Testing a coping scale in Mexican families in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring the psychometric properties / Escala de afrontamiento en familias mexicanas ante la pandemia por COVID-19: Propiedadespsicométricas

Abstract Introduction The rapid spread of the pandemic due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, more commonly known as COVID-19, required sanitary measures, such as social distancing and quarantining, which represented non-normative stressors for Mexican families. Objective Obtaining evidence of the validity and reliability of a family coping scale in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method A questionnaire was developed containing 48 items, and responses were collected using Google forms with a total of 558 participants. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to obtain the reliability and validity of the scale. Results The instrument is made up of six factors that explain 67.27% of the variance. The scale had a McDonald's omega coefficient of .82, and the model had a good fit with most values equal to or higher than .90. Discussion and conclusions The final items showed proper theoretical congruence and good indicators of fit. These results allow for the assertion that factors 1, 2, 5, and 6 allude to a good family adaptation in the face of the pandemic. Meanwhile, factors 3 and 4 indicate a poor family adaptation. Among the main contributions of this study is that this is one of the first scales to address the subject in Mexico, followed by statistical data that suggests the scale possesses appropriate psychometric properties to be used in the Mexican population.

Resumen Introducción La rápida propagación de la pandemia por el virus SARS-CoV-2, más conocido como COVID-19, requirió medidas sanitarias, como el distanciamiento social y la cuarentena, que representan estresores no normativos para las familias mexicanas. Objetivo Obtención de evidencia de la validez y confiabilidad de una escala de afrontamiento familiar ante la pandemia por COVID-19. Método Se desarrolló un cuestionario que contenía 48 ítems y las respuestas se recopilaron mediante un formulario de Google con un total de 558 participantes. Se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio para obtener la confiabilidad y validez de la escala. Resultados El instrumento está compuesto por seis factores que explican el 67.27% de la varianza. La escala tuvo un coeficiente Omega de McDonald's de .82, y el modelo tuvo un buen ajuste con la mayoría de los valores iguales o superiores a .90. Discusión y conclusiones Los ítems finales mostraron adecuada congruencia teórica y buenos indicadores de ajuste. Estos resultados permiten afirmar que los factores 1, 2, 5 y 6 aluden a una buena adaptación familiar ante la pandemia. Por su parte, los factores 3 y 4 indican mala adaptación familiar. Entre los principales aportes de este estudio se encuentra que esta es una de las primeras escalas que aborda el tema en México, seguido de datos estadísticos que sugieren que la escala posee propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para ser utilizada en población mexicana.

Coping Strategies in Adults in the Central-South Zone of Chile, During the Health Contingency due to COVID-19

The aim of the research was to determine the personal and family coping strategies as the confinement experience developed. due to the COVID-19 health contingency. in an adult population of the south-central zone of Chile. The study was quantitative, with a cross-sectional, associative design. The sample consisted of 251 young adults, 139 (55.4%) women, and 112 (44.6%) men, with an age range of 18 to 40 years. The instruments applied were the Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) and the Personal Evaluation Scale of Family Functioning in Crisis Situations (F-COPE). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's r correlation tests. Student's t-test. and one-way ANOVA. The results show that an individual's coping is positively related to his/her family one, with significant differences according to gender and age. The findings are discussed according to the reviewed theoretical and empirical background.

The Grief and Support Needs of Children and Young People Bereaved During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Parental Views From a UK National Survey

Background/aims: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many children and young people have experienced the death of close family members, whilst also facing unprecedented disruption to their lives. This study aimed to investigate the bereavement experiences and support needs from the perspective of their parents or guardians. Methods: We analysed cross-sectional free-text data from a survey of adults bereaved in the UK during the pandemic. Participants were recruited via media, social media, national associations and community/ charitable organisations. Thematic analysis was conducted on parent/ guardian responses to a question on the bereavement experiences and support needs of their children. Results: Free-text responses from 106 participants were included. Three main themes were identified: the pandemic-related challenges and struggles experienced by children and young people;family support and coping;and support from schools and services. Pandemic specific challenges include the impacts of being separated from the relative prior to their death, isolation from peers and other family members and disruption to daily routines and wider support networks. Examples were given of effective family coping and communication, but also difficulties relating to parental grief and children's existing mental health problems. The important role of schools and bereavement organisations in providing specialist support was demonstrated, but there was evidence of unmet need and lack of access to specialist grief or mental health support. Conclusions: Children and young people have faced additional strains and challenges associated with pandemic bereavement. We recommend initiatives that facilitate open and supportive communication within family and school settings, adequate resourcing of school and community- based specialist services and increased information and signposting to the support that is available.

Quality of Life in Family Caregivers of Patients with Schizophre-nia: A Narrative Review

Care for schizophrenia patients over the past few decades has shifted from inpatient treatment in mental institutions towards outpatient treatment options. While this has the potential to allow patients a more regular life with the ability to work and socialize, it has increased the burden on family caregivers. This state-of-the-art narrative review summarizes the most important factors, be-sides the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia, that impact the quality of life of caregivers negatively. These factors include the impact of the disease on house-hold income and socioeconomic status, anxiety, stigma, negative changes in family dynamics as well as an overall reduction of social and family contacts.

Household Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chile.

Chile was severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of social distancing measures strongly affected the Chilean economy: the unemployment rate grew rapidly as well as the proportion of population temporarily excluded from the labour force. This article analyses the strategies deployed by Chilean households to cope with the impact of the pandemic at the intersection with household structure and its socio-economics characteristics. Secondary data analysis from the Encuesta Social COVID-19 (COVID-19 Social Survey), carried out by the Chilean Ministry for Social Development and Families, were used to analyse the income-generating and expenditure-minimising strategies adopted by households during the early months (March to July of 2020) of the pandemic. The results show that 60.3% of households experienced a drop in family income, 70.3% indicated that they had to use at least one income-generating strategy, and 76.6% at least one expenditure-minimising strategy during the early months of the pandemic. Indebtedness and decapitalisation characterised most of the coping strategies adopted by households. While living in multigenerational households does not protect family members from declining economic well-being, older people living in one- and two-generation households were found to be least affected economically during the crisis. They were also less likely to resort to these coping strategies, insofar as their income was mainly secured from pensions. Although female-headed households did not show a greater reduction in income than male-headed households, they were more likely to adopt income-generating strategies. This article draws attention to the possible effects of decapitalisation and indebtedness on the long-term economic well-being of households with different structures, and the resulting inequalities in their capacity to recover from the effects of the pandemic. The findings suggest that having a source of family income that is not dependent on labour market flows is crucial in times of crises.