Fatores psicológicos associados ao risco de suicídio em estudantes universitários em Honduras

Suicide risk is defined as the possibility of a person deliberately taking his/her own life; this is considered a self-destructive behavior with multifactorial causes. This research aimed to determine the psychological factors associated with suicide risk in university students. This was done through a quantitative, non-experimental approach. The sample consisted of 1696 undergraduate students, 54.7% female and 43.6% male students. Questionnaires were applied to evaluate meaning in life, depression, hope, loneliness, interpersonal support, and suicide risk. The results indicated that 50% of the participants reported never having suicidal thoughts. However, 26.8 % had had a passing thought about committing suicide, 9.9% had thought of a specific (but unexecuted) plan to commit suicide, 5.8% reported a previous suicide attempt without the intention of actually committing suicide, 5% had made plans to take their own life with a real intention to commit the act, and 2.4% had made at least one suicide attempt with a desire to die. Results indicate that there is a significant inverse relation between suicide risk and hope, the presence and search for a meaning in life, and interpersonal support. However, a higher suicide risk is positively correlated with loneliness and depression. These results are discussed according to their implications in clinical practice.El riesgo suicida es definido como la posibilidad de que una persona atente deliberadamente contra su vida y se considera una conducta autodestructiva de causas multifactoriales. El propósito de esta investigación fue determinar los factores psicológicos asociados al riesgo suicida en estudiantes universitarios. Esto se realizó por medio de un enfoque cuantitativo no experimental. La muestra estuvo conformada por 1696 estudiantes de pregrado, 54.7 % correspondiente al sexo femenino y 43.6 % al masculino. Se aplicaron escalas para evaluar sentido de la vida, depresión, esperanza, soledad, apoyo interpersonal y riesgo suicida. Los resultados indicaron que el 50% de la muestra reportó nunca haber tenido pensamientos suicidas.  Sin embargo, el 26.8 % tuvo un pensamiento pasajero al respecto; el 9.9 % planeó quitarse la vida, pero no lo intentó; el 5.8 % realizó un intento suicida sin intención real de concretar el acto, el 5 % hizo planes para quitarse la vida con intención real de concretar el acto; y el 2.4 % efectuó intentos suicidas con deseos de morir. Se evidenció que existe una relación inversa significativa entre el riesgo suicida y la esperanza, presencia y búsqueda de sentido de la vida y apoyo interpersonal. No obstante, los individuos con mayor riesgo suicida poseen puntajes más altos en soledad y depresión. Estos resultados se discuten desde sus implicaciones en el ejercicio clínico.O risco de suicídio é definido como a possibilidade de uma pessoa deliberadamente atentar contra sua vida, considerando-o como um comportamento autodestrutivo com causas multifatoriais. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar os fatores psicológicos associados ao risco de suicídio em estudantes universitários. Isso foi feito por meio de uma abordagem quantitativa, não experimental. A amostra foi composta por 1696 alunos de graduação, sendo 54.7% do sexo feminino e 43.6% do sexo masculino. Foram aplicadas escalas para avaliar o sentido de vida, depressão, esperança, solidão, apoio interpessoal e risco de suicídio. Os resultados indicaram que 50% da amostra relatou nunca ter tido pensamentos suicidas. No entanto, 26.8% tiveram um pensamento passageiro sobre isso, 9.9% planejaram se matar, mas não tentaram; 5.8% fizeram uma tentativa de suicídio sem real intenção de realizar o ato, 5% fizeram planos para tirar a própria vida com real intenção de realizar o ato e 2.4% fizeram tentativas de suicídio com desejo de morrer. Evidenciou-se que existe uma relação inversa significativa entre risco de suicídio e esperança, presença e busca de sentido na vida e apoio interpessoal. No entanto, indivíduos com maior risco de suicídio apresentam pontuações mais altas em solidão e depressão. Esses resultados são discutidos a partir de suas implicações na prática clínica

Depresión y ansiedad en pacientes hospitalizados en el servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital Escuela Universitario de Honduras

