Disentangling between-person and within-person associations of physical symptoms of depression with self-perceived health and life satisfaction: A longitudinal study in Chilean adults.

Depression is a major health problem in Chile. Evidence suggests that physical symptoms of depression (PSD) negatively impact self-perceived health and life satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine the between-person and within-person associations of PSD with self-perceived health and life satisfaction in Chilean adults. The sample consisted of 1424 participants (64.54% female; Mage = 46.77, SD = 14.88) with data in five waves of the Social Longitudinal Study of Chile. Variables were measured through self-report questionnaires. Hypotheses were tested using multilevel analysis. At the within-person level, physical slowing, fatigue, and sleep problems were associated with poorer self-perceived health and lower life satisfaction. At the between-person level, physical slowing and fatigue were associated with poorer perceived health and lower life satisfaction. PSD are associated with self-perceived health and life satisfaction in Chilean adults longitudinally. The study highlights the importance of monitoring PSD changes in Chilean adults.

Uso de condón en jóvenes chilenos: El rol de los determinantes sociales, roles de género y salud mental / Condom use among young Chileans: The role of social determinants, gender roles and mental health

ANTECEDENTES: Pese a las diversas estrategias implementadas en materia de educación sexual y prevención de ITS, las cifras de la Décima Encuesta Nacional de Juventud revelan que poco más de la mitad de los jóvenes utilizaron condón en su última relación sexual. Se han descrito diversos predictores sociodemográficos, culturales y psicológicos, pero no se observan estudios recientes en Chile que los aborden. Objetivo: Examinar la relación de determinantes sociales, roles de género y sintomatología de salud mental con el uso de condón en jóvenes chilenos. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se utilizaron datos secundarios emanados de la Décima Encuesta Nacional de Juventud. La muestra analítica estuvo compuesta por 5.507 jóvenes que habían iniciado su vida sexual. Se realizaron modelos de regresión logística binomial múltiple a través de estimaciones de datos basadas en encuestas. RESULTADOS: Los jóvenes de mayor edad, las mujeres, las personas que se identifican con alguna etnia, quienes están en una relación de pareja y aquellos diagnosticados con alguna ITS tienen menos probabilidad de usar condón en su última relación sexual. CONCLUSIÓN: Las características individuales contribuyen a explicar la adherencia a conductas preventivas, pudiendo reflejar dinámicas subyacentes con factores psicológicos y culturales que deben ser analizados. Identificar los factores socio estructurales, culturales y psicológicos asociados a las conductas sexuales preventivas y de protección debería transformarse en una prioridad sanitaria, ya que permite diseñar e impulsar campañas de comunicación social más efectivas.

BACKGROUND: Despite various strategies implemented to promote sexual education and prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the 10th National Youth Survey revealed that slightly more than half of young people in Chile used a condom during their last sexual encounter. While several sociodemographic, cultural, and psychological predictors have been described, recent studies specific to Chile are scarce. AIM: To examine the relationship between social determinants, gender roles, and mental health symptoms with condom use in young Chileans. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Secondary data from the 10th National Youth Survey were analyzed. The analytical sample comprised 5,507 young people who had started their sexual life. Multiple binomial logistic regression models were run using survey-based data estimates. RESULTS: Older youth, women, people who identify with any ethnicity, those in a dating relationship, and those diagnosed with an STI are less likely to use a condom at last intercourse. CONCLUSION: Individual characteristics can explain adherence to preventive behaviors and may reflect underlying psychological and cultural factors. Identifying socio-structural, cultural, and psychological factors associated with preventive and protective sexual behaviors should be a health priority, as it enables the design and promotion of more effective social communication campaigns.

Problemas de salud mental en universitarios durante la pandemia por COVID-19: ¿qué tipo de ayuda buscan? / Mental health problems in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: What kind of help do they seek?

