Correction: Wachs, S., et al. Associations between Witnessing and Perpetrating Online Hate in Eight Countries: The Buffering Effects of Problem-Focused Coping. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 3992.

The authors wish to add the following corrections to their paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [...].

Group Psychological Abuse and Psychopathological Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Psychological Stress.

In the context of the long-term effects of psychological abuse, this study examined psychological stress and psychopathological symptoms in survivors of groups with cultic dynamics where abusive behaviors take place on an ongoing basis. We specifically tested the mediating role of psychological stress suffered after the departure from the group between the group psychological abuse experienced and current psychopathology. An online questionnaire was administered to 608 Spanish-speaking former members of different groups. We distributed participants into a sample of victims (N = 365) and a sample of nonvictims (N = 243), according to whether or not they reported having experienced group psychological abuse. Moderate associations were found among group psychological abuse, psychological stress, and psychopathological symptoms. Greater differences in psychological stress intensity between samples were related to personal conflicts (ηp2 = .30) and social relations (ηp2 = .29). Greater differences in psychopathological symptoms were related to paranoid ideation (ηp2 = .17), psychoticism (ηp2 = .15), depression (ηp2 = .15), and interpersonal sensitivity (ηp2 = .13). Moreover, mediation testing demonstrated that psychological stress partially mediated the impact of group psychological abuse on psychopathological symptoms. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the long-term effects of group psychological abuse. Survivors of abusive groups not only need help in dealing with psychopathological symptoms, but also need resources to cope with stressful environmental demands. Interventions should address both psychological stress and clinical symptoms to promote survivors' health and well-being during their integration process into the outgroup society.

A Routine Activity Approach to Understand Cybergrooming Victimization Among Adolescents from Six Countries.

Little attention has been given academically to empirically tested theoretical frameworks that aim at measuring the risk of adolescents falling victim to cybergrooming. To this end, we have applied the routine activity theory (RAT) to investigate whether exposure to motivated offenders (PC/laptop ownership and Internet access in one's own bedroom), capable guardianship (parental mediation strategies of Internet use), and target suitability (adolescents' online disclosure of private information) might predict cybergrooming victimization among adolescents. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 5,938 adolescents from Germany, India, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and the United States, ranging in age from 12 to 18 (M = 14.77, SD = 1.60), we found that PC/laptop ownership and Internet access in one's own bedroom, parental mediation, and online disclosure are all directly associated with cybergrooming victimization. Although instructive parental mediation is negatively related to online disclosure and cybergrooming victimization, restrictive mediation is positively related to both. In addition, online disclosure partially mediated the relationship between parental mediation and cybergrooming victimization. The analyses confirm the effectiveness of applying RAT to cybergrooming. Moreover, this study highlights the need for prevention programs, including lessons on age-appropriate information and communication technology usage and access, to educate parents on using instructive strategies of Internet mediation, and inform adolescents about how to avoid disclosing too much private information online. RAT could function as a theoretical framework for these programs.

Autolesiones online entre adolescentes españoles: análisis de la prevalencia y de las motivaciones / Digital self-harm among spanish adolescents: analysis of prevalence and motivations

Las autolesiones online ("digital self-harm") consisten en el uso de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, como Internet y el teléfono móvil, para colgar, enviar o compartir contenidos que incluyen autolesiones físicas o que resultan dañinos o humillantes para uno mismo. El primer objetivo de este estudio consistió en examinar la prevalencia de diferentes formas de autolesiones online entre adolescentes. El segundo objetivo fue el de analizar las motivaciones para implicarse en autolesiones online empleando, para ello, una metodología cualitativa de análisis de contenido. La muestra de este estudio estuvo compuesta por 794 participantes (50.6% mujeres) entre 12 y 18 años (M = 14.29 y DT = 1.64). El 7.9% de los adolescentes reconoció haberse provocado algún daño físico y contarlo en Internet y el 3.8% haber publicado las fotos de una autolesión en Internet. Las motivaciones más frecuentes para implicarse en autolesiones online fueron: 1) hacerlo como una expresión de malestar; 2) buscar desahogo o alivio; 3) buscar la atención y comprensión de otros; 4) ver la reacción de otros; 5) porque consideraban que era gracioso; y 6) porque otros lo hacen o es "una moda". Los resultados sugieren que nos encontramos ante un problema preocupante que requiere ser mejor investigado

