One or Multiple Complicated Grief(s)? The Role of Kinship on Grief Reactions

Previous research has paid little attention to the role of kinship in understanding the specific profiles of complicated grief (CG) reactions. To address this underinvestigated topic, the Inventory of Complicated Grief was used in five groups of bereaved participants (N = 1,105) that differed in their family relationship with the deceased (child, spouse/romantic partner, sibling, parent, and grandparent). Results identified kinship relationship as the variable that predicted the highest amount of variance in the intensity of CG (standardized β = –.55), above other predictors such as gender, time since loss, or circumstances of death. More important, distinct profiles of CG reactions were found depending on kinship. These results highlight kinship as a major predictor of CG and open a new line of research that serves to clarify the role of kinship along with other risk factors

Prolonged Grief Related to COVID-19 Deaths: Do We Have to Fear a Steep Rise in Traumatic and Disenfranchised Griefs?

The circumstances of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related deaths embed multiple traumatic characteristics, alongside several external factors that can disenfranchise individual grief. In this context, severe forms of traumatic distress, guilt, somatization, regret, anger, and unspecific symptoms not yet included in prolonged grief disorder (PGD) criteria could emerge. This article (a) analyzes factors related to bereavement in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; (b) proposes avenues for meaning-making practices to facilitate individual and collective mourning process; and (c) invites clinicians to pay attention to the traumatic characteristics of COVID-19-related deaths adopting a holistic approach of PGD clinical manifestations, as well as in evaluation and treatment of cases

Motivational Influences on Health, Well-Being, and Lifestyle: Validation of the Spanish Version of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire in Four Health Domains

Background: Motivation is a central concept in self-determination theory (SDT). The Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ), which assesses motivation (autonomous, controlled, etc.), has been widely used. However, less is known about its applicability to samples such as college students, who may be at risk of having unhealthy behavior in many areas (including smoking, poor dietary habits, alcohol, or tobacco consumption). As this population is transitioning to adulthood, research is needed to understand motivation and changing health patterns. In addition, the lack of instruments for this population in Spain has made the measurement validation process a priority. The purpose of this psychometric study was to adapt the TSRQ to Spanish college students and to examine its structural and validity across four health domains. Methods: Two samples of Spanish college students (n = 347 and n = 244) agreed to participate in the study. Participants completed a booklet containing measures of motivation, well-being, general health, anxiety, depression, and lifestyle. Results: CFA supported a five-dimensional structure in each domain. Reliability values were also adequate for each questionnaire. Regarding other sources of validity, statistically significant relationships between self-determination, health, and well-being were clearly confirmed, and autonomy was a significant predictor of lifestyle. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the TSRQ showed adequate psychometric properties (dimensionality and internal structure, reliability, and validity evidence regarding its relationships with other constructs) in college students. The Spanish TSRQ will provide future research aimed to understand the motivational role in college students’ health behavior and well-being

Teachers' Perception of Grief in Primary and Secondary School Students in Spain: Children's Responses and Elements which Facilitate or Hinder the Grieving Process

Introduction: Children's experience of grief is influenced by many factors, such as the response of the school environment. The objective of this paper was to explore the grieving children's responses, as well as the factors that facilitate and hinder the grieving process from the teachers' perspective. Methods: A qualitative-descriptive study design was used, which included a semi-structured interview conducted with 63 teachers. A thematic analysis was conducted using Atlas.ti7.0. Results: Great variability was found between different children's reactions to death (decreased academic performance, isolation, etc.). The factors influencing the children's reactions were both child-specific and environmental. The teachers pointed to communication, emotional support, and spirituality as facilitating elements, but pointed to discomfort when talking about death as a factor which hinders the grieving process. Conclusions: In conclusion, although children can naturally adapt to a loss, both providing emotional support and training in providing such support are necessary. Nurses can help in the design and planning of specific programmes to help students cope with death and loss

Pictorial remains of the Halieutic testaccio of Gades, El Olivillo, Cádiz. First sample of the First pompeian style in the Bética

