26 research outputs found
Evolution of Mental Health Online Strategies from the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic to the Pre-Vaccination Period
Background:
The COVID-19 outbreak and its consequent quarantines, containment measures and social distancing imposed by authorities worldwide has caused an increase of psychological responses such as depression, abuse use, insomnia, post-traumatic stress symptoms, anger, anxiety, grief or confusion. This situation has fostered the implementation of new strategies like remote therapy to maintain the continuity of mental health (MH) care. Several international organizations (World Health Organization, the United Nations and the American Psychiatric Association) are focused on addressing the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring availability of emergency MH services, strengthening social cohesion, reducing the isolation, and promoting psychological support, as well as protecting human rights. This research aims to assess the evolution of online MH strategies and recommendations to cope with psychological impact of COVID-19 since early stages of the pandemic to pre-vaccination period.
Methods:
A sample of 24 online documents was analysed to assess their structural evolution from April 2020 to June 2021. Each document was analysed separately by two researchers. The questionnaire, developed by Almeda et al. (2021), was used to assess the content of these documents. This instrument consists of 39 items organized in seven domains (D) D1) Symptoms, D2) Mental disorders, D3) COVID-19 general information, D4) MH strategies and MH topics, D5) MH strategies and MH-related topics, D6) MH recommendations and MH topics and D7) MH recommendations and MH-related topics. To assess the structural evolution of the document in the selected periods, a T-Student for related samples was used.
Results:
Statistically significant differences with a negligible effect size were found in D1+D2 domains (t(23) = 3, p = 0.006, d = 0.18). An increasing concern on bereavement, sleeping problems and loneliness symptoms has been highlighted together with a greater interest on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, chronic pain and obsessivecompulsive disorder. Statistically significant differences with negligible size effect were also found when the questions related to COVID-19 have been analysed (D3-D7;t(23) = 2.24, p = 0.035, d = 0.19). All COVID-19 information items have increased (D3) as also happened in most of the MH strategies and MH-related topics (80%;D5). In D7, D4 and D6 domains, a small increase in the information provided is highlighted. From an international point of view, England, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico are the countries with the highest rate of improvement in their strategies, followed by Ireland and Spain with small improvements. Finally, the information in the online documents of the rest of the countries remains stable.
Conclusions:
Online MH strategies and recommendations have improved during the pandemic period only in specific countries, especially in Mexico. Due to the high rate of mortality, bereavement has played a key role in the set of symptoms included. Globally speaking, the analysed countries are making efforts to address MH remotely, as it is evidenced in their online strategies
Study of the Psychometric Properties of the Social Self-Efficacy Scale with Spanish Adolescents by Gender, Age and Family Socioeconomic Level
Social self-efficacy has been shown to be a key resource for adolescents’ social experiences with peers and a predictor of prosocial behaviour among adolescents. However, differences by gender, age and socioeconomic level have previously been found in social self-efficacy. The objective of this study is to assess the psychometric properties of the subscale of social self-efficacy from the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C) developed by Muris (2001) in a representative sample of Spanish adolescents while considering gender, age and socioeconomic level differences. In general, the results showed good psychometric properties and a one-dimensional structure with high internal consistency, adequate explained variance and evidence of external validity for the subscale. Furthermore, the invariance analysis demonstrated that the social self-efficacy subscale shows no bias when used with populations of adolescents who differ by gender, age and socioeconomic level. The results indicate that the Spanish version of the social self-efficacy subscale of the SEQ-C is an adequate measurement instrument for assessing adolescents’ perception of their own social skills
Dimensions of Leisure and Perceived Health in Young University Students
The aim of this study was to analyze the main leisure habits of students at the University of