Digital self-harm consists of the use of information and communication technologies, as Internet and mobile phone, to post, send or share content that is harmful or humiliating to oneself. The first objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of different forms of digital self-harm among adolescents. The second objective was to analyze the motivations to engage in digital self-harm using, to this end, a qualitative methodology of content analysis. The sample of this study was composed of 794 participants (50.6% women) between 12 and 18 years (M = 14.29 y DT = 1.64). The 7.9% of the adolescents recognized having caused some physical damage and posting it on the Internet and 3.8% having published the photos of the self-harm on the Internet. The main motivations for engaging in digital self-harm were: 1) doing it as an expression of distress; 2) seeking relief; 3) looking for others' attention and understanding; 4) see the reaction of others; 5) because they considered that it was funny; and 6) because others do it or it is "a fad". The results suggest that we are facing a worrying problem that needs to be better investigated

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Experience of Caregiving Inventory (ECI) among caregivers of individuals with an eating disorder.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Experience of Caregiving Inventory (ECI-S), which is designed to assess the caregiver's appraisal of the impact of caring for a relative with a serious mental illness. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 caregivers of a relative with an eating disorder to examine: (a) descriptive statistics; (b) internal consistency reliability; (c) the fit of the original ten-factor structure of the ECI through exploratory factor analysis, using a semi-confirmatory approach, for each subscale individually, and (d) concurrent validity. A total of 307 caregivers completed the scale. RESULTS: Reliability of the ECI subscales scores was acceptable (α = 0.63-0.89). Results replicated the original ten-factor structure of the instrument. The concurrent validity was supported by correlations of the ECI-negative subscale with psychological distress (GHQ-12, 0.43), and with depression and anxiety (HADS, 0.48 and 0.49, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the ECI (ECI-S) demonstrated good psychometric properties in terms of validity and reliability that were similar to the original version. It is an acceptable and valid instrument for assessing the impact on family members of caring for a relative with an eating disorder and can be recommended for use in clinical settings in Spain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Are Sexist Attitudes and Gender Stereotypes Linked? A Critical Feminist Approach With a Spanish Sample.

This study aims to verify the psychometric properties of the Spanish versions of the Social Roles Questionnaire (SRQ; Baber and Tucker, 2006), Modern Sexism Scale (MS), and Old-Fashioned Sexism Scale (OFS; Swim et al., 1995; Swim and Cohen, 1997). Enough support was found to maintain the original factor structure of all instruments in their Spanish version. Differences between men and women in the scores are commented on, mainly because certain sexist attitudes have been overcome with greater success in the current Spanish society, while other issues, such as distribution of power in organizational hierarchies or distribution of tasks in the household, where traditional unequal positions are still maintained. In all cases, it was found that men showed greater support for sexist attitudes. The correlations between the three instruments were as expected in assessing sexist attitudes that tend to relate to each other. Eventually, we found no empirical evidence for the postulated link between sexist attitudes and traditional gender stereotypes. Our results call for the validity and effectiveness of the classic theories of gender psychology, such as gender schema theories (Bem, 1981; Markus et al., 1982) and the notion of a gender belief system (Deaux and Kite, 1987; Kite, 2001).

Associations between Witnessing and Perpetrating Online Hate in Eight Countries: The Buffering Effects of Problem-Focused Coping.

