclusion are often out of this world. In fact, in the Latin American context, the digital divide increases in this age group. In this research, using an intended sample, 23 professionals who work daily with older people in Peñalolén (Santiago, Chile) were interviewed. The main objective was to identify their vision of how the ageing population lives through the digital divide in a period shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the results, the professionals highlight difficulties and achievements associated with this gap, related to (a) connectivity, linked not only to Internet access, but also derived from intergenerational conflicts that are generated in the private sphere; (b) digitalization, and access to municipal services, related to local and national government efforts, and (c) digital literacy. In the conclusions, the authors thematize the inequalities related to the digital divide and reflect on the limitations and proposals for future research.

Group Identification and Justification of Chileans for the Use of Violent Tactics in Protest

María Teresa Valeria-Zambrano — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Chile has witnessed various mobilizations and social protests, ranging from disruptive repertoires to transgressive and violent actions. Although understanding the motivations behind protests has been central in sociological, political science, and social psychological studies, there has been a lack of specific research on the justification of the use of violent tactics in protests in Chile, particularly regarding a specific group that was mentioned, especially during the social upheaval: the frontline protesters. This research sought to explore the relationships between perceived effectiveness of violent actions, positive group emotions towards the frontline protester group, and identification with this group. The ultimate goal was to assess the levels of justification attributed by the Chilean population to the use of violent tactics in protests. A non-probabilistic survey with 2,533 cases was used, and structural equation analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationship of the variables. The results highlight a positive and significant effect of perceived effectiveness and positive group emotions, mediated by group identification, on the justification of violence in protests in Chile. In summary, as the perception of efficacy of violent actions increases and positive emotions towards frontline protesters grow, group identification intensifies, which in turn leads to greater justification of the use of violent tactics in protests in Chile.

Nacimientos en Pandemia: Percepción de las Madres del Uso de Medidas de Precaución Intrahospitalarias COVID-19

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Debido a la pandemia del COVID-19 los protocolos de salud incluyeron medidas de precaución intrahospitalarias adicionales, pudiendo impactar la experiencia de parto y postparto de madres y bebés. Este estudio transversal de metodología mixta describió la experiencia de las madres sobre el uso de las medidas de precaución y su percepción sobre su impacto en el nivel de malestar, emociones positivas y negativas tanto de madres como bebés y en sintomatología depresiva materna. Se obtuvo una muestra por conveniencia en una clínica privada de Santiago, comparando dos grupos: 62 madres con prueba Sars-CoV-2 PCR negativa (controles) y 58 madres con prueba Sars-CoV-2 PCR positiva o pendiente previo al parto (casos), con distintas medidas de precaución según riesgo. Se aplicó una encuesta online diseñada para el estudio y la EDPS. Se usaron pruebas t para comparación de medias, pruebas no paramétricas, y análisis temático cualitativo. Los casos experimentaron mayor malestar que los controles, pero expresaron sentirse más competentes. Un 51,67% de la muestra total presentaba riesgo de depresión postparto sin diferencias significativas entre los grupos. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en el nivel de malestar, estrés o en las emociones positivas o negativas de los recién nacidos según lo reportado por las madres, pero reportaron un impacto positivo en el vínculo madre-bebé. Durante la pandemia las puérperas han sido expuestas a un contexto altamente estresante que ha impactado su salud mental. Se discuten las implicancias para los protocolos de maternidad y las necesidades de acompañamiento de estas pacientes.

Sexist Experiences in the University Context: The Role of Social Support

Trinidad Jeria-León, Gloria Jiménez-Moya — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper studies the effect of sexism experienced by Chilean female university students on psychological distress, self-efficacy and academic persistence, and explores the role of social support as a mediating mechanism of these effects. It is hypothesized that higher levels of experienced sexism will be related to higher levels of psychological distress, and lower levels of self-efficacy and academic persistence. It is also hypothesized that social support acts as a mediating variable in these relationships. An accidental sampling was carried out, consisting of 602 students from a private university in Santiago de Chile. The students answered a self-administered online questionnaire, composed by items from the Sexist Events Inventory, OQ-30.2 -Psychological Distress-, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the University Persistence Questionnaire. Regression analyzes and a bootstrap procedure were performed to explore the role of social support as a mediating variable. The results showed a positive relationship between experiences of sexism and psychological distress. It was found that social support acts as a mediator between these variables. No effect of sexism was found on self-efficacy or academic persistence. It is not possible to establish causality between the study variables. It is concluded that sexism experienced by students has negative repercussions on perceived social support and this, in turn, is negatively related to psychological distress. This could have an impact on the adaptation to the study context, the ability to generate connections and the feeling of belonging to the educational context of the students.

