Youth Dating Violence, Behavioral Sensitivity, and Emotional Intelligence: A Mediation Analysis.

Intimate partner violence is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing psychological, physical, and sexual components. Violence in young couples is common in our society. This kind of violence is usually bidirectional, which adds to its complexity. This study aimed to explore how victimization (in three dimensions: non-abuse, technical mistreatment, and mistreatment) and perpetration (in two dimensions: non-perpetrator and perpetrator) are related to the BIS (Behavioral Inhibition System)/BAS (Behavioral Approach System), and it also evaluated if the dimensions of emotional intelligence (EI) (emotional attention, clarity, and regulation) mediate this relationship. Violence was evaluated in 272 young volunteer participants, as well as BIS/BAS behavioral sensitivity and perceived emotional intelligence. The correlations between these variables were analyzed, and a mediation analysis was also conducted. The results show that victimization (of the sexual and coercive type) was associated with less BAS activation, while victimization (of the sexual, humiliation, and detachment types) was associated with less BIS activity. All types of victimization were associated with less EI, specifically with less emotional clarity. Aggression (of the sexual, humiliation, detachment, and coercion types) was related to lower BAS and higher BIS sensitivity. Detachment aggression was associated with low emotional clarity. In conclusion, relationships between victimization and perpetration are evidenced in terms of BIS/BAS sensitivity and EI. Specifically, the dimension of EI emotional clarity acts as a mediator of BIS activation in victims of detachment.

Development and Validation of the Psychotherapeutic Effectiveness Attribution Questionnaire (PEAQ-12) in a Spanish Population.

In recent decades, the study of psychotherapy effectiveness has been one of the pillars of clinical research because of its implication for therapeutic cure. However, although many studies have focused their interest on the patient's perception, there are no instruments oriented to the study of psychotherapists' attributions of effectiveness: to what factors psychotherapists attribute responsibility for the cure of the therapies they provide. The present study aimed to develop and validate an instrument for assessing the attribution of the effectiveness of psychotherapy in a population of 69 psychotherapists of different theoretical orientations. After an initial process of inter-judge content validation, 12 items were selected for validation in the targeted population, adequately fulfilling the quality requirements in the validity-reliability tests, and grouped into four factors after principal component analysis. These factors were as follows: (1) therapeutic alliance enhancers; (2) psychotherapist emotional characteristics; (3) therapy-specific variables; and (4) facilitators of patient engagement with therapy. This four-factor structure also showed a good fit for the fit indices checked in confirmatory factor analysis. In summary, we can conclude that the Psychotherapeutic Effectiveness Attribution Questionnaire (PEAQ-12) developed in our research can be helpful if tested on a larger number of individuals. The results can be replicated in other populations of psychotherapists.

Emotional Intelligence as a Mediator between Subjective Sleep Quality and Depression during the Confinement Due to COVID-19.

In March of 2020, as a consequence of the health crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus, the State of Alarm and home confinement of the entire population was imposed in Spain. It is foreseeable that this exceptional situation will have psychological effects on citizens. In this work, the impact of confinement on perceived sleep quality and depression is evaluated through questionnaires, as well as the mediating role of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in this relationship. Our results show, firstly, higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in women and young people associated with poorer perceived sleep quality, and secondly, that Emotional Intelligence intervenes as a mediator in this relationship through three different pathways. Worse perceived quality of sleep causes a greater number of depressive symptoms. In addition, this direct relationship may be enhanced by the mediating role of Emotional Intelligence, which we can express in three different ways: low perceived sleep quality and high emotional attention lead to greater depression; low perceived sleep quality and low emotional clarity increase greater symptoms of depression; and low perceived sleep quality together with low clarity and low emotional repair increase levels of depression. Therefore, we can conclude that improving the skills involved in Emotional Intelligence might increase perceived sleep quality, and thus reduce depressive symptoms, which in turn may improve the quality of life.

Confinement Situation of the Spanish Population during the Health Crisis of COVID-19: Resilience Mediation Process in the Relationship of Dispositional Optimism and Psychological Well-Being.

