ABSTRACT
The iENCUIST online tool was designed to reduce the psychological impact on both the confined population and on professionals who were at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic. In the first study (N = 2,362), the results are shown of the short test to perform personality profiles, made up of 34 items that show good psychometric properties. In the second study, the psychological profiles of confined individuals and professionals who had requested psychological help are presented (N = 815). The results indicate that confined women present higher scores in the variables of anxiety, anger, or disgust, placing this group at a greater risk for presenting psychological problems. As for professionals, those with more years of experience or who faced past crises have greater emotional stability, being a key factor in crisis management. After 6 weeks, the usefulness of the help offered by iENCUIST was evaluated and almost 80% of users indicated that they applied the recommendations offered by the tool, and that they helped them overcome the crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Spanish) La herramienta online iENCUIST fue disenada para reducir el impacto psicologico, tanto en la poblacion confinada como en los profesionales que estaban a la vanguardia de la lucha contra la pandemia por Covid-19. En el primer estudio (N = 2.362) se muestran los resultados del test breve para realizar perfiles de personalidad, compuesto por 34 items que presentan buenas propiedades psicometricas. En el segundo estudio se presentan los perfiles psicologicos de los confinados y los profesionales que habian solicitado ayuda psicologica (N = 815). Los resultados indican que las mujeres confinadas presentan puntuaciones mas altas en las variables de ansiedad, enfado o disgusto, colocando a este grupo en mayor riesgo de presentar problemas psicologicos. En cuanto a los profesionales, aquellos con mas anos de experiencia o que enfrentaron crisis pasadas tienen mayor estabilidad emocional, siendo un factor clave en la gestion de crisis. A las 6 semanas se evaluo la utilidad de la ayuda ofrecida por iENCUIST y casi el 80% de los usuarios indico que aplicaron las recomendaciones que ofrece la herramienta y que les ayudaron a superar la crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
The iENCUIST online tool was designed to reduce the psychological impact on both the confined population and on professionals who were at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic. In the first study (N = 2,362), the results are shown of the short test to perform personality profiles, made up of 34 items that show good psychometric properties. In the second study, the psychological profiles of confined individuals and professionals who had requested psychological help are presented (N = 815). The results indicate that confined women present higher scores in the variables of anxiety, anger, or disgust, placing this group at a greater risk for presenting psychological problems. As for professionals, those with more years of experience or who faced past crises have greater emotional stability, being a key factor in crisis management. After 6 weeks, the usefulness of the help offered by iENCUIST was evaluated and almost 80% of users indicated that they applied the recommendations offered by the tool, and that they helped them overcome the crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Spanish) La herramienta online iENCUIST fue disenada para reducir el impacto psicologico, tanto en la poblacion confinada como en los profesionales que estaban a la vanguardia de la lucha contra la pandemia por Covid-19. En el primer estudio (N = 2.362) se muestran los resultados del test breve para realizar perfiles de personalidad, compuesto por 34 items que presentan buenas propiedades psicometricas. En el segundo estudio se presentan los perfiles psicologicos de los confinados y los profesionales que habian solicitado ayuda psicologica (N = 815). Los resultados indican que las mujeres confinadas presentan puntuaciones mas altas en las variables de ansiedad, enfado o disgusto, colocando a este grupo en mayor riesgo de presentar problemas psicologicos. En cuanto a los profesionales, aquellos con mas anos de experiencia o que enfrentaron crisis pasadas tienen mayor estabilidad emocional, siendo un factor clave en la gestion de crisis. A las 6 semanas se evaluo la utilidad de la ayuda ofrecida por iENCUIST y casi el 80% de los usuarios indico que aplicaron las recomendaciones que ofrece la herramienta y que les ayudaron a superar la crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
On March 14, 2020 one of the strictest confinements in Europe was imposed on the citizens of Spain. The online tool for parents, iCygnus, was designed to reduce the psychological impact generated by the pandemic on the child population (2-12 years of age) through automatic recommendations to parents based on individual responses about their parenting styles and their child's characteristics. The profiles of the 710 families indicate a higher prevalence of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in children, as well as a relationship between punitive parenting in families where the parents lost their jobs due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The usefulness of the help offered by iCygnus was evaluated after 6 weeks, and almost 80% of the families indicated that they used the recommendations and that they helped them in their relationship with their children.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Child Behavior , Child , Child Behavior/psychology , Humans , Parenting/psychology , Parents/psychology , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some populations being confined to their homes as part of infection control measures. This situation can be hard to cope with due to separation from loved ones, prohibition of regular activities, fear of infection, loss of freedom, and so on. These negative impacts cause considerable psychological stress, and all the more so when the situation continues for an extended period, as was the case in Spain. The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of COVID-19 quarantine on the emotional functioning of confined Spanish individuals after 8 weeks of lockdown by means of a cross-sectional study. The possible associations between changes in emotional functioning and demographic variables (age and sex), health habits (physical exercise, following a routine, and smoking), social support, and resilience were also analyzed. METHODS: A total of 906 Spanish adults completed an online survey to gather information about their prevailing mood and affects (before and after 8 weeks of lockdown), using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) (Watson et al., 1988), and other variables related to their habits and protective factors. FINDINGS: As expected, the data indicated an increase in negative affects (e.g., "upset," "afraid," "distressed") and a decrease in positive affects after 8 weeks under lockdown, as well as a general decline in overall mood. The largest increases in negative affects were observed in young adults (18-35 years) and women. We did not find any differences between people who were or were not diagnosed with COVID-19. Adhering to a routine, maintaining the same weight, and moderate physical exercise were associated with fewer negative affects, which indicates they are important protective factors, as are perceived social support and resilience. CONCLUSION: In order to mitigate the psychological impact of confinement, it is important to develop psychoeducational measures that encourage subjects to adhere to health habits and promote social support and resilience as protective factors. A special preventive focus should be placed on the most vulnerable population groups, namely women and young adults. For a public health lockdown to succeed, its negative consequences must be minimized insofar as possible through adequate knowledge of the risk factors and protective factors, and by means of prevention-oriented organization.