Which Psychosocial Strengths Could Combat the Adolescent Suicide Spectrum? Dissecting the Covitality Model.

Objective: Covitality is a meta-construct of positive intra/interpersonal self-schemas that organize and process life experiences. Its synergy favors psychosocial adjustment and prevents mental health problems during adolescence. At these ages, suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The purpose of this study was to determine which psychosocial strengths of the covitality model could combat adolescent suicide spectrum. Method: Participants were 5,528 Spanish adolescents aged 12-18 years, 50.74% females. The assessment protocol was completed in schools, under the supervision of the research staff. Statistical analyses were conducted using hurdle models, i.e., modeling zero-inflated count data. This process provided two sets of outcomes: the association - in probabilistic terms - between psychosocial strengths and the absence of suicide indicators (i.e., non-occurrence) and the association of these assets - via regression coefficients - with increased experimentation (i.e., duration/quantity). Results: All psychosocial strengths of the covitality model were related to the non-ocurrence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, but not all to a shorter duration/quantity of their phenotypic manifestations. Covitality obtained greater association values on suicidal tendencies than its components analyzed independently. Belief in self and engaged living were the second-order factors with the higher estimating capacity. Specifically, emotional self-awareness, enthusiasm, gratitude, family support, and behavioral self-control were key first-order assets. Conclusions: These findings suggest that training adolescents in covitality assets could be an effective strategy for universal prevention against premature suicide. Moreover, this study provide evidence on which psychosocial strengths could counteract each phenotypic manifestation of suicide in order to customize selective and indicated preventive actions.

The Connection Between Dark Traits and Emotional Intelligence: A Multistudy Person-Centered Approach.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have analyzed the relationship between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and dark personality, but the results are inconclusive. One study tested correlations between traits that may underlie a person-centered profile of "dark EI." Our study aimed to replicate and extend that research, identifying profiles in Spaniards and examining the differences between the profiles based on different variables of interest. METHOD: Two studies were designed, the first one (N = 1241) focused on trait EI and the Dark Triad, and the second one expanding the previous (N = 392) focusing on ability EI and the Dark Tetrad. RESULTS: Three profiles were obtained in both studies: nondark and non-EI profile, dark profile, and average narcissistic and high EI profile. The latter showed the highest self-esteem, strengths, well-being, and civic engagement, and the lowest psychological difficulties and personal distress. CONCLUSIONS: Our results reinforced the findings of the study we replicated, not supporting the presence of dark EI, but also not supporting the presence of high EI with very low levels of dark traits. These results have implications when designing preventive actions to improve emotional education.

Problematic internet use profiles and their associated factors among adolescents.

The cognitive-behavioral model of generalized Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is the theoretical approach that has obtained the most evidence on the study of this problem, which includes four components: Online Social Preference, Mood Regulation, Deficient Self-Regulation, and Negative Outcomes. This study aimed to identify PIU profiles using Latent Profile Analysis, and to analyze the differences in them attending to some of the principal PIU risk and protective factors. A total of 675 Spanish adolescents completed questionnaires assessing PIU, Internet usage, mental health problems, personality, psychological strengths, and family relationships. Four profiles were obtained: Nonproblematic use (68.30% of the sample), Slightly problematic use (17.90% of the sample), Problematic use (8.50% of the sample), and Severe problematic use (5.40% of the sample). Results showed differences between them, with the profile with more PIU having more risk factors and less protective factors. Results showed that many different personal and social variables included in the study play a role in PIU. Knowing the different PIU profiles can help in the design of more specific and precise procedures and instruments for risk assessment, as well as aiding in prevention and in the design of more individualized treatments.

