Prácticas parentales y conductas de riesgo del peatón en una muestra de adolescentes chilenos / Parental practices and pedestrian risk behaviors in Chilean adolescents

Background: Traffic accidents are the second leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults in Chile. However, few studies have examined this behavior among this age group. Parental practices have a great influence on risk behaviors in adolescents, such as substance use, sexuality and violence, among others. Specifically, we propose that these practices will influence pedestrian risk behaviors among adolescents. Aim: To study the role of parental practices such as mother and father support, and behavioral control (monitoring and presence of rules) in pedestrian risk behaviors of teenagers. Material and Methods: A sample of 470 adolescents attending schools in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile were studied. They answered a self-administered questionnaire in which they were asked about parental practices and pedestrian risk behaviors. Analyses were performed using descriptive and inferential statistics, using multiple regression. Results: Paternal support and the presence of rules were protective factors for pedestrian risky behaviors. However, maternal support or monitoring did not influence these behaviors. Conclusions: Parental practices influence pedestrian behaviors of teenagers. The study provides further evidence for the importance of these practices in the development of behavioral self-regulation.

Insatisfacción corporal, creencias sobre control del peso y consumo de cigarrillos en jóvenes / Body dissatisfaction, beliefs about weight control, and cigarette use among youth

En diversos estudios los investigadores han encontrado una relación entre insatisfacción corporal, creencias de control de peso asociadas al consumo de cigarrillos y el consumo de cigarrillos en jóvenes. Este estudio evaluó un modelo de mediación de las creencias de control de peso asociadas al consumo de cigarrillos en la relación entre insatisfacción corporal y consumo de cigarrillos. Se realizó un estudio correlacional con 651 jóvenes chilenos de entre 12 y 23 años de edad. Se realizaron ANOVA y análisis de regresión lineal para evaluar las hipótesis propuestas. Se encontró una relación entre insatisfacción corporal y consumo de cigarrillos y diferencias significativas en dicha relación según sexo. Los resultados obtenidos confirman la relación entre insatisfacción corporal y consumo de cigarrillos en jóvenes chilenos, sin embargo, no se comprueba la mediación propuesta.

In several studies, researchers have found a link between body dissatisfaction, weight control beliefs associated with cigarette use and cigarette smoking among young people. This study examined a mediation model of weight control beliefs associated with cigarette use for the relationship between body dissatisfaction and cigarette smoking. A correlational study was conducted with 651 young chileans between 12 and 23 years of age. ANOVA and linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the proposed hypotheses. A relationship between body dissatisfaction and smoking and significant differences by sex for this relationship were found. These results confirm the relationship between body dissatisfaction and cigarette smoking among young Chileans, however, do not support the proposed mediation.

¿Cuántas personas fuman?: Percepción del nivel de consumo y su relación con el consumo de cigarrillos en adolescentes chilenos / Perception of smoking rates and its relationship with cigarette use among Chilean adolescents

Background: Cigarette smoking among adolescents is a major health problem in Chile, which is determined by several factors. Among these, it is important the role of perceived norms regarding cigarette use among peers and the general population. Aim: To study the social norms about the perceived prevalence of smoking and its relationship with cigarette smoking among Chilean adolescents. Material and Methods: Participants were 480 adolescents of educational institutions from the South-East area of the Metropolitan Region, who completed a questionnaire that included questions regarding cigarette use and the perceived prevalence of cigarette use among peers and adults. Results: Adolescents overestimated the percentage of smokers compared to national statistics regarding their peers and adult population. The perception of adolescents regarding the rates of use among peers predicted both current and future use. Conclusions: Cigarette smoking is influenced by perceived norms regarding use and, despite the current smoking restrictions in place, youth continue to perceive that smoking is a common behavior.

Diseño y validación del instrumento SALUFAM: un instrumento de valoración de la salud familiar con alto valor predictivo clínico para la atención primaria chilena / Design and validation of an instrument to assess families at risk for health problems

Background: There is a paucity of screening instruments with a high clinical predictive value to identify families at risk and therefore, develop focused interventions in primary care. Aim: To develop an easy to apply screening instrument with a high clinical predictive value to identify families with a higher health vulnerability. Material and Methods: In the first stage of the study an instrument with a high content validity was designed through a review of existent instruments, qualitative interviews with families and expert opinions following a Delphi approach of three rounds. In the second stage, concurrent validity was tested through a comparative analysis between the pilot instrument and a family clinical interview conducted to 300families randomly selected from a population registered at a primary care clinic in Santiago. The sampling was blocked based on the presence of diabetes, depression, child asthma, behavioral disorders, presence of an older person or the lack of previous conditions among family members. The third stage, was directed to test the clinical predictive validity of the instrument by comparing the baseline vulnerability obtained by the instrument and the change in clinical status and health related quality of life perceptions of the family members after nine months of follow-up. Results: The final SALUFAM instrument included 13 items and had a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.821), high test re-test reproducibility (Pearson correlation: 0.84) and a high clinical predictive value for clinical deterioration (Odds ratio: 1.826; 95% confidence intervals: 1.101-3.029). Conclusions: SALUFAM instrument is applicable, replicable, has a high content validity, concurrent validity and clinical predictive value.