Antecedentes y objetivo: La hospitalización no siempre es bien asimilada por los pacientes, generan-do síntomas de depresión y ansiedad. Considerando esto, el presente estudio analizó la prevalencia de síntomas de depresión y ansiedad, y su relación, en pacientes del servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital Escuela Universitario (HEU), en Honduras. Además, se compararon los puntajes de ansiedad y depresión en base al sexo, presencia de hábitos tóxicos y experiencias previas de hospitalización de los informantes. Materiales y métodos: La investigación se enmarcó en un enfoque cuantitativo, no experimental, de corte trasversal. Tomando una muestra de 92 pacientes de las salas de Medicina Interna del HEU. La información se recolectó por medio del Cuestionario de Salud del Paciente-9 (PHQ-9), la Escala del Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada-7 (GAD-7) y una ficha de datos sociodemográficos. Resultados: El 67.4% de los pacientes presentó algún grado de sintomatología depresiva, siendo prevalentes los síntomas moderados (29.3%). El 51.1% de los pacientes presentaba ansiedad, predo-minando los síntomas leves (29.3%). Existe relación moderada, pero significativa, entre la depresión y la ansiedad de los evaluados. No se encontró diferencia significativa en los puntajes de depresión y ansiedad según el sexo del informante, la presencia de hábitos tóxicos o las experiencias previas de hospitalización. Conclusiones: Es necesario que los entes de salud pública realicen abordajes integra-les, en donde no sólo se enfatice el componente fisiológico, sino, además, el bienestar psicológico en pacientes no-psiquiátricos hospitalizadosBackground and purpose: Hospitalization is not always well assimilated by individuals, producing anxiety and depression. However, these psychological reactions in hospitalized patients may be unde-restimated and not considered in treatment or recuperation processes. Considering this, the purpose of this study was to analyze the dynamic between depression and anxiety in patients of the Internal Medicine department of the Hospital Escuela Universitario (HEU), in Honduras. Additionally, anxie-ty and depression scores were compared regarding the respondent’s sex, toxic habits, and previous hospitalizations. Materials and methods: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional research method was used, taking a simple random sample of 92 patients from the Internal Medicine rooms of the HEU. Anxiety was measured through the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Questionnaire (GAD-7) and depression was measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire- 9 (PHQ-9), demographic data was also collected by the researchers. Results: 67.4% of the patients presented some degree of depressive symptoms, particularly at a moderate level (29.3%). On the other hand, 51.1% of the patients presen-ted anxiety -at some level- with moderate symptoms being the most predominant (29.3%). Results suggest a moderate significant statistic relationship between depression and anxiety scores. No statis-tically significant difference was found in depression and anxiety scores regarding the respondent’s sex, presence of toxic habits or history of previous hospitalizations. Conclusions: Public health services should promote holistic approaches which not only rely on a physiological perspective, but also on the psychological wellbeing of non-psychiatric hospitalized patient

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Flourishing Scale in the Honduran population

Studying Flourishing is important to understand wellbeing. The current study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Flourishing Scale (FS) in the Honduran population. The primary sample consisted of 422 residents of the Central District of Honduras; this included 275 (65.17%) women and 147 men (34.83%). Their average age was 28.18 years (SD = 10.58). Findings from the Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis support a unidimensional factor structure. The FS achieved a high internal consistency with McDonald’s ω = 0.89, 95% CI [0.86, 0.91]. The average inter-item correlation was 0.48, 95% CI [0.43, 0.53]. Using Student’s t-test for paired samples, results indicate that none of the FS items varied significantly between baseline and post-test. Additionally, Spearman’s rho was used to correlate test–retest scores; this yielded a statistically significant correlation coefficient of 0.66. The Flourishing Scale had adequate convergent validity with the Subjective Happiness Scale (r = 0.70) and the PANAS-Positive Affect Subscale (r = 0.70) (p < 0.001). In contrast, it correlates inversely with the PANAS-Negative Affect Subscale (r = −0.34) and the PHQ-9 (r = −0.51). Strict measurement invariance for sex was supported. The results indicate that the Flourishing Scale has robust psychometric properties for the Honduran population. Practical implications for public policy are discussed

Exploring Attitudes Toward “Sugar Relationships” Across 87 Countries: A Global Perspective on Exchanges of Resources for Sex and Companionship

The current study investigates attitudes toward one form of sex for resources: the so-called sugar relationships, which often involve exchanges of resources for sex and/or companionship. The present study examined associations among attitudes toward sugar relationships and relevant variables (e.g., sex, sociosexuality, gender inequality, parasitic exposure) in 69,924 participants across 87 countries. Two self-report measures of Acceptance of Sugar Relationships (ASR) developed for younger companion providers (ASR-YWMS) and older resource providers (ASR-OMWS) were translated into 37 languages. We tested cross-sex and cross-linguistic construct equivalence, cross-cultural invariance in sex differences, and the importance of the hypothetical predictors of ASR. Both measures showed adequate psychometric properties in all languages (except the Persian version of ASR-YWMS). Results partially supported our hypotheses and were consistent with previous theoretical considerations and empirical evidence on human mating. For example, at the individual level, sociosexual orientation, traditional gender roles, and pathogen prevalence were significant predictors of both ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS. At the country level, gender inequality and parasite stress positively predicted the ASR-YWMS. However, being a woman negatively predicted the ASR-OMWS, but positively predicted the ASR-YWMS. At country-level, ingroup favoritism and parasite stress positively predicted the ASR-OMWS. Furthermore, significant cross-subregional differences were found in the openness to sugar relationships (both ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS scores) across subregions. Finally, significant differences were found between ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS when compared in each subregion. The ASR-YWMS was significantly higher than the ASR-OMWS in all subregions, except for Northern Africa and Western Asia

