Theoretical configuration of health motivation from the self-determination theory

El estudio de la motivación humana es un constructo altamente complejo y con una gran variabilidad de enfoques. La teoría de la autodeterminación (TAD) ha demostrado una relativa efectividad y consistencia en muchos aspectos relacionados con la salud, como por ejemplo el ejercicio físico, la alimentación, el sueño, el bienestar psicológico o el consumo de tabaco. Las investigaciones muestran que la motivación autodeterminada se corresponde con la motivación intrínseca y en cambio la motivación extrínseca y sus formas de regulación pueden corresponderse con comportamiento no autodeterminados, pudiendo llegar hasta la desmotivación. En este trabajo se formula una construcción teórica sobre este modelo, introduciendo la percepción de riesgo (PR) y la vulnerabilidad percibida (VP) como elementos que pueden variar el sentido final de la motivación e incluso mejorar alguna de sus regulaciones extrínsecas y la desmotivación. Una de las posibilidades teóricas que sugerimos para intentar neutralizar los tipos no autodeterminados es procurar aumentar la PR y la VP de la persona, ya que estando estas dos variables altas, la probabilidad de que la desmotivación aparezca se reduce significativamente, y las acciones forzadas de la regulación externa y la regulación introyectada pueden amortiguarse y aumentar la internalización lo que podría favorecer los comportamientos de salud.The study of human motivation is a highly complex construct with a wide variability of visions. The Self-Determination Theory (SDT) has shown a relative effectiveness and consistency in several issues related to health, such as physical activity, diet, sleep, psychological well-being or tobacco consumption. Research shows that self-determined motivation is consistent with intrinsic motivation and, in contrast, extrinsic motivation and its regulation ways can be matched to non-self-determined behaviors, reaching even a lack of motivation. The aim of this work is to draw up a theoretical construction about this model, bringing in risk perception and perceived vulnerability as elements that can change the final direction of the motivation and even improve some of its extrinsic regulations and the lack of motivation. One of the theoretical possibilities that we propose to try to neutralize the non-self-determined types is seek to increase both the personal risk perception and perceived vulnerability, as being these two variables high the likelihood of occurrence of a lack of motivation is significantly reduced, and forced actions of external regulation and introjected regulation may be buffered and increase the internalization, what could favor health behaviors

Information analisys in drug consumption and other addictions prevention

Tradicionalmente gran parte de los programas preventivos de drogas y otras adicciones dirigidos a preadolescentes y adolescentes, se han apoyado en la información como estrategia fundamental para disuadir el consumo, utilizando argumentos basados en las consecuencias del deterioro al ser consumidores de sustancias, así como en el abuso de otras conductas adictivas no químicas. El enfoque clásico se apoya en que los jóvenes toman sus decisiones de consumir, o no, en base a una elaboración racional, por tanto en el caso de estar informados de los riesgos que asumen al consumir optarían por no hacerlo. Es fundamental incidir en la importancia que adquieren tres cuestiones alrededor de la información: el nivel y calidad de la información que tienen los jóvenes, el nivel y calidad de la información que tienen los padres y la búsqueda de las fuentes de información sobre drogas y su nivel de credibilidad. Posiblemente los modelos de transmisión y contenido de información que utiliza la publicidad comercial podrían ser más adecuados y eficaces que los del recurso al miedo en el ámbito de los comportamientos de salud, y por supuesto, de las adicciones en general. La tendencia de los promotores de mensajes de salud sigue siendo la de transmitir las consecuencias y los riesgos, en la línea de la apelación al miedo. Presumimos que se alcanzaría una mayor eficiencia con mensajes positivos, reforzando los estilos de vida saludables.Traditionally a large proportion of the preventive programs focused in drugs and other addictions among adolescents and young people have drawn on the information as a core strategy to discourage the consumption, using arguments based in the consequences of the deterioration being substance consumers, as well as in the abuse of other non chemical addictive behaviors. The classical approach is based on the rational decision process among young people to do the consumption or not, therefore if they were properly informed about the risks they would choose the no consumption. Is essential to address the importance of three topics around the information issue: degree and quality information among young people, degree and quality information among parents and information source search about drugs and its credibility degree. The models of transmission and information content used by the commercial advertising may be more appropriate and effective than the ‘fear resort’ within health behaviors and addictions in general. The trend of health message promoters continue to be the communication of risk and negative consequences, following the fear resort way. We propose that would be more effective using positive messages enforcing a healthy lifestyle