Online hate is a topic that has received considerable interest lately, as online hate represents a risk to self-determination and peaceful coexistence in societies around the globe. However, not much is known about the explanations for adolescents posting or forwarding hateful online material or how adolescents cope with this newly emerging online risk. Thus, we sought to better understand the relationship between a bystander to and perpetrator of online hate, and the moderating effects of problem-focused coping strategies (e.g., assertive, technical coping) within this relationship. Self-report questionnaires on witnessing and committing online hate and assertive and technical coping were completed by 6829 adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age from eight countries. The results showed that increases in witnessing online hate were positively related to being a perpetrator of online hate. Assertive and technical coping strategies were negatively related with perpetrating online hate. Bystanders of online hate reported fewer instances of perpetrating online hate when they reported higher levels of assertive and technical coping strategies, and more frequent instances of perpetrating online hate when they reported lower levels of assertive and technical coping strategies. In conclusion, our findings suggest that, if effective, prevention and intervention programs that target online hate should consider educating young people about problem-focused coping strategies, self-assertiveness, and media skills. Implications for future research are discussed.

Development and Validation of a Measure of Emotional Distress in Survivors of Group Psychological Abuse.

In the context of the negative consequences of psychological abuse, a scale was developed to specifically assess the emotional disturbances in individuals who had experienced abusive behaviors over a period of time within a cultic group. The Emotional Distress Scale in Survivors of Abusive Groups (EDS-SAG) was administered, along with other relevant measures of group psychological abuse and psychopathological symptoms, to 706 Spanish-speaking former members of different groups, distributed into two samples according to whether they had experienced group psychological abuse (n = 413) or not (n = 293). Analyses supported a unidimensional structure of the 18 items on the EDS-SAG, explaining 50.7% of the total variance. This factorial solution was found to be stable when the sample of victims was split by sex and by the age of involvement in the group. Results also showed adequate reliability of the scores and significant associations between the scores on the EDS-SAG and the scores on measures of group psychological abuse (PAEGS: .86, p < .001) and psychopathological symptoms (BSI: .30, p < .001; PTCI: .46, p < .001). The results obtained reveal that this new scale is a suitable tool for measuring emotional distress in Spanish-speaking survivors of abusive groups. In the research field, it would be possible to evaluate the antecedents of emotional distress or their protective factors. In applied contexts, it would be possible to rigorously evaluate the emotional difficulties of abuse victims, allowing a better diagnosis and therapeutic approach. All of this will contribute to the assessment and understanding of the long-term consequences of group psychological abuse.

Development and validation of a measure of emotional distress in survivors of group psychological abuse

In the context of the negative consequences of psychological abuse, a scale was developed to specifically assess the emotional disturbances in individuals who had experienced abusive behaviors over a period of time within a cultic group. The Emotional Distress Scale in Survivors of Abusive Groups (EDS-SAG) was administered, along with other relevant measures of group psychological abuse and psychopathological symptoms, to 706 Spanish-speaking former members of different groups, distributed into two samples according to whether they had experienced group psychological abuse (n = 413) or not (n = 293). Analyses supported a unidimensional structure of the 18 items on the EDS-SAG, explaining 50.7% of the total variance. This factorial solution was found to be stable when the sample of victims was split by sex and by the age of involvement in the group. Results also showed adequate reliability of the scores and significant associations between the scores on the EDS-SAG and the scores on measures of group psychological abuse (PAEGS: .86, p < .001) and psychopathological symptoms (BSI: .30, p < .001; PTCI: .46, p < .001). The results obtained reveal that this new scale is a suitable tool for measuring emotional distress in Spanish-speaking survivors of abusive groups. In the research field, it would be possible to evaluate the antecedents of emotional distress or their protective factors. In applied contexts, it would be possible to rigorously evaluate the emotional difficulties of abuse victims, allowing a better diagnosis and therapeutic approach. All of this will contribute to the assessment and understanding of the long-term consequences of group psychological abuse

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Estrategias de persuasión percibidas por adolescentes en situaciones de engaño pederasta por Internet (online grooming) / Persuasion strategies perceived by adolescents in situations of online grooming

