Encuesta sobre el consumo de drogas en estudiantes de enseñanza secundaria de la ciudad de Alicante

El Ayuntamiento de Alicante, a través del Plan Municipal sobre Drogodependencias, desde hace 17 años viene realizando actividades de prevención escolar, que se han sistematizado en dos programas: Brújula para Educación Primaria y Programa “12-16” de Prevención de las Drogodependencias para Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO). La generación del curso escolar 2012/13 es la primera generación de alumnos de Alicante que ha realizado todo el proceso de prevención escolar longitudinal desde los 6 a los 16 años. Llegado este momento, el Ayuntamiento se plantea la necesidad de estudiar y comparar la realidad de la ciudad en cuanto al consumo de drogas de los jóvenes de 4º de ESO, y detectar los posibles factores que inciden en dicho consumo, todo ello con el objetivo no solo de planificar la prevención universal sino también de intervenir en las situaciones de mayor riesgo en aras de una mayor eficacia. Para ello, el Ayuntamiento contacta con el Departamento de Psicología de la Salud y el Departamento de Sociología I de la Universidad de Alicante y les encarga la realización del presente estudio. Estudios similares, se han venido realizando en España desde 1994, para conocer la realidad sobre el uso de drogas entre los estudiantes de enseñanza secundaria. A través de este sistema se pretende adaptar las políticas preventivas sobre el uso de drogas, a los cambios y tendencias experimentadas en la sociedad. La Estrategia Nacional sobre Drogas 2009-2016 aprobada por el Consejo de Ministros en 2009, tiene como líneas estratégicas de actuación, la mejora del conocimiento sobre las tendencias y pautas de consumo entre los jóvenes y el fortalecimiento de las competencias personales para promover actitudes de rechazo hacia las drogas entre los ciudadanos. Para afianzar estos objetivos, se establecen dos planes de acción trianuales (2009-2012 y 2013-2016) sometidos a diversos procesos de evaluación. El desarrollo de este tipo de encuestas contribuye a tener un conocimiento más próximo de la realidad sobre el uso indebido de drogas entre los jóvenes ofreciendo datos comparables con las tendencias observadas a nivel europeo y mundial. El encargo de este estudio tiene como finalidad conocer la realidad más objetiva posible de los estudiantes de secundaria de la ciudad de Alicante, en cuanto al consumo de drogas, para seguir diseñando programas y acciones de prevención, así como promover y preservar la salud de los jóvenes.Este proyecto ha sido financiado por la Concejalía de Acción Social. Plan Municipal sobre Drogodependencia. Ayuntamiento de Alicante

Is the binge eating disorder related to the adherence to Mediterranean diet in university students?