Psychometric Properties of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) in Spanish Adolescents

Few studies have examined the psychometric properties of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) in a large adolescent community sample, finding a significant disparity. This study explores the psychometric properties of the CD-RISC among Spanish adolescents by means of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Rasch analysis, and measurement invariance (MI) across sex, as well as internal consistency and criterion validity. The sample was comprised of 463 adolescents (231 girls), aged 12 to 18 years, who completed the CD-RISC and other measures on emotional status and quality of life. The EFA suggested that the CD-RISC structure presented a unidimensional model. Consequently, shorter unidimensional CD-RISC models observed in the literature were explored. Thus, the Campbell-Sills and Stein CD–RISC–10 showed the soundest psychometric properties, providing an adequate item fit and supporting MI and non-differential item functioning across sex. Item difficulty levels were biased toward low levels of resilience. Some items showed malfunctioning in lower response categories. With regard to reliability, categorical omega was. 82. Strong associations with health-related quality of life, major depressive disorder symptoms, and emotional symptoms were observed. A weak association was found between resilience and the male sex. Campbell-Sills and Stein’s CD–RISC–10 model emerges as the best to assess resilience among Spanish adolescents, as already reported in adults. Thus, independently of the developmental stage, the core of resilience may reside in the aspects of hardiness and persistence. (AU)

Psychometric Properties of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) in Spanish Adolescents.

Few studies have examined the psychometric properties of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) in a large adolescent community sample, finding a significant disparity. This study explores the psychometric properties of the CD-RISC among Spanish adolescents by means of exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Rasch analysis, and measurement invariance (MI) across sex, as well as internal consistency and criterion validity. The sample was comprised of 463 adolescents (231 girls), aged 12 to 18 years, who completed the CD-RISC and other measures on emotional status and quality of life. The EFA suggested that the CD-RISC structure presented a unidimensional model. Consequently, shorter unidimensional CD-RISC models observed in the literature were explored. Thus, the Campbell-Sills and Stein CD-RISC-10 showed the soundest psychometric properties, providing an adequate item fit and supporting MI and non-differential item functioning across sex. Item difficulty levels were biased toward low levels of resilience. Some items showed malfunctioning in lower response categories. With regard to reliability, categorical omega was. 82. Strong associations with health-related quality of life, major depressive disorder symptoms, and emotional symptoms were observed. A weak association was found between resilience and the male sex. Campbell-Sills and Stein's CD-RISC-10 model emerges as the best to assess resilience among Spanish adolescents, as already reported in adults. Thus, independently of the developmental stage, the core of resilience may reside in the aspects of hardiness and persistence.

Suicidal Risk During Adolescence: Could Covitality Be Part of the Solution?

OBJECTIVE: The covitality model suggests that the co-disposition and synergy of core psychosocial assets (i.e., covitality) buffer the negative impact of stressful events and prevent the emergence of mental health problems during adolescence. At this stage of development, suicide already constitutes the leading cause of unnatural death in Europe. The present study aimed to examine how covitality relates to bidimensional mental health status (i.e., psychopathology and subjective well-being) and suicidal risk. METHOD: Participants were 5,296 Spanish students ages 12 to 18 years (Mage ± SD = 14.19 ± 1.53), 50.2% male. RESULTS: In a structural equation mediational model, covitality acted as a powerful shield of psychosocial strengths against suicidality, via an indirect effect entirely mediated by its impact on bidimensional mental health. The total variance in suicidal risk explained by the set of independent variables was 61.8%, while the total variance of psychopathology and subjective well-being explained by covitality was 54.1% and 75.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings highlight the need for further study of covitality as a defense strategy against adolescent suicide. HIGHLIGHTSCovitality promote subjective well-being and prevent psychopathological symptoms.These self-perceived psychosocial strengths do not have direct effect on suicidality.Covitality is related to lower suicidal risk through indirect mechanisms: via bidimensional approach to mental health status (BMH).

Assessing Emotional Distress in Adolescents: Psychometrics of the Spanish Version of the Social Emotional Distress Scale-Secondary.

