ABSTRACT
Resumen Los objetivos de este estudio fueron, comparar las funciones ejecutivas (atención, flexibilidad, control inhibitorio, planificación y memoria de trabajo) de niños preescolares con y sin trastorno del lenguaje y definir un perfil de funciones ejecutivas. El diseño es no experimental con propósitos descriptivos/comparativos. La muestra estuvo conformada por 105 niños. El grupo con trastorno del lenguaje estaba compuesto por 31 niños y 19 niñas, edad promedio 4.68 años, de Escuelas Especiales de Lenguaje. El grupo sin trastorno del lenguaje estaba compuesto por 15 niños y 24 niñas, edad promedio 4.98 años, de Escuelas Públicas de la ciudad de Concepción en Chile. Los resultados muestran que hay evidencia estadísticamente significativa para declarar que los puntajes obtenidos por niños/as con trastorno del lenguaje son inferiores a sus pares sin trastorno del lenguaje en todas las funciones ejecutivas evaluadas, lo que respalda la literatura vigente sobre el tema. En cuanto al perfil de funciones ejecutivas, la función que podría predecir la presencia de trastorno del lenguaje en un preescolar es la función ejecutiva de planificación. Resulta de interés seguir profundizando el perfil de funciones ejecutivas en niños con trastorno del lenguaje y su relación específica con los problemas lingüísticos que estos niños/as presentan.
Abstract The objectives of this study were to compare the executive functions (attention, flexibility, inhibitory control, planning and working memory) of preschool children with and without language disorder and to define a profile of executive functions. The design is non-experimental for descriptive/comparative purposes. The sample consisted of 105 children. The group with language disorder was composed of 31 children and 19 girls, average age 4.68 years, of Special Language Schools. The group without language disorder was composed of 15 children and 24 girls, average age 4.98 years, of Public Schools of the city of Concepcion in Chile. The results show that there is statistically significant evidence to state that the scores obtained by children with language disorders are lower than their peers without language disorder in all the executive functions evaluated, which supports the current literature on the subject. Regarding the profile of executive functions, the function that could predict the presence of language disorder in a preschool is the executive planning function. It is interesting to continue deepening the profile of executive functions in children with language disorder and their specific relationship with the linguistic problems that these children have.
ABSTRACT
Background: Family behavior models may influence health promoting conducts among adolescents. Aim: To determine the association between health promoting behaviors among parents and healthy behaviors of early adolescents. Material and Methods: Analysis of the baseline assessment of a longitudinal study of early adolescents in the city of San Felipe, Region of Valparaiso, Chile. Parents and their teenage children, attending 5th to 7th grade, from ten municipal schools, participated in this study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess healthy lifestyles, answered separately by parents and their children. Univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses with complete data were carried out, using the students health promoting behaviors as dependent variables and the same behaviors among parents as the main predictors, controlling for other personal and family variables. Results: We contacted 1,035 parents and 682 consented to participate along with 560 students. The mean age of adolescents was 11.5 ± 1.2 years (49% females) The mean age of parents was 39.8 ± 8.8 years and 90% were women. The parental behaviors associated with teenage health promoting behaviors were eating vegetables (odds ratio (OR) = 1.22, p < 0.05), having breakfast (OR = 1.27, p < 0.05), do stretching exercises every day (OR = 1.19, p < 0.05) and take some time for relaxation (OR = 1.24, p < 0.05). Conclusions: These results show an association between healthy behaviors among parents and these behaviors among their adolescent offspring.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Adolescent , Parent-Child Relations , Parents/psychology , Health Behavior , Adolescent Behavior/psychology , Healthy Lifestyle , Health Promotion , Chile , Longitudinal StudiesABSTRACT
