Relationship between Thought Style, Emotional Response, Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), and Biomarkers in Cancer Patients.

(1) Introduction: Cancer diagnosis has been related to depression, anxiety, and distress, as well as to post-traumatic growth (PTG). One of the mediating variables for emotional response is thought style (rumination, cognitive avoidance, and cognitive engagement). (2) Aim: To identify the relationship between thought style and emotional responses to cancer. A secondary aim was to identify the relationship between emotional responses and inflammatory immunological biomarkers. (3) Method: A total of 115 patients with cancer were included in the study. Before initiating cancer treatment, patients were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), distress thermometer, and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Patients provided their most recent blood biometry. (4) Results: Rumination correlated with anxiety, depression, and distress. Cognitive avoidance correlated with PTG (-0.240) and distress (-0.209). Cognitive engagement correlated with PTG (0.393). Regarding thought style and biomarkers, a negative correlation was observed for absolute neutrophils with cognitive avoidance (-0.271) and rumination (0.305). Regarding biomarkers and emotional responses, there was a negative correlation between PTG and absolute lymphocytes (-0.291). There was also a correlation between PTG and neutrophils (0.357) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (0.295). (5) Conclusions: Thought style is related to the emotional response to a cancer diagnosis; rumination is related to depression, distress, and anxiety; and cognitive engagement is related to PTG. PTG is related to inflammation and immunological biomarkers.

Validation of the Scale on Parental Feeding Behaviors (ECOPAL) for Caregivers of Mexican Children.

Parental feeding practices can be crucial to preventing childhood obesity. This study aimed to validate a self-applicable instrument for evaluating the diverse parental feeding behaviors of Mexican caregivers based on the theoretical constructs of coercive control, structure, and autonomy support. The scale's content validity achieved significant values when assessed by expert judges, with moderate intensity in congruence (Kendall's W = 0.462; p = 0.000) and clarity (Kendall's W = 0.369; p = 0.001). The participants were 1185 Mexican adults (32.7 ± 7.6 years of age, 97% women, and 90% mothers) responsible for the main meal of at least one child (4.8 ± 3 years old). The data were subdivided randomly for an exploratory factor analysis (n = 581) and a confirmatory factorial analysis (n = 604). The first analysis grouped the items into 11 factors, with an accumulated variance of 63.9%. In the confirmatory analysis, a 10-factor model showed a better fit (CMIN = 1531.5, p < 0.001, CMIN/df = 2.20, RSEA = 0.045, CFI = 0.92, TLI, 0.91, and NFI = 0.87). The factors in this model were (1) the disposition of non-recommended foods, (2) nutritional education, (3) pressure to eat, (4) praise for healthy eating, (5) monitoring of consumption, (6) structured offer of fruits and vegetables, (7) consumption conditioning, (8) overt restriction, (9) guided choices, and (10) covert restriction. The Cronbach's alpha value was 0.816. Therefore, this scale presents good psychometric properties with which to evaluate the frequency of child caregivers' feeding behaviors in the context of ten different feeding practices in Mexico's urban areas and contributes to the knowledge of current practices in the Mexican population. It also evaluates changes resulting from future interventions that promote eating practices that favor the formation of healthy eating habits.

Análisis de las respuestas cognitivas relacionadas con el diagnóstico de cáncer en pacientes mexicanos / Cognitive response related to cancer diagnosis in Mexican patients

Resumen La evaluación subjetiva ha sido descripta como una variable mediadora para la respuesta emocional. Se presenta con diferentes contenidos y estilos. El estilo cognitivo se refiere a la manera en que se piensa sobre el estresor, por ejemplo: la rumiación (pensamientos intrusivos, repetitivos, que generan malestar emocional), la evitación (intentos por no pensar en el estresor) y el compromiso cognitivo (enfocados en búsqueda de sentido o solución). En base a esta respuesta emocional, se busca explorar y describir los pensamientos relacionados con el cáncer en un grupo de diez pacientes con la enfermedad. En un estudio cualitativo, se les pidió a diez pacientes con cáncer que indicaran los cinco pensamientos más frecuentes desde su diagnóstico. Se analizó el contenido mediante la técnica top down (teoría a contenido) y, a partir de los estilos de respuestas cognitivas, se clasificó el contenido de los pensamientos reportados por estilo de pensamiento (rumiación, compromiso cognitivo o evitación), por temporalidad (pasado, presente y futuro) y por valencia (positiva o negativa). Posteriormente, se hizo el análisis bottom up (contenido a teoría). Se hicieron tablas cruzadas para identificar los contenidos según el estilo de pensamiento, la temporalidad y la valencia. En los pensamientos con estilo rumiativo, el enfoque temporal se dirigía en su mayoría al futuro y al pasado, mientras que el compromiso cognitivo se enfocaba en el presente. Esta diferencia fue estadísticamente significativa mediante una prueba de chi cuadrado. Dentro de los temas relacionados con la incertidumbre, se refirieron a la muerte, al pronóstico de la enfermedad, a la respuesta de la familia y a las finanzas (en el futuro) y a las causas y culpa (en el pasado).

