The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26): Reliability and Validity in Spanish Female Samples

This paper focuses on the validation of the Spanish form of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26; Garner, Olmsted, Bohr & Garfinkel, 1982) across two studies. Participants in Study 1 were 778 females recruited from community settings (aged 12-21). Study 2 included 86 females recruited from clinical and 86 females from community settings (aged 12- 35). Results from Principal and Simultaneous Component Analyses showed a unidimensional structure of the EAT-26 item scores. Reliability analyses supported the internal consistency of the scale. Study 1 also explores the ability of the EAT-26 to discriminate between subjects with Eating Disorder (ED), Symptomatic or Asymptomatic by means of ROC analyses and using results from the Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnoses (Q-EDD; Mintz, O’Halloran, Mulholland, & Schneider, 1997) as criterion. The EAT-26 demonstrated good specificity but insufficient sensitivity to detect a full or partial ED. Study 2 explores the ability of the questionnaire to discriminate between subjects with and without ED. The EAT-26 demonstrated good specificity and moderate sensitivity to detect ED. Clinical and theoretical implications of these results are discussed

The relationship between self-reported ability emotional intelligence and risky driving behaviour: Consequences for accident and traffic ticket rate

Road safety represents one of the main public health issues worldwide, and risky driving behaviour is one of the most predominant factors in traffic road accidents. The primary objective of this research was to clarify the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) abilities and the probability of engaging in risky behaviour during driving. Previous literature linking these constructs is limited, and research has yielded mixed findings. In the present study, 555 drivers from a Spanish community sample (Mage = 39.34, ranging from 18 to 79 years old; 49.19% women) were assessed on risky driving behaviour using the Dula Dangerous Driving Index while self-reported ability EI was measured using the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale. Gender, age, and driving experience were controlled. The results of this study revealed that a higher self-reported ability EI, particularly the ability to regulate emotions, was related to a lower tendency to engage in risky driving behaviours. In turn, self-reported ability EI was negatively and indirectly related to the number of road accidents and traffic tickets through the mediating effect of risky driving. The regulation of emotions (via direct and indirect effect) and the appraisal of the emotions of others (via direct effect) were the EI abilities that better predicted the number of accidents and traffic tickets. We discuss the practical implications of these findings, along with suggested future lines of research.This work was funded by the Regional Ministry of Economy and Knowledge, Junta de Andalucía (EMERGIA20_00056 and UMA18-FEDERJA-137 to Alberto Megías Robles), the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (PSI2017-84170-R to Pablo Fernández Berrocal), and the Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (FPU18/00610 to María T. Sánchez López). Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA

Emotional intelligence as a protective factor of risky driving and road accidents.

Title: Emotional intelligence as a protective factor of risky driving and road accidents. Authors: Alberto Megías-Robles, María T. Sánchez-López, and Pablo Fernández-Berrocal Department of Basic Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Málaga, Spain. Introduction Deliberate risky behaviours such as speeding, drink-driving, or the non-use of safety measures are one of the main contributing factors to road accidents. The objective of this research was to clarify the relationship between EI abilities, risk-taking while driving, and the potential negative outcomes of these behaviours (road accidents and traffic tickets). Method Five hundred and fifty-five drivers from a Spanish community sample (Mage = 39.34, ranging from 18 to 79 years old; 49.19% women) were assessed on risky driving behaviour and EI by the Dula dangerous driving index and the Wong and Law emotional intelligence scale, respectively. Results The results of the present research revealed that drivers who self-reported good abilities in EI had a lower tendency to risk-taking while driving. Moreover, EI was negatively and indirectly related to the number of road accidents and traffic tickets through the mediating effect of risky driving. Conclusions These findings suggest the involvement of emotional factors, mainly the lack of abilities in recognizing and managing emotions, in the explanation of risky driving behaviour. For instance, a proper management of emotions would allow for coping with anger or stressful traffic situations that might trigger risk behaviours such as speeding or rule violations. Future experimental studies should be aimed to confirm the causal role of EI on risky driving. If so, training programs designed to improve emotional competencies could be a very useful strategy in road safety.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Ethylene supports colonization of plant roots by the mutualistic fungus Piriformospora indica

The mutualistic basidiomycete Piriformospora indica colonizes roots of mono- and dicotyledonous plants, and thereby improves plant health and yield. Given the capability of P. indica to colonize a broad range of hosts, it must be anticipated that the fungus has evolved efficient strategies to overcome plant immunity and to establish a proper environment for nutrient acquisition and reproduction. Global gene expression studies in barley identified various ethylene synthesis and signaling components that were differentially regulated in P. indica-colonized roots. Based on these findings we examined the impact of ethylene in the symbiotic association. The data presented here suggest that P. indica induces ethylene synthesis in barley and Arabidopsis roots during colonization. Moreover, impaired ethylene signaling resulted in reduced root colonization, Arabidopsis mutants exhibiting constitutive ethylene signaling, -synthesis or ethylene-related defense were hyper-susceptible to P. indica. Our data suggest that ethylene signaling is required for symbiotic root colonization by P. indica

Influence of the sensitivity to reward and punishment on aggressive behaviour.