Background: The Social Emotional Distress Scale-Secondary (SEDS-S) is a short measure designed for comprehensive school-based mental health screening, particularly for using very brief self-reported measures of well-being and distress. Whereas prior studies have shown validity and reliability evidence for the English version, there is a lack of literature about its psychometric properties for Spanish-speaking youths. Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the SEDS-S in a large sample of Spanish adolescents, providing evidence of its reliability, structure, convergent and discriminant validity, longitudinal and gender measurement invariance, and normative data. Methods: Participants were 5550 adolescents aged 12-18 years old. Test-retest reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients, and evidence for convergent and discriminant validity was measured using Pearson's correlation. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine structure validity, while multigroup and longitudinal measurement invariance analysis was conducted for longitudinal and gender latent structure stability. Results: The CFA supported a unidimensional latent structure, which was also observed to be invariant between gender groups and over time. The scale showed evidence of reliability, with coefficients above .85. In addition, the SEDS-S score was positively related to measures assessing distress and negatively related to measures assessing well-being, thereby providing convergent/discriminant validity of the total scores. Conclusion: This study provides the first evidence of the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the SEDS-S for assessing emotional distress among adolescents, cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Furthermore, findings indicated that SEDS-S could be a suitable assessment tool for screening and program evaluation purposes at different contexts beyond the school setting.

Relationship between Cognitive Strategies of Emotion Regulation and Dimensions of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptomatology in Adolescents.

Cognitive emotion regulation refers to the management of one's emotions through cognitive strategies. Studies have found that individuals with obsessive-compulsive symptoms utilize emotion regulation strategies differently compared to those without these symptoms. This study aims to investigate the relationship between cognitive strategies for emotion regulation and specific dimensions of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 307 adolescents between 12 and 18 years old. Associations between sociodemographic variables, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and emotion regulation strategies were examined using regression and network analyses. Regression results indicated that emotion regulation strategies and gender accounted for 28.2% of the variation in overall obsessive-compulsive symptoms (p < 0.001) and that emotion regulation explained most variance in the symptom dimension of obsessing. Network analysis showed that self-blame and catastrophizing were uniquely linked to overall obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while several strategies were uniquely linked to specific symptom dimensions. The adaptive strategy that demonstrated the strongest association with obsessive-compulsive symptoms was refocus on planning, while maladaptive strategies included catastrophizing, self-blame, and rumination. In conclusion, the results support the relationship between cognitive strategies for emotion regulation and dimensions of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adolescents, though these relations appear complex and require further investigation. Addressing emotion regulation in the prevention of obsessive-compulsive symptoms may be warranted, but prospective studies are needed.

Let's Talk About Suicide Spectrum in Spanish Adolescents. "Prefer not to say": Missing Value or Clinical Data?

BACKGROUND: Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people aged 15-29 in Spain. It is imperative to detect cases with suicidal risk for early intervention. The purpose of the study was to examine the self-reported presence of suicide spectrum indicators using a trichotomous rating scale: no, yes, prefer not to say . This last alternative was intended to safeguard the sensitive nature of the phenomenon and explore its clinical character. METHOD: 5,528 adolescents made up the definitive sample (12-18 years; M ± SD = 14.20 ± 1.53; 50.74% female). RESULTS: Prevalence reached 15.38% for ideation, 9.32% for planning, and 3.65% for previous suicide attempts. Girls' rates were twice those of men. Suicidality showed a tendency to increase with age. Adolescents with the presence of suicidal indicators (yes) and omission of response (prefer not to say) both had lower levels of socioemotional strength and subjective well-being, and higher levels of psychopathology than the group with the absence of markers (no). CONCLUSIONS: Prefer not to say is a response category that increases the sensitivity of the self-report, allowing more accurate identification of cases with a high suicidal risk that would go unnoticed by the traditional dichotomous system (no-yes).

Civic Engagement and Personality: Associations with the Big Five and the Dark Triad.