Este trabajo aborda el análisis de un conjunto de restos pictóricos procedentes de un vertedero de ingentes dimensiones excavado en el solar de El Olivillo en la ciudad de Cádiz, en 2016, interpretado como un Testaccio haliéutico portuario, y fechado entre los ss. I a.C. y I d.C. De entre los restos obliterados en el mismo, destacamos los que suponen la primera muestra conocida del primer estilo pompeyano en toda la Bética, lo que conlleva un avance en el conocimiento de la difusión de la pintura mural romana en Hispania y, por ende, un conocimiento mayor de la edilicia republicana en la ciudad. Desde una perspectiva integral, se abordan los aspectos técnicos y estilísticos mediante el uso de diversos análisis físico-químicos.In this paper we analyze a group of Roman wall paintings from the excavation of the dump called El Olivillo in Cádiz, in 2016. This archaeological site has been identified as a huge dump at the harbor area, which has been defined as the Halieutic Testaccio and dated between 1st century BC and 1st century AD. These fragments are a first-time evidence of the First Pompeian Style in the Bética, being a remarkable step-forward on the knowledge of the diffusion of the Roman Wall painting in Hispania as well as the republican period in Cádiz. From a comprehensive perspective, here we analyze technical and stylistic aspects using different physical and chemial analysis.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad HAR2016-7487-PMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad HAR2016-78691

Validity of the Computerized Battery for Neuropsychological Evaluation of Children (BENCI) in Spanish Children: Preliminary Results

Study of the neurodevelopment of children is vital to promote good quality of life during childhood. Few batteries showing adequate reliability and validity indices are available to evaluate the different neuropsychological domains. The objective of this study was to obtain initial evidence on the validity of the Computerized Battery for Neuropsychological Evaluation of Children (BENCI) in a Spanish population. To assess the validity of the BENCI battery and other measures of task switching, abstract reasoning, linguistic abilities, processing speed, and attention were used. The sample was composed of a total of 73 children aged 9, 10, and 11 years. Significant differences among age groups were observed in the domains of sustained attention, memory, and executive function. In addition, the BENCI subtests showed statistically significant correlations with the other neuropsychological tools. Further research is warranted on the relationship of the BENCI with other tests in wider age groups and to assess the factorial structure of the scale and the reliability values of the subtests. In conclusion, this study seems to indicate that the Spanish version of the BENCI has promising validity to be used for evaluating the main neuropsychological domains in children.Conselleria d'Educacio, Investigacio, Cultura i Esport de la Generalitat Valenciana (Proyectos I+D+i desarrollados por grupos de investigacion emergentes) GV/2017/166Agencia Andaluza de Cooperacion Internacional al Desarrollo de la Junta de Andalucia (Proyectos de Investigacion para la Cooperacion Internacional al Desarrollo AACID-Universidades) 2020U100

Intervention Program to Improve Grief-Related Symptoms in Caregivers of Patients Diagnosed With Dementia

The objectives of the present study were to adapt a grief intervention program to family caregivers of patients with dementia, and assess its effectiveness in improving the symptoms of grief and other health-related variables. The intervention was based on Shear and Bloom’s grief intervention program, with the necessary adaptations for use in the grieving process for a family member’s illness. A total of 52 family caregivers of individuals with dementia participated. They were evaluated using a battery of self-report measures assessing grief, overload, resilience, post-traumatic growth, experiential avoidance, health-related quality of life, and benefits of care. The results suggest that the program is effective in improving grief symptoms, caregiver burden, resilience, post-traumatic growth, and quality of life of family caregivers. It is necessary to create and implement interventions targeting caregivers’ feelings andmanifestations of ambiguous grief, because there is a lack of programs providing an efficient solution for the mental and physical health of caregivers, and because of the human and socioeconomic cost involved in neglecting this group

Psychological intervention for grief in caregivers of adults diagnosed with intellectual disabilities