Predictors of Enhancing Human Physical Attractiveness: Data from 93 Countries

People across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using other cosmetics, hair grooming, clothing style, caring for body hygiene, and exercising or following a specific diet for the specific purpose of improving ones physical attractiveness, are universal. Indeed, 99% of participants reported spending \u3e10 min a day performing beauty-enhancing behaviors. The results largely support evolutionary hypotheses: more time was spent enhancing beauty by women (almost 4 h a day, on average) than by men (3.6 h a day), by the youngest participants (and contrary to predictions, also the oldest), by those with a relatively more severe history of infectious diseases, and by participants currently dating compared to those in established relationships. The strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors was social media usage. Other predictors, in order of effect size, included adhering to traditional gender roles, residing in countries with less gender equality, considering oneself as highly attractive or, conversely, highly unattractive, TV watching time, higher socioeconomic status, right-wing political beliefs, a lower level of education, and personal individualistic attitudes. This study provides novel insight into universal beauty-enhancing behaviors by unifying evolutionary theory with several other complementary perspectives

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Seguimiento de las guías españolas para el manejo del asma por el médico de atención primaria: un estudio observacional ambispectivo

Objetivo Evaluar el grado de seguimiento de las recomendaciones de las versiones de la Guía española para el manejo del asma (GEMA 2009 y 2015) y su repercusión en el control de la enfermedad. Material y métodos Estudio observacional y ambispectivo realizado entre septiembre del 2015 y abril del 2016, en el que participaron 314 médicos de atención primaria y 2.864 pacientes. Resultados Utilizando datos retrospectivos, 81 de los 314 médicos (25, 8% [IC del 95%, 21, 3 a 30, 9]) comunicaron seguir las recomendaciones de la GEMA 2009. Al inicio del estudio, 88 de los 314 médicos (28, 0% [IC del 95%, 23, 4 a 33, 2]) seguían las recomendaciones de la GEMA 2015. El tener un asma mal controlada (OR 0, 19, IC del 95%, 0, 13 a 0, 28) y presentar un asma persistente grave al inicio del estudio (OR 0, 20, IC del 95%, 0, 12 a 0, 34) se asociaron negativamente con tener un asma bien controlada al final del seguimiento. Por el contrario, el seguimiento de las recomendaciones de la GEMA 2015 se asoció de manera positiva con una mayor posibilidad de que el paciente tuviera un asma bien controlada al final del periodo de seguimiento (OR 1, 70, IC del 95%, 1, 40 a 2, 06). Conclusiones El escaso seguimiento de las guías clínicas para el manejo del asma constituye un problema común entre los médicos de atención primaria. Un seguimiento de estas guías se asocia con un control mejor del asma. Existe la necesidad de actuaciones que puedan mejorar el seguimiento por parte de los médicos de atención primaria de las guías para el manejo del asma. Objective: To assess the degree of compliance with the recommendations of the 2009 and 2015 versions of the Spanish guidelines for managing asthma (Guía Española para el Manejo del Asma [GEMA]) and the effect of this compliance on controlling the disease. Material and methods: We conducted an observational ambispective study between September 2015 and April 2016 in which 314 primary care physicians and 2864 patients participated. Results: Using retrospective data, we found that 81 of the 314 physicians (25.8%; 95% CI 21.3–30.9) stated that they complied with the GEMA2009 recommendations. At the start of the study, 88 of the 314 physicians (28.0%; 95% CI 23.4–33.2) complied with the GEMA2015 recommendations. Poorly controlled asthma (OR, 0.19; 95% CI 0.13–0.28) and persistent severe asthma at the start of the study (OR, 0.20; 95% CI 0.12–0.34) were negatively associated with having well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up. In contrast, compliance with the GEMA2015 recommendations was positively associated with a greater likelihood that the patient would have well-controlled asthma by the end of the follow-up (OR, 1.70; 95% CI 1.40–2.06). Conclusions: Low compliance with the clinical guidelines for managing asthma is a common problem among primary care physicians. Compliance with these guidelines is associated with better asthma control. Actions need to be taken to improve primary care physician compliance with the asthma management guidelines

Actitud hacia la estadística por parte de los estudiantes de Medición Psicológica de la UNAH, 2015