Introducción: La pandemia por COVID-19 ha tenido un impacto negativo en el bienestar psicológico de la población, siendo los jóvenes un grupo especialmente vulnerable. Objetivo: El presente estudio se propuso examinar los niveles de búsqueda de ayuda (formal e informal) para problemas en salud mental y sus variables asociadas en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios de la Región de La Araucanía, en el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19. Método: A través de un muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia, se reclutó a 500 estudiantes de entre 18 y 29 años. Se describió y comparó su nivel de búsqueda de ayuda, así como variables que podrían obstaculizarla o facilitarla, según género. Adicionalmente, se estimaron modelos de regresión lineal múltiple diferenciados por género, con la búsqueda de ayuda informal como variable criterio. Resultados: Se evidenció una renuencia general a buscar ayuda (formal e informal) tanto en hombres como mujeres, una mayor experimentación de malestar psicológico y mayor conocimiento sobre salud mental en mujeres. Finalmente, se observaron diferencias en los predictores de la búsqueda de ayuda informal entre hombres y mujeres, siendo el apoyo social y las emociones negativas en pandemia los únicos comunes entre géneros. Conclusión: Se discuten los bajos niveles de búsqueda de ayuda evidenciados, y las diferencias observadas en variables asociadas, en función de la brecha de género en salud mental.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the psychological well-being of the population, with young people being a particularly vulnerable group. Aim: The present study examines help-seeking intention for mental health problems and associated variables among male and female university students in La Araucanía Region during the COVI-19 pandemic. Method: A sample of 500 students aged 18 to 29 was recruited through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Help-seeking levels and facilitating or hindering variables were compared by gender. Multiple linear regression models were estimated separately by gender to predict the criterion variable of informal help-seeking. Results: The results indicate that both men and women are reluctant to seek help (formal and informal). Women reported higher levels of psychological distress and greater knowledge about mental health than men. Differences in predictors of informal help-seeking between men and women are evidenced, with social support and negative emotions in pandemic being the only common predictors between genders. Conclusion: The low levels of help-seeking evidenced, and the differences observed in associated variables based on the gender gap in mental health, are discussed.

Subjective culture and HIV preventive behaviour among young Latin Americans: a systematic review.

Given high levels of new HIV infection globally, calls have been made for greater attention to the cultural variables that hinder prevention and testing. However, no reviews exist to systematise the findings. This study aimed to identify the cultural variables associated with three HIV preventive behaviours (condom use, HIV testing behaviour, and injection drug use with non-shared or sterilised syringes) among young Latin Americans. A systematic review was conducted guided by PRISMA-P criteria, on five databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Medline and Scielo), which identified 2474 articles. Scientific articles and empirical studies that addressed cultural variables and HIV preventive behaviours among young people aged 15-24 years of age using Latin American samples were selected, with 37 articles being included in the final review. Six key cultural variables: the importance of female virginity; the role of trust in the couple's relationship; the disorienting effects of romantic love; the role of subjective norms; the importance of decision-making norms; and impulse control beliefs. Gender norms provide a framework for understanding sexual decision-making among young Latin Americans. Although young people have begun to adopt more egalitarian views of gender norms, deep-rooted beliefs about gender, sexuality and relationships continue to impact on HIV prevention behaviour.

[Condom use among young Chileans: The role of social determinants, gender roles and mental health]. / Uso de condón en jóvenes chilenos: El rol de los determinantes sociales, roles de género y salud mental.

BACKGROUND: Despite various strategies implemented to promote sexual education and prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the 10th National Youth Survey revealed that slightly more than half of young people in Chile used a condom during their last sexual encounter. While several sociodemographic, cultural, and psychological predictors have been described, recent studies specific to Chile are scarce. AIM: To examine the relationship between social determinants, gender roles, and mental health symptoms with condom use in young Chileans. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Secondary data from the 10th National Youth Survey were analyzed. The analytical sample comprised 5,507 young people who had started their sexual life. Multiple binomial logistic regression models were run using survey-based data estimates. RESULTS: Older youth, women, people who identify with any ethnicity, those in a dating relationship, and those diagnosed with an STI are less likely to use a condom at last intercourse. CONCLUSION: Individual characteristics can explain adherence to preventive behaviors and may reflect underlying psychological and cultural factors. Identifying socio-structural, cultural, and psychological factors associated with preventive and protective sexual behaviors should be a health priority, as it enables the design and promotion of more effective social communication campaigns.