The pandemic generated by COVID-19 is one of the most complex challenges humanity has faced in recent years. This study aims to explore the levels of dispositional optimism, resilience and psychological well-being in the sociodemographic and economic situation produced during the state of alarm and to investigate the resilience mediation between optimism and psychological well-being. The sample included 566 volunteers from Spain (73.5% women; M = 40.2 years, SD = 12.8). An ad hoc questionnaire was applied to request socioeconomic data and dispositional optimism (LOT-R). Resilience and psychological well-being were, respectively, evaluated by the Ryff scale and the Wagnild and Young scale. The results show that older and people with higher educational levels are more optimistic and have better psychological well-being. Well-being is also greater in married, divorced and widowed people and in those who have lived in outdoor spaces. However, those with spaced housing were more optimistic. Finally, it was found that the most optimistic people have better psychological well-being and that this is increased by the mediation process exercised by the ability to overcome adversity, provided age and educational level are controlled. It can be concluded that the design of preventive programs focused on improving strengths, positive emotions and skills in the population would be convenient to protect mental health.

Perception of the Attributes of Sherry Wine and Its Consumption in Young People in the South of Spain.

The wine with the designation of origin "Jerez-Xerez-Sherry" is one of the most produced in Spain and with a greater volume of exports abroad. This study analyzes the preferences of Sherry Wine and its different varieties, based on gender and knowledge and interest in the world of wine. Similarly, the influence of the attributes of Sherry Wine on its choice and consumption is investigated. For this purpose, 1502 participants (1407 wine consumers) were recruited; among the consumers, 58.5% are women, and 74.3% have little knowledge of wine (Mean age 22.6; SD = 3.07; range 18-30). Data collection was done through an online survey. The results reveal that among the types of wines from Sherry, the Fino and the Manzanilla are the most chosen. The young people who have the highest consumption of wine are those who have the most prior knowledge of wine. Also, these young people attribute their choice of wine to intrinsic factors, and even women and connoisseurs are more important in this type of dimension. But the importance of the attributes differs according to the types of wines (Fino/Cream-flavor, Palo Cortado/Pedro Ximénez-color, Amontillado/Manzanilla-price and Oloroso-prizes). These findings will allow establishing measures for their promotion, as well as for the design and specific sales strategies for each type of wine.

Impulsivity, Emotional Intelligence, and Alcohol Consumption in Young People: A Mediation Analysis.

Alcohol consumption in young people is a public health problem. Due to the harmful consequences and the large population using alcoholic substances, it would be important to determine the biological, psychological, and social factors associated with alcohol use and abuse. The main object of this study is to explore which components of impulsivity, according to the main theoretical models, have predictive power regarding alcohol consumption in young people. A secondary objective is to determine if emotional intelligence has a mediating role between the components of impulsivity and alcohol consumption, and thus specifically contribute to the knowledge about the mediation processes between those variables that are involved in the initiation and maintenance of alcohol consumption. For this purpose, 384 participants were recruited (83.1% females, n = 319), with mean age of 20.46 years (SD = 1.90; range 18-25). All participants were alcohol consumers at the beginning of the study. Data collection was conducted via online survey; impulsivity was evaluated by several questionnaires (Sensation Seeking Scale Form V, Barratt Impulsivity Scales 11, and Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward), and emotional intelligence was evaluated by the Trait Meta-Mood Scale. The results reveal that the dimension of disinhibition (a dimension of the sensation search scale) significantly has the highest predictive value on alcohol consumption. Moreover, our data show that the total effect and direct effect of disinhibition on frequency of alcohol consumption were both significant. The mediating role of emotional intelligence in this process was also significant. These findings show which variables should be considered to prevent alcohol consumption in young people.

Lights and Shadows of Trait Emotional Intelligence: Its Mediating Role in the Relationship Between Negative Affect and State Anxiety in University Students.