Abstract Cancer has been defined by the World Health Organization as "a disease caused by abnormal cells growing uncontrollably in the body, going beyond their usual boundaries, invading adjoining parts of the body and spreading to other organs". Being diagnosed with cancer has been described as an experience with diverse emotional reactions and difficulties in adaptation, having psychological consequences, being most common depression, anxiety and psychological distress; but also, some patients present positive consequences after having a cancer diagnosis, such as post traumatic growth, which includes positive changes presented after the disease experience. Subjective appraisal about cancer has been defined as a mediating variable for the emotional response presented after a stressor, such as cancer diagnosis, treatment, or important changes during disease process (initiating and finalizing treatment, presenting relapse or remission, as well as when having control studies). The subjective appraisal can be presented with different thought content and styles. Thought style is referred as the way thoughts about the stressor are presented, it has been classified as rumination (thoughts that are intrusive and repetitive that also increase psychological distress), cognitive engagement (thoughts associated with problem solving and meaning finding) or avoidance (aiming to stop thinking about stressor or feeling associated with it). Depending on the thought style presented at a stressor, could be the emotional response (anxiety, depression, distress, post-traumatic growth). The aim of the present study was to describe the thoughts (style, content, valence and temporality) related to cancer diagnosis in a group of ten oncologic patients. To identify if differences between thought style, valence and temporality were presented. The study design is qualitative from a phenomenological point of view. Ten oncologic (different cancer type, clinical stage and treatment) patients were asked to write the five more frequent thoughts since their cancer diagnosis. Each thought was classified by: thought style, valence, and temporality (top-down, classifying the thoughts according to theory). The same thoughts were also classified in semantic units (bottom-up, classifying the thoughts according to their own contents), generating concerns from the content. Cross tabs were made to identify contents and temporality for thought style and valence, which were analyzed by chi square to identify differences between thought style, temporality and valence. The most common thought style was cognitive engagement, followed by rumination (almost same frequency). On what respects to thought style and temporality, rumination was more focused on past (causes and attributions of cancer) and future (uncertainty about death and treatment effectiveness); meanwhile, cognitive engagement was focused on present (to enjoy present moment and focus on daily actions). Chi square was made to identify if this difference was significant, showing temporality was significantly different in cognitive engagement and rumination. The concerns identified in study participants were uncertainty about future and disease, family (communication and wellness of the family), finances (due to expensive treatments), causes and guilt about having cancer. Thoughts that were more centered in present, were more likely to be associated with cognitive engagement. Cognitive engagement has been described previously as an important variable associated with post traumatic growth. Thoughts centered in the past and present were more associated with rumination. Rumination has been associated with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Because of mediating role of thought style in disease adaptation, emotional response to the disease, and the relation of this adaptation with the perception of quality of life in cancer patients, the design of psychological interventions aiming on promoting cognitive engagement by problem solving skills, meaning finding, and focusing on present could be a research line derived from present studies results.

Diseño y análisis de propiedades psicométricas del Inventario de Estilos de Pensamiento en Respuesta al Cáncer (IEPRaC) / Design and psychometric properties analysis of the Thought Style in Response to Cancer Inventory (IEPRaC)

