Sexual satisfaction among young women: The frequency of sexual activities as a mediator / Satisfacción sexual en mujeres jóvenes: Frecuencia de las actividades sexuales como mediadora

The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship among several social-cognitive predictors of sexual behaviour (beliefs, knowledge, attitudes and values), sexual behaviours, the frequency of sexual activities and several dimensions of sexual satisfaction (individual/with the partner and actual/desired sexual satisfaction). A mixed-method study was conducted. The data were collected using a semi-structured interview specially designed for this study, which was administered to 14- to 20-year-old women. Correlation analyses revealed that the expected direct associations between the explored social-cognitive predictors, sexual behaviour and sexual satisfaction were not established; consequently, possible indirect effects were explored. The results of the mediational model that better fit the data indicated that sexual behaviour is related to (actual) sexual satisfaction not only directly but also indirectly through the frequency of sexual activities in a (probable) effect of partial mediation. These findings have interesting applications in terms of sexual education and sexual health promotion among young women (AU)

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la relación entre varios predictores social-cognitivos del comportamiento sexual (creencias, conocimientos, actitudes y valores), las conductas sexuales, la frecuencia de actividades sexuales y diferentes dimensiones de la satisfacción sexual (individual/de pareja y actual/deseada). Para ello se utilizó un paradigma mixto de investigación. Para recabar los datos se diseñó una entrevista semiestructurada que fue administrada a mujeres jóvenes de entre 14 y 20 años. El análisis de correlaciones indicó que no se establecen las relaciones directas esperadas entre los predictores social-cognitivos, la conducta y la satisfacción sexual, por lo que se exploraron posibles efectos indirectos. Los resultados del modelo de mediación que mejor se ajusta a los datos revelaron que los comportamientos sexuales se asocian a la satisfacción sexual (actual) de forma directa e indirecta a través de la frecuencia con que se practican las actividades sexuales en un (probable) efecto de mediación parcial. Estos hallazgos tienen interesantes aplicaciones prácticas en términos de educación sexual y promoción de la salud sexual en mujeres jóvenes (AU)

Clinical outcomes of a coping with stress training program among patients suffering from schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder: a pilot study.

This study evaluated the clinical effects of an intervention aimed at enhancing specific self-efficacy for coping with stress (CSSE) among patients with psychosis. Fourteen patients, 21-60 years old, diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder voluntarily participated and were randomly assigned to a training and a control group. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-24 was used to assess psychotic symptoms (primary outcomes) at baseline, post-intervention, and three- and six-month follow-ups. The participants also completed self-reports on well-being and satisfaction with intervention outcomes (secondary outcomes) at post-intervention and at the two follow-up assessments. Trained patients showed a significant decrease in all measures of psychotic symptoms (for disorientation, not significant (NS); effect sizes up to d=4.80). This decline in symptoms remained significant at the follow-ups, with clinical enhancements on some of the subscales. By contrast, control participants showed no significant change in their symptoms. Short- and long-term overall well-being and satisfaction with outcomes were higher among the participants who received the training program. Our findings point out the relevance of enhancing CSSE among patients with psychosis, along with enhancing their coping skills for managing their illness. We conclude that CSSE training should be considered in future therapeutic interventions for psychotic disorders.

Illness beliefs about cancer among healthy adults who have and have not lived with cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Illness representations have been proposed as key determinants for facing health risks and managing disease, and consequently for health outcomes. PURPOSE: This study aims to know and compare non-specialised illness representations of cancer among adults who had not suffered from cancer and who had/had not lived with cancer patients. METHOD: The revised Illness Perception Questionnaire was adapted to assess illness perceptions among healthy people. Cancer representations were explored in a community-based sample of adults of both genders from different educational backgrounds and who had differing experience with cancer, none being a patient. RESULTS: The participants' beliefs about cancer included both biomedical and folk knowledge. Compared to age, sex, and educational level, family experience with cancer (having lived or not with a patient) had the strongest impact on the contents of the representations on cancer. Further, people with a family experience with the disease, compared to those not having a relative diagnosed with cancer, reported significantly more symptoms and stronger emotional impact. CONCLUSIONS: This study allowed us to establish the perceptions on cancer of non-patients with no specialised knowledge. Findings may help in designing and implementing tailored preventive interventions taking into account family experience with the disease, as well as interventions aimed at enhancing family and social care and support given to cancer patients.

