Propuesta de valores de referencia para la Escala de Dificultades de Regulación Emocional (DERS-E) en población adulta chilena / Cut-off points of the difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale for the Chilean population

Background: There are no reference values for the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-E) for the Chilean population. Aim: To elaborate reference values for the interpretation of the DERS-E for the Chilean population. Material and Methods: The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale was answered by participants from the general population (1,153 heterosexual men and women and 467 gay and lesbian individuals) and a group of 351 participants with emotional complaints. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to obtain the reference values. A concordance index was determined, and the odds ratio was calculated to evaluate the probability of having mental health problems comparing participants with emotional complaints with those from the general population. Results: The DERS-E cut-off score was 73 points for the Chilean population. No differences were detected for emotional regulation difficulties between men and women or by sexual orientation. Age had a weak association with emotional regulation difficulties. Conclusions: DERS-E has an adequate diagnostic capacity, allowing to differentiate between those who have high or low emotional regulation difficulties.

New approaches to maximization: evidence of correlations with malaise and well-being in the chilean adult population / Nuevos enfoques de maximización: evidencia de correlaciones con malestar y bienestar en población chilena adulta

Abstract There is a lack of theoretical consensus about the decision-making process and particularly regarding the maximization construct. Recently, two conceptual approaches to maximization and their respective instruments were proposed. The first defines maximization as consisting of two dimensions, goal and strategy. The second differentiates between the two types of maximization according to the way an individual makes decisions, one is resolute and the other is fearful. Regarding the first approach, empirical goal and strategy relationships with emotional consequences on well-being and discomfort are unknown while deciding, while it is doubt whether the distinction proposed in the second approach also applies to the adult population and in contexts different from the European one. Empirical associations are evaluated here for each approach regarding indicators of malaise and well-being through a set of hypotheses. A sample of 624 Chilean adults of both sexes (20 to 70 years old) answered eight instruments on maximization, its components and types, and well-being and malaise. The results for both approaches show greater associations with rates of malaise than well-being. The results for the first approach show a more intense association with indices of malaise and well-being for strategy than goal. In the second approach, these associations are stronger and greater for fearful maximization than for resolute. The results contribute by increasing the understanding of the maximization construct by simultaneously showing that the increment in the strategy search for alternatives and the fearful style of maximization are directly associated with difficulty in deciding and regret.

Resumen Existe carencia de consenso teórico acerca del proceso de tomar decisiones y particularmente respecto del constructo maximización. Recientemente, se propuso dos enfoques conceptuales sobre maximización y sus respectivos instrumentos de evaluación. El primero considera que el concepto de maximización está constituido por dos dimensiones, meta y estrategia. El segundo diferencia entre dos tipos de maximización según el modo de decidir de un individuo, uno resuelto y otro temeroso. Respecto del primer enfoque se desconocen eventuales relaciones empíricas de meta y estrategia con consecuencias emocionales sobre el bienestar y malestar mientras se decide, mientras existe la duda si la distinción propuesta en el segundo enfoque se aplica también a población de adultos y en contextos diferentes al europeo. En el presente trabajo son evaluadas asociaciones empíricas para cada enfoque respecto de indicadores de malestar y bienestar mediante un conjunto de hipótesis. Una muestra de 624 adultos chilenos de ambos sexos (20 a 70 años) respondió ocho instrumentos sobre maximización, sus componentes y sus tipos, y su bienestar y malestar. Los resultados para ambos enfoques muestran asociaciones mayores con índices de malestar que de bienestar. Los resultados para el primer enfoque muestran asociación con índices de malestar y bienestar más intensos para la dimensión de estrategia que la de meta. En el segundo enfoque estas asociaciones son fuertes y mayores para el tipo de maximización temerosa que para resuelta. Los resultados contribuyen a incrementar la comprensión del constructo de maximización, al mostrar simultáneamente que el aumento en la estrategia de búsqueda de alternativas y el estilo temeroso de maximización, se asocian directamente con dificultad para decidir y con experimentar pesar.

