Motivational Influences on Health, Well-Being, and Lifestyle: Validation of the Spanish Version of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire in Four Health Domains

Background: Motivation is a central concept in self-determination theory (SDT). The Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ), which assesses motivation (autonomous, controlled, etc.), has been widely used. However, less is known about its applicability to samples such as college students, who may be at risk of having unhealthy behavior in many areas (including smoking, poor dietary habits, alcohol, or tobacco consumption). As this population is transitioning to adulthood, research is needed to understand motivation and changing health patterns. In addition, the lack of instruments for this population in Spain has made the measurement validation process a priority. The purpose of this psychometric study was to adapt the TSRQ to Spanish college students and to examine its structural and validity across four health domains. Methods: Two samples of Spanish college students (n = 347 and n = 244) agreed to participate in the study. Participants completed a booklet containing measures of motivation, well-being, general health, anxiety, depression, and lifestyle. Results: CFA supported a five-dimensional structure in each domain. Reliability values were also adequate for each questionnaire. Regarding other sources of validity, statistically significant relationships between self-determination, health, and well-being were clearly confirmed, and autonomy was a significant predictor of lifestyle. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the TSRQ showed adequate psychometric properties (dimensionality and internal structure, reliability, and validity evidence regarding its relationships with other constructs) in college students. The Spanish TSRQ will provide future research aimed to understand the motivational role in college students’ health behavior and well-being

Overcoming reading comprehension difficulties through a prosodic reading intervention: A single-case study

Apart from speed and accuracy, prosody has recently been included as another component of skilled reading, as its role in reading comprehension is being increasingly recognized. Prosodic reading refers to the use of prosodic features of language during reading, including suitable pauses, stress and intonation and appropriate phrasing. The aim of this research was to examine the impact of a prosodic reading intervention on the reading comprehension of a fourth-grade primary child with specific reading comprehension difficulties. An AB single-case design was used with baseline (A) and treatment (B) phases. The intervention, in 17 sessions, was based on repeated reading with a focus on expressiveness. Results pointed to improved reading fluency and reading comprehension scores over baseline scores. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to show conclusive evidence for improved comprehension as a result of prosody intervention. The implications of prosodic reading interventions for literacy development are discussed

Intervención psicológica en un caso de asma alérgica

El asma es un problema de salud crónico que afecta entre el 1 y el 30% de los niños. Diversos estudios han puesto de manifiesto que los programas de intervención psicológica resultan efectivos para reducir las crisis asmáticas, en caso de aparición, disminuir la medicación, aumentar el papel activo del cliente, etc. En este trabajo se presenta un programa de intervención psicológica, detallado en sus componentes y sesiones, aplicado a un niño con asma alérgica leve de 10 años de edad. La intervención llevada a cabo se centra en psicoeducación al niño y a los padres sobre la enfermedad, y control emocional asociado a la enfermedad (técnicas de relajación y respiración). Los resultados muestran una reducción de la frecuencia e intensidad de las crisis asmáticas, una disminución de la variabilidad pulmonar, un aumento del flujo de aire máximo espirado tras la aplicación de las técnicas de relajación y respiración, y una adquisición de conductas eficaces para prevenir o controlar la enfermedad por parte del cliente. De igual forma se constata la desaparición de ciertas ideas erroneas sobre la enfermedad. En la discusión se reflexiona sobre estos datos y se discute la utilidad de las intervenciones psicológicas en el asma.ABSTRACT: Asthma is a chronic problem wich affect between 1%-30% of the children. The research have demonstrated that psychological programs are effective to reduce and control asthma attacks, and to learn a well management of medication. This paper presents a psychological intervention in an asthmatic ten-year-old child. The sessions and components of the psychological program appear in detail, and they are based in education about asthma (for parents and child), emotional control (relaxation and breathing techniques), and acquisition of behaviors needed to control and prevent asthma attacks. The results indicate a decline of frecuency and intensity of asthma attacks, an increase of peek flow meter values after application of relaxation and breathing techniques, and acquisition of knowledge about the illness. Finally, it is presented a discussion about the data and about the efficiency of psychological intervention programs in health problemsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Intervención psicológica en un caso de asma alérgica

El asma es un problema de salud crónico que afecta entre el 1 y el 30% de los niños. Diversos estudios han puesto de manifiesto que los programas de intervención psicológica resultan efectivos para reducir las crisis asmáticas, en caso de aparición, disminuir la medicación, aumentar el papel activo del cliente, etc. En este trabajo se presenta un programa de intervención psicológica, detallado en sus componentes y sesiones, aplicado a un niño con asma alérgica leve de 10 años de edad. La intervención llevada a cabo secentra en psicoeducación al niño y a los padres sobre la enfermedad, y control emocional asociado a la enfermedad (técnicas de relajación y respiración).Los resultados muestran una reducción de la frecuencia e intensidad de las crisis asmáticas, una disminución de la variabilidad pulmonar, un aumento del flujo de aire máximo espirado tras la aplicación de lastécnicas de relajación y respiración, y una adquisición de conductas eficaces para prevenir o controlar la enfermedad por parte del cliente. De igual forma se constatal a desaparición de ciertas ideas erroneas sobre la enfermedad. En la discusión se reflexiona sobre estos datos y se discute la utilidad de las intervenciones psicológicas en el asma

