Orientations to Happiness and University Students’ Engagement during the COVID-19 Era: Evidence from Six American Countries

Positive personal characteristics such as happiness or wellbeing can motivate students to elevate their school performance in higher education. Orientation to happiness is a construct that combines three sources of happiness: pleasure, meaning, and engagement, all of which have been identified as a predictor of university student’s engagement. However, most research in this area has been conducted during ideal situations or face-to-face education, and no cross-country research has been published examining the relationship between these two concepts during the COVID-19 era, where online education was predominant. This study aimed to investigate the relation between orientation to happiness and student engagement after twelve months of distance education in a sample of 1723 students from six American countries, including the USA, Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Results indicate that university student´s' engagement is influenced by the orientation to happiness. Further implications of these results are discussed

Psychological factors related to fear of COVID-19 in the general salvadoran population

Accepted: 1 Nov. 2021 Introduction: The objective of this article is to determine the psychological factors which are associated with the fear toward COVID-19 as experienced by the Salvadoran population in general. Method: This study is exploratory, with a cross-sectional design. For data collection a digital survey in Google Forms was used. There was a non-probabilistic sample of 328 Salvadorans. The mean age in general was 27.90 years-old, with a standard deviation (SD) of 9.10; the mean age for men was 29.05 years-old (SD = 9.94), and the mean age for woman was 27.42 years-old (SD = 8.70). Results: The results reveal the existence of small and medium correlations between anxiety, depression, instrumental support and positive social interaction with the variables of fear to COVID-19; the regression model predicted that the fear to COVID-19 depends on anxiety and affective support, predicting a 23% of fear to COVID19, with medium effect. Conclusion: This research suggests anxiety and affective support are explanation of the 23% of fear towards COVID-19 in Salvadoran population in general, findings provide useful information for future researches which perform a follow up or intervention in Salvadoran population in general

Pandemic grief in El Salvador: factors that predict dysfunctional grief due to a COVID-19 death among Salvadoran adults

Thousands of people have died of COVID-19 in El Salvador. However, little is known about the mental health of those who are mourning the loss of a loved one to COVID-19. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the dysfunctional grief associated with COVID-19 death among Salvadoran adults. A sample of 435 Salvadorans (M = 29 years; SD = 8.75) who lost a family member or loved one to COVID-19 completed a digital survey using the Google Forms platform, during April 2 and 28, 2022. The results revealed that 35.1% reported clinically elevated symptoms of dysfunctional grief and among those mourners, and 25.1% also exhibited clinical levels of coronavirus anxiety. A binary logistic regression revealed that predictor variables such as COVID-19 anxiety (p =.003), depression (p =.021), and COVID-19 obsession (p =.032) were significant (χ2 = 84.31; Nagelkerke R2 =.242) and predict a 24.2% chance of dysfunctional bereavement

Pandemic grief in El Salvador: factors that predict dysfunctional grief due to a COVID-19 death among Salvadoran adults

Thousands of people have died of COVID-19 in El Salvador. However, little is known about the mental health of those who are mourning the loss of a loved one to COVID-19. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the dysfunctional grief associated with COVID-19 death among Salvadoran adults. A sample of 435 Salvadorans (M = 29 years; SD = 8.75) who lost a family member or loved one to COVID-19 completed a digital survey using the Google Forms platform, during April 2 and 28, 2022. The results revealed that 35.1% reported clinically elevated symptoms of dysfunctional grief and among those mourners, and 25.1% also exhibited clinical levels of coronavirus anxiety. A binary logistic regression revealed that predictor variables such as COVID-19 anxiety (p = .003), depression (p = .021), and COVID-19 obsession (p = .032) were significant (χ2 = 84.31; Nagelkerke R2 = .242) and predict a 24.2% chance of dysfunctional bereavement

Cross-national measurement invariance of the Purpose in Life Test in seven Latin American countries