Introducción: el trastorno por atracón o “Binge Eating Disorders” (BED) se caracteriza por el consumo de grandes cantidades de comida en un breve periodo de tiempo acompañado de una sensación de falta de control sobre la ingesta. El BED se relaciona con una alimentación poco equilibrada, contribuyendo a la aparición de diversas patologías. La alimentación y los estilos de vida desempeñan un factor clave en la prevención de estas patologías, siendo la dieta mediterránea (DM) uno de los estándares de la alimentación saludable. Objetivo: analizar la relación entre la DM y el BED en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios. Método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en una muestra de 120 estudiantes de la Universidad de Alicante. Para establecer la relación entre el patrón de atracón y el grado de adherencia a la DM se determinó el coeficiente de correlación r de Pearson. Los resultados se expresaron en odds ratios (OR) e intervalo de confianza (IC) al 95%. Resultados: los sujetos con un patrón de BED presentaron menor adherencia a la DM (OR = 4,03; IC 95%, 1,80-18,69), mayores índices de exceso de peso (OR = 5,31; IC 95%, 1,81-15,64), y vidas más sedentarias (OR = 1,4; IC 95%, 0,52-4,12). El BED correlacionó negativamente con el grado de adherencia DM (r = -0,3, p < 0,01). Conclusión: el patrón de DM se asocia de manera inversa con el riesgo de sufrir trastorno por atracón y además dicho patrón de atracón se asocia significativamente con el riesgo de sufrir exceso de peso en estudiantes universitarios. Son necesarios estudios que confirmen que la DM reduce el riesgo de sufrir trastorno por atracón.Introduction: Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by the consumption of large amounts of food in short time accompanied by a feeling of lack of control over eating. The BED is associated with a little balanced diet, contributing to the development of several pathologies. Food and lifestyle play a key factor in the prevention of these diseases, being the Mediterranean diet (DM) one of the standards of healthy food. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between DM and BED in a sample of university students. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on a sample of 120 students of the University of Alicante. To establish the relationship between the pattern of binge eating and the degree of adherence to the DM correlation coefficient r Pearson was determined. The results were expressed as odds ratios (OR) and confidence interval (CI) at 95%. Results: Subjects with a pattern of BED, had lower adherence to the DM (OR = 4.03; 95% CI, 1.80 to 18.69), higher rates of overweight (OR = 5.31, 95% CI, 1.81 to 15.64), and more sedentary lives (OR = 1.4; 95% CI, 0.52 to 4.12). The BED is negatively correlated with the degree of adherence DM (r = -0.3, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The pattern of DM is associated inversely with the risk for binge eating disorder and also such a pattern of binge eating is significantly associated with the risk of overweight in university students. They are necessary studies that confirm that the DM reduces the risk for binge eating disorder

Memory function performance in individuals classified as overweight, obese, and normal weight

Evidence accumulated to date about the relationship between cognitive impairments and adults who are overweight and obese suggests that excess weight has a great impact on memory function. Nevertheless, most of the literature has focused only on studying the influences on working memory and episodic memory. This study aimed to examine the potential associations of clinical and anthropometric measures [body mass index (BMI), WHR, body fat, visceral fat, muscle mass, and hypertension] with six memory domains, including contextual memory, short-term visual memory, short-term memory, non-verbal memory, short-term phonological memory, and working memory, in a sample of 124 individuals classified as overweight (n = 33), obese (n = 53), and normal weight (n = 38). The results obtained showed that, after controlling for employment situations, people classified as obese had poorer short-term phonological memory and working memory than those with normal weights. Bivariate correlations showed that measures of weight, BMI, waist–hip ratio index, body fat, and visceral fat were inversely associated with memory function. However, muscle mass was not a significant predictor of memory function. Higher systolic blood pressure was also associated with worse memory function. The study provides evidence of the importance of adiposity in health and memory function.This work was partially funded by the Spanish Government (TIN2017-89069-R and PID2020-119144RB-100)

Subtypes of Severely Mentally Ill Violent Offenders in a Spanish Forensic Psychiatric Hospital

Conduct disorder (CD) prior to age 15 identifies a subgroup of men with severe mental illness (SMI) who present a high risk for violence that persists across the life span. The present study examined male violent offenders with SMI in a forensic hospital in Spain, comparing those with SMI+CD and those without SMI-CD on the HCR-20 and PCL:SV. Violent offenders with SMI+CD obtained higher HCR-20 and PCL: SV total scores, and much higher H and factor 2 scores as compared to those without prior CD. Men with SMI+CD present a challenge to forensic psychiatric services

Adolescent Alcohol Use in Spain: Connections with Friends, School, and Other Delinquent Behaviors