Several studies have analyzed the relationship between general personality traits and attitudes and behaviors, indicating that a person is more committed to the community. After raising the question of whether malevolent traits might also be related, the aim was to analyze the relationship between civic engagement and personality, delving into the contribution of the Dark Triad (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy) and controlling for the association with the Big Five. The Civic Engagement Questionnaire, the Short Dark Triad, and the Big Five Inventory-10 were administered to 1175 Spanish students (convenience sampling). After performing statistical analyses using SPSS statistical software, it was obtained that the three Dark Triad traits explained 11% of the total explained variance of civic engagement, while 19% was reached when the Big Five were included. Narcissism and openness were the factors most strongly associated with engagement. The positive relationship between narcissism and general personality traits could explain why narcissistic people have more favorable attitudes. Furthermore, people with narcissistic traits may display these attitudes for their own benefit. This study provides further evidence of how the narcissistic personality trait differs from the other two malevolent traits. Given that these traits are also associated with maladaptive behaviors, knowing all their characteristics could facilitate the design of prevention programs aimed at reducing such maladaptive behaviors.

Let’s Talk About Suicide Spectrum in Spanish Adolescents. "Prefer not to say": Missing Value or Clinical Data? / Hablemos de Espectro Suicida en Adolescentes Españoles. "No Deseo Contestar": ¿Valor Perdido o Dato Clínico?

Background: Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people aged 15-29 in Spain. It is imperativeto detect cases with suicidal risk for early intervention. The purpose of the study was to examine the self-reportedpresence of suicide spectrum indicators using a trichotomous rating scale: no, yes, prefer not to say. This last alternativewas intended to safeguard the sensitive nature of the phenomenon and explore its clinical character. Method: 5,528adolescents made up the definitive sample (12-18 years; M ± SD = 14.20 ± 1.53; 50.74% female). Results: Prevalencereached 15.38% for ideation, 9.32% for planning, and 3.65% for previous suicide attempts. Girls’ rates were twicethose of men. Suicidality showed a tendency to increase with age. Adolescents with the presence of suicidal indicators(yes) and omission of response (prefer not to say) both had lower levels of socioemotional strength and subjective well-being, and higher levels of psychopathology than the group with the absence of markers (no). Conclusions: Prefer notto say is a response category that increases the sensitivity of the self-report, allowing more accurate identification ofcases with a high suicidal risk that would go unnoticed by the traditional dichotomous system (no-yes).(AU)

Antecedentes: En España, el suicidio constituye la segunda causa de muerte en jóvenes de 15 a 29 años. Es imperativa ladetección de casos con riesgo suicida para una intervención temprana. El objetivo del estudio fue examinar la presenciaautoinformada de indicadores del espectro suicida en adolescentes mediante una escala de respuesta tricotómica: no,sí, no deseo contestar. Incluir esta última alternativa pretendía salvaguardar la naturaleza sensible del fenómeno yexplorar su carácter clínico. Método: 5,528 adolescentes conformaron la muestra definitiva (12-18 años; M ± DT =14,20 ± 1,53; 50,74% mujeres). Resultados: Las prevalencias alcanzaron el 15.38% en ideación, 9,32% en planificacióny 3,65% en tentativas suicidas previas. Las mujeres duplicaron las cifras de los hombres. La suicidalidad mostró unatendencia a incrementar con la edad. Adolescentes con presencia de indicadores suicidas (sí) y omisión de respuesta (nodeseo contestar) obtuvieron, de forma equivalente, niveles inferiores en fortaleza socioemocional y bienestar subjetivo,y superiores en psicopatología, frente al grupo con ausencia de marcadores (no). Conclusiones: No deseo contestarconstituye una categoría de respuesta que incrementa la sensibilidad del autoinforme, permitiendo una identificación másprecisa de casos con alto riesgo suicida que pasarían desapercibidos mediante el sistema dicotómico tradicional (no-sí).(AU)