El engaño pederasta por Internet (online grooming) es el proceso por el cual un adulto consigue victimizar sexualmente a un menor valiéndose de los medios que ofrece Internet. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la prevalencia de las estrategias de persuasión e influencia utilizadas por adultos para manipular e involucrar a menores en el engaño pederasta por Internet, así como las diferencias atendiendo al sexo. Inicialmente, 2731 adolescentes de entre 12 y 15 años (50,6% chicas) completaron un cuestionario sobre solicitudes e interacciones sexuales con adultos y otro sobre persuasión basado en los principios de influencia de Cialdini (2001). 408 Menores (14,9%) se vieron implicados en el engaño pederasta durante el último año (61,3% mujeres; edad media= 14,23; DT= 0,92). Se encontró una utilización altamente frecuente de los principios de influencia, siendo el más experimentado el principio de simpatía (hasta un 50,9%). Las chicas experimentaron más frecuentemente todos los principios excepto el de autoridad, en el que no hubo diferencias. Estos hallazgos proporcionan información útil para entender y prevenir la victimización sexual de los menores en Internet

Online grooming is the process by which an adult sexually victimizes a minor using the means offered by the Internet. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of persuasion and influence strategies used by aggressors to manipulate and involve minors in online grooming, as well as gender differences. The initial sample consisted of 2731 adolescents between 12 and 15 years of age (50.6% girls) who completed a questionnaire on sexual solicitations and interactions with adults and another on persuasion based on the principles of influence of Cialdini (2001). 408 Minors (14.9%) were involved in grooming during the previous year (61.3% girls, mean age= 14.23, DT= 0.92). It was found a highly frequent use of the principles of influence, being the principle of sympathy the most experienced (up to 50.9%). Girls experienced more frequently all the principles of influence except the principle of authority, in which there were no gender differences. These findings provide useful information for understanding and preventing sexual victimization of minors on the Internet

Bereaved relatives' decision about deceased organ donation: An integrated psycho-social study conducted in Spain.

RATIONALE: Family refusal to organ donation of a deceased relative represents one of the most important barriers to organ transplantation. Although a large literature about family decisions has amassed, the existing evidence needs further integration and structuring. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to analyse relationships between bereaved relatives' decisions and a wide range of factors that converge in the family decision process, including interactions and complex relationship patterns, and taking psychosocial theoretical frameworks as reference to conceptualize empirical findings. METHOD: This observational study examined 16 Spanish hospitals during a 36-month period. Transplant coordination teams collected data of 421 cases of family decision processes about donation (338 donations/83 refusals) through a previously validated instrument. Indicators of the following factors were collected: deceased's characteristics; circumstances of death; bereaved relatives' characteristics, beliefs, and expressions; behaviour of health and coordination staff; and family's emotional responses. Three global hypotheses related to bivariate and multivariate relations of factors with family decisions and relationships/interactions among factors were tested. RESULTS: Relatives' beliefs about the deceased's wishes concerning donation are the strongest predictor of family decisions. However, family decisions are also related to the deceased's characteristics, relatives' characteristics, satisfaction with medical attention, satisfaction with personal treatment and relatives' emotional responses, and other factors. Relatives' emotional reactions are related to satisfaction with health-staff interventions and condition family decision, even if deceased's will concerning donation is known and positive. Relatives' beliefs about deceased's wishes concerning donation vary as a function of deceased's characteristics and according to relatives' characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding of family decisions underlying organ donation may greatly benefit from a more complex, integrated, and theoretically based approach. Educational efforts should stress the need to register or simply communicate own willingness to donate organs. However, an adequate training and performance of the health-staff involved in the organ donation process may generate substantive differences in consent rates.

Persuasion strategies and sexual solicitations and interactions in online sexual grooming of adolescents: Modeling direct and indirect pathways.