Nowadays, students are experiencing difficult and stressful situations due to the Global Pandemic Alert. This changing world can evoke negative emotions that have been traditionally linked to higher anxiety. Researches have been focused on the positive outcomes of trait emotional intelligence (TEI) preventing psychological disorders. However, the possibility that TEI might have a dark side has been neglected. Hence, this study aimed to explore the mediating effect of the three dimensions of TEI in the relationship between negative affect and anxiety symptoms among college students. Participants of this research were 467 undergraduates who completed an online self-reported questionnaire including the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS; Watson et al., 1988), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger et al., 1970), and Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24, Salovey et al., 1995). The global serial mediation model showed that the total amount of variance explained by the global model was 30.8% (R 2 = 0.31). Negative affectivity and age accounted for the 15.1% of state anxiety variance (R 2 = 0.15; c: B = 0.63, p < 0.001) while 15.7% of the variance of state anxiety was attributed to the direct or indirect effect of the three dimensions of TEI (R 2 = 0.16). Five indirect effects presented statistical significance (95% BootCI). The contrast analyses between mediators showed that three indirect effects had higher statistical weigh; the ability of negative affect to increase state anxiety through (i) emotional attention; (ii) emotional clarity, and (iii) serially through emotional clarity and mood repair. Our results indicated that students' negative emotions lead to higher emotional attention which in turn may enhance state anxiety in two ways: by a direct effect of emotional attention on state anxiety and by a serial effect through emotional clarity. Moreover, when negative affect is associated with lower emotional clarity, anxiety symptoms may also arise. However, when attention and clarity are connected, the negative effect is reversed into a positive one, decreasing state anxiety.

Breast Cancer and Resilience: The Controversial Role of Perceived Emotional Intelligence.

Cancer is a chronic disease that causes the most deaths in the world, being a public health problem nowadays. Even though breast cancer affects the daily lives of patients, many women become resilient after the disease, decreasing the impact of the diagnosis. Based on a positive psychology approach, the concept of co-vitality arises understood as a set of socio-emotional competencies that enhance psychological adaptation. In this sense, emotional intelligence is one of the main protective factors associated with resilience. However, it is not always as beneficial as it seems, and can lead to collateral effects on psychological adjustment. Given this controversy, this study aims to find the specific processes through which the dimensions of Perceived Emotional Intelligence (PEI) (Emotional Attention, Emotional Clarity, and Mood Repair) can act as a risk or protective factor in the development of resilience. The total sample was 167 women (Age: M = 43.26; SD = 12.43), 46.7% were breast cancer survivors, and 53.3% were healthy controls. The selection of women with breast cancer carries out randomly, recruited through the Oncology Units. The sample completed measures of resilience and PEI, through Resilience Scale (Wagnild and Young, 1993) and TMMS-24 (Salovey et al., 1995). The results showed that breast cancer survivors showed higher age and greater levels of resilience and mood repair than healthy women. The mediation analysis revealed that breast cancer survival and PEI predicted 28% of the variance of resilience. The direct effects showed that emotional clarity and mood repair increased resilience levels. Although breast cancer did not predict resilience directly, it does through mood repair by an indirect process. Besides, the analysis showed that emotional attention played a role in vulnerability, decreasing mood repair, and resilience. These research support theories that point to a possible dark side of PEI, thus, a great level of emotional attention makes dark the positive effect of mood repair and personal growth if a clear perception of emotions does not complement it. These results provide empirical support concerning the need to work complementary each dimension of PEI to avoid unwanted effects on intrapersonal adjustment.

Decision Making Profile of Positive and Negative Anticipatory Skin Conductance Responders in an Unlimited-Time Version of the IGT.

Based on the somatic marker hypothesis (Damasio, 1994), many studies have examined whether or not physiological responses are "somatic markers" that implicitly guide the decision making process. Vegetative or motor reactions that are produced by negative or positive stimuli generate a series of somatic markers. So, when a similar stimuli is encountered in the future, these somatic marks will facilitate favorable decisions and inhibit the disadvantageous ones (Martínez-Selva et al., 2006). The most widely studied physiological responses, as indicators of these markers, are heart rate and the skin conductance response (Damasio, 1994; Bechara et al., 1996). The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) has been the most widely used tool in this research. The common IGT protocol for psychophysiological studies comprises limited inter-trial intervals, and does not distinguish participants as a function of relevant physiological traits, such as the anticipatory skin conductance response (aSCR). The objectives of this work were to determine whether "somatic markers" guide the decision making process without time restrictions and to examine the effects of opposite aSCR profiles on this process. Participants were 29 healthy subjects, divided into two groups according to positive (+) and negative (-) aSCR. Two different data analysis strategies were applied: firstly, gambling indices were computed and, secondly, we examined the parameters of the probabilistic Prospect Valence Learning (PVL) model in three versions: maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), PVL-Delta and PVL-Decay simulations with Hierarchical Bayesian analysis (HBA) for parameter estimation. The results show a significant group effect in gambling indices, with the aSCR+ group presenting lower risk in the decision making process than the aSCR- group. Significant differences were also observed in the Utility parameter of MLE-PVL, with the aSCR- group have low sensitivity to feedback outcomes, than aSRC+ group. However, data from the PVL simulations do not show significant group differences and, in both cases, the utility value denotes low sensitivity to feedback outcomes.