Autoeficacia para el afrontamiento del estrés en una muestra adulta española / Coping with stress self-efficacy in a Spanish adult sample

Se presenta en este trabajo el constructor de “autoeficacia específica para el afrontamiento del estrés”, así como los resultados descriptivos obtenidos en población adulta con la Escala de Autoeficacia para el Afrontamiento del Estrés (EAEAE). Ochocientos doce adultos de 18 a 64 años (M=26.46; dt= 9.93; 62.6% mujeres) procedentes de diferentes contextos contestatron la EAEAE en una única administración. Se presentan los resultados descriptivos obtenidos con la muestra completa así como las diferencias encontradas entre subgrupos de la muestra, hombre y mujeres y grupos de edad. Los resultados señalan que la muestra presenta una moderada autoeficacia para el afrontamiento del estrés, siendo ligera pero significativamente superiores sus puntuaciones en el componente de expectativas de resultado, y siendo significativamente superiores las puntuaciones en hombre que en mujeres y en los participantes de más edad en comparación con los más jóvenes. En comparación con la población general, las personas sometidas a un elevado estrés cotidiano (laboral) que les exige constantes esfuerzos de resolución y autosuperación muestran significativamente mayores niveles en estas variables, mientras que las personas sometidas a situaciones de estrés mantenidas, incontrolables y debilitantes (enfermos con dolor crónicos) presentan puntuaciones significativamente inferiores. Se confirma de esta manera la idoneidad de la escala EAEAE como instrumento para la evaluación e investigación sobre la autoeficacia específica para el afrontamiento del estrés en contextos de investigación y clínicos

This paper presents the theoretical construct of “doping with stress specific self-efficacy” along with descriptive results obtained from an adult sample with the Escala de Auroeficacia para el Afrontamiento del Estrés (EAEAE) [Coping with Stress Self-efficacy Scale]. Eight hundred and twelve individuals, aged 18 to 64 years old (M= 26.46; sd-9.93; 62.6% females), recruited from different settings, completed the EAEAE in a unique administration. Descriptive results obtained from the entire sample are presented, as well as differences found between subsamples, males and females and age groups. Results indicate that participants possessed moderate self-efficacy for coping with stress. Their scores in the efficacy expectations component were slightly but significantly higher than their scores in the outcome expectations component. Total and subtotal scores were significantly higher for males than for females as well as for older participants than for younger participants. Compared to the general population, individuals, who are exposed to elevated levels of daily stress which demand continuous problem-solving and self-improvement efforts (work-related stress) demonstrated significantly higher levels of coping with stress self-efficacy. On the other hand, individuals who are exposed to maintained, uncontrollable and self-weakening stressful situations (chronic pain) scored significantly lower on self-efficacy for coping with stress. The results confirm the appropriateness of the EAEAE scale for the assessment and investigation on coping with stress self-efficacy in research as well as clinical context

Gender differences in pressure pain threshold in a repeated measures assessment.

The objective of this study was to evaluate gender differences in the pain threshold, considering the type of pressure point, its location and the repetition of the assessment. The pressure pain threshold was evaluated in 30 healthy volunteers (12 men and 18 women) in three assessment sessions separated by 15 min and 7 days, respectively. Each assessment session was in turn composed of two trials in each of which 24 different pressure points (symmetrically located), representing the 18 tender points for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and six control points, were assessed. Gender differences were found in the pain threshold for all of the points and the measures taken, women showing a lower pain threshold in comparison to men and being these differences more pronounced for control points than for tender points, the former reaching statistical significance in all cases. The analysis of the influence of repeated measures on gender differences in the pain threshold showed a distinct pattern of recuperation in men than in women, although only one difference in pain threshold was significant. The utility of the tender point concept to study gender differences in pain threshold and the mechanisms that may explain different patterns of recuperation between genders are discussed.