Profiles of Chilean Adolescents According to Their Shopping Styles, Peer Influence and Materialism

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In Chile, consumption has become the core of identity construction as a result of globalization and the neoliberal model. Adolescents are an important segment of the population which was affected by this transformation, since they constitute three different markets: the present, the future, and the influence on the family. A central aspect of consumption is the purchase decision making, which is divided in 3 styles: impulsive, planned, and compulsive. The aim of this study was to identify profiles of adolescents according to their purchase styles and exploring if they differ by sex, socioeconomic level, tendency to be influenced by peers and materialism. The study used a quantitative non-experimental design, of a correlational-multivariate type. Participants were selected using a two-staged sampling, which resulted in 1,108 adolescents, male and female, from La Serena, Coquimbo, Santiago, and Temuco. Participants answered a questionnaire which included: the Materialism Scale for Adolescents, the Questionnaire of Purchase Styles and the Scale of Susceptibility to Peer Influence on Consumption. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, 4 profiles were identified: compulsive buyers, planners, impulsive and diffuse. They had significant differences in socioeconomic status, tendency to influence peers and materialism. No significant differences were found regarding sex, but significant positive associations were found between materialism, peer influence, impulsive buying and compulsive buying, and a negative association between planned buying and materialism. Results are discussed considering the importance of economic literacy to achieve responsible and planned consumption.

Cognitive Status in Institutionalized Older Adults: Comparison Based on the Available Support Network

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Institutionalization of older adults is increasingly frequent; however, the study of this population is much lower than that of the non-institutionalized. Although higher rates of cognitive /decline have been reported in institutionalized elderly, there is little data to understand the conditions under which this cognitive functioning occurs; for example, the available support network: family or institutional support can help to understand the conditions under which this decline occurs. Therefore, a quantitative cross-sectional study with correlational scope was proposed, in order to describe the differences in cognitive status between institutionalized older adults with family support network and institutional support network or charity. For this purpose, the MoCa scale was applied to 84 institutionalized older adults. The results indicate a statistically significant difference between the groups, in the visuospatial capacity functioning, the elderly institutionalized by charity present a better functioning; in addition, the elderly with family support network report more areas of cognitive functioning affected. It is understood that the institutional support network, the links, relationships and activities of this context are important for the older adult. In addition to this, it is recommended that for optimal care of the older adult, priority should be given to the attention of socioemotional needs, favoring the preservation of cognitive functioning. It is also suggested to work with cognitive stimulation, especially in delayed recall and abstraction, since these are usually the most affected cognitive functions.

Burnout Syndrome in Rural Teachers in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Rafael Egúsquiza Loayza, Luis Enrique Tineo Quispe, Esperanza Palomino Cruces — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic implied changes in different areas of life; among them, education. Thus, there was a change from face-to-face education to remote education, which produced alterations in the working conditions of teachers in rural and urban contexts. Due to this, a study was carried out on the incidence of burnout syndrome (BS) in teachers of 52 regular basic education schools in the province of Condesuyos, Peru, in which the levels of presence of each dimension of BS and its association with sociodemographic and labor variables were analyzed. The study was quantitative, cross-sectional, with a descriptive correlational non-experimental design. A total of 203 teachers, who were part of the sample, were evaluated. Measures of inferential and descriptive statistical techniques were used, and the association between the dimensions of BO and the sociodemographic and labor variables sex, age, marital status, educational level, type of school (urban-rural) and access to technological resources was established. It is highlighted that BO has a greater presence in female teachers, in younger age groups, in teachers with cohabiting marital status, in teachers who have access to only one technological resource or in those who have five or more resources, and in teachers in urban schools. It is recognized that the variables on the type of rural or urban school and access to technological resources have shown their relevance in the context of the pandemic.

EDITORIAL PSYKHE JANUARY 2025

Christian Berger — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The history of the journal Psykhe began in 1992, and since then it has contributed uninterruptedly and significantly to the development and dissemination of research in psychology both in Chile and Latin America, with an emphasis on the quality of academic work, rigorous research and its relevance to the social and cultural context. From 2020 to date Psykhe has published a total of 154 articles (including those available online first), by authors from 18 countries. This demonstrates our deep conviction in the relevance of building a collaborative, solid and rigorous scientific community, which allows us to sustain the quality of academic work in our region and its impact on our societies. For this reason, I would first like to thank the researchers who send their articles to the journal, those who collaborate in reviewing them, and all the collaborators of Psykhe who have allowed us to sustain our role in this community.