Relación entre la depresión infantil y el estilo de respuesta reflexivo-impulsivo

El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar la relación que hay entre la sintomatología depresiva en los niños de entre 10 y 12 años y la incertidumbre con la que se enfrentan a los problemas. Se evaluó del estilo de respuesta reflexivo-impulsiva por medio de la adaptación española del Matching Familiar Figures Test 20 (MFFT-20). Se eligió este estilo de respuesta por haberse demostrado su relación con los cuadros psicopatológicos, como la depresión, y por operativizarse con incertidumbre en las tareas de respuesta. Para evaluar la depresión se utilizó la adaptación española del Inventario de Depresión Infantil, CDI . Los resultados demuestran que hay relación entre la depresión infantil y la incertidumbre al responder a los problemas. Los sujetos depresivos cometen un mayor número de errores en el MFFT-20, aunque la latencia de respuesta no difiere de los que no son depresivos, es decir, que su actuación es más ineficiente.The main purpose of the present study is to analyze the relationship between the depressive symptoms in 10 to 12 years old children and their confrontation of problems with uncertainty in their response. The reflexive-impulsive response style assessment was elaborated with the Spanish adaptation of the Matching Familiar Figures Test 20, MFFT-20. This response style was chosen for its demonstrated relationship with psychopathological problems, such as depression, and because it is to be operationaly defined as the uncertainty when answering tasks. The Spanish adaptation of Child Depression Inventory, CDI was used to evaluate depression. The results demonstrate the relationship between child depression and their uncertainty in the solution of problems. The depressive subjects make more errors in the MFFT-20, although their response latency doesn't differ from that of the non depressive, which means that their performance is more inefficient

Análisis de la interrelación entre alergia y variables psicológicas

La relación entre mente y cuerpo siempre se ha tenido presente tanto en la experiencia cotidiana como en el sentido más puramente científico. La posibilidad de que en el origen de ciertas enfermedades puedan estar implicados factores psicológicos (como el estrés), ha sido demostrada, así como la de que estos mismos aspectos puedan explicar en parte la permanencia o agravamiento de enfermedades como el asma (en cuanto a las crisis), el cáncer y otras. La psiconeuroinmunología se ha interesado por todos estos aspectos que han puesto de manifiesto la existencia de relaciones bidireccionales entre mente y cuerpo, y la utilidad de aplicar estos conocimientos al ámbito de la salud. Entre los estudios realizados en este campo se encuentran aquéllos que tratan de determinar en qué variables psicológicas se diferencian los sujetos que padecen ciertas enfermedades y sobre todo si estas diferencias podrían explicar el desarrollo de la enfermedad, o si se trata más bien de consecuencias que la enfermedad tiene en sí misma y que repercuten en la salud psicológica de los sujetos. En nuestro caso, el estudio aquí presentado no trata de abarcar todo este gran objetivo, sino centrarse en el estudio de las diferencias individuales en lo que a la alergia se refiere. Por tanto, se ha llevado a cabo un estudio con 228 sujetos adultos. Del total muestral 22 son sujetos alérgicos al polen del olivo y 206 no son alérgicos. El objetivo de este estudio cuasi-experimental transversal, es comprobar si existen diferencias entre los grupos (alérgicos frente a no alérgicos) en las puntuaciones obtenidas en diversas pruebas psicológicas que evalúan tres variables psicológicas importantes; ansiedad social, ansiedad general y personalidad. Los resultados apuntan a la existencia de diferencias entre tales grupos en las puntuaciones obtenidas en las escalas que evalúan ansiedad social (temor a la evaluación negativa y evitación y angustia social). Lo mismo ocurre en las puntuaciones obtenidas en ansiedad general, evaluada a través del STAI (mediante sus dos subescalas estado y rasgo), y en las subescalas extroversión y neuroticismo del cuestionario de personalidad de Eysenck (EPQ-A). Finalmente, se concluye que las diferencias encontradas entre los grupos en las dos pruebas (STAI y EPQ-A) se relacionan con componentes de tipo social que deben ser considerados en investigaciones futuras.The relationships between body and mind has always been acknowledged not only in daily life experience but in a most purely scientific way. The possibility that in the origin of certain diseases, psychological factors, such as stress, could be involved, has been demostrated, as well as the fact that psychological variables could explain the permanence of certain diseases such as asthma (concerning asthmatic crisis), cancer and others, or even contribute to worsen theses conditions. Psychoimmunology has been interested in all these aspects, and so, has demonstrated the existence of a two-way relationship between body and mind, and also the usefulness of applying this knowledge to the field of health. Among the studies accomplished in this field are those that try to determine what psychological variables differ in subjects that suffer certain diseases, and most of all if these differences could explain the development of the disease or if they are only a consequence of such disease that affect psychological health. The present study does not intend to encompass this great objective, but rather, is focused on the study of individual differences regarding allergy. Our study was carried out in 228 adult subjects; 22 of them were olive tree pollen allergic and the remaining 206 not allergic. The study was quasi-experimental and transversal and its objective was to prove if there were any differences between groups (allergic as compared to not allergic) in the scores given to various psychological tests that were assessing three psychological variables; Social Anxiety, General Anxiety and Personality. In regard to Social Anxiety, the results indicate that there are differences between groups in scores obtained on the scales that assess it (Fear to Negative Evaluation Scale and Avoid and Social Anxiety Scale). The results for General Anxiety are the same for both scales of STAI and for the subscale Extrovertion and Neuroticism of the Eysenck´s Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-A). Finally, it is concluded that the differences found between groups in the two tests (STAI and EPQ-A) are related to social components that should be considered in future researchs