Una de las variables que ha sido definida como mediadora para la respuesta emocional ante el cáncer es el estilo de pensamiento. En contextos patológicos (por ejemplo, rumiación en depresión), y también en contextos normativos, se ha sugerido que el estilo de pensamiento puede predecir el ajuste ante un estresor. Existen instrumentos para evaluar de manera independiente los estilos de pensamiento (rumiación, evitación experiencial), pero ninguno está adaptado para población oncológica y ninguno incluye los tres estilos de pensamiento (rumiación, evitación y compromiso cognitivo). Objetivo: diseñar y estudiar las propiedades psicométricas de un instrumento que mida estilos de pensamiento en respuesta al diagnóstico oncológico. Método: Estudio instrumental, dividido en dos fases: la primera, elaboración de reactivos y jueceo de expertos y la segunda, análisis de propiedades psicométricas. Resultados: La versión final cuenta 15 ítems. La estructura interna resultó de tres factores, obtenidos a partir de un Análisis Factorial Exploratorio y corroborada mediante un Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio. Los valores de alfa de cronbach de las escalas resultaron adecuadas: la de Rumiación resultó de 0,87, la de Compromiso cognitivo de , 0,82 y de 0,72 la de evitación. Todos los ítems cuentan con evidencias de validez de contenido y propiedades psicométricas satisfactorias. La escala de Compromiso cognitivo fue la que obtuvo la puntuación media mayor y la de Rumiación mostró la menor. Conclusión: El Inventario de Estilos de Pensamiento en Respuesta al Cáncer (IEPRaC) cuenta con adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para ser utilizado en población oncológica mexicana (AU)

Thought style has been defined as one of the mediating variables to emotional response at a cancer diagnosis. It has been reported in pathological contexts (rumination in depression), but also in normative ones, it has been suggested that thought styles can predict adjustment to a stressor. There are measurement scales used to assess thought style independently (rumination, experiential avoidance), but none of them is adapted for oncologic population and none of them include all three thought styles. Aim: To design and assess psychometric properties of a scale of thought styles in response to a cancer diagnosis. Method: Instrumental Study, divided in two phases: the first, item elaboration and expert judge; the second, psychometric properties analysis. Results: Final version counts with 15 items. Intern Structure resulted in three factors, obtained by an Exploratory Factorial Analysis and corroborated by a Confirmatory Factorial Analisis. Cronbach’s alphas for the subscales resulted appropriate: for rumination 0.87, for cognitive engagement 0.82 and 0.72 for avoidance. All items have evidence for content validity and adequate psychometric properties. Results of Cognitive Engagement subscale had the higher mean and Rumination subscale was the lowest. Conclusion: Thought style in response to a cancer diagnosis scale (IERPaC) has adequate psychometric properties to be used in Mexican oncologic patients (AU)

Apoyo y barreras sociales en el comportamiento alimentario de mujeres con obesidad / Support and social barriers received and given in the food behavior of obesity women

Resumen Una de las principales causas de la obesidad es la alimentación. La alimentación forma parte del medio social, y algunas de las variables sociales vinculadas con el bienestar y la salud son el apoyo y las barreras sociales. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar las diferencias en comportamiento alimentario, así como apoyo y barreras sociales recibidas y proporcionadas en mujeres con obesidad vs. normopeso en un contexto natural de alimentación. Participaron cinco mujeres con obesidad y cinco normopeso, quienes fueron videograbadas por cuatro días consecutivos durante el momento de la "comida" en su hogar. El alimento fue registrado y pesado; las conductas de alimentación, de apoyo y las barreras sociales fueron registradas a partir de catálogos de observación sistemática elaborados exprofeso. Los resultados mostraron que las mujeres con obesidad ingirieron más frecuentemente, y en mayor cantidad, bebidas endulzadas, antojitos mexicanos fritos y comida rápida. Además, fueron objeto de más barreras instrumentales que les impedían alimentarse saludablemente. En conclusión, es necesario abordar el medio social en el que la alimentación tiene lugar, ya que el tipo de interacciones sociales pueden jugar un papel importante en la alimentación.

Abstract One of the main causes of obesity is food. Food is part of the social environment and some of the social variables that have been linked to well-being and health are support and social barriers. Therefore, the aim was to analyze the differences on eating behavior, support and social barriers received and given between obesity women vs. normal weight women in the natural feeding context. Five women with obesity and five with normal weight participated, who were videotaped with their consent four consecutive days during the feeding time of the "food" in their home; food was recorded and weighed. We recorded eating behaviors, and behaviors of support and social barriers from a systematic observation catalog prepared exprofeso. The results showed that women with obesity ingested a greater frequency and quantity of sweetened beverages, fried Mexican snacks and fast food. In addition, they received a greater frequency of instrumental barriers to eat healthy. In conclusion, it is necessary to address the social environment in which food takes place, since the type of social interactions may be playing an important role in food.

