Enhancing students' well-being with a unified approach based on contextual behavioural science: A randomised experimental school-based intervention

A new generation of interventions has begun to move towards principles of acceptance that deal with the context and function of psychological events. The aim of this paper is to analyse the effectiveness of a brief contextual behavioural intervention to improve the psychological well-being of secondary school students. This intervention represents a unified model with key processes based on contextual behavioural science, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP). We conducted an intervention with 94 students (age range 17–19 years), randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 50) or control group (n = 44). Participants took a pretest and post-test of distress, life satisfaction, psychological flexibility and mindfulness. The intervention consisted of three sessions of 1 h each. The results showed significant differences between the groups in distress and significant differences for the interaction (group × pre–post) in all the other variables. The intervention had greater benefits for girls than for boys. These results may provide a breakthrough, thus leading to a process of evidence-based therapies, which would be responsible for inducing psychological improvements in brief periods, in a population with an increasing risk of distress.This study was carried out in Marbella (Spain), did not receive funding and was self-financed. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA

NO NORMALIDAD Y HETEROGENEIDAD DE VARIANZA EN EL MODELO LINEALMIXTO (MLM) EN DISEÑOS SPLIT-PLOTCON MUESTRAS PEQUEÑAS

Los datos provenientes de investigaciones de tipo longitudinal en psicología suelen reflejar condiciones características de este ámbito de estudio, como son los tamaños muestrales reducidos, distribuciones no normales, violaciones de los supuestos de esfericidad y homogeneidad de varianza. Actualmente, el modelo lineal mixto (MLM) es uno de los procedimientos más recomendados cuando los supuestos en los que se basan los procedimientos tradicionales no se cumplen. Cuando los tamaños muestrales son reducidos se suele utilizar algún procedimiento de ajuste de los grados de libertad que mejore las propiedades del MLM, como el propuesto por Kenward y Roger (KR; 1997). El objetivo de este estudio fue ampliar el estudio realizado por Arnau et al. (2011) evaluando la robustez de KR con diseños split-plot de muestras pequeñas ante violaciones de la normalidad en diferente grado en los distintos grupos, violaciones de la esfericidad y de la homogeneidad de varianza. Se realiza un estudio de simulación Monte Carlo considerando un diseño split-plot con 3 grupos y 4 ocasiones de medidas repetidas, con tamaños muestrales totales de 36 y 42 individuos, asumiendo una matriz de covarianza no estructurada en la generación de datos. Se han manipulado las siguientes condiciones: a) con grupos balanceados y no balanceados; b) homogeneidad y heterogeneidad de la matriz de covarianza; c) emparejamiento nulo, positivo o negativo entre el tamaño de grupo y la matriz de covarianza y d) esfericidad de 0,57 ó 0,75. Los resultados muestran que KR es robusto cuando los diseños son equilibrados, independientemente de la violación de los supuestos de esfericidad y/o de homogeneidad de varianza. Sin embargo, cuando los diseños no son equilibrados, se halla una tendencia a la liberalidad, especialmente cuando el emparejamiento de las matrices de covarianza y el tamaño de los grupos es negativo. Los resultados de este estudio van en la línea con los obtenidos en estudios previos.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Proyecto de Investigación PSI2012-32662 Ministerio Economía y Competitividad

Life satisfaction and the mediating role of character strengths and gains in informal caregivers

Introduction: Being an informal caregiver can have both negative and positive consequences for well-being. Within the framework of he stress process model, few studies have examined values and perceived gains of caregiving as mediating variables of life satisfaction. Aim: To explore the role of character strengths and perceived gains as mediators in the association between life satisfaction and primary and secondary stressors in informal caregivers of persons with dementia. Method: Participants were 112 informal caregivers. Hierarchical regression, correlation and mediation analyses were performed. Results: Lower life satisfaction was associated with being female, unmarried, caring for someone with greater cognitive impairment, a higher level of stress, having restricted leisure time and perceiving financial difficulties. Hope mediated the associations between perceived stress and both life satisfaction and perceived gains of caregiving. Discussion: Hope is a key strength and its lack is one pathway through which stress may cause low satisfaction and low perceived gains from caregiving. Implications for practice: Without hope, it is difficult for caregivers to generate goals and be motivated to achieve them. Nursing and care staff should aim to promote a sense of purpose and achievement among informal caregivers so as to foster a more positive caring experience

