Relation between metacognitive strategies, motivation to think, and critical thinking skills.

Critical thinking is a complex reasoning skill, and even though it is hard to reach a consensus on its definition, there is agreement on it being an eminently cognitive skill. It is strongly related with reflective and metacognitive skills, as well as attitudinal or motivational aspects, although no model has yet been able to integrate these three elements. We present herein the preliminary results of a study seeking to establish these relations, in a sample of Chilean university students. 435 students from three universities participated, of which 88 were men, 333 were women, and 14 did not indicate their gender. Their ages ranges between 18 and 51 years old (M = 21, SD = 3.09). Three instruments were applied, one to measure metacognitive strategies, one to measure motivation to critical thinking, and a third to measure critical thinking skills. The relation was analyzed via structural equations. The results show a positive, strong, and significant relation between metacognition and motivation to think. However, only a weak significant relation was observed between motivation to think and critical thinking, and no direct relation was found between metacognition and critical thinking. We hypothesize a significant but moderate relation between the variables, where metacognition influences motivation to think, which in turn influences critical thinking skills. Factors are discussed which could negatively affect the studied relations, as well as the importance of generating integrated models between the three variables, as they would show a theoretical and empirical link.

Caesarean delivery and early childhood caries: Estimation with marginal structural models in Brazilian pre-schoolers.

OBJECTIVE: This study analysed the association between caesarean section and early childhood caries (ECC), estimating the effects using regression and causal inference models. METHODS: This was a historical cohort study of 697 mother-child dyads, conducted in São Luís, Brazil. The caesarean section was the exposure, and the severity of ECC (dmft) was the outcome. Covariates household income, maternal schooling, maternal hypertension, maternal obesity and birth weight were adjusted for in the models. The effects were estimated by Poisson regression (Means Ratio-MR) and causal inference using a marginal structural model (MSM) (MR and Average Treatment Effect-ATE coefficients), weighted by the inverse probability (IPW) of exposure. RESULTS: Caesarean section was protective against caries in the bivariate (MR 0.81; CI 0.70-0.94; P = 0.005) and multivariate (MR 0.78; CI 0.67-0.91; P = 0.002) models. In MSM analyses, the caesarean section had no effect on ECC (ATE = -0.35; P = 0.107), controlling for IPW of exposure. CONCLUSION: The apparent association between caesarean section and ECC severity seems spurious, as it did not persist after employing a superior approach to estimating causality.

Inversion of traditional gender roles and intimate partner violence against pregnant women / Inversão de papéis tradicionais de gênero e violência por parceiros íntimos contra gestantes / Inversión de los roles tradicionales de género y violencia doméstica contra mujeres embarazadas

This study analyzed the association between the inversion of traditional gender roles and exclusive psychological and physical/sexual intimate partner violence, in a cross-sectional study of Brazilian pregnant women, identified through prenatal services in the municipalities of São Luís, Maranhão State (n = 992) and Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State (n = 943). The pregnant women ranged from 12 to 45 years. Inversion of traditional gender roles was assessed by calculating differences in age, education and occupation between pregnant women and their co-residing intimate partners and identifying the largest contribution to family income. The conceptual model was tested with structural equation modeling and showed acceptable fit. The prevalence of any type of intimate partner violence was 29.8% in São Luís and 20.1% in Ribeirão Preto. In both municipalities, pregnant women were more likely to suffer exclusive psychological and physical/sexual violence when they had the highest income in the family (p < 0.005). In São Luís, physical/sexual violence was more common among women who were better educated than their partners (standardized coefficient, SC = -0.466; p = 0.007). In Ribeirão Preto, exclusive psychological violence was more frequent among women who had lower status occupations than their partners (SC = 0.236; p = 0.004). Inversion of traditional gender roles is associated with exclusive psychological and physical/sexual violence against pregnant women by their co-residing intimate partners. These findings suggest that women's empowerment at an individual level does not necessarily relieve them of intimate partner abuse in social contexts where traditional gender norms persist.