Desarrollo y evaluación de las propiedades psicométricas de la escala Etapas de Cambio en la Reducción del Sobrepeso Infantil (ECARSI) / Development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Stage to Change in the Reduction of Childhood Overweight Scale (SCROS)

INTRODUCCIÓN: el sobrepeso y la obesidad infantil alrededor del mundo siguen en aumento; sin embargo, los padres de niños con sobrepeso y obesidad suelen subestimarlos, por lo cual no se preocupan por los riesgos que se asocian al sobrepeso y la obesidad, lo cual obstaculiza su tratamiento oportuno. OBJETIVO: el objetivo del presente trabajo fue desarrollar y evaluar las características psicométricas de la escala "Etapas de cambio para la reducción del sobrepeso Infantil" (ECARSI). MÉTODO: participaron un total de 484 mujeres con hijos en edad escolar, clasificados con sobrepeso el 34,1 % y con obesidad el 65,9 %, quienes respondieron la escala. Se realizaron análisis de discriminación de ítems y de consistencia interna por medio de la alfa de Cronbach y el análisis factorial exploratorio. RESULTADOS: se obtuvo una consistencia interna, por medio de la alfa de Cronbach, de 0,789 con 16 elementos; el AFE arrojó 4 factores con valores propios mayores de 1, que explican el 62,89 % de la varianza total. Los ítems se agruparon en las siguientes dimensiones: Precontemplación (4 ítems), Contemplación (4 ítems), Preparación (4 ítems) y Acción (4 ítems). CONCLUSIONES: la ECARSI cuenta con adecuados índices de confiabilidad y evidencias de validez para evaluar la etapa de disposición al cambio en que se encuentran los padres de los niños(as) con sobrepeso y obesidad, lo cual permitirá un mejor tamizaje para determinar el tipo de intervención más pertinente para cada niño(a) y su familia

OBJECTIVES: the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the "Stage of change in the reduction of childhood overweight" scale by means of an exploratory factor analysis, and its reliability. This questionnaire is a new measure to identify the stage of awareness of the problem, and the willingness to change, in parents of children with overweight and obesity, based on the transtheoretical model by Prochaska and DiClemente (1983). METHOD: the study involved 484 women with school-aged children, of which 65.9 % were classified with obesity, and 34.1 % with overweight. RESULTS: the SCROS psychometric characteristics were assessed, obtaining an internal consistency of 0.789 using Cronbach's alpha with 16 elements (items). By means of the Exploratory Factor Analysis four factors were obtained with eigen values higher than one, which explained 62.89 % of the total variance. The items were grouped in the following dimensions: Preparation (4 items), Precontemplation (4 items), Contemplation (4 items), and Action (4 items). CONCLUSIONS: the SCROS is a valid and reliable questionnaire to evaluate the stage in which parents of children with overweight and obesity problems are located, which will allow us to design more suitable interventions for these children and their families

Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Culpa por Obesidad o Sobrepeso para Niños y Adolescentes (ECOSNA).

Introducción: la obesidad es una enfermedad asociada a diferentes trastornos físicos y emocionales que inciden en la calidad de vida y que representan un problema de elevada prevalencia en el mundo. La etiología es múltiple y compleja; se ha señalado la culpa como consecuencia del sobrepeso y, al mismo tiempo, como factor asociado al aumento de peso. En México no existen instrumentos para evaluar la culpa por obesidad y sobrepeso en niños y adolescentes. Objetivos: analizar la fiabilidad y validez de la Escala de Culpa por Obesidad o Sobrepeso para Niños y Adolescentes (ECOSNA) en población de Morelia (México). Material y métodos: se elaboró una versión preliminar basada en la bibliografía que se sometió a la revisión de jueces expertos. La escala obtenida de 6 ítems se aplicó a una muestra de 1.418 estudiantes de educación básica de 7 a 15 años. Se realizó un análisis factorial confir- matorio y se estudió la relación de la escala con otras variables como autoestima, sintomatología depresiva y ansiedad. Resultados: la escala resultó unifactorial, se obtuvo un índice alfa de Cronbach de 0,853. La escala ECOSNA mostró una correlación moderada e inversa con la escala de autoestima, y directa y baja con la sintomatología depresiva y la ansiedad clínica. Conclusión: los datos empíricos indican que la escala presenta una validez y confiabilidad satisfactorias.

Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Culpa por Obesidad o Sobrepeso para Niños y Adolescentes (ECOSNA) / Psychometric properties of Guilt due to Obesity or Overweight Scale in Children and Adolescents (GOOSCA)

Introducción: la obesidad es una enfermedad asociada a diferentes trastornos físicos y emocionales que inciden en la calidad de vida y que representan un problema de elevada prevalencia en el mundo. La etiología es múltiple y compleja; se ha señalado la culpa como consecuencia del sobrepeso y, al mismo tiempo, como factor asociado al aumento de peso. En México no existen instrumentos para evaluar la culpa por obesidad y sobrepeso en niños y adolescentes. Objetivos: analizar la fiabilidad y validez de la Escala de Culpa por Obesidad o Sobrepeso para Niños y Adolescentes (ECOSNA) en población de Morelia (México). Material y métodos: se elaboró una versión preliminar basada en la bibliografía que se sometió a la revisión de jueces expertos. La escala obtenida de 6 ítems se aplicó a una muestra de 1.418 estudiantes de educación básica de 7 a 15 años. Se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio y se estudió la relación de la escala con otras variables como autoestima, sintomatología depresiva y ansiedad. Resultados: la escala resultó unifactorial, se obtuvo un índice alfa de Cronbach de 0,853. La escala ECOSNA mostró una correlación moderada e inversa con la escala de autoestima, y directa y baja con la sintomatología depresiva y la ansiedad clínica. Conclusión: los datos empíricos indican que la escala presenta una validez y confiabilidad satisfactorias (AU)

Introduction: Obesity is a disease associated with a number of physical and emotional disorders that affect the quality of life, and is a worldwide problem with high incidence rates. The cause of these diseases is complex and involves multiple factors. Guilt has been signaled as a consequence of obesity and at the same time as a factor contributing to weight gain. In Mexico there is no available method to evaluate the presence of guilt due to obesity and overweight in children and adults. Objectives: Analyze reliability and validity of a scale to measure guilt due to obesity or overweight in children and adolescents in the population of Morelia (Mexico). Material and methods: The construct of guilt was operationally defined and submitted for peer review judges. From the evaluation of judges a draft of 8 items that are applied to a sample of 1,418 elementary school students from 7 to 15 years. One confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the relationship of scale with other variables such as self-esteem, depressive symptoms and anxiety were studied. Results: The scale was unifactorial. The internal reliability was high. There was a moderate and inverse correlation with the scale of self-stem. A direct and low correlation was found with symptoms of depression and clinical anxiety. Conclusion: The empirical data shows that the validity and reliability of the scale are satisfactory (AU)

Validación Psicométrica de la Adaptación Mexicana del Child Feeding Questionnaire / Psychometric Validation of the Mexican Adaptation of the Child Feeding Questionnaire

Resumen: El cuestionario de alimentación infantil (CFQ) desarrollado por Birch, Fisher, Grimm-Thomas, Markey, y Sawyer, (2001) es un instrumento ampliamente utilizado para evaluar las creencias, actitudes y prácticas alrededor de la alimentación infantil, sin embargo no se conocen sus propiedades psicométrias en población mexicana. El objetivo del presente estudio fue probar la confiabilidad y validez de constructo de la versión modificada del CFQ en población mexicana. Previo a la evaluación de las características psicométricas, la escala fue traducida al español, usando el método de traducción retraducción, a partir del cual se hicieron modificaciones a algunos ítems, para hacerlos culturalmente adecuados y se agregaron tres nuevos ítems. Participaron un total de 1157 mujeres con hijos de 5 a 12 años de edad. Se obtuvo una confiabilidad a través del coeficiente alpha de Cronbach de .858. Se confirmó la validez de constructo, a través del análisis factorial de componentes principales con rotación varimax, del cual se obtuvieron ocho factores que explican 59.99% de varianza. Se obtuvo un KMO de .785 y una Chi-cuadrada de 6400.172, p<.001. La presente versión muestra ser lingüística, culturalmente y psicométricamente apropiada para evaluar las prácticas, creencias y actitudes parentales hacia la alimentación infantil en madres mexicanas de niños de 5 a 11 años de edad.

Abstract: The Child Feeding Questionnaire developed by Birch, Fisher, Grimm-Thomas, Markey, & Sawyer, (2001) is a widely used mesurement to assess beliefs, actitudes and practices around child feeding. However, the psychometric characteristics of the CFQ for use with Mexican populations are unknown. The pupose of this stuydy was to test the reliability and validity of a modified version of the CFQ in mexican population. Prior to testing psychometric characteristics, the questionnaire was traslated into spanish usign a traslation-back-traslation method. Some adaptation were made, in order to make them culturally appropriate. Also three new items were added. The questionnaire was administered to 1157 mexican mothers of children aged 5-12 years. Constuct validity was assessed by principal componet factor analysis with varimax rotation, revealed the presence of eight major factors, which explain 59.99% of variance. Reliability was tested by Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and was aceptable for the eigth factors (a: .858). This modified eight factor CFQ appears to be a linguistically, and culturally appropriate instrument for assessing practices, attitudes and parental feeding beliefs in Mexican mother of 5 to12 years children.