Online sexual grooming and exploitation of adolescents is receiving increasing social attention. Drawing on a social influence framework, the aim of this study was to test a model of the direct and mediated relationships between an adult's use of persuasion strategies and online sexual grooming of early adolescents. The initial sample of the study consisted of 2731 early Spanish adolescents between 12 and 15 years old (50.6% female). Of these, 196 adolescents (7.17% of the total; 53% girls) were involved in online grooming (mean age = 14.93, SD = 0.90). Persuasion strategies by the adult through internet increased the probability of using deceit, bribery, and the minor's nonsexual involvement. In addition, deceit and bribery were associated with higher rates of sexual solicitation, which in turn increased abusive sexual interactions. Understanding strategies used by adults to groom minors contributes to the prevention of and intervention in this crucial societal problem.

Development and validation of the Psychological Abuse Experienced in Groups Scale / Desarrollo y validación de la Escala de Abuso Psicológico Experimentado en Grupos

The aim of this study is the development and analysis of the psychometric properties of a new instrument to assess the possible psychological abuse experienced in a group setting. The Psychological Abuse Experienced in Groups Scale was administered to 138 people who self-identified as former members of abusive groups. An exploratory factor analysis revealed a common factor, which showed appropriate reliability. The scale scores were correlated with a prior measure aimed to assess group abusiveness, providing evidence of external validity. Participants reported a higher degree of psychological distress than normative samples, and those who requested psychological counseling after leaving the group had suffered group psychological abuse to a greater extent. The scale covers a wide range of subtle and explicit abusive behaviors and overcomes the limitations of previous instruments, being useful in both research and applied settings (AU)

El objetivo de este estudio es el desarrollo y análisis de las propiedades psicométricas de un nuevo instrumento para evaluar el posible abuso psicológico experimentado por una persona en el seno de un grupo. La Escala de Abuso Psicológico Experimentado en Grupos se administró a 138 personas auto-identificadas como exmiembros de grupos abusivos. Mediante un análisis factorial exploratorio se extrajo un factor común que mostró una adecuada fiabilidad. Las puntuaciones de la escala correlacionaron con una medida previa que evalúa el grado de abuso que caracteriza a un grupo, aportando evidencias de validez externa. Los participantes reportaron un mayor grado de malestar psicológico que en muestras normativas y aquellos que buscaron atención psicológica tras abandonar el grupo reportaron haber sufrido abuso psicológico en mayor grado. La escala cubre un amplio rango de conductas abusivas tanto explícitas como sutiles y permite superar las limitaciones de instrumentos previos, resultando útil tanto en el campo académico como en el aplicado (AU)

Young people belonging to violent groups in the Region of Madrid. Psychosocial process model on the onset and evolution of violent identity behaviour / Jóvenes pertenecientes a grupos violentos en la Comunidad de Madrid. Modelo psicosocial procesual sobre el inicio y la evolución de la conducta violenta identitaria

The qualitative research about out-group violence has examined different aspects of this social problem, but the evolution of violent groups has only been approached tangentially. This research analyses the discourses of 124 interviews done with youth from Madrid that belong to violent groups. Describe the interpretation made by young people and identifies variables and psychosocial processes to generate and explore a psychosocial model that attempts to describe the constitution and evolution of this behavior. The strategy of theory generation was applied (first 71 interviews) and afterwards, the method of analytic induction (following 53 interviews) to allow the validation of the identified model. The resulting method proposes that the upsurge of violent groups depends on the previous socialisation focused on three factors: milieu, opportunities and basic socialising processes. The evolution and involution of violent groups would depend on the interaction between the personal and social identities of its members