Facing Anxiety, Growing Up. Trait Emotional Intelligence as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Self-Esteem and University Anxiety.

The current study analyzed how trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) mediates the relationship between self-esteem and state anxiety and trait anxiety. The sample was composed of 153 undergraduate students from the University of Cádiz, Spain (71.9% women and 28.1% men). Students completed measures of self-esteem, state anxiety, trait anxiety, and trait EI. Mediation analyses were completed with three trait EI dimensions (EA, emotional attention; EC, emotional clarity; and MR, mood repair) as mediating variables, self-esteem as the independent variable, and state anxiety and trait anxiety as the dependent ones. Our results confirmed that self-esteem scores explained and predicted both, state and trait anxiety values (13% for state and 21% for trait anxiety). This explanatory capacity is increased by 8% when accounting for all trait EI dimensions. Considering state anxiety, the results of the direct effects showed that a decrease in their levels is predicted through the increases in the levels of both, self-esteem and MR. Regarding trait anxiety, the results of the direct effects showed that a decrease in their levels is predicted, in addition to an increment of self-esteem and MR values, by an increase of EC and a decrease of EA. Conversely, indirect effects revealed that higher levels of self-esteem were associated with worse scores in EA and worse MR, which in turn would enhance both state and trait anxiety levels. Moreover, regarding trait anxiety higher levels of self-esteem were associated with worse scores in EA and worse EC, therefore increasing trait anxiety levels. As shown, the negative association found between self-esteem and EA becomes a key element. The effect of self-esteem on EA and the influence that the latter had on EC and MR exerts an indirect mediated effect with the power to invert the influence that self-esteem wields on both types of anxiety. In this sense, the apparent protective role of self-esteem changed, turning into a risk factor that promotes higher anxiety values.

Mediating Effect of Trait Emotional Intelligence Between the Behavioral Activation System (BAS)/Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) and Positive and Negative Affect.

Gray (1970, 1981, 1987) proposed a behavioral motivation theory (Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, RST), which describes the Behavioral Activation/Approach System (BAS) and the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS). Some studies relate higher activation of BAS to positive affect, whereas BIS activation is linked to negative affect, particularly to high levels of anxiety and depression. Research data suggests that greater Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI) influences optimal development of well-being and psychological adjustment, such as positive affective states. However, a recent study relates the motivational BIS/BAS systems with TEI, showing that high TEI is characterized by sensitivity to reward (BAS), and low TEI due to activation of the BIS system. The aim of this study was to explore how TEI may mediate the relationship between BIS/BAS sensitivity and positive and negative affect. Four-hundred and sixty-seven undergraduate students (385 females) were evaluated. TEI was evaluated with the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS). Affective states were measured with the Positive (PA) and Negative Affect (NA) Schedule, and BIS/BAS sensitivity was measured with The Sensitivity to Punishment (SP) and Sensitivity to Reward (SR) Questionnaire. The results reveal the influence of the two motivational systems on affective states, and show how this relationship is modified by and better explained through TEI. That is, a stronger approach to appetitive stimuli produces more positive affect, but a belief that one [does not] understand unpleasant emotions or that one analyzes them, or thinks that one cannot regulate or control emotions will reduce that positive state. Greater activation of inhibitory behaviors will produce greater negative affect, and this will increase when one perceives that one attends excessively to one's feelings or does not understand them or feels incapable of regulating them. Accordingly, although motivators could be a focus of interest for intervention, this study shows that the efficiency and profitability of these practical applications increases by adding TEI.

[Cognitive implications in the psychophysical estimation of taste]. / Implicaciones cognitivas en la estimación psicofísica del sabor.