Huelva and the relationship with perceived health by grouping the various activities into components whilst also evaluating possible gender di erences. The sample was selected through random cluster sampling and was composed of 903 students from various courses and degrees. Of the sample, 73.8% were female and 26.2% were male, with a mean age of 20.82 years. The participants responded to items measuring perceived health and the inventory of leisure activities extracted from the INJUVE (Spanish Youth Observatory) survey. The results obtained o ered a solution of four components, grouping the activities into passive leisure, festive leisure, sports–competitive leisure and cultural leisure. Passive leisure was the most practiced and cultural leisure the least practiced. Statistically significant di erences were observed between men and women in terms of the sports–competitive component and in the perception of health. In addition, a direct relationship was found between the sports–competitive dimension and health perception. These results support the existence of a “techno-active” profile in males and should be considered in the creation of university policies linked to health promotion or the prevention of risk behaviors
Validation of the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory-II in Spanish University Students
Background: This study aimed to analyse the psychometric properties of the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory-II (CEI-II) to provide evidence of validity for its use in research on health promotion and the quality of life of young Spanish university students. Method: A sample of 807 participants (75.09% female) aged 18–26 years (M = 20.68; SD = 2.13) completed the CEI-II and health and quality of life measures questionnaire. Results: A unidimensional structure was confirmed, but the original two-dimensional structure also showed an adequate fit. The measures obtained from the CEI-II were gender- and age-invariant, which exhibited adequate internal consistency for both the full scale and subscales, and showed a statistically significant relationship with life satisfaction, sense of coherence, and psychological distress. Conclusions: The CEI-II can be used as unidimensional, which is recommended, but also as a two-dimensional measure. Both structures provide reliable, valid, and invariant measures across gender and age of exploratory behaviours in Spanish university students. Furthermore, the results confirm the association between exploratory behaviours and greater health management.This research was supported by the EPIT 2020 project (University of Huelva, Spain) under Grant UHU-6272020
Evidence of Validity, Invariance, and Reliability of the Body Image Dimension in the Body Investment Scale: A Study in Spanish University Students
Background: This study focused on the widely used Body Image subscale, a dimension of the Body Investment Scale developed by Orbach and Mikulincer in 1998. Specifically, we explored its psychometric properties and potential use for health promotion research among young Spanish university students. Method: A sample of 793 participants (75.28% female) aged 18–26 years (M = 20.68; SD = 2.13) completed the questionnaire and related variables. Results: A unidimensional structure was confirmed with a good fit, demonstrating gender- and age-invariance, along with robust internal consistency. The scale exhibited a significant association with self-esteem, life satisfaction, a sense of coherence, and psychological distress. Conclusions: The Body Image subscale can be considered unidimensional. The obtained factor solution provides a reliable, valid, and invariant measure across gender and age for assessing body feelings in Spanish university students. Therefore, the instrument can effectively investigate the relationship between body image and health-related behaviors. Additionally, it can serve as a valuable tool in designing effective health interventions for university students to prevent mental health conditions, such as eating disorders or suicidal behaviorsThis research was funded by the EPIT 2020 project (University of Huelva, Spain) under Grant UHU-6272020Departamento de PsicologĂa ClĂnica, Experimental y Socia
Psycho-Emotional Approach to the Psychological Distress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
Anxiety, depression, and stress are common and expected reactions to the coronavirus
disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The objective of this study is to analyze psychological distress in
a sample of Spanish population, identifying the predictive nature of the information received,
the preventive measures taken, level of concern, beliefs, and knowledge about the infection.
A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on a sample of 4615 participants. Data were
collected through a self-prepared questionnaire and the general health questionnaire (GHQ-12).
Bivariate analyses and logistic regressions were performed. Of the total participants, 71.98% presented
psychological distress. The study population actively sought information about coronavirus, expressed
a high level of concern and knowledge, and the most frequent preventive behavior was hand washing.
As predictive factors, the degree of concern for COVID-19 was identified (odds ratio (OR) = 1.244,
95% confidence interval (CI) = [1.179, 1.312]), the number of hours spent consulting information on
COVID-19 (OR = 1.038, 95% CI = [1.009, 1.068]), or the need for psychological support (OR = 1.135,
95% CI = [1.094, 1.177]), among others. These results could help design more effective strategies
towards a psycho-emotional approach for the population when in similar health crisis situations.
There is a need for interventions aimed at the psychological well-being of the population that meet
the needs of their realit