[Psychological, social and cultural factors of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in México]. / Factores psicológicos, sociales y culturales del sobrepeso y la obesidad infantil y juvenil en México.

Child obesity is a serious problem of public health in México. If we don't reverse it quickly, it will generate unsustainable economical consequences to the health institutions in this country, as well as serious health problems. This article reviews some psychological, social and cultural factors in the health-illness process, in particular in relation to food choices, the function of the family, and the food-related parental practices, changes in physical activity, and the role of media. As a conclusion, we can say it is very important to take into account psychological and cultural aspects, as well as the family as a whole in the creation of public policies in the fight against the obesity epidemic. Other fundamental aspect to bear in mind is the generation and effective monitoring of regulations on food advertising, particularly that aimed to children, and also in regards to a labelling of edible products accessible to all people. An interdisciplinary work is essential to generate synergies that help us to control obesity in the first place, and then to be able to reverse this problem, without disregarding the role of prevention.

La obesidad infantil constituye un grave problema de salud pública en México. De no revertir la problemática, rápidamente generará, además de graves problemas de salud, consecuencias económicas insostenibles para las instituciones de salud en nuestro país. En este artículo presentamos una revisión de algunos de los factores psicológicos, sociales y culturales que intervienen en la obesidad infantil y juvenil, como los aspectos culturales alrededor del proceso salud-enfermedad y, en particular, de la alimentación; el rol familiar y las prácticas que se generan en ese ámbito; los cambios en la actividad física, y los medios de comunicación. Se concluye que es de vital importancia tomar en consideración los aspectos psicológicos y culturales, así como a la familia en su conjunto, a fin de generar intervenciones y políticas públicas en el combate contra la obesidad. Otro aspecto que es de una importancia capital es la generación y la vigilancia efectiva de normativas en materia de publicidad alimentaria, en particular la dirigida a los niños, y en el etiquetado accesible a todo público de los productos comestibles. Es indispensable un trabajo interdisciplinario a fin de que se generen sinergias que nos ayuden a controlar la obesidad, para después poder revertir la obesidad infantil sin que olvidemos el papel de la prevención.

La deseabilidad social revalorada: más que una distorsión, una necesidad de aprobación social / Social Desirability Reconsidered: More than Distortion, the Need for Social Approval

La deseabilidad social se ha conceptuado a través de los años principalmente como una tendencia a contestar un cuestionario de personalidad dando una imagen demasiado favorable de uno mismo. El estudio tuvo como objetivo evidenciar que la Deseabilidad Social es una medida sustantiva de personalidad que refleja una necesidad de aprobación social (NAS), más que un sesgo en las respuestas individuales. Para la realización del estudio colaboraron 1,235 participantes provenientes del D.F. Michoacán y Coahuila, de los cuales el 56% eran mujeres, con una media de edad de 28 años, de la población general. Se aplicaron 12 escalas psicológicas que con base en la literatura sugerían convergencia y divergencia tanto teórica como empírica respecto a las dos dimensiones identificadas como NAS-Positiva y NAS-Negativa, incluidas la exageración, honestidad, auto-estima y auto-monitoreo. Se identificó la red nomológica entre las variables de interés y las variables criterio. Tanto la NAS-Positiva y NAS-Negativa resultaron estar diferenciadas principalmente de la exageración y del automonitoreo. Finalmente se identificaron algunas variables asociadas a la NAS haciendo coincidente algunos hallazgos previos tales como que la agradabilidad, la regulación emocional, la orientación religiosa y el autocontrol son buenos predictores de ambos tipos de NAS.

Social desirability has been conceptualized through many years as a tendency to present oneself in a very fashionable picture. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate that social desirability is a substantive measure of a personality trait that reflects a need for social approval (NSA), rather than an individual response bias. A total sample of 1,235 participants of general population from the Federal District, Michoacan and Coahuila States was recruited, 56% were women, with a mean age of 28 years. Twelve scales were chosen from the extensive scientific literature of social desirability to prove convergence and divergence association to the current topic of need for social approval. Over-claiming, honesty, self-esteem, an self- monitoring scales were associated with the two dimension of Positive and Negative- NSA. The nomological network was identified between the variables of interest and the criterion variables. Both, positive and negative dimension of NSA clearly differentiate from Over-claiming and self-monitoring. Finally, agreeableness, emotional regulation, religious orientation and self-control are good predictors of both types of NSA.

