Problemas de salud mental en universitarios durante la pandemia por COVID-19: ¿qué tipo de ayuda buscan? / Mental health problems in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: What kind of help do they seek?

Introducción: La pandemia por COVID-19 ha tenido un impacto negativo en el bienestar psicológico de la población, siendo los jóvenes un grupo especialmente vulnerable. Objetivo: El presente estudio se propuso examinar los niveles de búsqueda de ayuda (formal e informal) para problemas en salud mental y sus variables asociadas en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios de la Región de La Araucanía, en el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19. Método: A través de un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia, se reclutó a 500 estudiantes de entre 18 y 29 años. Se describió y comparó su nivel de búsqueda de ayuda, así como variables que podrían obstaculizarla o facilitarla, según género. Adicionalmente, se estimaron modelos de regresión lineal múltiple diferenciados por género, con la búsqueda de ayuda informal como variable criterio. Resultados: Se evidenció una renuencia general a buscar ayuda (formal e informal) tanto en hombres como mujeres, una mayor experimentación de malestar psicológico y mayor conocimiento sobre salud mental en mujeres. Finalmente, se observaron diferencias en los predictores de la búsqueda de ayuda informal entre hombres y mujeres, siendo el apoyo social y las emociones negativas en pandemia los únicos comunes entre géneros. Conclusión: Se discuten los bajos niveles de búsqueda de ayuda evidenciados, y las diferencias observadas en variables asociadas, en función de la brecha de género en salud mental.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the psychological well-being of the population, with young people being a particularly vulnerable group. Aim: The present study examines help-seeking intention for mental health problems and associated variables among male and female university students in La Araucanía Region during the COVI-19 pandemic. Method: A sample of 500 students aged 18 to 29 was recruited through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Help-seeking levels and facilitating or hindering variables were compared by gender. Multiple linear regression models were estimated separately by gender to predict the criterion variable of informal help-seeking. Results: The results indicate that both men and women are reluctant to seek help (formal and informal). Women reported higher levels of psychological distress and greater knowledge about mental health than men. Differences in predictors of informal help-seeking between men and women are evidenced, with social support and negative emotions in pandemic being the only common predictors between genders. Conclusion: The low levels of help-seeking evidenced, and the differences observed in associated variables based on the gender gap in mental health, are discussed.

Factores de riesgo cardiometabólico y funcionamiento cognitivo: el rol de la reserva cognitiva / Association between cardiometabolic risk and cognitive impairment

Background: Several risk factors are associated with cognitive impairment in older people, but little attention has been paid to cardiometabolic variables, as well as how cognitive reserve can mediate this association. Aim: To determine the association of cardiometabolic risk factors with cognitive functioning and whether the cognitive reserve mediates this association. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study with 300 participants with a median age of 56 years (53% male) was conducted. Participants had a cognitive functioning assessment. Fasting glucose, HDL-cholesterol, and blood pressure were measured. Results: A Structural Equation Modeling, revealed a direct effect of cardiometabolic latent risk factors on both a cognitive functioning (β = -.204; p = .056), and cognitive reserve factors (β = -.236, p = .04). Cognitive reserve was directly associated with cognitive functioning (β = .327, p = .01), but did not mediate the association between the cardiometabolic risk factors and cognitive functioning (β = .077, p = .07). The overall goodness of fitness was excellent χ2 (50) = 58.357, p = .195, comparative fit index = .980, Tucker-Lewis Index = .974, root mean square error of approximation = .023 and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = .041. Conclusions: A direct effect of cardiometabolic risk factors on cognitive functioning was observed.

Evaluación de funcionamiento cognitivo en adultos: Análisis y contrastación de tres de los instrumentos de mayor divulgación en Chile / Psychometric properties of three instruments to detect dementia

Background Several instruments are available to measure cognitive functioning in older adults. However, there is paucity of information about their factorial structure and psychometric properties. Aim To determine the factorial structure and the internal reliability of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Adenbrookke´s Cognitive Examination (ACE-R), and their cognitive impairment detection capabilities. Material and Methods MMSE, MoCA and ACE-R were applied to 203 older adults aged 54 to 88 years (77% women), excluding participants with dementia. Results The factorial structure of the MMSE suggested that items referred to memory process should be eliminated due to their low reliability and factor loading (b = 0.12; p = 0.146). Although the MoCA had a good reliability, object denomination process items also had to be dropped (b = 0.22; p = 0.003). The ACE-R demonstrated a single factorial structure for all cognitive processes and had a good internal consistency. MMSE, MoCA and ACE-R classified as having dementia 5, 27 and 42% of participants, respectively. Conclusions MoCA and the ACE-R scales appear as better instruments to detect dementia in older people.

