[Emotional consequences of providing care to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients]. / Consecuencias emocionales del cuidado del paciente con esclerosis lateral amiotrófica.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: This study describes the emotional and personal consequences of providing care to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Six caregivers aged from 23 to 67 years old (mean age: 38.2 +/- 15.6), weight interviewed. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAS) and the OARS Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire were applied. The subjects were interviewed with semi-structured questions about medical information, caregiver burden, coping, social support, impact on his/her health, stressor and religious resources. In order to be included in the research, the subject had to be an ALS patient caregiver. Every interview was audio recorded and transcribed, and a content analysis was realized. RESULTS: They show emotions caused by unfavorable life conditions and were classified into seven main categories: 1) defenselessness, 2) negative affection, 3) hope, 4) sadness, 5) depression, 6) isolation and 7) loneliness. CONCLUSION: This study shows that providing care to ALS patient affects the familiar, social and emotional caregiver's system.

Consecuencias emocionales del cuidado del paciente con esclerosis lateral amiotrófica / Emotional consequences of providing care to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients

Introducción y objetivos. Este trabajo estudia las consecuencias que tiene el cuidado de un enfermo con esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA) en la vida emocional y personal del cuidador. Sujetos y métodos. Se entrevistó a seis cuidadores con edades entre 23 y 67 años (x = 38,2 ± 15,6), se les aplicó la escala de ansiedad y depresión hospitalaria (HAS), la escala sobre actividades de la vida diaria (OARS) y una serie de preguntas semiestructuradas sobre información médica, carga del cuidador, afrontamiento, apoyo social, impacto en la salud, agentes estresantes y recursos religiosos. Para ser incluido en la investigación, el participante debía ser el cuidador del paciente con ELA. Todas las entrevistas fueron grabadas y transcritas, y se llevó a cabo un análisis de su contenido. Resultados. El estudio muestra la existencia de emociones provocadas por condiciones de vida desfavorable, que se han agrupado en siete categorías principales: 1) indefensión; 2) afecto negativo; 3) esperanza; 4) tristeza; 5) depresión; 6) aislamiento; y 7) soledad. Conclusión. Se pone de manifiesto que el brindar cuidado a un enfermo con ELA afecta al sistema familiar, social y emocional del cuidador

Introduction and aims. This study describes the emotional and personal consequences of providing care to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Subjects and methods. Six caregivers aged from 23 to 67 years old (mean age: 38.2 ± 15.6), weight interviewed. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAS) and the OARS Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire were applied. The subjects were interviewed with semi-structured questions about medical information, caregiver burden, coping, social support, impact on his/her health, stressor and religious resources. In order to be included in the research, the subject had to be an ALS patient caregiver. Every interview was audio recorded and transcribed, and a content analysis was realized. Results. They show emotions caused by unfavorable life conditions and were classified into seven main categories: 1) defenselessness, 2) negative affection, 3) hope, 4) sadness, 5) depression, 6) isolation and 7) loneliness. Conclusion. This study shows that providing care to ALS patient affects the familiar, social and emotional caregiver’s system

[Daily stress, depressive mood and suicidal ideation in Mexican adolescents]. / Estresores cotidianos, malestar depresivo e ideación suicida en adolescentes mexicanos.

Among adolescents--especially, early adolescents, social relationships with your peer group are an important element so that new, mature social relationships can be established, with your best friends (peers) competing with your family. Obviously, this new relationship system demands both negotiations and arrangements, while bearing on your emotional state. Hence, the importance of the daily psychosocial stress, since stress is related to the relationship between an individual and his or her environment--an environment likely to outmatch personal psychosocial resources. The present work is aimed at identifying a relationship between some social daily stressors, depressive disturbance, and suicidal ideation among Mexican adolescents. Findings suggest that among male and female adolescents, conflicts with the best friend correlate strongly with a depressive mood also tending to somatizing discomfort: Besides enduring negative affect and somatization, females also tend to feel awkward in their interpersonal relationships, and also suffer from suicidal ideation. So, it could be assessed that a depressive disturbance assumes a different psychopathoplastic expression according to subjects' gender.