Afecto positivo y negativo: ¿Una dimensión bipolar o dos dimensiones unipolares independientes? / Positive and negative affect: One bipolar dimension or two independent unipolar dimensions?

Desde los trabajos pioneros de Bradburn (1969) el afecto positivo y el afecto negativo han sido concebidos como dos dimensiones unipolares independientes, aunque todavía se mantiene hoy en día la controversia teórica entre defensores de un modelo unidimensional bipolar y los de un modelo bidimensional unipolar. El objetivo de este artículo es revisar la problemática que rodea esta controversia tomando en consideración por un lado, los dos estados afectivos (el humor o tono afectivo y las emociones) y por otro lado, revisando los estudios y modelos teóricos provenientes de distintas áreas tales como Psicometría, Psicología Básica, neurociencia, Psicología Clínica y Psicología de la Salud. Finalmente, se ofrece una posible explicación a los datos contradictorios obtenidos en los distintos estudios. Se sugiere la conveniencia de hacer estudios claramente diferenciados sobre el humor y las emociones. Sobre el humor existen pocos trabajos, pero éstos ofrecen mayor apoyo a un modelo unidimensional bipolar. Sin embargo, sobre las emociones hay mayor cantidad de estudios que ofrecen mayor apoyo a un modelo bidimensional unipolar.

Since the seminal contribution of Bradburn (1969), positive and negative affect have been conceived as two independent unipolar dimensions. However, the controversy between these ideas and the supporters of a single bipolar dimension is nowadays still alive. In this review we identify two problems. The first one is of a conceptual nature, because, as Russell and Carroll (1999) pointed out, the term affection is not unambiguously defined and rarely researchers in this field make an explicit definition. According to Rosenberg (1988), there are at least two types of affective states, which are widely acknowledged: emotions and mood, or affective tone. Emotions are characterized for, and differ from mood in, appearing in response to an event, being intense, short-lived and specific. They are also characterized by provoking important physiological reactions in the individuals, as well as recognizable patterns of facial expression, and by determining individuals to behave congruently in relation to the emotion they are experiencing. Combining these two very different components of affect hinders the comparison of the work of different authors, and also the development of theoretical models combining the different aspects included within this concept. The second problem is related to the measurements used in the research assessing affect, where the possible existence of events or circumstances causing the affective state is not normally considered. Likewise, measurement regarding the duration of the affect are rarely performed, and objective measurements such as physiological correlates or facial expressions are not frequently collected. Consequently, instruments do not normally distinguish between mood and emotion. The aim of this paper is to review the most relevant questions regarding this debate taking into account, on the one hand, the two affective states included in the concept of affectivity (i.e., mood and emotion) and, on the other hand, the empirical and theoretical contributions provided by a wide range of disciplines such as Psychometry, Basic Psychology, neuroscience, and Clinical and Health Psychology. From Basic Psychology and Psychometry we reviewed the three fundamental argumentations advocating for an independence of positive and negative affect, as identified by Diener and Emmons (1984) and Russell and Carroll (1999): (1) that the correlation between items that evaluate the positive affect and negative affect is low, (2) that the correlation of items within the categories of positive affect and negative affect is high, and (3) that the two dimensions of affect correlate differently with other variables. A fourth argument is discussed referring to the variations of both affect types observed throughout a lifetime (Bushman & Crowley, 2010; Windsor & Anstey, 2010). From the neuro-scientific perspective we reviewed studies providing data on brain structures and neurotransmitters involved in both affect types, noting that all these studies have been carried out by inducing intense moods, which indeed might be classified as emotions rather than humor. From Psychopathology and Clinical Psychology we reviewed those disorders in which states of positive and negative mood can be experienced in a very intensive manner (positive and negative emotions), in very short periods of time and even at the same time. We also reviewed research studying the independent presence of positive and negative affect in several disorders, as well as some theoretical models on depression that indicate the possibility and desirability of adopting a 'dual' perspective in the assessment and the intervention strategies of both types of emotions in the depressive disorder and other disorders. A proposal about the reason of such contradictory findings is presented, and we suggest that research about this topic should be better conducted setting apart mood from emotions using tools that allow measuring those elements capable of distinguishing between affect types. Although the few existing studies about affective traits and mood seem to support the bipolar one-dimensional model, the conclusions drawn from the numerous investigations about emotions favor the two independent unipolar dimensions model.