This study examined the connections between adolescent alcohol use in Alicante, Spain and variables reflecting adolescents’ academic problems, potentially delinquent behaviors, friends’ alcohol consumption, and friendship quality. Information about alcohol use and a number of school and social variables was collected from adolescent students (N = 567) who completed the National Students School-Based Drug Survey in a classroom setting. Results suggested that gender was not significantly associated with alcohol use, although alcohol use increased with age and was more likely for adolescents enrolled in public schools compared to private. After controlling for age and type of school (public vs. private), academic problems explained 5.1% of the variance in adolescents’ alcohol use, potentially delinquent behaviors explained 29.0%, friends’ alcohol use 16.8%, and friendship quality 1.6%. When all unique predictors from these four models were included in a comprehensive model, they explained 32.3% of the variance in adolescents’ alcohol use. In this final model, getting expelled, participating in a fight, going out at night, the hour at which one returns, and the number of friends who have consumed alcohol were uniquely and positively associated with adolescents’ alcohol use. These results provide important information about multi-system influences on adolescent alcohol use in Alicante, Spain and suggest potential areas of focus for intervention research.This study was funded by Concejalía de Acción Social. Plan Municipal sobre Drogodependencia. Ayuntamiento de Alicante, Spain. Delegación del Gobierno para el Plan Nacional sobre Drogas

Psychometric Properties and Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Spanish Version of the Maudsley Violence Questionnaire among Adolescent Students

The Maudsley Violence Questionnaire (MVQ) is an instrument specifically developed to evaluate violent thinking through two subscales examining macho attitudes and the acceptance of violence. This study analyzed the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Spanish version of the MVQ questionnaire in a large sample of 1933 Spanish adolescents. An online questionnaire was used to collect variables, such as sociodemographic and sexism data. The factor structure showed good fit indices in Spanish adolescents, which were similar to the original scale. The exploratory analysis yielded a first factor that explained 11.3% of the total variance and a second factor that explained 10.8% of the total variance. The Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) (0.902), Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI) (0.90), Normed Fit Index (NNFI) (0.85), and the Comparative Fit Index (CFI) (0.86) suggested that the model fit the data adequately (with values ≥ 0.90) and the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) (≤0.10) values indicative of an adequate fit. This study contributes a Spanish-language validated tool to measure machismo and the acceptance of violence among adolescents.The project “Lights, Camera and Action against Dating Violence” (Ligts4Violence) was funded by the European Commission Directorate-General Justice and Consumers Rights, Equality and Citizen Violence Against Women Program 2016 for the period 2017–2019 to promote healthy dating relationship assets among secondary school students from different European countries, under grant agreement No. 776905. It was also co-supported by the CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health of Spain for its aid to the Gender-based Violence and Youth Research Program. The project “Promotion of Protective Assets Against Gender Violence in Adolescence and Pre-adolescence”; (Ref. PI18/00590 and PI18/00544) of the Carlos III Institute of Health, as an intermediary body of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). This study was also conducted within a grant received from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, FEDER, and V. Pérez-Martínez is recipient of PFIS grant from FSE (FI19/00201)

Efectividad de un programa de intervención con alumnado de Formación Profesional Básica (programa R&R2) para la prevención del consumo de drogas y mejora del bienestar personal en la ciudad de Alicante