Propiedades psicométrica de la versión española del Cuestionario de modelos implícitos de enfermedad. (Implicit Models of Illness Questionnaire) para enfermedades físicas y mentales / Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Implicit Models of Illness Questionnaire for physical and mental diseases

El objetivo de este estudio fue comprobar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española del Implicit Models of Illness Questionnaire (Turk et al., 1986), el Cuestionario de Creencias sobre la Enfermedad (CCSE; Van der Hofstadt y Rodríguez-Marín, 1997), para cinco enfermedades físicas y mentales: depresión, esquizofrenia, cáncer, hipertensión y gripe. 348 personas (62,6% mujeres) con distinta experiencia con estas enfermedades (haber padecido o no la enfermedad, haber convivido o no con una persona diagnosticada de esta enfermedad) respondieron el CCSE para dichas enfermedades. Se encontró que las propiedades psicométricas de la escala son apropiadas. Las dimensiones (factores) identificadas son: Identidad, controlabilidad personal, síntomas, consecuencias y cura/evolución. La fiabilidad de la escala y sus subescalas es apropiada. La escala muestra una buena validez de constructo, al obtenerse resultados muy similares para las cinco enfermedades. Todo ello se muestra en consonancia con los resultados informados previamente por Turk et al. (1986), y no tanto con los encontrados por van der Hofstadt y Rodríguez- Marín (1997). Sin embargo, algunos ítems podrían ser revisado o eliminados con el fin de mejorar las características del instrumento. Como conclusión, siendo tan importante como es que los profesionales de la salud conozcan las creencias personales de sus pacientes y de los individuos sanos respectos a la salud y la enfermedad para adecuar sus actuaciones promotoras, preventivas o clínicas (tratamiento/rehabilitación), los resultados de este estudio señalan que esta escala puede ayudarles a tal fin, tanto en el caso de enfermedades físicas como mentales

The goal of this study was to establish the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Implicit Models of Illness Questionnaire (Turk et al., 1986), the Cuestionario de Creencias sobre la Enfermedad (CCSE; van der Hofstandt an Rodríguez-Marín, 1997), for five physical and mental disease: depression, schizophrenia, cancer, hypertension, and influenza. 348 individuals (62,6% women) with different experience with these diseases (having/not having suffered form the disease, having/not having lived with someone with such diagnosis ) answered the CCSE for those illnesses. Psychometric properties of the scale were found to be appropriate. The obtained dimensions (factors) are: identity, personal control, symptoms, consequences and cure/time-line. The scale and subscales reliability is appropriate. The scale shows suitable construct validity, since similar results have been obtained for the diseases included. Our results are consonant with those informed by Turk et al. (1986), differing with those obtained by van der Hofstadt and Rodríguez- Marín (1997). Nevertheless, some items might be revised or eliminated in order to improve the properties of the scale. Since the knowledge of patients´ and healthy people´s personal beliefs may result so valuable for health professionals, in order to adequate their promotion and prevention strategies and clinical (treatment/rehabilitation) interventions, the results of this study show that this scale may help them for this purpose, in the case of both physical and mental diseases