La investigación cualitativa sobre violencia juvenil ha indagado diferentes aspectos de este problema, pero el modo en que los jóvenes se involucran en grupos violentos y cómo evolucionan ha sido abordado solo tangencialmente. Este trabajo analiza cualitativamente 124 entrevistas realizadas a jóvenes de la Comunidad de Madrid que declaran pertenecer a grupos violentos. Describe la interpretación que realizan los jóvenes e identifica variables y procesos psicosociales que permitan generar y explorar un modelo psicosocial que trata de describir el inicio y la evolución de esta conducta. Para ello, se aplicó en un primer momento el método de generación de teoría (primeras 71 entrevistas) y después el método de inducción analítica (segundas 53 entrevistas) para explorar la adecuación a estos nuevos datos. El modelo resultante propone que el inicio de la conducta violenta depende de la socialización previa, definida por tres factores: entornos, oportunidades y procesos básicos de socialización; la evolución dependería fundamentalmente de la interacción entre la identidad personal y la identidad social de los jóvenes integrados en grupos violentos

Development and validation of the scale of psychological abuse in intimate partner violence (EAPA-P) / Desarrollo y validación de la Escala de Abuso Psicológico Aplicado en la Pareja (EAPA-P)

BACKGROUND: In the context of intimate partner violence, psychological abuse (PA) has progressively gained scientific relevance. Even so, a greater effort is needed to define and evaluate psychological intimate partner abuse. A new exhaustive and operative taxonomy of PA strategies leads to the contribution of a new evaluation instrument. METHOD: Participants were 101 women between 24 and 82 years old, who were abused by their partners and attended to in different municipal Catalan services, specialized in the topic. RESULTS: The analyses have shown the suitability of a 19-item instrument divided into two factors: (1) direct PA strategies and (2) indirect PA strategies. The former includes strategies that affect the emotional, cognitive and behavioral dimension of the victim. The latter includes items that measure the amount of control and domination over the victim's context. This scale has adequate psychometric properties in terms of score reliability and the validity of the relationship with other women's health variables. CONCLUSIONS: The EAPA-P, created based on a new definition and taxonomy of the forms of PA, is presented as a valid instrument to detect and measure intimate partner PA

ANTECEDENTES: en el contexto de la violencia en la pareja, la de tipo psicológico ha ido ganando relevancia científica. Aun así, es preciso un mayor esfuerzo para delimitar y evaluar el abuso psicológico (AP) en la pareja. Una nueva taxonomía de estrategias de AP da pie a la aportación de un nuevo instrumento de evaluación. MÉTODO: han participado 101 mujeres maltratadas por su pareja, de entre 24 y 82 años, y atendidas en diferentes servicios municipales especializados en el tema. RESULTADOS: los análisis han mostrado la idoneidad de un instrumento de 19 ítems distribuidos en dos factores: (1) estrategias directas de AP y (2) estrategias indirectas de AP. El primero agrupa las estrategias que inciden en la dimensión emocional, cognitiva y conductual de la víctima. El segundo recoge aquellas que persiguen el control y la dominación sobre el contexto de la misma. Dicha escala posee propiedades psicométricas adecuadas en lo que se refiere a la fiabilidad de las puntuaciones y la validez de relación con otras variables relacionadas con la salud. CONCLUSIONES: la EAPA-P se presenta como herramienta válida para detectar y medir el AP en la pareja

Development and validation of the scale of psychological abuse in intimate partner violence (EAPA-P).

BACKGROUND: In the context of intimate partner violence, psychological abuse (PA) has progressively gained scientific relevance. Even so, a greater effort is needed to define and evaluate psychological intimate partner abuse. A new exhaustive and operative taxonomy of PA strategies leads to the contribution of a new evaluation instrument. METHOD: Participants were 101 women between 24 and 82 years old, who were abused by their partners and attended to in different municipal Catalan services, specialized in the topic. RESULTS: The analyses have shown the suitability of a 19-item instrument divided into two factors: (1) direct PA strategies and (2) indirect PA strategies. The former includes strategies that affect the emotional, cognitive and behavioral dimension of the victim. The latter includes items that measure the amount of control and domination over the victim’s context. This scale has adequate psychometric properties in terms of score reliability and the validity of the relationship with other women’s health variables. CONCLUSIONS: The EAPA-P, created based on a new definition and taxonomy of the forms of PA, is presented as a valid instrument to detect and measure intimate partner PA.