Socio-emotional strengths against psychopathology and suicidal ideation in fear of COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused a global health crisis. It also leads to different types of psychosocial problems in society as a result of preventive health measures and the disease itself. Among others, psychopathological symptoms and suicide behaviors have increased. The PsicorecurSOS COVID-19 online protocol was designed. At baseline, 1020 Spanish adults were assessed, during confinement, for sociodemographics, fear of COVID-19, anxious-depressive symptoms, covitality, and suicidal ideation. Reliability, descriptive, and frequency analyses were carried out, and the computer tool SPSS PROCESS was used to carry out a conditional process analysis (model 59). A total of 595 participants were included (58.30% response rate from baseline; mean age = 37.18 [SD = 13.30]; 72.44% female). Regarding suicidal ideation, 12% responded differently to "never," 19.3% exceeded the cutoff point on the anxiety scale, and 24% on the depression scale. Moderate mediation analysis explained 27% of the variance in suicidal ideation. In addition, the indirect effect of moderate mediation was significant (b = -.004, SE = .002 with the presence of covitality; and b = .01, SE = .003 absence of covitality). Sex and age did not influence the overall outcome of the model. The data from this study can serve as a starting point for generating social and health treatment initiatives based on self-examination of anxiety-depressive symptoms and increasing socio-emotional skills in order to prevent and alleviate the psychosocial effects of the pandemic.

Factorial analysis and gender invariance of GPIUS2 scale and evaluation ofCaplan’s cognitive-behavioral model of problematic Internet use in adolescents / Análisis factorial e invarianza de género de la escala GPIUS2 y evaluación del modelo cognitivo-conductual de Caplan del uso problemático de Internet en adolescentes

Caplan's (2010) revised cognitive-behavioral model of Problem-atic Internet Use (PIU) has become one of the most promising theoretical frameworks on such behavior in the last decade. The Generalized Prob-lematic Internet Use Scale (GPIUS2) (Caplan, 2010) has been adapted and validated for use with Spanish adolescents, but gender invariance has not been tested yet in this country. The present study focuses on three objec-tives: to confirm the factorial structure of GPIUS2, to analyze gender in-variance, and to test Caplan’s theoretical model, in a sample of Spanish ad-olescents. A cross-sectional study was carried out. The sample was com-posed of 909 participants from Spain, agedbetween 12 and 18 years (Mean age= 14.2, SD= 1.6). The results indicated a good fit of the GPIUS2 fac-tor structure and gender factorial invariance. Moreover, the cognitive-behavioral model fit the data. GPIUS2 has a very good structure and pre-sents gender factorial invariance, which favors its application in Spanish adolescent population. This study supports the cognitive-behavioral model of PIU.(AU)

El modelo cognitivo-conductual revisado de Caplan (2010) so-bre el Uso Problemático de Internet (UPI) es uno de los marcos teóricos más prometedores sobre dicho comportamiento en la última década. La Escala Uso Problemático de Internet Generalizado(GPIUS2) (Caplan, 2010) ha sido adaptada y validada para su uso con adolescentes españoles, pero aún no se ha comprobado su invarianza de género en España. El pre-sente estudio se centra en tres objetivos: confirmar la estructura factorial de la escala GPIUS2, analizar la invarianza de género de dicha escala y poner a prueba el modelo teórico de Caplan en una muestra de adolescentes espa-ñoles. Se realizó un estudio transversal. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 909 participantes de España, con edades comprendidas entre los 12 y los 18 años (Edad media= 14.2, DT= 1.6). Los resultados indicaron un buen ajuste de la estructura factorial del GPIUS2 e invarianza factorial en fun-ción del género. Además, el modelo cognitivo-conductual mostró un buen ajuste de los datos. La GPIUS2 tiene una muy buena estructura y presenta invarianza factorial para el género, lo que favorece su aplicación en la po-blación adolescente española. Este estudio apoya el modelo cognitivo-conductual en el UPI.(AU)

Fear of COVID-19 and emotional dysfunction problems: Intrusive, avoidance and hyperarousal stress as key mediators.