Estresores cotidianos, malestar depresivo e ideación suicida en adolescentes mexicanos. / [Daily stress, depressive mood and suicidal ideation in Mexican adolescents]

Among adolescents--especially, early adolescents, social relationships with your peer group are an important element so that new, mature social relationships can be established, with your best friends (peers) competing with your family. Obviously, this new relationship system demands both negotiations and arrangements, while bearing on your emotional state. Hence, the importance of the daily psychosocial stress, since stress is related to the relationship between an individual and his or her environment--an environment likely to outmatch personal psychosocial resources. The present work is aimed at identifying a relationship between some social daily stressors, depressive disturbance, and suicidal ideation among Mexican adolescents. Findings suggest that among male and female adolescents, conflicts with the best friend correlate strongly with a depressive mood also tending to somatizing discomfort: Besides enduring negative affect and somatization, females also tend to feel awkward in their interpersonal relationships, and also suffer from suicidal ideation. So, it could be assessed that a depressive disturbance assumes a different psychopathoplastic expression according to subjects gender.

Teenage sexual and contraceptive behavior: the case of Mexico.

PIP: Approximately 11.5% of the Mexican population is aged 15-19 years, with recent statistics indicating that 17% of live births in 1990 were to mothers in the age group. The authors consider the evolution of population growth among Mexican adolescents by reviewing descriptive and diagnostic studies conducted in Mexico City on youth's sexual and contraceptive behaviors, the development of an integral sex education program, and its evaluation. Study results presented have important implications for the design and development of sexuality education programs and courses potentially leading to a reduction in the incidence of early sexual debuts and improvement in contraceptive use among sexually active adolescents. Focus should be given to basic sexuality education with open and clear communication fostered within social networks of peers and family. Teens should also be helped to develop assertiveness, develop decision making strategies, and regard their future needs and goals over the long term.^ieng

Sex, contraception, and pregnancy among adolescent in Mexico City.

This article presents the development and results of a study that analyzed the psychosocial determinants of abstaining from sexual intercourse, practicing contraception, and avoiding pregnancy. It was carried out with a representative household and a clinic sample of 12-19-year-old females of lower-middle and lower socioeconomic levels in Mexico City. Among the implications of the results for program design are: (1) the need for clarifying erroneous beliefs and providing detailed, practical knowledge concerning sexuality, pregnancy, use of and access to contraceptives; (2) a broad definition of sex education that emphasizes family communication, values clarification, provision of alternative role options for women other than motherhood, and both the goals and the skills needed to achieve them--for example, independent decision-making. Attention to male attitudes and communication skills as well as ways of improving communication and support networks among peers was also found to be essential.

Effect of sex education on the sexual and contraceptive practices of female teenagers in Mexico City.

PIP: After reviewing the literature on the relationship between sex education and sexual and contraceptive behavior, the National Research Council (1987) recently concluded that the existing evaluation of the effects of sex education on sexual and contraceptive practice is helpful but not sufficient. 1 possible explanation for the different results obtained are the diverse sociodemographic characteristics of the sample(s) of teens under consideration. Another aspect which might account for the differences seen in the literature focuses on the areas covered in the course. In Mexico, no studies have been undertaken which deal with the relationship between sex education and sexual and contraceptive behaviors. A study carried out with 392 adolescent females ages 16-17 of lower and middle lower socioeconomic status showed that merely attending a sex education course did not affect the initiation or continuation of sexual activity, contraceptive behavior, or even the perception of accessibility to contraception. Providing information on sexuality, partner relationships, and where contraception can be obtained does not appear to have any effect on sexual activity. Receiving information on pregnancy prevention and obtaining contraceptives was found to be related to contraceptive use. Although less dramatic, information about partner relationships and sexuality produced increases in contraceptive use.^ieng