Risky online behaviors among adolescents: Longitudinal relations among problematic Internet use, cyberbullying perpetration, and meeting strangers online.

Background and aims This study aims to analyze the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between three major risky online behaviors during adolescence: problematic Internet use, cyberbullying perpetration, and meeting strangers online. An additional objective was to study the role of impulsivity-irresponsibility as a possible explanatory variable of the relationships between these risky online behaviors. Methods The study sample was 888 adolescents that completed self-report measures at time 1 and time 2 with an interval of 6 months. Results The findings showed a significant cross-sectional relationship between the risky online behaviors analyzed. At the longitudinal level, problematic Internet use at time 1 predicted an increase in the perpetration of cyberbullying and meeting strangers online at time 2. Furthermore, meeting strangers online increased the likelihood of cyberbullying perpetration at time 2. Finally, when impulsivity-irresponsibility was included in the model as an explanatory variable, the relationships previously found remained significant. Discussion These results extend traditional problem behavior theory during adolescence, also supporting a relationship between different risky behaviors in cyberspace. In addition, findings highlighted the role of problematic Internet use, which increased the chances of developing cyberbullying perpetration and meeting strangers online over time. However, the results suggest a limited role of impulsivity-irresponsibility as an explicative mechanism. Conclusions The findings suggest that various online risk activities ought to be addressed together when planning assessment, prevention and intervention efforts.

Group psychological abuse: taxonomy and severity of its components / Abuso psicológico en grupos: taxonomía y severidad de sus componentes

The purpose of this study was to delimit group psychological abuse through a psychosocial approach. An operational definition of the phenomenon and a taxonomy of group psychological abuse strategies were proposed based on a review of the scientific literature. A panel of 31 experts in the area evaluated the content of the taxonomy and judged the severity of the strategies through a Delphi study. Group psychological abuse was defined by the application of abusive strategies, their continued duration, and their ultimate aim, i.e., subjugation of the individual. The taxonomy showed adequate content validity. Experts’ judgments allowed for hierarchically organizing the strategies based on their severity, being the most severe those directed to the emotional area. Operationalizing, classifying, and organizing the strategies hierarchically contributes to a better delimitation of the phenomenon, which is useful for both the academic and applied fields (AU)

Se diseñó un estudio con el propósito de delimitar el abuso psicológico en grupos desde una aproximación psicosocial. A partir de una revisión de la literatura científica, se propuso una definición del fenómeno y una taxonomía de las estrategias de abuso psicológico en grupos. Un panel de 31 expertos evaluó el contenido de la taxonomía y juzgó la severidad de las estrategias a través de un estudio Delphi. El abuso psicológico en grupos es definido por la aplicación de estrategias abusivas, su duración continuada y su objetivo último, el sometimiento del individuo. La taxonomía mostró una adecuada validez de contenido. El juicio de expertos permitió jerarquizar las estrategias en función de su severidad, siendo las más severas aquellas que inciden en el ámbito emocional. Operativizar, clasificar y jerarquizar las estrategias contribuye a una mejor delimitación del fenómeno, útil tanto en el campo académico como en el aplicado (AU)

Taxonomy and hierarchy of psychological abuse strategies in intimate partner relationships / Taxonomía y jerarquización de las estrategias de abuso psicológico en la violencia de pareja