INTRODUCTION: in sensory perception of taste, it is difficult to learn the concepts of absolute threshold (AT), the psychophysical methods to estimate it and the influence exerted by prior knowledge on their perception and recognition, because they have little awareness. OBJECTIVE: to assess absolute thresholds of four basic flavors in a sample of healthy young people, in conditions of food restriction/without restriction, and to analyze the influence of prior knowledge of astringency in its detection-identification. METHODS: one hundred and fourteen participants with an average of 20.03 years old (SD = 5.45), 75.4% of them women, were put in direct contact with chemical substances of basic flavors and astringency through a theoretical-practical tasting. An inverted treatment design was applied with experimental conditions on food restriction and knowledge of astringency. RESULTS: all identified their AT for basic flavors. The group with restriction was significantly more sensitive (Tb = -3.305, p = 0.001) to sweet (AU = 2 g/l) than the group without restriction (AU = 5 g/l). The detection-identification of astringency was significantly higher (t = -13.323, p = 0.000) with previous information of the name (79.31%) than without this information (19.64%), confusing or describing it as bitter taste (80.36). CONCLUSION: taste learning is facilitated with the performance of psychophysical measurements of chemical senses, together with training of certain theoretical concepts about taste perception and flavor denomination, because it facilitates the cognitive process for detection-identification. In addition, the process for the previous internal homeostasis of participants must be considered as their AU results vary according to the hunger/satiety conditions prior to the psychophysical estimation.

INTRODUCCIÓN: en la percepción sensorial del gusto, los conceptos de umbral absoluto (UA), los métodos psicofísicos para estimarlo y la influencia que ejerce el conocimiento previo sobre su percepción y reconocimiento son de difícil aprendizaje por su escaso estado de conciencia. OBJETIVO: evaluar los umbrales de detección de los cuatros sabores básicos en una muestra de jóvenes sanos, en condiciones de restricción de alimentos/no-restricción, y analizar la influencia del conocimiento previo de la astringencia para su detección-identificación. MÉTODO: se puso en contacto directo con las sustancias químicas de los sabores y de astringencia a 114 participantes con media de 20,03 años (DT = 5.45), el 75,4% mujeres, mediante una degustación teórica-práctica. Se aplicó un diseño de tratamiento invertido con las condiciones experimentales sobre restricción de alimentos y conocimiento de astringencia. RESULTADOS: todos identificaron sus UA para los cuatro sabores básicos. El grupo con restricción fue significativamente más sensible (Tb = -3,305; p = 0,001) al dulce (UA = 2 g/l) que el grupo sin restricción (UA = 5 g/l). La detección-identificación de la astringencia resultó significativamente mayor (t = -13,323; p = 0,000) con información previa del nombre (79,31%) que sin esta información (19,64%), confundiéndola, o describiéndola, como sabor amargo (80,36%). CONCLUSIONES: el aprendizaje del sabor se favorece cuando se realiza la medición psicofísica de los sentidos químicos junto a la formación de determinados conceptos teóricos sobre la percepción gustativa y denominación de sabores, al facilitar su proceso cognitivo posterior detección- identificación. También debe atenderse al proceso de homeostasis interna previa de los participantes por la variabilidad en los resultados de sus UA según las condiciones de hambre/saciedad anteriores a su estimación psicofísica.

Implicaciones cognitivas en la estimación psicofísica del sabor / Cognitive implications in the psychophysical estimation of taste

Introducción: en la percepción sensorial del gusto, los conceptos de umbral absoluto (UA), los métodos psicofísicos para estimarlo y la influencia que ejerce el conocimiento previo sobre su percepción y reconocimiento son de difícil aprendizaje por su escaso estado de conciencia. Objetivo: evaluar los umbrales de detección de los cuatros sabores básicos en una muestra de jóvenes sanos, en condiciones de restricción de alimentos/no-restricción, y analizar la influencia del conocimiento previo de la astringencia para su detección-identificación. Método: se puso en contacto directo con las sustancias químicas de los sabores y de astringencia a 114 participantes con media de 20,03 años (DT = 5.45), el 75,4% mujeres, mediante una degustación teórica-práctica. Se aplicó un diseño de tratamiento invertido con las condiciones experimentales sobre restricción de alimentos y conocimiento de astringencia. Resultados: todos identificaron sus UA para los cuatro sabores básicos. El grupo con restricción fue significativamente más sensible (Tb = -3,305; p = 0,001) al dulce (UA = 2 g/l) que el grupo sin restricción (UA = 5 g/l). La detección-identificación de la astringencia resultó significativamente mayor (t = -13,323; p = 0,000) con información previa del nombre (79,31%) que sin esta información (19,64%), confundiéndola, o describiéndola, como sabor amargo (80,36%). Conclusiones: el aprendizaje del sabor se favorece cuando se realiza la medición psicofísica de los sentidos químicos junto a la formación de determinados conceptos teóricos sobre la percepción gustativa y denominación de sabores, al facilitar su proceso cognitivo posterior detección-identificación. También debe atenderse al proceso de homeostasis interna previa de los participantes por la variabilidad en los resultados de sus UA según las condiciones de hambre/saciedad anteriores a su estimación psicofísica