"The Purpose in Life Test (PIL) is a measure of purpose in life widely used in many cultures and countries; however, cross-cultural assessments are scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL in the general population of seven Latin American countries (Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay). A total of 4306 people participated, selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling, where Uruguay has the highest mean age (M = 41.8; SD = 16.6 years); while Ecuador has the lowest mean age (M = 24.6; SD = 7.8 years). Furthermore, in each country, there is a higher proportion of women (>60%) than men (<40%). Using Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the factorial structure does not show evidence of invariance among the included countries. However, based on the Multi-Group Factor Analysis Alignment, there is evidence that a three-dimensional structure of the PIL (Meaning of existence, Freedom to make meaning in daily life and Will to find meaning in the face of future challenges) is the same in the participating countries. Results based on item response theory indicate that most PIL items can significantly differentiate responses according to the level of life purpose. In addition, people with low life purpose will tend to choose the lower response alternatives on the PIL; while people with higher life purpose will choose higher response alternatives. The findings indicate that the PIL has the potential to increase knowledge about how people conceive and experience their purpose in life in different countries.

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES, FEAR OF COVID-19, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION: PREVALENCE, RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPLANATORY MODEL IN THE GENERAL POPULATION OF SEVEN LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES

The COVID-19 pandemic has gravely impacted Latin America. A model was tested that evaluated the contribution of socio-demographic factors and fear of COVID-19 on anxiety and depression in samples of residents in seven Latin American countries (Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, and El Salvador). A total of 4,881 individuals, selected by convenience sampling, participated in the study. Moderate and severe levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety were identified, as well as a moderate average level of fear of COVID-19. In addition, it was observed that about a quarter of the participants presented symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and a major depressive episode. Fear of COVID-19 significantly and positively predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms, whereas the effects of socio-demographic variables are generally low [χ2(287) = 5936.96, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.064 [0.062, 0.065]; CFI = 0.947; and SRMR = 0.050]. This suggests the need for the implementation of preventive actions in the general population of these countries, with the aim of reducing the prevalence of depressive, anxious and fearful symptoms related to COVID-19

Prevalence of anxiety, depression and fear of COVID-19 in the general Salvadorean population

El presente artículo, tiene como objetivo determinar la prevalencia de síntomas de ansiedad, depresión y miedo a la COVID-19 en la población general salvadoreña, así como los estados de gravedad de cada una de las variables psicológicas y si existe asociación con las características sociodemográficas de la muestra. El tipo de estudio es exploratorio con diseño transversal. La técnica de recolección de datos fue la encuesta digital en Google Forms. Se seleccionó una muestra no probabilística de 328 salvadoreños. La media de edad general es de 27.90 años, con una desviación estándar de 9.10. Con respecto al género, la media de edad de los hombres es de 29.05 años, con una desviación estándar de 9.94; y la media de edad de las mujeres es de 27.42 años, con una desviación estándar de 8.70. Los resultados revelan prevalencias altas de síntomas de ansiedad, oscilando entre el 60 y el 80 %; en depresión, la prevalencia de síntomas fue de entre el 50 y el 70 %. En cuanto a los síntomas de miedo a la COVID-19, presentaron una prevalencia entre el 20 y el 40 %. En relación con el grado de afectación, el 90 % de la muestra presenta niveles de ansiedad y depresión entre moderados y muy severos, encontrando asociaciones en género, edad y cantidad de horas que piensa en la COVID-19. En la dimensión miedo a la COVID-19, se encontró que cerca del 30 % de la muestra está afectada, encontrando asociaciones en función del género y las horas que piensa en la COVID-19.The main objective of this article is to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression and fear symptoms at the face of COVID-19 in the Salvadorean population. In like manner, to determine the seriousness in each psychological variable as well as to find out whether there is a connection with the socio-demographic characteristics of the sample. This is an exploratory study with a transversal design; in order to collect the data, an online survey was conducted via Google Forms. A non-probabilistic sample of 328 Salvadoreans was taken. The mean for the age is 27.90 years old, with a SD of 9.10; in regards to gender, the mean is of 29.05 for men, with a SD of 9.94, and for women, a mean of 27.42, with a SD of 8.70. The findings show a high prevalence of anxiety symptoms; these fluctuate between 60 % and 80 %. Those symptoms related to depression are between 50 % and 70%, and finally, in relation to fear to COVID-19, there was a prevalence between 20 % and 40 %. In terms of the degree in which it affected people, 90 % of the sample shows moderate to severe anxiety and depression levels. It was possible to establish connections among gender, age, and the amount of hours spent thinking about COVID-19. In regards to fear of COVID-19, the findings show that about 30 % of the sample has been affected by it in relation to gender and the number of hours spent thinking about COVID-19.Fil: Chacón Andrade Edgardo René. Universidad del Salvador; ArgentinaFil: Lobos Rivera, Marlon Elías. Universidad del Salvador; ArgentinaFil: Cervigni, Mauricio Alejandro. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Psicología. Secretaria de Ciencia y Tecnología. Centro de Investigación En Neurociencias de Rosario; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Gallegos, Miguel. Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Martino, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Psicología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Caycho Rodríguez, Tomás. Universidad Privada del Norte; PerúFil: Barés, Ignacio. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Calandra, Manuel Santiago. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Flores Monterrosa, Angélica Nohemy. Universidad del Salvador; Argentin