Lecciones aprendidas a partir de los cursos de formación de profesorado de la Universidad de Málaga para una mejor gestión de la docencia de los TFG

Introducción y Objetivos: En la mayoría de las titulaciones de la Universidad de Málaga (UMA) el presente curso (2014-2015) es el segundo en el que se oferta la asignatura Trabajo Fin de Grado (TFG). Por ello, todavía son muchos los profesores que imparten esta asignatura por primera vez y sienten cierta incertidumbre con respecto a las responsabilidades que asumen y cómo deben abordarlas. Anticipándose a esto, en el Plan de Formación de PDI de la UMA se oferta desde el curso académico 2012-2013, un curso específico para el profesorado, centrado en la evaluación, tutorización y normativa de los TFG. Doscientos once profesores han participado ya en las cuatro ediciones de este curso. El objetivo general del presente trabajo es recoger y analizar los resultados de aprendizaje y opiniones de los profesores en relación a estos aspectos de la docencia de los TFG y al curso en general, con el fin de mejorarla. Método: Los datos para este análisis se han recogido a través de tareas, cuestionarios y talleres que han desarrollado los participantes. Resultados: Los resultados muestran un elevado grado de satisfacción con este tipo de actividad de formación para el PDI, y han puesto de manifiesto diferencias entre titulaciones y centros en relación al papel del tutor en la evaluación de los estudiantes, procedimientos de evaluación y tutorización, y normativas, que pueden tener influencia en el proceso y en los resultados de dicha evaluación. Conclusiones: Este tipo de iniciativas de formación docente deben considerarse como herramientas de mejora de la calidad docente de la UMA, que pueden ser aplicables a otras instituciones universitarias.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Assessment of hormonal parameters in long-term karate Practitioners

Introduction: Karate is a Japanese martial art which is widely practiced in the Western world as a form of self-defense, as well as a discipline to achieve physical and mental balance.However, little is known with respect to its specific psychobiological effects, particularly in relation to the influence that karate may exert on the endocrine system. Thus, in the present study we analyzed the effects of regular karate practice on several hormonal parameters. Methods: 27 healthy volunteer subjects participated in the study, of whom 15 were allocated to the experimental group, and 12 were assigned to the control group. Experimental subjects were karate players with a minimum of 3 years of practice in this discipline. Blood samples for the quantification of hormonal parameters (TSH, T3, T4, PTH, ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA) were taken in both groups. To compare the means of the control and experimental group, a t-test for independent groups was performed in each dependent variable. Results: Significant differences between the experimental and control group were found in T3, T4, and cortisol, with karate players showing lower blood levels of these hormones than control. Conclusions: These findings reveal that long-term karate practice is associated to a significant endocrine modulation, which suggests interesting psychobiological implications, and lends itself to potential clinical considerations. Further research is needed to properly assess the scope of the peculiar hormonal profile displayed by advanced karate practitioners.Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Immune modulation after long-term karate practice

Introduction: Karate is a Japanese martial arts system which traces its roots back to China, and is nowadays widely popular both as a method of self-defense, as well as a discipline with potential physical and psychological benefits. However, karate has been scarcely investigated from a psychobiological perspective, and its effects on the immune system remain virtually unknown. Therefore, we designed the present study with the aim of analyzing the effects of several years of regular karate practice on different immune parameters. Methods: 27 healthy volunteer subjects participated in the study, 15 being allocated to the experimental group, and 12 to the control group. Experimental subjects were all karate players who had practiced this martial art for a minimum of three years. Blood samples for the quantification of immune parameters (leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE) were taken in both groups. As statistical analysis, a t-test for independent groups was performed in each dependent variable. Results: Compared to the control group, karate practitioners exhibited a significantly higher number of leukocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes, as well as greater serum concentrations of IgG and IgM. Conclusions: Our findings show that long-term karate practice is related to a broad modulation of immune parameters, including leukocytes counts as well as immunoglobulin concentrations. This peculiar immunomodulatory profile, apart from its psychobiological relevance, may have noteworthy clinical implications. Further investigation would be necessary to fully elucidate the influence that long-term karate training can exert on the immune system.Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