The objective of this pilot study was to adapt and provide preliminary data of the efficacy of an intervention aimed at family caregivers of adults with intellectual disability to provide them with different coping resources to better cope with their role as caregivers, as well as to reduce the psychological overload and pain associated with the diagnosis. A total of 24 caregivers participated, of which 14 were assigned to an intervention group (IG) and 10 to a control group (CG) through simple randomization. Variables of overload, mental health and feelings of grief produced by the diagnosis were measured. Linear models for repeated measures were used to evaluate the effect of the program. After the intervention, significant differences (p< .5) were found in the dimensions of emotional pain, relational loss and acceptance of loss, and feelings of grief brought on by the diagnosis. In conclusion, it is necessary that this type of program be given early to these caregivers in order to avoid the pathological and chronic grief into which they frequently end up.El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar y aportar datos preliminares de la eficacia de una intervención psicológica para cuidadores familiares de adultos con discapacidad intelectual, con el fin de proporcionarles recursos de afrontamiento para sobrellevar su rol de cuidador y reducir la sobrecarga psicológica y el dolor que conlleva el diagnóstico. Participaron 24 cuidadores, de los cuales 14 fueron asignados a un grupo intervención (GI) y 10 a un grupo control (GC) mediante una aleatorización simple. Se midieron variables de sobrecarga, salud mental y sentimientos de duelo derivados del diagnóstico. Se utilizaron modelos lineales de medidas repetidas para evaluar el efecto del programa. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p< 0,05) en las variables de dolor emocional, aceptación de la pérdida y en la experiencia actual del duelo, mostrando el GI una mejora tras la intervención. Como conclusión, es necesario que este tipo de programas se impartan de forma temprana en estos cuidadores con el fin de evitar el duelo patológico y crónico en el que terminan desembocando frecuentemente.This work has received a grant from the University Teaching Research Networks Program of the Institute of Educational Sciences of the University of Alicante (2021-22 call). Ref: 5537

Feeling of grief and loss in parental caregivers of adults diagnosed with intellectual disability

Background: The diagnosis of intellectual disability in children can produce complex grief‐related feelings in their parents. Previous studies have focused on the moment of the diagnosis or the early life of the children, and little research has been conducted on their feelings of grief in adulthood. The objective was to analyse the process of grief/loss in parents of adult offspring with intellectual disability. Method: The intentional sampling included sixteen parents who responded to semi‐structured interviews. A qualitative study was conducted based on grounded theory. Results: Five categories were identified: “Reception of the diagnosis”, “Emotional bonds with the child”, “Experience of loss and feelings in response to intellectual disability diagnosis”, “Recurrent grief” and “Coping strategies”. Conclusions: Recurring feelings of loss experienced by parents in relation to their child's diagnosis persist over time. Specialized emotional interventions are needed to help parents to reduce the intensity of their feelings of grief

Psychometric Properties of the Health Professionals Communication Skills Scale in University Students of Health Sciences

Communication is one of the determining factors of healthcare quality; however, a health model that prioritizes clinical over non-technical skills remains prevalent. The aims of this article were: (a) to validate a communication skills scale in a sample of fourth-year nursing degree students from two Spanish universities and (b) determine their perception of communication skills. The study included 289 fourth-year nursing undergraduate students with a mean age of 22.7 (SD = 4.87) years; 81.7% were female. The Health Professionals Communication Skills Scale (HP-CSS) questionnaire was adapted for use among nursing students. We analysed the psychometric properties and relationships with the variable attitudes toward communication skills. The HP-CSS showed a high internal consistency (0.88) and good fit of data to the model (TLI = 0.98; CFI = 0.97; RMSEA = 0.05 [95% CI = 0.04–0.06]). The total score and subscale scores correlated with the variable attitude towards communication skills. High scores were obtained for the students’ perception of communication skills. The HP-CSS is a valid and reliable tool to assess the communication skills in nursing students. This scale provides university teachers with a rapid and easily applied instrument to assess the level of communication skills and relationship with patients.This research was funded by Program Redes-I 3CE for Research in University Teaching of the Institute of Education Science (Vice-chancellorship of Quality and Educational Innovation) of the University of Alicante, edition 2018-19