Happiness and Optimism Interventions at Work: Gender Differences

The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to analyze the changes derived from happiness and optimism interventions in 12 groups of employees chosen at random in two Colombian companies. For the happiness intervention, three conditions were applied: Expressing Gratitude, Acts of Kindness and Pencil in the Mouth. In the case of optimism, three other conditions were used: Breaking the Routine, Reformulating Goals and Resignifying Failure. In addition, answers from a control group, a placebo group and another group on a waiting list were included. 93 people completed the questionnaires at both Time 1 (before the intervention) and Time 2 (after the intervention). Testing of related samples was performed to verify the changes according to each condition. The results show that the condition of kindness alone and combined with the reformulation of goals tended to have more positive effects on happiness levels. There were differences in the effectiveness associated with gender and the employees’ previous levels of happiness and optimism. The practical applications of these findings in the work context and their influence on work performance are discussed

Chilean experimental version of the State-Trait Depression Questionnaire (ST-DEP): Trait sub-scale (T-DEP)

This instrumental study presents the first validity and reliability data for the Trait subscale (T-DEP) of the Chilean experimental version of the State and Trait Depression Inventory (ST-DEP): Euthymia and Dysthymia. The data were obtained from a sample of 300 university students. The internal consistency values for the TDEP were high (.90). The test-retest values from eight weeks time interval (fifty six days) were elevated (.78). A factorial analysis of the principal components revealed a principal factor for all of the constructed items in this experimental version of the TDEP. The last, promax rotation showed two clear main factors similar in size: negative affectivity (Dysthymia) and positive affectivity (Euthymia). The convergent validity indexes for the Beck Depression Inventory and the Zung Self Rating Depression Scale, were also high, with indexes ranging from .64 to .71. The correlation between State- Trait Anxiety Inventory and the depression scales used in this study was high (between .63 and .78), once again indicating the usual overlapping between anxiety and depression seen in most depression inventories.Este estudio instrumental presenta los primeros datos de validez y fiabilidad de la sub-escala Rasgo (T-DEP) de la versión experimental chilena del Inventario de Depresión Estado y Rasgo (ST-DEP): Eutimia y Distimia. Los datos fueron obtenidos de una muestra de 300 estudiantes universitarios. La consistencia interna del T-DEP fue elevada (0,90). El valor del test retest para el T-DEP, con un intervalo de ocho semanas, fue elevado (0,78). Un análisis factorial de componentes principales presenta un factor principal constituido por todos los ítems redactados para la versión experimental chilena. La posterior rotación promax muestra dos claros factores principales: afectividad negativa (Distimia) y afectividad positiva (Eutimia). Índices de validez convergente en relación al Inventario de Depresión de Beck y la Escala de Depresión de Zung fueron altos, con índices que fluctuaron entre 0,64 a 0,71. La correlación entre la medida de ansiedad estado-rasgo y las medidas de depresión utilizadas muestran índices altos (entre 0,63 y 0,78), manifestando el solapamiento existente entre depresión y ansiedad

Analysis of the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) of the restaurants of the Typical Food Market, in the Archidona canton, Napo province.