O estudo analisou a associação entre a inversão de papéis tradicionais de gênero e violência psicológica exclusiva e física/sexual por parceiros íntimos, em um estudo transversal com gestantes brasileiras usuárias de serviços de pré-natal nos municípios de São Luís, Maranhão (n = 992) e Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo (n = 943). As gestantes tinham idades de 12 e 45 anos. A inversão dos papéis tradicionais de gênero foi avaliada cálculando diferenças em idade, escolaridade e ocupação entre as gestantes e seus parceiros íntimos residentes, e a pessoa que mais contribuía para a renda familiar. O modelo conceitual foi testado com modelagem de equações estruturais e mostrou ajuste aceitável. A prevalência de qualquer tipo de violência cometida pelo parceiro íntimo foi de 29,8% em São Luís e 20,1% em Ribeirão Preto. Nos dois municípios, as gestantes mais frequentemente sofreram violência psicológica exclusiva e física/sexual quando eram a pessoa de maior renda na família (p < 0,005). Em São Luís, violência física/sexual era mais comum entre mulheres com mais escolaridade em relação aos seus parceiros (coeficiente padrão, CP = -0,466; p = 0,007). Em Ribeirão Preto, violência psicológica exclusiva era mais frequente entre mulheres com ocupações de menor status em relação aos parceiros (CP = 0,236; p = 0,004). A inversão dos papéis de gênero tradicionais está associada à violência psicológica exclusiva e à violência física/sexual contra as gestantes por seus parceiros íntimos. Os achados sugerem que o empoderamento individual das mulheres não necessariamente protege contra o abuso pelos parceiros íntimos em contextos sociais em que persistem as normas de gênero tradicionais.

Este estudio analizó la asociación entre la inversión de los tradicionales roles de género y la violencia doméstica exclusiva psicológica y física/sexual, en un estudio transversal con mujeres embarazadas brasileñas, identificadas a través de los servicios prenatales en los municipios de São Luís, Maranhão (n = 992) y Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo (n = 943). Las mujeres embarazas se encontraban en un rango de edad entre los 12 y los 45 años. La inversión de los roles tradicionales de género fue evaluada calculando las diferencias de edad, educación y ocupación entre las mujeres embarazadas y las parejas que residen con ellas, e identificando quién realiza la contribución más grande a los ingresos familiares. El modelo conceptual fue probado con el modelado de ecuaciones estructurales, y mostró un ajuste aceptable. La prevalencia de cualquier tipo de violencia por parte de la pareja fue del 29,8% en São Luís y 20,1% en Ribeirão Preto. En ambos municipios, las mujeres embarazadas fueron más proclives a sufrir violencia exclusiva psicológica y física/sexual, cuando contaban con los ingresos más altos en la familia (p < 0.005). En São Luís, la violencia física/sexual fue más común entre mujeres que estuvieron mejor educadas que sus parejas (coeficiente estandarizado, CE = -0.466; p = 0.007). En Ribeirão Preto, la violencia exclusiva sicológica fue más frecuente entre mujeres que tenían ocupaciones de estatus inferior al de sus parejas (CE = 0.236; p = 0.004). La inversión de roles tradicionales está asociada con la violencia exclusiva psicológica y física/sexual contra las mujeres embarazadas por parte de las parejas que residen con ellas. Estos hallazgos sugieren que el empoderamiento de las mujeres en un nivel individual no las alivia necesariamente del abuso por parte sus parejas en contextos sociales donde persisten las normas tradicionales de género.

Direct effect of common mental disorders on xerostomia in adults estimated by marginal structural models: A population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the controlled direct effect (CDE) of common mental disorders (CMD) on xerostomia which is not mediated by psychoactive medication intake. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 1720 individuals aged 20-59 years from Florianópolis, Brazil, in 2009. A two-stage cluster sample design was adopted, with a systematic selection of census tracts, followed by a random selection of households. All inhabitants of the selected households belonging to the age group of interest were considered eligible to participate. CMD were assessed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ > 7). Xerostomia was the outcome assessed by asking: "How often do you feel dry mouth?" with responses "often" and "always" taken as indicating xerostomia. Psychoactive medication intake was set as the mediator. Confounding factors included sex, age, per capita family income, educational attainment and smoking status. Marginal structural models were performed to quantify the CDE of CMD on xerostomia. Missing data were handled by multiple imputation by chained equations, and sensitivity analysis for unmeasured confounding was carried out. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of xerostomia was 8.8% and 15.3% of the individuals presented with CMD. After adjustment, the prevalence of xerostomia among individuals with CMD was 3.2 times higher than that among individuals without CMD (PR = 3.2 [95% CI: 2.3; 4.5]). The CDE of CMD on xerostomia which is not mediated by the medication intake resulted in a three times greater prevalence of xerostomia (PR = 3.0 95% CI: 2.0; 4.5) among those individuals with CMD. CONCLUSIONS: Common mental disorders is directly and negatively associated with xerostomia. Clinicians should bear in mind the emotional state when investigating the underlying factors and managing patients with xerostomia.