Invarianza de medición transnacional del Test de Propósito en la Vida en siete países de América Latina

El Purpose in Life Test (PIL) es una medida de propósito en la vida ampliamente utilizada en muchas culturas y países; sin embargo, las evaluaciones transculturales son escasas. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la invariancia de medición transcultural del PIL en la población general de siete países de América Latina (Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, México, Paraguay, Argentina y Uruguay). Participaron un total de 4306 personas, seleccionadas por muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia, donde Uruguay tiene la media de edad más alta ( M = 41,8; DT = 16,6 años); mientras que Ecuador tiene la media de edad más baja ( M = 24,6; DE= 7,8 años). Además, en cada país hay una mayor proporción de mujeres (>60%) que de hombres (60%) than men (<40%). Using Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the factorial structure does not show evidence of invariance among the included countries. However, based on the Multi-Group Factor Analysis Alignment, there is evidence that a three-dimensional structure of the PIL (Meaning of existence, Freedom to make meaning in daily life and Will to find meaning in the face of future challenges) is the same in the participating countries. Results based on item response theory indicate that most PIL items can significantly differentiate responses according to the level of life purpose. In addition, people with low life purpose will tend to choose the lower response alternatives on the PIL; while people with higher life purpose will choose higher response alternatives. The findings indicate that the PIL has the potential to increase knowledge about how people conceive and experience their purpose in life in different countries

A Psychometric Analysis of the Spanish Version of the Grief Impairment Scale: A Screening Tool of Biopsychosocial Grief-Related Functional Impairment in a Salvadoran Sample

The objective of this study was to translate and psychometrically evaluate a Spanish version of the Grief Impairment Scale (GIS) using a sample of bereaved adults from El Salvador (N = 579). The results confirm the unidimensional structure of the GIS, and solid reliability, item characteristics, and criterion-related validity, where the GIS scale significantly and positively predicts depression. However, this instrument only showed evidence of configural and metric invariance between different sex groups. Overall, these results support the Spanish version of the GIS as a psychometrically sound screening tool for health professionals and researchers to use in their clinical work

Cross-cultural measurement invariance of the purpose in life test - short form (PIL-SF) in seven Latin American countries

The aim was to test the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL-SF in a sample of people from seven Latin American countries. Additionally, the characteristics of the PIL-SF items were evaluated and to assess the relationship between purpose in life, as measured by the PIL-SF, and fear of COVID-19. A total of 4306 people from seven Latin American countries participated in the study. The results indicated that the PIL-SF is invariant in the seven participating countries and, therefore, there is evidence that the items reflect the purpose of life in the same way in all countries. This allows comparisons of purpose in life between countries that are free of bias, reflecting the true differences in how countries respond to items. From IRT, the discrimination parameters are adequate and indicate that the items cover a wide range of the purpose in life construct. The difficulty parameters are adequate and increase monotonically. This indicates that people would need a higher level of purpose in life to respond to the higher response categories. Thus, the PIL-SF items would be useful in determining people with a relatively high degree of purpose in life. Identifying people with different levels of purpose in life would allow them to be part of intervention programs, either to support those with low levels or to maintain and reinforce their purpose in life. The evidence of cross-country measurement invariance of the PIL-SF provides a measure to be used in cross-cultural studies about the meaning of life