BACKGROUND: There is mounting empirical evidence of the detrimental effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on mental health. Previous research has underscored the effects of similar destabilizing situations such as war, natural disasters or other pandemics on acute stress levels which have been shown to exacerbate current and future psychopathological symptoms. AIM: To explore the role of acute stress responses (intrusive, avoidance and hyperarousal) as mediators in the association between fear of COVID-19 and emotional dysfunction-related problems: Depression, agoraphobia, panic, obsessive-compulsive, generalized anxiety, social anxiety and health anxiety symptoms. METHODS: A sample of 439 participants from a university community in Spain (age: mean ± SD: 36.64 ± 13.37; 73.1% females) completed several measures assessing their fear of COVID-19, acute stress responses and emotional dysfunction syndromes through an online survey. Data collection was carried out from the start of home confinement in Spain until May 4, 2020, coinciding with initial de-escalation measures. Processing of the dataset included descriptive and frequency analyses, Mann-Whitney U Test of intergroup comparisons and path analysis for direct and indirect effects. This is an observational, descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional study. RESULTS: The prevalence of clinical symptoms in our sample, reported since the beginning of the pandemic, reached 31.44%. The female group presented higher scores although the effect size was small. Overall, the participants who exceeded the clinical cut-off points in emotional problems showed higher levels of fear of COVID-19 and of cognitive, motor and psychophysiological responses of acute stress, unlike the group with normative scores. In addition, the results show significant mediated effects of hyperarousal stress among fear of COVID-19 and emotional dysfunction psychopathology. However, the clinical syndromes most related to the consequences of the pandemic (e.g., social contact avoidance or frequent hand washing), such as agoraphobia and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, were in fact predicted directly by fear of COVID-19 and/or the acute stress response associated with the pandemic and had a greater predictive power. CONCLUSION: The present study illustrates a clearer picture of the role of acute stress on several forms of psychopathology during the COVID-19 crisis and home confinement.

Validation of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) for Multidimensional Assessment of Subjective Well-Being in Spanish Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) is a multidimensional instrument designed to capture emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is one of the self-report measures of international use in clinical practice and research, although so far it has no validation in Spanish-Speaking adolescents. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the reliability and validity evidence (structure, convergent and criterion), and the temporal and gender invariance of the MHC-SF in Spanish adolescent population. METHOD: Two assessment moments with a 6-month time interval were used, with an initial sample of 5,479 adolescents and a later sample of 2,129. RESULTS: The CFA showed optimal fit for the bi-factor model, and an adequate fit for correlated three-factor model. The results of the gender and temporal invariance analysis showed optimal fit. Reliability coefficients were all higher than .77. The MHC-SF presented significant positive associations (p < .001) with indicators of well-being (r > .60) and negative associations with indicators of psychological distress (r > -.21). CONCLUSIONS: The MHC-SF shows evidence of reliability and validity in Spanish adolescents, being the bi-factor model invariant through time and across gender groups.

Validation of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF)for Multidimensional Assessment of Subjective Well-Being in SpanishAdolescents / Validación de la Versión Abreviada del Mental Health Continuum (MHC-SF) para la Evaluación Multidimensional del Bienestar Subjetivo enAdolescentes Españoles

Background: The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) is amultidimensional instrument designed to capture emotional, psychological,and social well-being. It is one of the self-report measures of internationaluse in clinical practice and research, although so far it has no validationin Spanish-Speaking adolescents. Therefore, the objective of this studywas to analyze the reliability and validity evidence (structure, convergentand criterion), and the temporal and gender invariance of the MHC-SF inSpanish adolescent population. Method: Two assessment moments with a6-month time interval were used, with an initial sample of 5,479 adolescentsand a later sample of 2,129. Results: The CFA showed optimal fit for thebi-factor model, and an adequate fit for correlated three-factor model. Theresults of the gender and temporal invariance analysis showed optimal fit. Reliability coefficients were all higher than .77. The MHC-SF presented significant positive associations (p < .001) with indicators of well-being (r> .60) and negative associations with indicators of psychological distress(r > -.21). Conclusions: The MHC-SF shows evidence of reliability andvalidity in Spanish adolescents, being the bi-factor model invariant throughtime and across gender groups.