El Ayuntamiento de Alicante, a través del Plan Municipal sobre Drogodependencias, desde hace casi 20 años viene realizando actividades de prevención escolar, que se han sistematizado en dos programas: Brújula para Primaria y Programa de Prevención de las Drogodependencias para Secundaria. En el curso académico 2013/2014, el Ayuntamiento de Alicante contactó con la Universidad de Alicante para solicitar la realización de un estudio sobre el consumo de drogas entre jóvenes de Enseñanza Secundaria de la ciudad de Alicante. La finalidad del estudio era conocer la realidad de la ciudad en cuanto al consumo de drogas de los jóvenes de 4º de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO) y los jóvenes de los Programas de Cualificación Profesional Inicial (PCPI); así como detectar los posibles factores que inciden en dicho consumo con el objetivo de planificar la prevención universal e intervenir en las situaciones de mayor riesgo. Los resultados de este estudio concluyen que los estudiantes de 4º ESO comienzan a consumir sustancias antes que el alumnado de PCPI; sin embargo, el alumnado de PCPI tiene unos niveles de consumo de drogas más altos y más problemáticos. Por otro lado, se observa que el consumo de sustancias tóxicas se relaciona negativamente con variables relacionadas con el bienestar físico, psicológico, social y emocional. Datos que corroboran que estas variables actúan como factores protectores y guardan relación con conceptos como la adquisición de estrategias de afrontamiento adecuadas, optimismo, percepción ajustada de riesgos, hábitos y conductas saludables o la capacidad para resistir la presión grupal (WHO Alcohol and Public Policy Group, 20014, p.23). Tras los resultados obtenidos, el Ayuntamiento se planteó la necesidad de poner en marcha un programa de intervención para prevenir estos consumos problemáticos de sustancias en jóvenes, con especial atención en el colectivo de estudiantes de Formación Profesional Básica (FPB, que sustituyen a los PCPI), subgrupo de adolescentes caracterizado por ser especialmente vulnerable al consumo problemático de drogas, fracaso escolar y conducta antisocial en particular. Para poner en marcha el programa de intervención el Ayuntamiento de Alicante contactó con el Departamento de Psicología de la Salud de la Universidad de Alicante para solicitar la realización del presente estudio. Este estudio se ha centrado en la selección del programa de intervención más adecuado para el colectivo objeto de estudio, así como en el diseño, aplicación y evaluación de la efectividad del programa de intervención. El programa seleccionado ha sido el “Reasoning and Rehabilitation vs2” (R&R2) de Ross, Hilborn y Liddle (2008), adaptado al español por Martín-Caballero y Bethencourt Pérez (2010). El programa R&R2 es un programa cognitivo-conductual con amplia evidencia científica a nivel internacional para la prevención de conductas problemáticas en adolescentes en alto riesgo.Este proyecto ha sido financiado por la Concejalía de Educación. Ayuntamiento de Alicante

Family and School Contexts as Predictors of Suicidal Behavior among Adolescents: The Role of Depression and Anxiety

Suicide is the highest external cause of death in the majority of developed countries. In adolescents, the prevalence of suicide has increased significantly in recent years, becoming a serious public health concern. The main aim of the present study is to characterize suicidal behavior, and to evaluate the relationship between family and school contexts and suicidal behavior through the possible mediating effects of depression and anxiety. The design of the study is cross-sectional. The sample was composed of 1386 Spanish adolescents from 14 high-schools. Suicidal behavior, anxiety, depression, family function, and school climate were evaluated through self-reported questionnaires. The results obtained show a significant association between adaptive family function and a positive school climate with low levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior. Mediation analyses revealed a significant full mediating effect of depression on family function and school climate with suicidal behavior. No significant mediating effects were found for anxiety. The results obtained underline the importance of family and school as protective factors for the prevention of suicidal behavior in adolescents, through the main mediating role of depression. Future studies should evaluate the mechanisms underlying the effects of family function and school climate on depression, and therefore, on suicidal behavior in adolescents.This study was funded by the Office of the Vice President of Research and Knowledge Transfer of the University of Alicante (GRE-16-32) and by the Program of Networks-I3CE of Investigation in University Teaching (Program Networks) from the Vice-Rectorate of Quality and Educational Innovation and Education Sciences Institute of the University of Alicante (2017–2018). Ref.: (4258)

Use of Technology-Based Interventions in the Treatment of Patients with Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Obesity is one of the most important health problems worldwide. The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in the last decades and is now recognized as a global epidemic. Given the dramatic consequences of obesity, new intervention approaches based on the potential of technologies have been developed. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and MedLine databases to assess how different types of technologies may play an important role on weight loss in obese patients. Results: Forty-seven studies using different types of technologies including smartphones, app, websites, virtual reality and personal digital assistant were included in the review. About half of interventions (47%) found a significant effect of the technology-based interventions for weight lost in obese patients. The provision of feedback could also be effective as a complement to interventions carried out using technology to promote weight loss. Conclusions: The use of technologies can be effective to increase weight loss in patients with obesity improving treatment adherence through self-monitoring.TIN2017-89069-R funded by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)