The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) amongst Young Spanish Adults / La escala de resiliencia de Connor-Davidson en adultos españoles jóvenes

The interest in resilience has grown over the last few decades due to its relationships with health, well-being, and quality of life. Several instruments have been developed to measure resilience, with one of the most common being the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). This scale has been validated in many cultures with divergent results. This paper investigates the factor structure of the CD-RISC. Participants were 3,214 students (62.1% female, mean age = 21.01, SD = 2.86) who were randomly divided into two equal subsamples (n = 1,607). One subsample was used to explore which models best fit the data and these models were fitted using the other subsample. Confirmatory factor analysis did not support the original 5-factor CD-RISC. The analyses supported unidimensional scale structures for both the 22-item and 10-item versions of the scale. The shorter instrument reduces the time needed to answer the questionnaire, allows it to be combined with other instruments, and does not require large sample sizes

El interés por el estudio de la resiliencia ha aumentado en las últimas décadas debido a su relación con la salud, el bienestar y la calidad de vida. Se han desarrollado diversos instrumentos para medir la resiliencia, siendo uno de los más comunes la Escala de Resiliencia de Connor-Davidson (CD-RISC). Esta escala ha sido validada en muchas culturas con resultados diversos. En este trabajo se analiza la estructura factorial del CD-RISC en una muestra de 3,214 estudiantes (62.1% mujeres, edad media =21.01, DT = 2.86) que fueron divididos aleatoriamente en dos submuestras iguales (n = 1,607). Se exploró en una de las submuestras qué modelos se ajustaban mejor a los datos y estos modelos fueron ajustados en la otra submuestra. El análisis factorial confirmatorio no avaló la estructura de 5 factores del CD-RISC, sino que confirmó una estructura unidimensional de 22 y de 10 items. La escala de 10 items reduce el tiempo de aplicación del cuestionario, permite combinarlo con otros instrumentos y no requiere muestras muy grandes

Búsqueda de sensaciones y consumo de alcohol: El papel mediador de la percepción de riesgos y beneficios / Sensation seeking and alcohol use: The mediating role of perceived risks and benefits

La búsqueda de sensaciones es una de las variables de personalidad más estrechamente ligadas con la adopción de distintas conductas de riesgo, especialmente el consumo de alcohol y otras drogas. Además, la búsqueda de sensaciones influye en la valoración que los individuos realizan sobre los riesgos y sus posibles consecuencias. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la relación entre la búsqueda de sensaciones y el consumo de alcohol en una muestra de 356 jóvenes con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 30 años. Además, hemos querido explorar el posible efecto mediador de las percepciones sesgadas de los individuos sobre los posibles riesgos y beneficios asociados al alcohol en la relación entre la personalidad y el abuso de alcohol. Los resultados obtenidos confirman la importancia de la búsqueda de sensaciones en la explicación del consumo abusivo de alcohol de los jóvenes y el papel mediador de las percepciones de riesgos y beneficios en la explicación de dicha relación. En la discusión del trabajo se analizan sus importantes implicaciones prácticas a la hora de diseñar intervenciones específicas dirigidas a prevenir los riesgos asociados al abuso de alcohol en jóvenes

Sensation seeking is one of personality variables more closely linked to the adoption of different risk behaviors, especially the use of alcohol and other drugs. In addition, sensation seeking influences valuation made by individuals about the risks and their possible consequences. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between sensation seeking and the consumption of alcohol in a sample of 356 young people aged between 18 and 25 years. In addition, we wanted to explore the possible effect mediator of biased perceptions of individuals about the potential risks and benefits associated with alcohol in the relationship between the personality and alcohol consumption. The results confirm the importance of sensation seeking in the explanation of the consumption of alcohol among young people and the mediating role of perceptions of risks and benefits in the explanation of the relationship. In the discussion of the work discussed their important practical implications when designing specific interventions aimed at preventing the risks associated with the consumption of alcohol in young people

Types of polydrug use among Spanish adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the types of polydrug use among Spanish adolescents. METHOD: 1501 high school students (50.6% female) aged 12 to 17years old (mean age=14.03, SD=1.28), from public schools in the city of Girona (Catalonia, Spain), completed the survey. RESULTS: In the previous six months 20.9% of the Spanish adolescents used alcohol, 18.8% tobacco, 10.5% cannabis and 0.7% cocaine. Specifically, 28.6% of the sample (n=429; 29% males and 28.2% females) used at least one drug and 13.9% reported polydrug use (n=208; 12.6% males and 15.1% females). The present research also found that the most critical ages for starting polydrug use were 14 and 15years old. More than one quarter (27.9%) of the adolescent polydrug users were type A (tobacco and alcohol), 67.8% were type B (cannabis together with tobacco and/or alcohol) and 3.4% were type C (cannabis together with tobacco and/or alcohol, and cocaine). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Spanish adolescents, particularly males, commence polydrug use at an earlier age than other European adolescents. Early preventative strategies and a multisubstance perspective are greatly needed in Spain to avoid the initiation of polydrug use or to prevent progress onto heavier drugs.