A possible relation between sardine fisheries and oceanographic conditions in NW Spanish coastal waters

The NW of more often the shelf sardine in Spain is influenced by episodic upwelling which occurs between March and October. The consequent enrichment of waters is the origin of a very important fishery for the area. Eggs and larval survival is directly related to the oceanograph¡c conditions between the date of birth and recruitment. Laryal survival seems to be related essentially to weak upwelling conditions since they favour the non-dispersion of eggs (larvae) and allow growth of medium sized phytoplankters as suitable food. On the other hand, strpng upwelling causes dispersion of eggs (larvae) and favours growth of very large phytoplankton specles, mainly diatoms, that are thought to be un-suitable food for larvae. However, strong upwelling conditions are favorable for sardine adults, since the large phytoplankters growing during these upwelling events were found to be the main food supply, as shown by the study of stomach contents

Theoretical conceptualization of psychological resilience and its relation with health

La resiliencia es un término que surge de la física en relación con la resistencia de los materiales así como con la capacidad de recuperación de los mismos al ser sometidos a diferentes presiones y fuerzas. En la actualidad consideramos que el concepto de resiliencia sigue siendo un constructo ambiguo, que necesita una mayor clarificación, sobre todo, en cuestiones referidas a su configuración teórica. Para poder llevarlo a la práctica en condiciones óptimas, necesitamos contar con un modelo que permita mejorar los resultados de las poblaciones vulnerables y de la población general en relación con la salud. En este trabajo se pretende profundizar en la configuración de la resiliencia psicosocial, estudiando las variables que empíricamente se relacionan con ella, con el objetivo de aproximarnos a una construcción más clara que permita su aplicabilidad en futuras investigaciones en el ámbito de la salud.Resilience is a term arising from physics in relationship with the resistance of the materials as well as their recoverability under different pressures and forces. We currently believe that the concept of resilience remains an ambiguous construct, needing a further clarification, especially in its theoretical configuration issues. To carry it into practice in optimal conditions, we need a model that allows improving outcomes of both vulnerable and general population in relation to health. This work intends to deepen the psychosocial resilience configuration, studying variables that are empirically related to it, with the aim of approaching a clearer construction that allows its applicability in future research within the field of health

Adaptation of scales of attitudes toward tobacco, alcohol and other drugs to Portuguese adolescents

El presente estudio muestra los resultados de la adaptación de las escalas de actitudes hacia el tabaco (López-Sánchez, Garcia-Rodriguez, Mira y Estévez, 2000), el alcohol (Garcia-Rodriguez y López-Sánchez, 2001) y otras drogas (López-Sánchez et al., 2000) en población portuguesa. Se trata de tres escalas, cada una con trece ítems, de respuesta tipo Likert con cinco opciones de respuesta, que diferencian tres sub-escalas. Para realizar el estudio de adaptación de las escalas a la población portuguesa, se han utilizado dos muestras independientes, constituidas por 329 y 443 adolescentes, alumnos de bachillerato del norte del país, a quienes se administraron los instrumentos. Los datos recogidos, después de ser sometidos a un análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio, permitieron encontrar una solución adecuada para cada una de las escalas, dando como resultando una buena validez y fiabilidad. En la validez concurrente, los resultados sugieren diferencias de género con todas las sub-escalas y una relación negativa con la edad, así como diferencias en las actitudes de acuerdo con la experiencia y el consumo.This study presents results about attitudes toward tobacco scale (López-Sánchez, García-Rodriguez, Mira & Estévez, 2000), alcohol scale (García-Rodríguez & López-Sánchez, 2001) and other drugs (López-Sánchez et al., 2000) scale adaptations to portuguese population. There are three scales, 13 items each one and five points Likert response scale with three sub scales. We have used two independent samples with 329 and 443 adolescents, north country high school students. Data collected, after confirmatory and exploratoy analysis, showed a good solution to each one scale, with high validity and reliability rates. Results in concurrent validity suggest gender differences with all the sub scales and a negative relation with age, as well as attitude differences based on experience and consumption