The roll-out of a health insurance program and its impact on the supply of healthcare services: a new method to evaluate time-varying continuous interventions.

BACKGROUND: We analyze the effects of the Mexican universal health insurance program, Seguro Popular, on key variables associated with the provision of healthcare services. Given that the program was introduced gradually over a period that lasted more than a decade, the dynamics of the roll-out of the program and its reaction to the expansion of healthcare services it caused should be accounted for when evaluating the program. METHODS: We present a new semiparametric procedure to analyze time-varying continuous interventions. This is accomplished by bringing together the literatures on continuous and on dynamic treatments. Our approach allows the researcher to estimate mean and quantile dose-response functions by applying local regression methods to appropriately weighted samples that control for time-dependent confounding. RESULTS: Using administrative data, we show compelling evidence that Seguro Popular has incremented the human and physical resources available for healthcare services over the period 2001-2013. Moreover, we show that these effects have been heterogeneously distributed. CONCLUSIONS: The program has proven most helpful in less vulnerable territories, leaving behind those in greater need.

Modelos de ecuaciones estructurales: Características, fases, construcción, aplicación y resultados / Structural equation modeling: Features, phases, construction, implementation and results

Se exponen las características y fases de los modelos de ecuaciones estructurales, así como las etapas de construcción, siendo estas la especificación, identificación, estimación de parámetros, evaluación del ajuste, reespecificación del modelo y la interpretación de resultados. Se presenta el análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio como parte para la construcción de un modelo. Se detallan algunos paquetes computacionales como el LISREL, AMOS y SPSS. A modo de ejemplificar los modelos de ecuaciones estructurales, se realiza un estudio en la población docente de tiempo completo del departamento de ingeniería Industrial y Manufactura de una universidad pública de Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México. Se estudia el impacto de los factores socioculturales y ergoambientales en la satisfacción laboral, obteniendo un modelo resultante en el que se detallan las variables más y menos significativas. No se rechazan las cuatro hipótesis cuyos valores son 0,06, 0,06, 0,071, 0,074, respectivamente.

The characteristics and phases of structural equation modeling and construction phases, and these are the specification, identification, parameter estimation, assessment of adjustment, re-specification of the model and the interpretation of results are shown. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis as part for the construction of a model is presented. Some software packages like LISREL, AMOS and SPSS are detailed. By way of illustrating the structural equation modeling, a study was performed on the population of full-time faculty of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Manufacturing of a public university in Ciudad juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The impact of sociocultural and ergoambientales factors in getting a job satisfaction resulting model in which more and less significant variables detailed studied. The four scenarios whose values are 0,06, 0,06, 0,071, 0,074 respectively can not refuse.

Relación Entre las Estrategias de Manejo del Conflicto y la Percepción de la Violencia Situacional en la Pareja / The Relationship Between Strategies for Conflict Management and the Perception of Situational Violence in Couples / Relação Entre as Estratégias de Administração do Conflito e a Percepção da Violência Situacional no Casal

Se buscó determinar si las estrategias de manejo del conflicto influyen en la violencia situacional en la pareja. A una muestra de 342 participantes se le aplicó la Escala de Estrategias de Manejo de Conflicto y la Escala de Violencia en la Pareja. Los resultados indicaron que los hombres muestran mayor afecto, tiempo y acomodación que las mujeres ante los conflictos de pareja; sin embargo, ellas perciben más violencia física y económica, así como mayor intimidación y humillación/devaluación. Un modelo estructural para el análisis de los datos mostró que la violencia fue predicha por las dimensiones de las estrategias de manejo del conflicto de evitación, tiempo, afecto, acomodación y reflexión/comunicación.

The objective of this study was to determine whether conflict management strategies influence situational violence in couples. The Conflict Management Strategies Scale and the Violence in Couples Scale were used with a sample of 342 participants. Results indicated that men show greater affection, time, and accommodation than women in cases of conflict; whereas women perceived greater physical and economic violence, as well as more intimidation and humiliation/devaluation. An structural equation model for data analysis showed that violence was predicted by the conflict management dimensions of avoidance, time, affection, accommodation, and reflection/communication.