Antecedentes: el Continuo de Salud Mental-Versión Abreviada del Mental Health Continuum (MHC-SF) es uninstrumento multidimensional que evalúa el bienestar emocional, psicológicoy social. Es una de las medidas de autoinforme más utilizadas a nivelinternacional en clínica e investigación, aunque hasta el momento no dispone de validación en adolescentes hispanohablantes. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la fiabilidad y la evidencia de validez (estructural, convergente y de criterio), así como la invarianza temporal y de género del MHC-SF enpoblación adolescente española.Método: se utilizaron dos momentos deevaluación con un intervalo temporal de 6 meses, con una muestra inicial de5.479 adolescentes y una muestra posterior de 2.129. Resultados: los CFA mostraron un ajuste óptimo para el modelo bifactorial y adecuado para elmodelo de factores correlacionados. Los resultados del análisis de invarianza de género y temporal mostraron un buen ajuste. Se observaron coeficientesde consistencia interna superiores a .77. El MHC-SF presentó asociaciones positivas significativas (p < .001) con los indicadores de bienestar (r > .60) y negativas con los de malestar psicológico (r > -.21). Conclusiones: el MHC-SFmuestra evidencias de fiabilidad y validez en adolescentes españoles, siendoel modelo bifactorial invariante en el tiempo y entre grupos de género

Short Form of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y): Spanish Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: The short form, 17-item version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y) is a validated measure that assesses psychosocial problems overall (OVR) and in 3 major psychopathological domains (internalizing, externalizing, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), taking 5-10 min to complete. Prior research has established sound psychometric properties of the PSC-17-Y for English speakers. OBJECTIVE: This study extends psychometric evidence for the acceptability of the PSC-17-Y in a large sample of Spanish adolescents, providing proof of its reliability and structure, convergent and discriminant validity, and longitudinal and gender invariance. METHODS: Data were collected on 5430 adolescents, aged 12-18 years, who filled out the PSC-17-Y twice during 2018-2019 (7-month interval). We calculated the Cronbach alpha and the McDonald omega coefficients to test reliability, the Pearson correlation for convergent (distress) and criterion validity (well-being, quality of life, and socioemotional skills), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for structure validity, and multigroup and longitudinal measurement invariance analysis for longitudinal and gender stability. RESULTS: Within structural analysis for the PSC-17-Y, CFA supported a correlated 3-factor solution, which was also invariant longitudinally and across gender. All 3 subscales showed evidence of reliability, with coefficients near or above .70. Moreover, scores of PSC-17-Y subscales were positively related with convergent measures and negatively related with criterion measures. Normative data for the PSC-17-Y are presented in the form of percentiles (75th and 90th). CONCLUSIONS: This work provides the first evidence of the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the PSC-17-Y administered over the internet to assess mental health problems among adolescents, maintaining the same domains as the long version.

Efficacy of Sphincter Control Training and medical device in the treatment of premature ejaculation: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial.

A new line of treatment for premature ejaculation (PE) based on the use of masturbation aid device in combination with behavioral techniques has emerged in recent years. We report a multicenter randomized clinical trial with a parallel group design to determine the effectiveness of an electronic device called Myhixel I© in the treatment of PE. Forty patients who met the criteria for the diagnosis of lifelong PE, were assigned to two treatment groups completed the Sphincter control training (SCT) program in eight weeks. The only difference between groups was the use of the device. The main measure was the "fold increase" (FI) of the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT). The geometric means of IELT show, at the end of the treatment at week 8, a superiority of the device group. The mean FI 4.27 (SD 2.59) at the end of treatment for the device group was clearly higher than obtained in the previous clinical trial, in which a specific medical device was not used. No side effects were observed and it required little therapeutic input and no partner involvement. The SCT program in combination with the Myhixel I© is an effective treatment for PE.