Introduction: in sensory perception of taste, it is difficult to learn the concepts of absolute threshold (AT), the psychophysical methods to estimate it and the influence exerted by prior knowledge on their perception and recognition, because they have little awareness. Objective: to assess absolute thresholds of four basic flavors in a sample of healthy young people, in conditions of food restriction/without restriction, and to analyze the influence of prior knowledge of astringency in its detection-identification. Methods: one hundred and fourteen participants with an average of 20.03 years old (SD = 5.45), 75.4% of them women, were put in direct contact with chemical substances of basic flavors and astringency through a theoretical-practical tasting. An inverted treatment design was applied with experimental conditions on food restriction and knowledge of astringency. Results: all identified their AT for basic flavors. The group with restriction was significantly more sensitive (Tb = -3.305, p = 0.001) to sweet (AU = 2 g/l) than the group without restriction (AU = 5 g/l). The detection-identification of astringency was significantly higher (t = -13.323, p = 0.000) with previous information of the name (79.31%) than without this information (19.64%), confusing or describing it as bitter taste (80.36). Conclusion: taste learning is facilitated with the performance of psychophysical measurements of chemical senses, together with training of certain theoretical concepts about taste perception and flavor denomination, because it facilitates the cognitive process for detection-identification. In addition, the process for the previous internal homeostasis of participants must be considered as their AU results vary according to the hunger/satiety conditions prior to the psychophysical estimation

Age of onset of cannabis use and decision making under uncertainty.

OBJECTIVE: Cannabis, like other substances, negatively affects health, inducing respiratory problems and mental and cognitive alterations. Memory and learning disorders, as well as executive dysfunctions, are also neuropsychological disorders associated to cannabis use. Recent evidence reveals that cannabis use during adolescence may disrupt the normal development of the brain. This study is aimed to analyze possible differences between early-onset and late-onset cannabis consumers. METHOD: We used a task based on a card game with four decks and different programs of gains/losses. A total of 72 subjects (19 women; 53 men) participated in the study; they were selected through a purposive sampling and divided into three groups: early-onset consumers, late-onset consumers, and control (non-consumers). The task used was the "Cartas" program (computerized version based on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT)), with two versions: direct and inverse. The computational model "Prospect Valence Learning" (PVL) was applied in order to describe the decision according to four characteristics: utility, loss aversion, recency, and consistency. RESULTS: The results evidence worst performance in the IGT in the early-onset consumers as compared to late-onset consumers and control. Differences between groups were also found in the PVL computational model parameters, since the process of decision making of the early-onset consumers was more influenced by the magnitude of the gains-losses, and more determined by short-term results without loss aversion. CONCLUSIONS: Early onset cannabis use may involve decision-making problems, and therefore intervention programs are necessary in order to reduce the prevalence and delay the onset of cannabis use among teenagers.

Consumo de sustancias psicoactivas, inteligencia emocional y rendimiento académico en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios / Psychoactive substances consumption, emotional intelligence and academic performance in a university students simple

Introducción: El objetivo del presente estudio fue explorar la inteligencia emocional y el rendimiento académico en el alumnado universitario según su consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y comprobar si un desajuste emocional se asocia con un bajo rendimiento. Metodología: Participaron 150 estudiantes de psicología, que fueron separados en distintos grupos según el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en los últimos 30 días. Se evaluó inteligencia emocional, mediante el Trait Meta-Mood Scale, y el rendimiento, a través de las calificaciones académicas. Resultados: Los resultados evidencian diferencias significativas entre los grupos en las calificaciones, siendo los consumidores los que sacan puntuaciones más bajas. Además se observa una correlación negativa en los consumidores entre inteligencia emocional y rendimiento, es decir, los consumidores con un exceso de atención a sus emociones propias presentan peores calificaciones. Discusión: Se puede concluir que consumir sustancias psicoactivas se asocia con un peor rendimiento académico, y que la relación entre inteligencia emocional y calificaciones académicas es indirecta, mediada por el consumo de sustancias psicoactivas