Afecto positivo y negativo: ¿Una dimensión bipolar o dos dimensiones unipolares independientes? / Positive and negative affect: One bipolar dimension or two independent unipolar dimensions?

Desde los trabajos pioneros de Bradburn (1969) el afecto positivo y el afecto negativo han sido concebidos como dos dimensiones unipolares independientes, aunque todavía se mantiene hoy en día la controversia teórica entre defensores de un modelo unidimensional bipolar y los de un modelo bidimensional unipolar. El objetivo de este artículo es revisar la problemática que rodea esta controversia tomando en consideración por un lado, los dos estados afectivos (el humor o tono afectivo y las emociones) y por otro lado, revisando los estudios y modelos teóricos provenientes de distintas áreas tales como Psicometría, Psicología Básica, neurociencia, Psicología Clínica y Psicología de la Salud. Finalmente, se ofrece una posible explicación a los datos contradictorios obtenidos en los distintos estudios. Se sugiere la conveniencia de hacer estudios claramente diferenciados sobre el humor y las emociones. Sobre el humor existen pocos trabajos, pero éstos ofrecen mayor apoyo a un modelo unidimensional bipolar. Sin embargo, sobre las emociones hay mayor cantidad de estudios que ofrecen mayor apoyo a un modelo bidimensional unipolar.(AU)

Since the seminal contribution of Bradburn (1969), positive and negative affect have been conceived as two independent unipolar dimensions. However, the controversy between these ideas and the supporters of a single bipolar dimension is nowadays still alive. In this review we identify two problems. The first one is of a conceptual nature, because, as Russell and Carroll (1999) pointed out, the term affection is not unambiguously defined and rarely researchers in this field make an explicit definition. According to Rosenberg (1988), there are at least two types of affective states, which are widely acknowledged: emotions and mood, or affective tone. Emotions are characterized for, and differ from mood in, appearing in response to an event, being intense, short-lived and specific. They are also characterized by provoking important physiological reactions in the individuals, as well as recognizable patterns of facial expression, and by determining individuals to behave congruently in relation to the emotion they are experiencing. Combining these two very different components of affect hinders the comparison of the work of different authors, and also the development of theoretical models combining the different aspects included within this concept. The second problem is related to the measurements used in the research assessing affect, where the possible existence of events or circumstances causing the affective state is not normally considered. Likewise, measurement regarding the duration of the affect are rarely performed, and objective measurements such as physiological correlates or facial expressions are not frequently collected. Consequently, instruments do not normally distinguish between mood and emotion. The aim of this paper is to review the most relevant questions regarding this debate taking into account, on the one hand, the two affective states included in the concept of affectivity (i.e., mood and emotion) and, on the other hand, the empirical and theoretical contributions provided by a wide range of disciplines such as Psychometry, Basic Psychology, neuroscience, and Clinical and Health Psychology. From Basic Psychology and Psychometry we reviewed the three fundamental argumentations advocating for an independence of positive and negative affect, as identified by Diener and Emmons (1984) and Russell and Carroll (1999): (1) that the correlation between items that evaluate the positive affect and negative affect is low, (2) that the correlation of items within the categories of positive affect and negative affect is high, and (3) that the two dimensions of affect correlate differently with other variables. A fourth argument is discussed referring to the variations of both affect types observed throughout a lifetime (Bushman & Crowley, 2010; Windsor & Anstey, 2010). From the neuro-scientific perspective we reviewed studies providing data on brain structures and neurotransmitters involved in both affect types, noting that all these studies have been carried out by inducing intense moods, which indeed might be classified as emotions rather than humor. From Psychopathology and Clinical Psychology we reviewed those disorders in which states of positive and negative mood can be experienced in a very intensive manner (positive and negative emotions), in very short periods of time and even at the same time. We also reviewed research studying the independent presence of positive and negative affect in several disorders, as well as some theoretical models on depression that indicate the possibility and desirability of adopting a dual perspective in the assessment and the intervention strategies of both types of emotions in the depressive disorder and other disorders. A proposal about the reason of such contradictory findings is presented, and we suggest that research about this topic should be better conducted setting apart mood from emotions using tools that allow measuring those elements capable of distinguishing between affect types. Although the few existing studies about affective traits and mood seem to support the bipolar one-dimensional model, the conclusions drawn from the numerous investigations about emotions favor the two independent unipolar dimensions model.(AU)