Contents of lay illness models dimensions for physical and mental diseases and implications for health professionals.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to establish the contents of the lay illness models on depression, cancer, hypertension, schizophrenia and influenza in healthy and ill people suffering from these diseases who have/have not coexisted with people with these health alterations. METHODS: Dimensions of lay illness models for depression, schizophrenia, cancer, hypertension and influenza were assessed in 348 people (62.6% women) aged 13-50 (M=20.72; S.D.=5.96) with different personal experience with the studied diseases. RESULTS: Lay illness beliefs are usually close to medical knowledge, but in some relevant cases they are very divergent from this. Experience with the disease (to have suffered from it or to have coexisted with an ill relative) seems to have a great influence in the contents of lay illness models. CONCLUSION: People's representations on illnesses are not complete or correct at all, and this will have, as the Common Sense Model establishes, relevant repercussions on individuals' behaviors in relation to health and illness and on the outcomes of diseases. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: To know the personal illness models for physical and mental health threats of healthy and ill people with different personal experience with the disease has important implications for health professionals' promotion and prevention strategies and clinical (treatment/rehabilitation) actuations.

Importancia de los componentes de la emoción expresada / Relevance of components of expresadd emotion

Desde la aparición y posterior desarrollo del constructo de la Emoción Expresada (EE) y de la constatación de su relevancia en la predicción de la recaída en la esquizofrenia, se ha venido informando de la mayor importancia de uno de sus componentes, los Comentarios Críticos (CC), sobre los demás, de manera que algunos trabajos podrían haber realizado los cálculos obviando los otros componentes y los resultados habrían sido los mismos. Sin embargo, hay una serie de estudios en los que los CC pierden su preponderancia en favor de la Sobreimplicación Emocional (SE). En el presente trabajo se enuncia una hipótesis que podría explicar este hecho y se comprueba que dicha hipótesis se cumple utilizando la muestra de familias que integraron el estudio de Andalucía (AU)

Efectos de la intervención familiar en esquizofrenia sobre los componentes de la emoción expresada (EE) / Effects of schizophrenic family intervencion on the Emotion Expressed (EE) components

Estando relacionada con la recaída, la Emoción Expresada Familiar (EE) se intenta disminuir, en la mayor parte de los actuales programas de intervención familiar en esquizofrenia, para así limitar las recaídas de los enfermos. Aunque la mayoría de estos programas consiguen reducir la tasa de recaídas, el índice de EE no presenta disminuciones significativas en casi ninguno de dichos estudios y cuando lo hace es a causa de la disminución de uno de los componentes de la EE, y no el más relevante en muchos estudios: la sobre implicación emocional. Ningún programa de intervención familiar informa de reducciones de los comentarios críticos (otro componente de la EE y más importante que el anterior en casi todos los estudios) tras el tratamiento. El presente trabajo propone una posible explicación de este hecho y aporta los datos del estudio de Andalucía que avalan esa hipótesis (AU)

Estilo atribucional, autocontrol y asertividad como predictores de la severidad del consumo de drogas / Attributional sytle, self-control, and assertiveness as predictors of drug abuse

En este estudio se evalúa el tiempo de adicción y la cantidad de droga consumida habitualmente con diversas sustancias, así como el autoinforme de variables tales como autocontrol, autoeficacia, asertividad y estilo atribucional. El objetivo fue descubrir qué variables predicen la severidad en el consumo de drogas. Se comprobó que, en términos globales, el autocontrol y la asertividad predicen tanto la cronicidad del consumo como la cantidad de cocaína y heroína consumidas, el estilo atribucional para los éxitos explica parte de la variabilidad en la cronicidad del consumo de cocaína, heroína y alcohol, mientras que la edad puede intervenir en la predicción de la cronicidad en el consumo de heroína y alcohol (AU)

This study examines chronicity of addiction and quantity of consumption for several substances as well as self-report on variables such as self-control, self-efficacy, assertiveness and attributional style. The aim was to discover which variables predict severity in drug abuse. It was found that, in general, self-control and assertiveness may predict both chronicity and quantity of cocaine and heroin intake, attributional style for success explains to a certain extent the variability in the chronicity of alcohol, cocaine and heroin consumption, while age seems to have a bearing on predicting chronicity in alcohol and heroin abuse (AU)