Ventajas e inconvenientes del uso del preservativo con una pareja afectiva heterosexual / Advantages and disadvantages of using condoms with an intimate heterosexual partner

Se analiza la validez de constructo y la consistencia interna de un cuestionario sobre ventajas e inconvenientes del uso del preservativo con una pareja afectiva heterosexual, así como su capacidad para predecir el uso del preservativo en el pasado y la intención de uso en los próximos tres meses. Participan en el estudio 1711 estudiantes universitarios (46.3% varones y 60% menores de 21 años) elegidos mediante muestreo de conveniencia. Se emplea un diseño transversal y los datos se recogen mediante autoinforme voluntario y anónimo. Los resultados muestran que la consistencia interna del cuestionario es equiparable a la de otros instrumentos semejantes (alfas de Cronbach en escala de ventajas: 0.605 y en escala de inconvenientes: 0.725). Tanto las ventajas como los inconvenientes del uso del preservativo predicen significativamente su uso sistemático en el pasado, con un mayor peso de las ventajas. Entre los jóvenes que no lo han utilizado siempre, y únicamente en los varones, las ventajas predicen la intención de uso en los próximos tres meses. Los resultados apoyan la realización de programas preventivos que destaquen los beneficios derivados del uso de preservativo y, así mismo, reduzcan las percepciones negativas asociadas a su empleo, con una atención preferente a los primeros (AU)

The validity and internal consistency of an anonymous self-report questionnaire assessing the perceived advantages and disadvantages of using a condom with an affective heterosexual partner was analyzed. We also analyzed the ability of the questionnaire to predict condom use in the past and the intention to use a condom within the next three months. A convenience sample consisting of 1711 college students (46.3% males, 60% aged fewer than 21) participated in the study. A crosssectional design was used. The internal consistency of the survey was comparable to similar instruments (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.605 for the advantages scale, 0.725 for the disadvantages scale). Advantages and disadvantages scores predicted systematic past condom use, although advantages were a stronger predictor. Advantages predicted the intention to use a condom in the next three months, although only among participants who were male and did not always use condoms. These findings suggest the need for prevention programs emphasizing the benefits of condom use and combating negative perceptions of their use, although emphasizing the benefits may have a greater impact on behavior (AU)

Perceived acceptance of condom use by partners, close friends, and parents of Spanish and Mozambican heterosexual adolescents.

PURPOSE: The main aim of the current study was to compare Spanish and Mozambican male and female secondary students, with regard to sexual behaviors and perceptions surrounding the acceptance of condom use. METHOD: The participants were 773 secondary students-412 from Spain and 361 from Mozambique, aged from 15 to 17 years old. Data collection was done using questionnaires. Analysis was carried out using multivariate methods. RESULTS: Spanish adolescents took more precautions than Mozambican adolescents. Furthermore, Spanish adolescents perceived that the acceptance of condom use by their referents were higher than those reported by the Mozambican adolescents. Among Spanish youths, only the perceived acceptance of their current partner predicted condom use in their most recent sexual encounter. DISCUSSION: Differences in the decision-making power of males and females and the type of partner might explain the differences observed in the preventive behavior of the students in both countries.

Consumo de tabaco y etapa de cambio: el papel de los intentos previos para dejar de fumar / Smoking prevalence and stage of change: the role of failed smoking quit attempts

Los objetivos de esta investigación son conocer la distribución por etapas de cambio del consumo de tabaco en personal universitario y analizar el papel específico de los intentos previos de eliminación de su conducta. Con este propósito se diseñó un estudio descriptivo transversal y se envió un cuestionario sobre la conducta de fumar a una muestra aleatoria (N = 366) de los 1800 miembros del personal de una universidad española. La distribución de los sujetos fumadores y exfumadores por etapas de cambio fue la siguiente: precontemplación: 30,1%; contemplación: 11,8%; preparación: 1,3%; acción: 7,8% y mantenimiento: 49%. El 72,7% de los precontempladores, a pesar de que en la actualidad no presentan intención de cambio, y el 68,8% de los contempladores intentaron pasar a la acción en el pasado año. Al preguntar a los exfumadores por el número total de intentos de abandono del consumo de tabaco se observa que el 58,3% de los exfumadores en acción abandonaron el consumo de tabaco en un único y definitivo intento en comparación al 89,7% de los exfumadores en mantenimiento. En consecuencia se requieren intervenciones específicas dirigidas a movilizar el amplio grupo de fumadores que no perciben que fumar sea un problema. Asimismo es necesario plantear una adecuada preparación del fumador de forma que en un único y definitivo intento pueda abandonar el hábito, evitando así posibles efectos negativos de sucesivos fracasos en el abandono (AU)