Title: Influence of the sensitivity to reward and punishment on aggressive behaviour. Alberto Megías-Robles, Raquel Gómez-Leal, María T. Sánchez-López, and Pablo Fernández-Berrocal Department of Basic Psychology, University of Málaga, Spain. Sensitivity to reward and punishment guide many of our daily behaviours. For example, it is widely accepted that high levels of sensitivity to reward are associated with higher levels of aggressive behaviour. However, results for sensitivity to punishment are not so clear, both positive and negative relationships have been shown in previous literature. The main objective of this research was to clarify these discrepancies, exploring the relationship between sensitivity to punishment and aggressive behaviour through the study of different types of aggression. Four hundred and sixty-five participants were assessed for levels of anger, hostility, physical aggression, and verbal aggression (by Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire), and for levels of sensitivity to punishment and reward (by SPSRQ–20). The results revealed a significant positive correlation between general aggression and both sensitivity to punishment and reward. Interestingly, we observed that the relationship between aggression and sensitivity to punishment depended on the type of aggression studied. Levels of aggression were increased with sensitivity to punishment only for hostility and anger, but not for physical and verbal aggression. This study provides new information to better understand the risk factors related to aggressive behavior. In terms of applicability, our results can help to improve the current aggression prevention programs by working on reducing the levels of sensitivity to reward and punishment.This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (project: PSI2017-84170-R) to Pablo Fernández Berrocal and Junta de Andalucía (project: UMA18-FEDERJA-137) to Alberto Megías Robles

Emotional Intelligence and Adolescent Risk Behavior: A Systematic Review.

Objective of the study: Risky behavior implies a series of negative consequences in peoples lives as it poses a threat to well-being, health and safety. It is essential to search for those variables that can alleviate these effects. Its study becomes especially relevant in the period of the life cycle from pre-adolescence to early adulthood, as this is a period in which this behaviour is highly prevalent. Among others, one variable that has received special attention as a protective variable is emotional intelligence, that is, the ability to perceive, use, understand and regulate emotions. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the evidence available to date on the relationship between risk behavior and emotional intelligence in this population. Methodology: The databases used were PsycINFO, Scopus and PubMed. A total of five articles were found, comprising a sample of 1901 participants aged between 13 and 19 years and measuring emotional intelligence through self-report instruments. Results obtained: Emotional intelligence in adolescents was positively related to risk-prevention behaviours, while it was negatively related to all dimensions of risk behavior. A single study found a negative relationship between risk behavior and one of the emotional intelligence abilities, the interpersonal ability. Conclusion: Future lines of research should focus on expanding the number of studies relating emotional intelligence and child and youth risk behaviors, as well as the use of objective measures of performance

Further investigation of confirmed urinary tract infection (UTI) in children under five years: a systematic review.

Background: Further investigation of confirmed UTI in children aims to prevent renal scarring and future complications. Methods: We conducted a systematic review to determine the most effective approach to the further investigation of confirmed urinary tract infection (UTI) in children under five years of age. Results: 73 studies were included. Many studies had methodological limitations or were poorly reported. Effectiveness of further investigations: One study found that routine imaging did not lead to a reduction in recurrent UTIs or renal scarring. Diagnostic accuracy: The studies do not support the use of less invasive tests such as ultrasound as an alternative to renal scintigraphy, either to rule out infection of the upper urinary tract (LR- = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.47, 0.68) and thus to exclude patients from further investigation or to detect renal scarring (LR+ = 3.5, 95% CI: 2.5, 4.8). None of the tests investigated can accurately predict the development of renal scarring. The available evidence supports the consideration of contrast-enhanced ultrasound techniques for detecting vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR), as an alternative to micturating cystourethrography (MCUG) (LR+ = 14.1, 95% CI: 9.5, 20.8; LR- = 0.20, 95%CI: 0.13, 0.29); these techniques have the advantage of not requiring exposure to ionising radiation. Conclusion: There is no evidence to support the clinical effectiveness of routine investigation of children with confirmed UTI. Primary research on the effectiveness, in terms of improved patient outcome, of testing at all stages in the investigation of confirmed urinary tract infection is urgently required