Hacia la validación del SUSESO ISTAS 21 versión breve en trabajadores de hospitales públicos / Towards the validation of the SUSESO ISTAS 21 short version in workers of public hospitals

Resumen La mitad de la población mundial son trabajadores, por lo que invertir en políticas de salud hacia ellos es muy relevante. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (oms) insta a los estados miembros a generar planes de salud ocupacional evaluables para promover el bienestar de los trabajadores, para lo cual se requiere contar con instrumentos adecuados. Se estudian aquí propiedades psicométricas del instrumento para evaluar riesgo psicosocial SUSESO-ISTAS 21 versión breve (20 ítems), aplicado a 341 trabajadores hospitalarios (región del Maule, Chile), conjuntamente con la DASS21 (Depresión, Ansiedad y Estrés). La confiabilidad general es adecuada, reafirmando informes previos. Respecto de validez, cuatro de las cinco dimensiones de la versión breve no alcanzan valores psicométricos adecuados, no confirmándose la estructura factorial teorizada. Se obtiene apoyo a la validez convergente con DASS21. Se discute y propone acerca de lo psicométrico y sus usos eventuales.

Abstract Workers represent half of the world's population, so investing in public health policies aimed at them has enormous importance. The World Health Organization (who) urges member states to generate assessable occupational health plans that promote their wellbeing. The study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of ISTAS-SUSESO 21 short version (20 items), which is an instrument for assessing psychosocial risk developed for Chile. We performed reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation model and convergent validity analysis with the DASS21 Scale (Depression, Anxiety and Stress) using a sample of 341 hospital employees in the region of Maule (Chile). Overall reliability is adequate, reaffirming previous reports. Regarding validity, four of five dimensions of the short version does not reach adequate psychometric values, and theorized factorial structure is not confirmed. We found support for convergent validity with DASS 21, and discussed the psychometric and its possible uses.

Escala de felicidad para adultos (EFPA) / Happines scale for adults (EFPA)

Estudiar la felicidad psicométricamente es reciente, y los escasos instrumentos disponibles son de raíz inglesa. Felicidad es un concepto no consensuado aún, típicamente medido como unidimensional, mediante pocos ítems directos, y generalmente sin especificarse qué lo constituye. En el Estudio 1 y basados en un concepto pentadimensional y emic de felicidad, fue construida una escala de 100 ítem para medirla en adultos chilenos. Aplicada a diferentes muestras (n=68; n=277) y mediante análisis factorial exploratorio fue depurada, dando origen a la Escala de Felicidad Para Adultos (EFPA) con 21 ítem de buena confiabilidad y validez, distribuidos en cuatro dimensiones: estado psicológico, tener familia, orientación de logro y optimismo. En un Estudio 2 fue realizada una validación cruzada de la EFPA en una nueva muestra de adultos (n=341), y mediante análisis paralelo y ecuaciones estructurales se probó diferentes modelos, confirmándose uno de cuatro y otro de tres dimensiones, optándose por éste último: estado, tener familia y orientación de logro

Studying happiness psychometrically is recent, and the few available instruments are English rooted. Happiness is a concept that hasn't reached to an agreement yet, typically measured as unidimensional, through a few direct items, and usually not specifying what constitutes it. In study 1, and based on a pentadimensional and emic concept of happiness, a 100 items scale was built to measure it among Chilean adults. It was applied to different samples (n=68; n=277) and refined through exploratory factor analysis, giving origin to the Happiness Scale for Adults (EFPA) -composed by 21 items- with good reliability and validity, distributed among four dimensions: psychological state, having family, achievement orientation and optimism. In study 2, the EFPA crossed validity was carried out with a new sample of adults (n=341), and through parallel analysis and structural equation modelling various models were tested, being confirmed one of 4 and other of 3 dimensions, keeping the later: state, having family and achievement orientation.

Insatisfacción laboral como predictor del ausentismo en un hospital público / Job satisfaction and organizational culture as predictors of absenteeism

Background: Absenteeism caused by sick leaves generates an important economic burden. Aim: To determine if job satisfaction, psychological climate, hierarchic level and age are predictors of absenteeism caused by sick leaves. Material and Methods: FOCUS-93 survey that measures organizational culture and the satisfaction scale of Warr, Cook and Wall were distributed to 1387 workers of a hospital and answered by 874. Absenteeism data was obtained from the justified absenteeism registry of the Chilean Health Services. Results: Absenteeism is influenced by job satisfaction and organizational culture. Age has no influence. Hierarchic level has a negative influence on absenteeism among men and a negligible effect among women. Conclusions: Those workers that are not satisfied with their work have higher rates of absenteeism.