Quantification of self-sputtering and implantation during pulsed laser deposition of gold

This work reports on the quantification of self-sputtering and implantation occurring during pulsed laser deposition of Au as a function of the laser fluence used to ablate the gold target. The experimental approach includes, on one hand, in situ electrical Langmuir and optical two-dimensional imaging probes for determining, respectively, ion and excited neutral kinetic energy distributions. On the other hand, it includes determination of the density of i ions reaching a substrate, and ii gold atoms deposited on a substrate as well as of a proportion of atoms that are self-sputtered. The experimental results supported by numerical analysis show that self-sputtering and implantation are both dominated by ions having kinetic energies 200 eV. They are a fraction 0.60–0.75 of the species arriving to the substrate for ablation laser fluences 2.7– 9.0 J cm−2. Self-sputtering yields in the range 0.60–0.86 are determined for the same fluence range.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencias de España-MAT2005-06508-C02-01Unión Europea-HPRN-CT-2002-0032

Health-related quality of life among smoking relapsers

Background: Previous studies have shown that smoking is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment. In order to evaluate HRQoL in a sample of Spanish relapsers, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Method: The sample was made up of 775 smokers who had relapsed after a period of abstinence. HRQoL was evaluated using the Euro-Qol questionnaire (EQ-5D); through the descriptive profile, the EQ-5D index and the visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Results: Higher nicotine dependence was related to worse HRQL. According to the EQ-VAS, higher daily cigarette consumption and more years smoking were related to worse perceived health. In the EQ-5D those who had quit smoking in the previous year perceived worse health. Mobility and anxiety/ depression are the dimensions affected by smoking. Those who are more nicotine dependent (OR = 2.29) and have been smoking for longer (OR = 4.12) are more likely to have mobility problems; and those who are nicotine dependent (OR = 1.85) and relapsed more than a year ago (OR = 0.63), are more likely to experience anxiety/ depression. Conclusions: Nicotine dependence demonstrated a determining effect on HRQOL deterioration in smokers who have relapsed

Social Representation of Alcohol in Perspective

Alcohol is an addictive substance that is integrated and normalized indifferent cultural contexts, and therefore has different forms of social representation. These have evolved significantly over the years, as evidenced by the changing consideration of alcohol as avice to a disease in developed societies over the last fifty years. Social representation is considered to be a way of building and interpret in reality and of integrating collective beliefs. However, a leitmotif exists in societies that have traditionally consumed alcohol, characterized by a great permissiveness that leads to increased consumption. We have reviewed some works that analyze these issues and in conclusion, we point out that social representation is a modifiable construct that may be used as a preventive action in alcohol consumption in thegeneral population and more specifically, in experimental consumption amongst young people

Alpha band disruption in the AD-continuum starts in the subjective cognitive decline stage: a MEG study

The consideration of Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) as a preclinical stage of AD remains still a matter of debate. Alpha band alterations represent one of the most significant changes in the electrophysiological profile of AD. In particular, AD patients exhibit reduced alpha relative power and frequency. We used alpha band activity measured with MEG to study whether SCD and MCI elders present these electrophysiological changes characteristic of AD, and to determine the evolution of the observed alterations across AD spectrum. The total sample consisted of 131 participants: 39 elders without SCD, 41 elders with SCD and 51 MCI patients. All of them underwent MEG and MRI scans and neuropsychological assessment. SCD and MCI patients exhibited a similar reduction in alpha band activity compared with the no SCD group. However, only MCI patients showed a slowing in their alpha peak frequency compared with both SCD and no SCD. These changes in alpha band were related to worse cognition. Our results suggest that AD-related alterations may start in the SCD stage, with a reduction in alpha relative power. It is later, in the MCI stage, where the slowing of the spectral profile takes place, giving rise to objective deficits in cognitive functioning.This study was supported by two projects from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, PSI2009-14415-C03-01 and PSI2012-38375-C03-01, a predoctoral fellowship from the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness to DLS (PSI2012-38375-C03-01), and three predoctoral fellowships from the Ministry of Education to RB,NS,ICRR (FPU13/06009, FPU14/07164, FPU13/02064)