Moderating Effect of Changes in Perceived Social Support during Pregnancy on the Emotional Health of Mothers and Fathers and on Baby’s Anthropometric Parameters at Birth

(1) Background: this study is based on a model of how changes in protective factors may affect the emotional health of mothers and fathers and thus influence the development of the baby. Our research goal is to determine whether variations in perceived social support moderate levels of stress and depression during pregnancy and/or the effect of parents’ emotional health on the baby’s anthropometric parameters. (2) Methods: to achieve these aims, a longitudinal study was made of 132 couples and babies, who were evaluated at weeks 12 and 32 of gestation and at birth. Separate analyses were performed for the mothers and fathers, focused on the role of social support in moderating their levels of depression and stress during pregnancy, and the consequent impact on the baby. (3) Results: the results obtained show the moderating effects of changes in social support on maternal and paternal stress and depression. Reduced social support during pregnancy is associated with higher levels of stress and depression in both parents and with a high cephalisation index in their babies. (4) Conclusions: special attention should be paid to social support, which can have a strong impact on the evolution of emotional health during pregnancy and concomitantly on the development of the baby.University of Granada (Spain)Andalusian Public Foundation for Biosanitary Research Eastern Andalusia (Spain)Regional Ministry of Health within Junta de Andalucia (Spain) PC-0526-2016-052

Psychological distress and resilience of mothers and fathers with respect to the neurobehavioral performance of small-forgestational- age newborns

The existence of psychological distress (PD) during pregnancy is well established. Nevertheless, few studies have analyzed the PD and resilience of mothers and fathers during high-risk pregnancy. This study analyzes the differences between parents’ PD and resilience and the relation between them and the neurobehavioral performance of their SGA newborns. Multivariate analysis of variance showed, in gender comparisons, that mothers obtained higher scores than fathers for psychological distress but lower ones for resilience. Similar differences were obtained in the comparison of parents’ distress to intrauterine growth by SGA vs. AGA newborns. Mothers of SGA newborns were more distressed than the other groups. However, there were no differences between the fathers of SGA vs. AGA newborns. Regarding neurobehavioral performance, the profiles of SGA newborns reflected a lower degree of maturity than those of AGA newborns. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that high stress and low resilience among mothers partially predict low neurobehavioral performance in SGA newborns. These findings indicate that mothers of SGA newborns may need psychological support to relieve stress and improve their resilience. Furthermore, attention should be paid to the neurobehavioral performance of their babies in case early attention is neededThis study was supported by University of Granada (Spain), Andalusian Public Foundation for Biosanitary Research Eastern Andalusia (Spain), and Ministry of Health, Junta de Andalucía (Spain) Award Number: PC-0526-2016-0526

Evaluación de las creencias de "Sentido común" sobre la enfermedad: creación de la escala sobre la Representación cognitiva de la enfermedad, ERCE

Tesis Univ. Granada. Departamento de Psicología Social y Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento. Leída el 15 de diciembre de 200

Influence of Depression and Anxiety on Hemodialysis Patients: The Value of Multidisciplinary Care

Affective disorders promote poorer outcomes in hemodialysis patients. According to the presence or not of depression/anxiety in these patients, aims were to analyze differences in sociodemographic, clinical and/or psychological factors and to identify predictors. One hundred eighty-six hemodialysis patients were classified based on their depression/anxiety status. Basal characteristics showed differences between groups where mainly male sex (Depression: OR 0.2; Anxiety: OR 0.3) albumin (Depression: OR 0.1; Anxiety: OR 0.2) and calcium levels (Depression: OR 0.5; Anxiety: OR 0.4), impaired quality of life (Depression: OR 1.4; Anxiety: OR 1.2) and psychological inflexibility (Depression: OR 1.3; Anxiety: OR 1.2) were associated (all p < 0.01) to these mental conditions. Multivariate models showed that worse quality of life (OR 1.3; p < 0.001) predicted depression while marital status (with a partner; OR 0.3; p = 0.025) and albumin levels (OR 0.1; p = 0.027) were protective factors. Depression represented a risk factor for anxiety (OR 1.2; p = 0.001), although calcium levels (OR 0.5; p = 0.039) would protect this state. Interestingly, psychological inflexibility predicted both disorders (Depression: OR 1.2, p < 0.001 and Anxiety: OR 1.1; p = 0.002). Results highlight the relevance of well-trained multidisciplinary hemodialysis units to control the influence of these factors on the presence of depression/anxiety, and thus, their impact on the patients’ outcomes