Esta investigación analiza el cumplimiento de la Norma de Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura (BPM) en los restaurantes de comida típica del Mercado turístico municipal del cantón Archidona, provincia de Napo, siendo de tipo aplicada-descriptiva, utilizando el método cuantitativo y cualitativo, tomando como referencia la Norma Técnica Sustitutiva de Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura (BPM) para Alimentos Procesados (Art.1- 41), que consta en el Registro Oficial N. 555 del año 2015, también se empleó la técnica de la Observación y como instrumento de recolección de datos en relación a las BPM se utilizó Fichas de Observación elaboradas en base a la Norma de BPM, considerando 4 factores, que a través del Check list se comprobó el cumplimiento o no de esta norma. Los resultados determinan que, en los 14 establecimientos de comida típica, existe un bajo cumplimiento, en la aplicación de las Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura (BPM), sobre todo en relación a los procesos operativos de preparación, manipulación y comercialización de alimentos, esto afecta directamente a la calidad de los servicios entregados a los turistas y público en general que visitan el mercado de comidas típicas del cantón Archidona.This research analyzes the fulfillment of the Good Manufacturing Practices Standard (BPM) in the typical food restaurants of the municipal tourist market of the Archidona canton, Napo province, being of an applied-descriptive type, using the quantitative and qualitative method, taking as Reference to the Substitute Technical Standard for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Processed Foods (Art. 1-41), which appears in Official Registry No. 555 of 2015, also used the Observation technique and as a collection instrument of data in relation to the BPM, Observation Sheets prepared based on the BPM Standard were used, considering 4 factors, which through the Check list verified compliance or not of this standard. The results determine that, in the 14 typical food establishments, there is low compliance in the application of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), especially in relation to the operational processes of preparation, handling and marketing of food, this affects directly to the quality of the services provided to tourists and the general public who visit the typical food market of the canton Archidona

Influence of COVID-19 on the Perception of Academic Self-Efficacy, State Anxiety, and Trait Anxiety in College Students

We are grateful to Ms. Ana Yara Postigo-Fuentes for her assistance with the English language.The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg. 2020.570017/full#supplementary-materialThe worldwide pandemic situation caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a state of confinement of the population, which has caused, following consulted research, an increase in stress. Faced with this situation, the Spanish university not only had to adapt to the changes derived from the causes of the pandemic but also had to face a new methodological model—e-learning teaching—for which not all teachers and students were prepared. This could cause an increase in stress due to the uncertainty caused by this time of change. This research analyzes the relationship between perceived self-efficacy in the confinement period and the level of trait anxiety (TA) and state anxiety (SA) during COVID-19. Four hundred twenty-seven students from the University of Granada (Spain) participated in this study. The adaptation of two scales that measure perceived academic self-efficacy and anxiety (TA and SA) has been applied. The results indicated that there was an inversely proportional relationship between anxiety and self-efficacy; men showed the highest perception of self-efficacy, while women had higher scores in TA and SA; the latter was accentuated in cases when a relative died. To conclude, students who show a higher level of anxiety (TA and SA) express more negative emotions and also perceive themselves with less academic self-efficacy. Therefore, a stressful situation (pandemic and confinement) together with a critical event (illness and death of a relative/friend due to COVID-19) increases anxiety levels and influences the perception of academic self-efficacy

Presentación de una Escala para Evaluar Actitudes y Creencias Sobre la Sexualidad Reproductiva en Adolescentes Varones de la Región Caribe Colombiana

This paper presents the construction and testing of the reliability of an instrument to assess attitudes and subjective norms sexual and reproductive behavior of young males. The scale was administered to 965 male students (From of 11 to 19 years) enrolled at school in the Colombian Caribbean region. This work includes two independent studies, in the first study (pilot) the questionnaire consisted of 150 items and it was reduced to 78. In the protective attitude scale (Mean= 4.10 and SD= 1.07) was obtained Cronbach's alpha of.93 and for the abstinence / delay attitude (Mean= 3.60 and SD= 1.26) an alpha of .88 with high homogeneity. The total correlation item was greater than 0.60 for all the attitude scales. On the scale of beliefs represented by the subjective norms (Mean= 3.79 and SD = 1.08) the estimation of Cronbach's alpha was .98 with correlations above 0.66. In study 2 (final stop), the construct validity assessment using factorial analysis and principal components analysis with VARIMAX rotation reported a satisfactory fit of the data to the array factor. In conclusion, the instrument has a reliable and stable structure for the measurement of attitudes and subjective norms for sexuality and reproductive health, and it is useful to help in the setting of programs.Este artículo presenta la construcción y comprobación de la confiabilidad de un instrumento para evaluar las actitudes y normas subjetivas en el comportamiento sexual y reproductivo en varones en dos estudios. La escala fue administrada a 965 estudiantes varones escolarizados, entre 11 a 19 años de edad en la región Caribe colombiana. En el estudio 1(pilotaje) el cuestionario constituido por 150 ítems se redujo a 78 en la prueba final. En la escala de actitud protección (Media= 4.10 y D.E= 1.07) se obtuvo Alfa de Cronbach .93 y en la de actitud abstinencia/retardo (Media= 3.60 y D.E= 1.26) un alfa de .88 y homogeneidad elevada con correlación ítem total superiores a 0.60. Para la escala de creencias categorizada como normas subjetivas (Media de 3.79 y D.E. = 1.08) la estimación de Alfa de Cronbach fue de .98 y homogeneidad adecuada con correlaciones superiores a 0.66. La evaluación de la validez de constructo mediante el análisis factorial exploratorio y análisis de componentes principales con rotación VARIMAX, denota adecuación satisfactoria de los datos a la matriz factorial en el estudio 2 (escala definitiva). En conclusión el instrumento es confiable, de estructura estable para la medición de actitudes y normas subjetivas en sexualidad reproductiva y contribuirá a establecer acciones específicas en programas, acorde a las expectativas en salud sexual y reproductiva de los adolescentes varones