Effects of the Action for Neutralization of Bullying Program on Bullying in Spanish Schoolchildren.

Bullying can have serious physical and emotional consequences. In recent years, interest in this phenomenon has been growing, becoming a public health problem in the first world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Action for Neutralization of Bullying Program (ANA) in Spanish children. This study used a quasi-experimental design that included a pre-test evaluation, 2 months of intervention, a post-test, and 3 months of follow-up. A sample of 330 children aged 7-12 years (M = 9.27; SD = 1.09) from third to sixth grade participated in the study. One hundred and fifty-nine were girls (48.2%). The program consisted of eight group sessions in which empathy, assertiveness, communication skills, conflict resolution, and group cohesion were worked on. The results showed statistically significant reductions in verbal abuse behaviors (t = 4.76, p < 0.001), direct social exclusion (t = 3.53, p < 0.001), threats (t = 2.04, p = 0.042), aggression with objects (t = 3.21, p < 0.001), and physical abuse (t = 4.41, p < 0.001). The differences were not statistically significant for indirect social exclusion behaviors (t = 1.86, p = 0.065) or cyberbullying (t = 0.31, p = 0.756). The effects in the reduction of the bullying behaviors decreased after the implementation of the program, achieving even greater reduction in victimization behaviors after 3 months than immediately after the end of the program. These results indicate that the ANA program is effective in reducing bullying behaviors in a group of children. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

La covitalidad como factor protector ante problemas interiorizados y exteriorizados en adolescentes españoles / Covitality as a protective factor against internalizing and externalizing problems in Spanish adolescents

El modelo de covitalidad considera que la acción conjunta de determinadas competencias socioemocionales amortigua el impacto de eventos estresantes psicosociales previniendo el desarrollo de problemas de salud mental. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el papel protector de las competencias socioemocionales del modelo de covitalidad ante problemas interiorizados y exteriorizados en adolescentes españoles. Se aplicaron el "Cuestionario de fortalezas y dificultades" y la "Encuesta de salud socioemocional" a 438 adolescentes (53,20% hombres) de 12 a 18 años (M= 15,04; DT= 1,54) de edad. El 20,6% superó los puntos de corte en problemas psicológicos, con mayor sintomatología emocional en mujeres. En fortalezas psicológicas, las mujeres destacaron en competencia social y los hombres en habilidades de autorregulación emocional. Se encontró una tendencia a presentar mayor sintomatología y menor competencia socioemocional a mayor edad. La covitalidad explicó hasta el 30,6%, 30,9% y 23,8% (p< 0,001) de la sintomatología general, interiorizada y exteriorizada, respectivamente. Este trabajo aporta pruebas sobre la importancia de implementar programas de desarrollo de competencias socioemocionales de manera transversal en el ámbito educativo

The covitality model considers that the joint action of certain socialemotional competences cushions the impact of psychosocial stressful events by preventing the development of mental health problems. The objective of the present study was to analyze the protective role of social-emotional competences of the covitality model in the face of internalizing and externalizing problems in Spanish adolescents. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Social Emotional Health Survey were applied to 438 adolescents (53.2% men) between 12 and 18 years old (M= 15.04, SD= 1.54). 20.6% Surpassed cut-off points in psychological problems, with higher emotional symptoms in women. For psychological strengths, women stood out in social competence and men in emotional self-regulation skills. There was a tendency to present more symptoms and less social-emotional competence at an older age. Covitality explained up to 30.6%, 30.9% and 23.8% (p< .001) of general, internalizing and externalizing symptomatology, respectively. This work provides evidence on the importance of implementing programs to develop of social-emotional competences in a transversal way in the educational context