The aim of this research was to identify the stage of change distribution among university staff and also to analyse the role of failed attempts to quit smoking. A cross sectional survey design was used. Questionnaires about smoking habits were distributed among a representative sample (N= 366) of 1800 staff members at a Spanish university. The distribution of smokers and ex-smokers, by cessation phase, was as follows: precontemplation, 30.1%; contemplation, 11.8%; preparation, 1.3%; action, 7.8%; and maintenance, 49%. 72.7% of precontemplators and 68.8% of contemplators had attempted to take action in the past year. When asked about the number of prior smoking cessation attempts, the percentages of ex-smokers who reported having tried to quit smoking only once in the previous year were: action, 58.3%; and maintenance, 89.7%. So interventions developed specifically for precontemplators are needed. It would also seem appropriate to help prepare smokers to successfully achieve abstinence with only one try, thereby avoiding the potential negative effects of a relapse

Calidad de vida de los pacientes recién diagnosticados de esclerosis múltiple: influencia de las variables físicas y psicosociales / Quality of life of patients with recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis: impact of physical and psychosocial variables

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Motivation for change and the pros and cons of smoking in a Spanish population.

Decisional balance and the stage of change have been used to understand the motivation for giving up the habit of smoking. The objective of this study was to find out whether the associations between the pros and the cons of smoking, taking into account the magnitude and delay parameters, and stages of change, can be demonstrated in a sample of Spanish smokers and ex-smokers using a cross-sectional design. The results are compared with the patterns of pros and cons of smoking found in samples of American, Swiss and Dutch smokers. The data confirms that amongst Spanish smokers it is also in the stages of contemplation and preparation that the crossover in the valuation of the pros and cons of smoking takes place: the cons hold more weight than the pros. On the other hand, unexpectedly, the pros of smoking are more highly valued in the stages of action and maintenance than in the rest of the stages.

Mobile phone use while driving in a sample of Spanish university workers.

A number of epidemiological studies have reported drivers who use a mobile phone while driving have an elevated risk of being involved in a crash. This is particularly concerning as a survey of drivers in the Spanish region of Catalunya found that approximately 87% own mobile phones. The present study investigated the reported frequency of mobile phone use on Spanish roads (for talking and using SMS), the characteristics of the drivers who use mobile phones while driving and whether they altered their driving behaviour when using a mobile phone. The research found that more than 60% use a mobile phone while driving and that the phone is mostly used for making calls, rather than using SMS. In general, males and females use mobile phones about the same reported frequency, although males were more likely to use a mobile phone to talk on the highway. The pattern for age was the same for both male and female participants, with the younger drivers using SMS more frequently than older drivers. On urban roads almost half of the drivers reported changing their driving behaviour when using a mobile phone, while on the highway this figure was slightly over 41%. The reported frequency of using a mobile phone to talk on urban roads was significantly correlated with crash involvement. However, this affect disappeared once the contributions of the demographic and descriptive variables had been partialled out.

Análisis del patrón de consumo de cannabis en estudiantes universitarios / Analysis of cannabis consumption pattern in university students

Se anliza el patrón de consumo de cannabis en una muestra de 580 jóvenes universitarios (88.4% mujeres, edad media 21.4 años). Si bien se observa que proporcionalmente más hombres que mujeres consumen habitualmente cannabis, la magnitud de consumo de los que se reconocen usuarios es similar en ambos sexos. Se detecta que la dependencia percibida al cannabis se incrementa en función de la magnitud de consumo. Existe una relación positiva entre consumo de tabaco y de cannabis: el 90% de los jóvenes que no ha probado nunca el tabaco tampoco ha probado nunca el cannabis, mientras que menos del 15% de los fumadores habituales de tabaco se hallan en esa situación. Estos resultados sugieren la necesidad de abordajes conjuntos para la prevención del conumo de drogas, principalmente en lo que se refiere al tabacco y el cannabis

The pattern of cannabis use amongst a sample of 580 university students (88.4% female, mean age 21.4 years old) were analysed. Proportionally more males than females normally consume cannabis, although there was no difference in the amount of consumption by gender. Perceived dependence on cannabis increased with the amount of consumption. There was also a positive relationship between tobacco and cannabis use, such that 90% of students who had never tried tobacco, had also never tried cannabis. Conversely, less than 15% of tobacco smokers have never tried cannabis. These findings suggest the need for combined actions to prevent drug consumption, particularly with regards to tabacco and cannabis

Increasing safety-belt use in Spanish drivers: a field test of personal prompts.

A variation of the ABAB experimental design was used to assess the impact of a verbal prompt on safety-belt use for those traveling by urban roads and highways in Spain. The personal prompt resulted in an increase (29.6%) in safety-belt use among drivers traveling on urban roads. This research shows that the impact of personal prompts can be generalized to cultures outside the United States.