Este estudio se centra en analizar los componentes del abuso psicológico en la violencia de pareja desde un enfoque psicosocial. Tras realizar una revisión de los estudios sobre el tema, se plantea como primer objetivo el proponer una nueva taxonomía de estrategias de abuso psicológico, acompañadas de sus respectivas definiciones operativas. A partir de esta nueva clasificación, se traza un segundo objetivo que se centra en someter esta clasificación al juicio de un grupo de expertos a través de un estudio Delphi, en el que han participado 32 expertos de los ámbitos académico-universitario y profesional. Estos expertos debían juzgar la adecuación del sistema de categorías, además de evaluar cuantitativamente la severidad que aporta cada una de las estrategias al fenómeno global del abuso psicológico en la pareja. Los resultados muestran que los expertos ratifican la nueva clasificación de estrategias y sus definiciones operativas, avalando así su validez de contenido y constructo. Además, jerarquizaron las estrategias de abuso, atribuyendo mayor severidad a las de tipo emocional, seguidas de las relacionadas con el contexto cercano, de las de tipo cognitivo y, por último, las de tipo conductual. Finalmente se discuten los resultados, sus limitaciones y las implicaciones que pueden derivarse de ellos

Taking a psychosocial perspective this study analyses the components of psychological abuse in intimate adult partner violence against women. Following a review of studies on the subject the main objective that emerged was the need for a new taxonomy of psychological abuse strategies, one which should include their corresponding operational definitions. The proposed new classification was then evaluated by means of a Delphi study involving 32 experts from the academic and professional worlds. These experts were asked to assess the suitability of the system categories and to rate the severity of the impact made by each of the strategies on the global phenomenon of psychological abuse in couples. The results show that the experts ratified the new classification of strategies and the corresponding operational definitions, thereby endorsing their content and construct validity. When rating the strategies according to the severity of their impact, those of an emotional nature were considered the most severe, followed by those related to the immediate context, those of a cognitive nature and, finally, behavioural strategies. We discuss the results and their implications

Spanish validation of the family questionnaire (FQ) in families of patients with an eating disorder / Validación española del Family Questionnaire (FQ) en familias de pacientes con un trastorno de la conducta alimentaria

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Family Questionnaire (FQ) and to further examine the differences between mothers' and fathers' emotional response to an eating disorder (ED). METHOD: A total of 382 carers of patients with an ED participated in the study, with ages ranging from forty to fifty-three years old. RESULTS: The use of confirmatory factor analysis according to gender supported both factor models of the FQ, with only minor differences in comparison to the original study performed in 2002 by Wiedemann and collegues. The internal consistency of the Spanish version of the FQ was good. Mothers displayed significantly higher levels of emotional over-involvement than fathers, while gender differences in critical comments were nonsignificant. The correlation of the two subscales of the FQ with a conceptually related measure (Expressed Emotion) and two unrelated ones (negative caregiving experience, distress) supports the convergent and concurrent validity of the instrument in both samples. CONCLUSIONS: The FQ has adequate psychometric properties and may be of value in assessing the impact of ED symptoms on the family environment. Finally, interventions that aim to reduce Expressed Emotion in carers may consider a gender-specific approach

ANTECEDENTES: el objetivo del estudio es evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española del Family Questionnaire (FQ) y examinar diferencias en la respuesta emocional de madres y padres ante un trastorno de la conducta alimentaria (TCA). MÉTODO: 382 cuidadores de pacientes con un TCA participaron en el estudio, con edades comprendidas entre 40 y 53 años. RESULTADOS: los resultados del análisis factorial confirmatorio según género apoyaron ambas estructuras factoriales del FQ, con solo pequeñas diferencias en comparación con el trabajo original realizado en 2002 por Wiedemann y colaboradores. La versión española del FQ presentó buena consistencia interna. Las madres puntuaron significativamente más alto en sobreimplicación emocional que los padres, mientras que las diferencias de género en comentarios críticos no eran significativas. La correlación de las subescalas del FQ con una medida conceptualmente equivalente (Emoción Expresada) y dos medidas no equivalentes (experiencia negativa del cuidador, ansiedad) apoyaron la validez convergente y concurrente del instrumento para ambas muestras. CONCLUSIONES: el FQ tiene adecuadas propiedades psicométricas y puede ser útil para evaluar el impacto de los síntomas del TCA en el entorno familiar. Sería recomendable que las intervenciones familiares destinadas a reducir los niveles de Emoción Expresada tuvieran en cuenta una perspectiva de género