Dimensionalidad y propiedades psicométricas de la Escala SOC en estudiantes de la ESPOCH.

Aaron Antonovsky propuso una nueva visión sobre la salud la denominó Sentido de Coherencia, propuso una escala de 29 preguntas para medirlo. En Ecuador no se han realizado estudios sobre la dimensionalidad y estructura factorial de esta escala por lo que el objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar su estructura factorial y dimensionalidad. Se realizó un estudio transversal con 415 estudiantes de pregrado. Se tomaron medidas generales de edad, sexo, nivel de estudios y se aplicó la encuesta SOC-29. Participaron 315 (75%) mujeres y 100 (24%) hombres. La edad mínima fue 17 años y a máxima 36 con una media 20.7. El valor promedio (ds) del SOC total fue de 130.5 (16,1), Se realizó el análisis factorial y se alcanzó la máxima convergencia con 8 iteraciones, el número de factores, dimensiones, optimo consistiría en 4 a 5, estos guardan relación con la propuesta de Antonovsky y, por lo tanto, puede ser aplicada en población de jóvenes en Ecuador.Aaron Antonovsky proposed a new vision on health called the Sense of Coherence, proposed a scale of 29 items to measure it. In Ecuador, studies on the dimensionality and factorial structure of this scale have not been carried out, so the objective of the present study was to analyze its factorial structure and dimensionality. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 415 undergraduate students. General measures of age, sex, level of education were taken and the SOC-29 survey was applied. A total of 315 (75%) women and 100 (24%) men participated. The minimum age was 17 years and maximum 36 with a mean of 20.7. The mean value (ds) of the total SOC was 130.5 (16.1). The factorial analysis was performed and maximum convergence was achieved with 8 iterations, the number of factors, dimensions, optimal would consist of 4 to 5, these are related with the Antonovsky proposal and, therefore, can be applied in the youth population in Ecuador

Mobility restrictions and mental health among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador

Objective: To study the association between mobility restriction and mental health outcomes among Ecuadorian young adults. Method: The present is a cross-sectional study that included a non-probabilistic sample of mostly highly educated young adults. Socio-demographic and mental health data were collected through an online survey, between May and June 2020, when confinement was mandatory in Ecuador. Data on mobility was extracted from Google Community Mobility Reports. Four aspects of the participants’ mental health were evaluated: eating behavior (emotional eating), depression, sleep quality and sense of coherence as a proxy of resilience, using previously validated instruments. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression models in R. Results: Sample included 8426 young adults, with a mean age of 22.85 (standard deviation: 4.43), most of whom were women (n = 5943, 70.53%). During mandatory confinement, in Ecuador mobility in general was reduced by nearly 50% in comparison to January/February, 2020. Less healthy eating behavior, depression, worse sleep quality and lower sense of coherence were associated with higher mobility restriction to workplaces and groceries/pharmacies. Women and youngsters more often showed depression, less healthy eating behavior, worse quality of sleep and lower sense of coherence in comparison with men and older respondents. Conclusions: Mobility restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic were associated with worse self-reported mental health in a sample of young highly-educated Ecuadorian adults. Women and youngsters were the most affected. Our findings highlight the need of implementing health promotion measures directed to ameliorate the effects of confinement on mental health, focusing on women and youngsters

Cognitive function and vitamin B12 and D among community-dwelling elders: A cross-sectional study

Background & aims: Little is know on the association between mild or sub-clinical vitamin B12 or D deficiencies and cognitive decline. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the association between vitamin B12 and D levels, and cognitive function in community-dwelling elders. Methods: Cross-sectional study that included data from elders who participated in the SABE study, a population-based study that was carried out in Ecuador. Participants of SABE were selected by probabilistic sampling from the whole country. Vitamin B12 and D were measured in blood and cognitive status was assessed using an abbreviated version of the minimental state examination (MMSE). Results: The sample included 1733 elders from whom 936 (54.01%) were female. Independently from sex, age, years of education, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and geographical zone of residence, we found that vitamin B12 levels were associated to MMSE scores and that this relationship changed depending on age. In this way, we observed that from 75 years of age, drop of cognitive function was particularly steep in individuals with low levels of vitamin B12. We did not find evidence to support an association between vitamin D levels and cognitive function. Conclusions: Low levels of vitamin B12 but not of vitamin D are associated with low cognitive functioning in a sample of community-dwelling elders