Background: Smoking and alcohol use are risky behaviors that can start early in life. Aim: To determine the lifetime prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use in adolescents aged 10 to 14 years and related factors. Subjects and Methods: A survey about smoking and alcohol use was answered by 1,392 teenagers aged 10 to 14 years (46% women) from seven schools in a small city near Santiago. Personal, family, and school factors were evaluated through self-report scales. Smoking and alcohol use, as dichotomous dependent variables, were defined as having consumed any of these substances throughout life. Prevalence was calculated as percentages with 95% confidence intervals. Association analyses were conducted using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Six and eleven percent of participants reported having smoked and used alcohol in their life, respectively. Smoking was associated with age, having behavioral problems, mothers smoking, perceiving that parents had drug problems, and not living with both parents. Alcohol use was mainly associated with age, having behavioral problems, perceiving that other students consumed drugs, alcohol use by both parents, and perceiving a lack of family support. Conclusions: Tobacco and alcohol use is highly prevalent in adolescents aged 10-14 years. There were common risk factors for smoking and alcohol use such as age and having behavioral problems, while other factors were more specific such as mothers smoking, or parental alcohol use.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child , Adolescent , Smoking/epidemiology , Alcoholism/epidemiology , Risk-Taking , Socioeconomic Factors , Students/statistics & numerical data , Chile/epidemiology , Sex Factors , Epidemiologic Methods , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Age Factors , Alcoholism/etiologyABSTRACT
Background: Health-promoting behaviors are important to prevent diseases and prolong life in the population. People develop these behaviors throughout life. However, better benefits for health are obtained with an early development. Aim: To determine the prevalence of health-promoting behaviors among early adolescents and its associated factors. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional survey performed in 1,465 students of high, medium and low socio-economic status, attending fifth to eighth grades of schools located in a small Chilean city. Participants answered a questionnaire that gathered information about frequency of health-promoting behaviors such as health responsibility and nutrition, physical exercise and stress management, life appreciation, social support and different personal, school and familial factors. Results: A higher frequency of health-promoting behaviors was associated with better academic achievement, better school commitment, and higher perception of school membership. It also was associated with a better perception of health status and a higher conformity with physical appearance. Conclusions: Health promoting behaviors in these children are related to a better academic achievement and a higher integration with school environment.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Female , Humans , Male , Adolescent Behavior , Health Behavior , Students , Chile , Cross-Sectional Studies , Population Surveillance , Surveys and Questionnaires , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
Background: Memory is affected differently with the passage of time; specifically, episodic memory presents a clear decline. There is a relationship of this memory impairment and degenerative and psychiatric diseases. Aim: To determine the reliability and validity of the University of Southern California Repeatable Episodic Memory Test (USC-REMT) in a sample of Chilean adults. Material and Methods: The instrument was administered to 178 subjects living in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago. The sessions were individual, during the morning, lasting approximately 15 minutes. Results: The ANOVA indicates that subjects over 61 years old had lower scores in the test than their younger counterparts. There was an inverse correlation between age and success in "Free recall" (r =- 0.570), "Recognition indicating yes-no" (r = -0.412) and "forced-choice recognition" (r =- 0.371). Regression analysis showed that age explained 32.1 percent "free recall" variance. The three components were grouped into a single factor. Conclusions: The USC-REMT meets the criteria for validity and reliability to be applied for clinical and research purposes.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Memory Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Recall/physiology , Neuropsychological Tests , Recognition, Psychology/physiology , Age Distribution , Memory Disorders/physiopathology , Reproducibility of Results , Sex DistributionABSTRACT
Background: Self-esteem is positively associated to the well being of people and could be a good mental health indicator. Aim: To determine the reliability and validity of the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale in a Chilean adult sample. Material and methods: The instrument was applied to 473 subjects living in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, evenly distributed according to gender, age, educational level and income. The Neugarten Life Satisfaction index (LSI-A) was also applied to the sample. Results: Cronbach's alpha for reliability of the scale was 0.754. There was no gender bias and factor analysis grouped items into two factors (5positive and 5 negative). The instrument had a correlation of 0.455 with the LSI-A. Conclusions: The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale meets the criteria for validity and reliability of a quality instrument to measure self-esteem in Chile.