BCI-Controlled Wheelchair; Audio-Cue Motor Imagery-Based Paradigm

In this study we present a control paradigm that enables subjects to drive a real wheelchair using four navigation commands. The control is achieved through the discrimination of two mental tasks (relaxed state versus one active Motor imaagery task), in order to reduce the risk of misclassification. After a short training, the paradigm becomes only audio-cued, thus avoiding the need of a graphical interface that could distract subjects’ attention.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Problemas socioemocionales asociados al afrontamiento improductivo en adolescentes

Los adolescentes están frecuentemente expuestos a estresores cotidianos, siendo los esfuerzos que despliegan para resolver estos estresores lo que se denomina afrontamiento. El afrontamiento implica acciones individuales e intencionales ante situaciones estresantes con el fin de recobrar el equilibrio. Frydenberg y Lewis (1991) desarrollan una tipología formada por tres estilos de afrontamiento empleados por los adolescentes, representando aspectos funcionales y disfuncionales: centrado en la resolución del problema, afrontamiento en referencia a otros y afrontamiento improductivo. Este último constituye una combinación de estrategias que muestran incapacidad para solucionar los problemas (e.g., preocuparse, ignorar el problema, reservarlo para sí, autoinculparse, etc.), asociándose a consecuencias emocionales negativas. El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar la relación entre el estilo de afrontamiento improductivo y problemas socioemocionales (estresores percibidos, manifestaciones o respuestas de estrés, sintomatología internalizada/externalizada y agresividad) en estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria. La muestra ha estado compuesta por 652 adolescentes con edades comprendidas entre 12 y 14 años (M = 12.87, DT = 0.74), procedentes de diversos centros educativos de Málaga ubicados en zonas de nivel socioeconómico medio. Se han calculado las correlaciones entre las puntuaciones en afrontamiento improductivo y en los diversos indicadores de problemas socioemocionales. Los resultados muestran correlaciones más altas entre el afrontamiento improductivo y las medidas de estresores percibidos, manifestaciones de estrés y sintomatología internalizada. Estos resultados destacan la importancia de implementar programas para la mejora del afrontamiento en adolescentes, preferentemente integrados dentro del Proyecto Educativo de Centro.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

New Evidence for the Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Gain in Alzheimer Care Instrument

The aim was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Gain in Alzheimer Care Instrument (GAIN), providing validity evidence based on its internal structure, reliability, item analysis, and relationships with other variables. A sample of 113 informal caregivers of people with dementia completed the GAIN, along with questionnaires assessing burden, general mental health, stress, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a single-factor structure with adequate fit indices. Reliability of GAIN scores was satisfactory, with McDonald’s omega equal to .91. Items yielded adequate homogeneity indices. Validity evidence based on relationships with other variables was provided by positive correlations between GAIN scores and life satisfaction, and negative correlations with burden, general mental health problems, stress, anxiety, and depression. All these correlations were statistically significant, and most of them were of moderate magnitude. The Spanish version of the GAIN has a single-factor structure and satisfactory psychometric properties. It is quick and easy to apply and given the association between GAIN scores and other variables, it may be used to provide information about a caregiver’s psychological health status.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga

Estresores adolescentes: Desarrollo de la versión española del Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ-S)

El propósito del presente trabajo es estudiar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española del Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ-S) para evaluar los estresores contemporáneos que experimenta la población adolescente entre 12 y 18 años.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech