La autorregulación en la primera infancia: avances desde la investigación / Self-regulation in early childhood: advances from research

Resumen Existe un robusto cuerpo de literatura que sustenta la importancia de desarrollar las habilidades de autorregulación (memoria de trabajo, atención y control inhibitorio) desde los primeros años, dada la vinculación que tiene tanto con los logros del presente como con el éxito futuro (p.e. adaptación al contexto escolar, logros académicos, participación social). Esta revisión tiene por objetivo sintetizar la información de la investigación neurocientífica en el tema de la autorregulación, entre los años 2000 y 2019, la cual ha aportado información para comprender mejor: (1) los procesos de desarrollo entre los 0 y 8 años, de cada una de estas habilidades mencionadas y (2) algunos de los factores que intervienen en este proceso. Los resultados confirman que tanto la madurez cronológica como las experiencias que tienen los niños, favorecerán el óptimo desarrollo de estas habilidades. Así también, se confirma que cada habilidad tiene su propio proceso y tiempo para emerger y consolidarse, lo que tiene una manifestación conductual y neurológica. En relación con los factores, existen algunos de orden biológico y otros contextuales o sociales que van a influir en cómo estas habilidades se desarrollan y se expresan en la vida cotidiana.

Abstract A robust body of literature confirms the importance of developing the skills of self-regulation (working memory, attention and inhibitory control) from the early years, considering their impact on the achievements of the present and future success (eg adaptation to the school context, academic achievements, social participation). The aim of this review is to summarize the information on neuroscientific research on the topic of self-regulation, between 2000 and 2019, which has provided information to better understanding: (1) development processes between 0 and 8 years of age, each of these skills mentioned and (2) some of the factors involved in this process. The results confirm that both the chronological maturity and the experiences of the children will favor the optimal development of these skills. Additionally, each skill emerges and takes roots according to its own processes and time frames, turning into behavioral and neurological manifestations. Relevant factors can be either biological or contextual/social that will influence how these skills are developed and expressed in everyday life.

Funciones Ejecutivas En Niños Preescolares Con Y Sin Trastorno Del Lenguaje / Executive Functions In Preschool Children With And Without Language Disorders

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.

Influencia de las conductas promotoras de salud de los padres en la de sus hijos adolescentes / The influence of parental healthy behaviors on healthy lifestyles of early adolescents

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.

Consumo de tabaco y alcohol en adolescentes de 10 a 14 años de la ciudad de San Felipe, Chile: prevalencia y factores asociados / Smoking and alcohol use among Chilean teenagers aged 10 to 14 years

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.

Factores asociados a conductas promotoras de salud en adolescentes chilenos / Factors associated with health promoting behaviors among Chilean adolescents

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.

Validación de la prueba de memoria episódica de repetición de la Universidad del Sur de California (USC-REMT) / Validation of the University of Southern California Repeatable Episodic Memory Test

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.

Validez y confiabilidad del índice de satisfacción vital (LSI-A) de Neugarten, Havighurst & Tobin en una muestra de adultos y adultos mayores en Chile / Validity and reliability of the Neugarten, Havighurst & Tobin's life satisfaction índex (LSI-A), in a sample of adults and older adults in Chile

Se presentan los resultados obtenidos en la estimación de la confiabilidad y la validez del índice de Satisfacción Vital (LSI-A) de Neugarten, Havighurst & Tobin (1961,1996). La muestra estuvo constituida por 473 adultos de 30 a 75 años (hombres y mujeres) de la Región Metropolitana de Santiago de Chile, distribuidos en tres niveles de ingreso, tres grupos de edad y tres niveles de escolaridad. Se estimó la validez de contenido, concurrente y de constructo del instrumento, definiendo 5 factores que explican el 50.62 por ciento de la varianza. La confiabilidad con alpha de Cronbach fue de 0.80 para la muestra completa, el índice varió entre 0.77 a 0.83 según edad, entre 0.77 y 0.81 según nivel educacional y entre 0.74 y 0.83 según nivel de ingreso; no se observaron variaciones según sexo (0.80).

The findings of a research aimed to estimate reliability and validity of The Life Satisfaction index (LSI-A) of Neugarten, Havighurst & Tobin (1961; 1996) are presented. The sample consisted of 473 adults from 30 to 75 years (male and female) from Metropolitan Region of Santiago, Chile, distributed into three levels of income, age groups and educational levels. The content, concurrent and construct validity of the instrument was estimated, defining five factors accounting for 50.62 percent of the variance. The reliability with Cronbach's alpha was 0.80 for the full sample, the index ranged between 0.77 to 0.83 depending on age, between 0.77 and 0.81 according to educational level and between 0.74 and 0.83 depending on income level, no changes were observed by sex (0.80).

La escala de autoestima de Rosenberg: Validación para Chile en una muestra de jóvenes adultos, adultos y adultos mayores / Rosenberg self-esteem scale: Validation in a representative sample of Chilean adults

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.