Funcionamiento cognitivo en adultos mayores: rol de la reserva cognitiva, apoyo social y depresión / Cognitive reserve, depression and social support. Analysis of 206 older adults

Background: Cognitive reserve (CR) is a protective factor in aging. Depression and perceived social support are associated with cognitive performance in older adults. However, their role in the relationship between CR and cognitive functioning is less clear. Aim: To determine the relationship between CR and cognitive functioning and whether this relationship is mediated by depression and moderated by social support. Material and Methods: CR, depression, perceived social support, and cognitive functioning scales were applied to a convenience sample of 206 older adults, aged 69 ± 1 years (77% women). Structural equation analysis and moderate mediation analysis were performed. Results: There was a direct effect of CR in cognitive functioning (β = 0.223, p = 0.005), which was not mediated by depression (β = 0.040, p = 0.096). High CR scores were associated with lower depression scores (β = −0.203, p = 0.002). Higher depression scores were associated with worse cognitive functioning (β = −0.168, p = 0.040). The effect of CR on depression was moderated by social support (β = −0.161, p = 0.032) controlling for income and age. Conclusions: The relationship between CR and cognition in older adults allows an early assessment of cognitive dysfunction risk. Depression is an independent risk factor for cognitive functioning. Social support protects individuals with high CR from developing depression.

Propiedades psicométricas de la escala de negatividad social de Newsom en universitarios chilenos / Psychometric properties of Newson´s social negativity exchange scale in a Chilean college age students

El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Negatividad Social de Newsom, la cual mide el efecto negativo de las interacciones sociales en el bienestar individual. Para ello, se seleccionó a 526 universitarios, realizando análisis factorial exploratorio con 50% de la muestra y análisis factorial confirmatorio con el restante 50%. A diferencia de la estructura de cuatro factores sugerida por los autores, los resultados de este estudio indican que la escala tiene una estructura factorial de dos factores, agrupando el primer factor 4 ítems y el segundo 8. Las cargas factoriales fueron superiores a 0,3 y se obtuvieron buenos indicadores de bondad de ajuste. La consistencia interna de la escala, medida con Alfa de Cronbach fue 0,86. La evidencia sugiere que la Escala de Negatividad Social de Newsom es un instrumento válido y confiable que puede ser utilizado en población Chilena.

The purpose of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Social Negativity Exchange Scale developed by Newsom et al, which is defined as the negative effect that social interactions have on individual wellbeing. Thus, a sample of five hundred and twenty two (n= 526) college-age students was non-randomly selected. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted with 50% of them, and then a confirmatory factor analysis with the others. A two-factor solution was identified, with the first factor grouping four items and the second factor eight items. Fit indexes were good, with factorial loadings greater than .3. the total scale reliability was .86. The evidence obtained in this study suggests that the Newsom´s Social Negativity Exchange Scale is a valid and reliable scale to be used with Chilean population.

Factores de riesgo y precursores del deterioro cognitivo leve (DCL): una mirada sinóptica / Anticipatory signs and risk factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a synoptic view

Este artículo presenta una breve reseña sobre el Deterioro cognitivo leve en adultos mayores, considerando los principales precursores que anuncian, y los factores de riesgo que aceleran los procesos de envejecimiento cognitivo, los cuales aumentan la probabilidad de recibir un diagnóstico de DCL. A su vez, la presencia de DCL aumenta el riesgo y eventual tránsito hacia la demencia, especialmente la demencia de tipo Alzheimer por otra parte, en el artículo se describen las diferentes modalidades de presentación del deterioro cognitivo, revisando también el DCL asociado a la sintomatología depresiva, a la enfermedad de Parkinson y otras enfermedades degenerativas del SNC. La presente revisión, permite dar cuenta de hallazgos recientes y relevantes con relación a la disfunción cognitiva en adultos mayores, quienes representan una proporción cada vez mayor de la población nacional y mundial.

This article presents a brief overview of mild cognitive impairment in older adults, considering its main anticipating precursors, and the risk factors that may accelerate the processes of cognitive aging, which increases the likelihood of being diagnosed with MCI. In turn, the presence of MCL increases the risk and eventual transition to dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s dementia. Moreover, the article describes the different forms cognitive impairment may present itself, and also reviews MCI associated with depressive symptoms, Parkinson’s disease and other degenerative diseases of the CNS. This revision accounts for recent and relevant findings regarding cognitive dysfunction in the elderly, who represent a growing share of national and global populations.