Pretendeu-se determinar se as estratégias de manejo de conflito influenciam na violência situacional no casal. A uma amostra de 342 participantes, foi aplicada a Escala de Estratégia de Administração de Conflito e a Escala de Violência no Casal. Os resultados indicaram que os homens mostram maior afeto, tempo e acomodação que as mulheres ante os conflitos do casal; contudo, elas percebem mais violência física e econômica, bem como maior intimidação e humilhação/desvalorização. Um modelo estrutural para a análise dos dados mostrou que a violência foi prevista pelas dimensões das estratégias de administração do conflito de evitação, tempo, afeto, acomodação e reflexão/comunicação.

Modelos Explicativos del Uso del Condón en las Relaciones Sexuales de Adolescentes / Explanatory Models of Condom Use in Coital Sex of Adolescents

El presente estudio tuvo como propósitos investigar sistemáticamente los factores actitudinales e interpersonales que inciden en el uso del condón en las relaciones sexuales coitales entre estudiantes de bachillerato, así como elaborar modelos estructurales que muestren las interrelaciones y los efectos directos e indirectos de dichos factores sobre la frecuencia del uso del condón. Participaron 527 adolescentes quienes reportaron haber tenido relaciones sexuales alguna vez en la vida. Se usó un cuestionario que mide prácticas sexuales y frecuencia del uso del condón durante los encuentros sexuales, así como 80 preguntas de tipo ordinal divididas en cinco factores: 1) asertividad sexual, 2) sumisión sexual, 3) baja percepción de riesgo sexual, 4) enamoramiento y 5) aceptación del uso del condón. Con el uso de ecuaciones estructurales, se trazaron modelos de trayectorias con los factores obtenidos y la frecuencia de uso de condón. Los modelos estructurales para hombres y para mujeres muestran niveles aceptables de ajuste a los datos así como efectos directos significativos entre todas las variables, específicamente se reporta el efecto directo de las variables de aceptación del uso del condón y asertividad sexual sobre la frecuencia del uso del condón. Estos resultados amplían las posibilidades de explicación e intervención psicosocial sobre la conducta sexual de riesgo entre adolescentes.

The purpose of this study was to systematically investigate the attitudinal and interpersonal factors that influence condom use in coital sex between high school students and to develop structural models that show the interrelationships and the direct and indirect effects of these factors on frequency of condom use. Participants were 527 adolescents who reported having consensual sex at least once in life. For this matter a questionnaire measuring frequency of sex and condom use during sexual encounters was used, also 80 ordinal questions divided into five factors: 1) sexual assertiveness, 2) sexual submission, 3) low sexual risk perception, 4) infatuation and 5) acceptance of condom use. Using structural equations trajectories and frequency of condom use were drawn. Structural models for men and women show acceptable levels of fitness to the data as well as significant direct effects between all the variables, specifically direct effect of variables acceptance on condom use and sexual assertiveness on the frequency of preservative use. These results extend the possibilities of explanation and psychosocial intervention on sexual risk behavior among adolescents.

Association of long-duration breastfeeding and dental caries estimated with marginal structural models.

PURPOSE: To estimate the association between breastfeeding 24 months or beyond and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). METHODS: Within a birth cohort (n = 715) from low-income families in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the age 38-month prevalence of S-ECC (≥4 affected tooth surfaces or ≥1 affected maxillary anterior teeth) was compared over breastfeeding duration categories using marginal structural models to account for time-dependent confounding by other feeding habits and child growth. Additional analyses assessed whether daily breastfeeding frequency modified the association of breastfeeding duration and S-ECC. Multiple imputation and censoring weights were used to address incomplete covariate information and missing outcomes, respectively. Confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using bootstrap resampling. RESULTS: Breastfeeding 24 months or beyond was associated with the highest adjusted population-average S-ECC prevalence (0.45; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.54) compared with breastfeeding less than 6 months (0.22; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.28), 6-11 months (0.38; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.53), or 12-23 months (0.39; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.56). High-frequency breastfeeding enhanced the association between long-duration breastfeeding and caries (excess prevalence due to interaction: 0.13; 80% CI, -0.03 to 0.30). CONCLUSIONS: In this population, breastfeeding 24 months or beyond, particularly if frequent, was associated with S-ECC. Dental health should be one consideration, among many, in evaluating health outcomes associated with breastfeeding 24 months or beyond.