The main objective of this research is to know the student´s attitude towards statistics, only those enrolled in the Psychological Measurement classes, in the UNAH, during the first term of 2015. It was quantitative study, with a descriptive approach. The sample consisted of 316 students who were administered the Scale of Attitudes towards Statistics (Auzmendi, 1992), validated by Tejero &amp; Castro (2011). The results indicate that 16% of the students have a negative attitude towards statistics, while 43% of the sample showed indifference towards it, on the other hand, 41% of the students reported favorable attitudes.A detailed analysis indicates that students consider a burden to be involved in statistical assignments, this includes participation in additional courses and a low level of satisfaction and stimulation associated with such work. Moreover, they recognize the usefulness of statistics in psychology, but are reluctant to become personally involved in related tasks. There is no variation in attitude towards statistics regardless of the subject attended by the student. Finally it is concluded that, within the sample study, men tend to have a better attitude toward statistics than women.Revista Ciencia y Tecnología No. 17, December 2015 pp.68-78La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo principal conocer la actitud hacia la estadística por parte de los estudiantes de las clases de Medición Psicológica, de la UNAH, durante el primer período académico de 2015. El abordaje se realizó con un enfoque cuantitativo de alcance descriptivo. Para ello se tomó una muestra de 316 alumnos a los cuales se les aplicó la escala de actitudes hacia la estadística (Auzmendi, 1992), versión validada por Tejero y Castro (2011).Los resultados indican que el 16 % de los sujetos manifiestan una actitud negativa hacia la estadística, mientras que el 43 % de los alumnos se muestra indiferente ante ella y el 41 % tiende a tener actitudes favorables hacia tal disciplina.El análisis por factores indica que existe resistencia por parte del alumno a involucrarse en asignaciones con carga estadística. Igualmente, se reconoce la utilidad de la estadística en la psicología, pero existe renuencia a relacionarse personalmente en tareas relacionadas con tal disciplina. Se encontró que la actitud hacia la estadística no varía en función de la asignatura que cursa el alumno, finalmente se concluye que, dentro de la muestra de estudio, los hombres tienden a mostrar una mejor actitud hacia la estadística que las mujeres.Revista Ciencia y Tecnología No. 17, diciembre 2015 pp.68-7

Bienestar subjetivo y su relación con el ingreso económico absoluto, el bienestar objetivo y la condición laboral, en habitantes del municipio de Tatumbla, Francisco Morazán, 2016.

This research aims to analyze subjective well-being, in habitants of the urban municipality of Tatumbla, Francisco Morazán, Honduras, the research was made during the first semester of 2016. Particularly, subjective wellbeing is studied in relation to variables such as income, the objective well-being and employment status. All this was made through a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental design, and relational-transversal scope. Data for three subjective wellbeing dimensions (egocentric, homeostatic and sociocentric) were gather through a questionnaire. The results indicate that there is no direct statistical relationship between subjective well-being and absolute income. However, the egocentric dimension is associated with relative income in the sociological and psychological standards. There is no significant relationship between objective and subjective well-being, except for a weak correlation between ownership of material goods and egocentric factors. Finally, it was found that employed individuals report higher levels of subjective well-being, compared to unemployed. These results are discussed using human development principles as an analytic framework.La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo analizar el bienestar subjetivo, comprendido como satisfacción con la vida, en habitantes del casco urbano del municipio de Tatumbla, Francisco Morazán en Honduras. Temporalmente, el estudio se realizó en el primer semestre del año 2016. De manera particular, se estudió tal constructo en relación a variables tales como el ingreso económico, el bienestar objetivo y la condición laboral. Todo ello, por medio de un enfoque cuantitativo, con un diseño no experimental, de alcance relacional, en una temporalidad transversal. Para la recolección de información se elaboró una escala compuesta por tres dimensiones: egocéntrica, sociocéntrica y homeostática.Los resultados de la investigación indican que no existe relación estadística directa entre la variable bienestar subjetivo e ingreso económico absoluto. De igual manera, no existe relación significativa entre el bienestar objetivo y el subjetivo, salvo una correlación débil entre la tenencia de bienes materiales y los factores egocéntricos.Finalmente, se encontró que los individuos empleados reportan niveles más elevados de bienestar subjetivo, en comparación con los desempleados. Estos resultados se discuten desde los principios del desarrollo humano, valorando la utilidad metodológica del bienestar subjetivo para la detección de desigualdades e indicador de calidad de vida

Human vs. AI Authorship: Does it Matter in Evaluating Creative Writing? A Pilot Study Using ChatGPT

The current study analyzed whether people rated creative writing texts differently if they believed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) (ChatGPT) or a person was the author. A pilot experiment was designed. AI-generated texts were presented to a control and an experimental group. The stimuli included three poems and a short story. In all cases, the texts were created by ChatGPT; however, participants in the control group were told the texts were written by a person, while the experimental group was told the text was generated by ChatGPT. No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the control and experimental groups' scores regarding perceived creativity and originality of the texts, nor in how much enjoyment it caused and how likely participants were to recommend the texts to someone else. Therefore, preliminary evidence from this pilot study suggests that readers do not evaluate different, in terms of creative writing, a text attributed to a human authorship than one believed to have been written by an AI