Presentación de una Escala para Evaluar Actitudes y Creencias Sobre la Sexualidad Reproductiva en Adolescentes Varones de la Región Caribe Colombiana

This paper presents the construction and testing of the reliability of an instrument to assess attitudes and subjective norms sexual and reproductive behavior of young males. The scale was administered to 965 male students (From of 11 to 19 years) enrolled at school in the Colombian Caribbean region. This work includes two independent studies, in the first study (pilot) the questionnaire consisted of 150 items and it was reduced to 78. In the protective attitude scale (Mean= 4.10 and SD= 1.07) was obtained Cronbach's alpha of.93 and for the abstinence / delay attitude (Mean= 3.60 and SD= 1.26) an alpha of .88 with high homogeneity. The total correlation item was greater than 0.60 for all the attitude scales. On the scale of beliefs represented by the subjective norms (Mean= 3.79 and SD = 1.08) the estimation of Cronbach's alpha was .98 with correlations above 0.66. In study 2 (final stop), the construct validity assessment using factorial analysis and principal components analysis with VARIMAX rotation reported a satisfactory fit of the data to the array factor. In conclusion, the instrument has a reliable and stable structure for the measurement of attitudes and subjective norms for sexuality and reproductive health, and it is useful to help in the setting of programs.Este artículo presenta la construcción y comprobación de la confiabilidad de un instrumento para evaluar las actitudes y normas subjetivas en el comportamiento sexual y reproductivo en varones en dos estudios. La escala fue administrada a 965 estudiantes varones escolarizados, entre 11 a 19 años de edad en la región Caribe colombiana. En el estudio 1(pilotaje) el cuestionario constituido por 150 ítems se redujo a 78 en la prueba final. En la escala de actitud protección (Media= 4.10 y D.E= 1.07) se obtuvo Alfa de Cronbach .93 y en la de actitud abstinencia/retardo (Media= 3.60 y D.E= 1.26) un alfa de .88 y homogeneidad elevada con correlación ítem total superiores a 0.60. Para la escala de creencias categorizada como normas subjetivas (Media de 3.79 y D.E. = 1.08) la estimación de Alfa de Cronbach fue de .98 y homogeneidad adecuada con correlaciones superiores a 0.66. La evaluación de la validez de constructo mediante el análisis factorial exploratorio y análisis de componentes principales con rotación VARIMAX, denota adecuación satisfactoria de los datos a la matriz factorial en el estudio 2 (escala definitiva). En conclusión el instrumento es confiable, de estructura estable para la medición de actitudes y normas subjetivas en sexualidad reproductiva y contribuirá a establecer acciones específicas en programas, acorde a las expectativas en salud sexual y reproductiva de los adolescentes varones