Condutividade térmica de leites com diferentes teores de umidade e gordura: medidas experimentais e modelos de predição / Thermal conductivity of milk with different levels of moisture and fat: experimental measures and prediction models

A condutividade térmica é uma das propriedades mais influentes durante a pasteurização, sendo altamente dependente da composição do leite e da temperatura utilizada no processo. Este trabalho objetivou modelar a condutividade em uma faixa de temperatura de 20 a 80C para leites com teores de umidade de 88,3 a 91,2% e teores de gordura entre 0 e 3,5%. Para o leite com menor porcentagem de umidade, a condutividade variou de 0,560 a 0,637 W m-1 K-1 e para aquele com maior teor de umidade a condutividade esteve entre 0,584 a 0,652 W m-1 K-1. Três modelos teóricos de predição, série, paralelo e de Maxwell-Eucken, os quais utilizam dados da composição do alimento foram testados e funções polinomiais foram ajustadas para modelar o comportamento desta propriedade em função dos teores de umidade e gordura do leite. Os resultados mostraram que os valores da condutividade térmica são linearmente dependentes do teor de umidade e inversamente dependentes dos teores de gordura. Entre os modelos testados, o modelo Paralelo foi o que melhor se ajustou aos dados experimentais com erro máximo de 2,7%.

Thermal conductivity is one of the most influential properties affecting the pasteurization of milk and is highly dependent on the milk composition and the temperature used in the process. The purpose of this work was to model the thermal conductivity of milk with a moisture content from 88.3 to 91.2% and fat content from 0 to 3.5% from 20 to 80C. For milk with a lower moisture percentage, the experimental conductivity ranged from 0.560 to 0.637 W m-1 K-1, and for those samples with a higher moisture percentage, conductivity ranged from 0.584 to 0.652 W m-1 K-1. Three theoretical predictive models, series, parallel and Maxwell-Eucken, which use food composition data, were tested, and polynomial functions were fit to model the behavior of this property as a function of moisture and fat content. The results showed that thermal conductivity values are linearly dependent on the moisture content and inversely dependent on the fat content. Among the models, the parallel model was the best fit to the experimental data with a maximum error of 2.7%.

Condutividade térmica de leites com diferentes teores de umidade e gordura: medidas experimentais e modelos de predição / Thermal conductivity of milk with different levels of moisture and fat: experimental measures and prediction models

A condutividade térmica é uma das propriedades mais influentes durante a pasteurização, sendo altamente dependente da composição do leite e da temperatura utilizada no processo. Este trabalho objetivou modelar a condutividade em uma faixa de temperatura de 20 a 80C para leites com teores de umidade de 88,3 a 91,2% e teores de gordura entre 0 e 3,5%. Para o leite com menor porcentagem de umidade, a condutividade variou de 0,560 a 0,637 W m-1 K-1 e para aquele com maior teor de umidade a condutividade esteve entre 0,584 a 0,652 W m-1 K-1. Três modelos teóricos de predição, série, paralelo e de Maxwell-Eucken, os quais utilizam dados da composição do alimento foram testados e funções polinomiais foram ajustadas para modelar o comportamento desta propriedade em função dos teores de umidade e gordura do leite. Os resultados mostraram que os valores da condutividade térmica são linearmente dependentes do teor de umidade e inversamente dependentes dos teores de gordura. Entre os modelos testados, o modelo Paralelo foi o que melhor se ajustou aos dados experimentais com erro máximo de 2,7%.

Thermal conductivity is one of the most influential properties affecting the pasteurization of milk and is highly dependent on the milk composition and the temperature used in the process. The purpose of this work was to model the thermal conductivity of milk with a moisture content from 88.3 to 91.2% and fat content from 0 to 3.5% from 20 to 80C. For milk with a lower moisture percentage, the experimental conductivity ranged from 0.560 to 0.637 W m-1 K-1, and for those samples with a higher moisture percentage, conductivity ranged from 0.584 to 0.652 W m-1 K-1. Three theoretical predictive models, series, parallel and Maxwell-Eucken, which use food composition data, were tested, and polynomial functions were fit to model the behavior of this property as a function of moisture and fat content. The results showed that thermal conductivity values are linearly dependent on the moisture content and inversely dependent on the fat content. Among the models, the parallel model was the best fit to the experimental data with a maximum error of 2.7%.

Análisis factorial confirmatorio de los principales modelos propuestos para el Purpose-In-Life Test en una muestra de universitarios españoles / Confirmatory factor analysis of the main models proposed for the Purpose-In-Life Test in a sample of Spanish undergraduates / Análise fatorial confirmatório dos principais modelos propostos para o Purpose-In-Life Test em uma mostra de universitários espanhóis

En los últimos años varios trabajos han analizado la estructura factorial del Purpose-In-Life Test, instrumento que mide el logro de sentido de la vida desde los planteamientos de la logoterapia, con resultados muy heterogéneos. El objetivo del presente trabajo consistió en poner a prueba distintos modelos propuestos en la literatura anterior, con una muestra de 766 alumnos de dos universidades de la Comunidad Valenciana (España), de los que 220 son hombres y 546 son mujeres, con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 36 años (M = 21.96; DT = 3.56). Se realizaron análisis factoriales confirmatorios de dichos modelos y se compararon los valores de ajuste y las estructuras factoriales obtenidas, encontrando apoyo empírico para tres modelos bifactoriales.

In recent years several papers have examined the structure of the Purpose-In-Life Test, which measures the achievement of meaning in life from the approach of logotherapy, having found heterogeneous results. The aim of this study was to test different models proposed in previous literature with a sample of 766 Spanish undergraduates (220 males, 546 females) from two universities of the Valencia Community (Spain), aged between 18 and 36 (M = 21.96; SD = 3.56). Confirmatory factor analysis of these models was conducted. The adjustment values and the factorial structures obtained were compared, finding empirical support for three bi-factorial models.

Nos últimos anos vários trabalhos analisaram a estrutura fatorial do Purpose-In-Life Test, instrumento que mede o sucesso do sentido da vida desde as propostas da logoterapia, havendo sido obtidos resultados muito heterogêneos. O objetivo do presente trabalho consistiu em testar diferentes modelos propostos na literatura anterior, com uma mostra de 766 alunos de duas universidades da Comunidade Valenciana (Espanha), dos quais 220 são homens e 546 são mulheres, com idades compreendidas entre 18 e 36 anos (M = 21.96; DT = 3.56). Realizaram-se análises fatoriais confirmatórias desses modelos e foram comparados os valores de ajuste e as estruturas fatoriais obtidas, encontrando apoio empírico para três modelos bifatoriais.

Comparing Body Image and Risky Eating Behavior between Mexican and German Women / Comparando Imagen Corporal y Conducta Alimentaria de Riesgo entre Mujeres Mexicanas y Alemanas

Background. Body dissatisfaction is regarded as a powerful risk factor for dietary restraint and bulimic behavior among women. Objective. To compare Mexican and German women's body image and eating risk factors by developing structural models to find similarities or differences between the two samples. Participants. The non-random sample of N = 404 (Mexican: 175; German: 229) medical and nursing students (total Mage = 20.6, SD = 0.86) answered standardized scales (EAT and EDI) and a culture-free 10-silhouette scale on body dissatisfaction. Hypothesis. The main hypothesis proposed that Mexican women will show a stronger relationship between body dissatisfaction and restrained diet than the German women will. Results.The findings confirmed this hypothesis by showing that in the relationship dissatisfaction-dieting, the Mexican group obtained the highest values of the correlation and determination coefficients, compared to the German group. Discussion.Mexican women underestimated their body size, and it could be that body size underestimation lessens social pressure. It is concluded that whether this may be seen as a contradictory result or as a cognitive-defensive strategy in order to minimize the pressure experienced must be decided with further investigation.

Antecedentes. La insatisfacción corporal es un poderoso factor de riesgo para dieta restringida y conducta bulímica en mujeres. Objetivo. Comparar imagen corporal y conducta alimentaria de riesgo en mujeres mexicanas y alemanas mediante el desarrollo de modelos estructurales detectando al mismo tiempo similitudes y diferencias. Participantes. La muestra no aleatoria de N = 404 estudiantes de medicina y enfermería (175 mexicanas y 229 alemanas) con una Media total = 20.6 años (DE = 0.86) respondió a escalas estandarizadas (EAT y EDI) y a una escala de insatisfacción corporal de 10- siluetas libre de influencia cultural. Hipótesis. Las mexicanas mostrarán una relación más fuerte entre insatisfacción corporal y dieta restringida que las alemanas. Resultados. Los hallazgos confirman la hipótesis, mostrando que el grupo mexicano obtuvo los coeficientes (de correlación y de determinación) más altos en la relación insatisfacción-dieta. Discusión. Las mexicanas subestiman el tamaño de su cuerpo y se asume que dicha subestimación podría tener como propósito disminuir la presión social. Se concluye que si esto puede interpretarse como un resultado contradictorio o como una estrategia cognitivo defensiva para minimizar la presión experimentada debe decidirse con nuevas investigaciones.