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to explore the emotional intelligence and academic performance in university students according to the consumption of psychoactive substances, and evaluate whether emotional disability is associated with low performance. Methodology: 150 psychology students participated in the study, and they were separated into different groups according to the consumption of psychoactive substances in the last 30 days. The emotional intelligence was assessed by the Trait Meta-Mood Scale, and the academic performance was evaluated by the academic results. Results: The results show significant differences between groups in the academic results, and particularly that consumers are less successful. In addition, a negative correlation is observed between emotional intelligence and academic performance in consumers, i.e., consumers having excessive attention to their own emotions get worse academic results. Discussion: It can be concluded that consumption of psychoactive substances is associated with poorer academic performance, and that the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic results is indirect, mediated by the consumption of psychoactive substances

Cognitive Mechanisms in Decision-Making in Patients With Mild Alzheimer Disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's dementia is characterized by significant cortical and subcortical atrophy, causing diverse neuropsychological deficits. According to the somatic marker hypothesis, the areas responsible for generating the somatic markers that anticipate the consequences of a decision and thereby optimize the process would be affected in these patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this experiment is to study the decision-making processes in Alzheimer type dementia patients to determine potential deficits in these processes as a result of the disease, aside from the cognitive impairment that is typical of aging. In addition, we wish to determine the defining characteristics of decision-making in these patients, on the basis of the prospect valence-learning parameters. METHOD: We evaluated 30 patients with Alzheimer's disease and a control group of 30 healthy subjects. A short version of the Iowa Gambling Task was used. RESULTS: The results showed that patients made less advantageous choices than did controls. Group differences were quantitative and qualitative, as significant differences in cognitive mechanisms identified in the prospect valence-learning decisions were observed. These results are consistent with evidence from neuroimaging studies as well as with work carried out with amnesic patients. CONCLUSION: That problems in our patients' decision-making could be due to the characteristic memory deficits of this disease, which prevents them from establishing new stimulus-reward relationships and eliminating previously learned responses as a result of the parietal and temporal atrophy they present.

Hábitos de consumo de drogas y percepción sobre los efectos en salud y rendimiento académico en estudiantes de Psicología en la Universidad de Huelva / No disponible

El objetivo del trabajo es describir las prevalencias y las relaciones entre las diferentes drogas en estudiantes universitarios. Además conocer la percepción que tienen los estudiantes sobre los efectos de las drogas en el rendimiento académico y en la salud. La muestra está compuesta por 153 estudiantes de psicología de la Universidad de Huelva. Los datos de consumo y percepción se recogen mediante un cuestionario, anónimo y voluntario. Nuestros resultados ponen de manifiesto que las sustancias más consumidas y de inicio más temprano son el alcohol, el tabaco y el cannabis, por tanto, se confirman las tendencias encontradas en jóvenes. Del mismo modo, se confirma el patrón de policonsumo en un 60,78% de la muestra. El consumo de tabaco se inicia antes que el del alcohol o cannabis, y cuanto antes se inicia en el consumo de tabaco, antes también se inicia en el consumo de otras sustancias. Según sean las sustancias combinadas, se hallan diferencias en la edad de inicio del alcohol y en la cantidad de cigarrillos de tabaco. Se comienza a consumir alcohol antes si los que beben también fuman. Los que fuman más cigarros son los que combinan el tabaco con alguna otra droga ilegal distinta al cannabis. Con respecto a la percepción sobre el efecto del consumo de drogas, aquellos que consumen alcohol, tabaco y cannabis, consideran que las drogas afectan menos al rendimiento académico que los no consumidores o consumidores dedrogas legales

The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and relationships between different drugs among college students, as well as getting to know the perception of students about the effects of drugs on academic performance and health. The sample consists of 153 psychology students from the University of Huelva. The consumption and perception data are collected by an anonymous and voluntary questionnaire. Our results show that the most widely-consumed substances with earliest onset are alcohol, tobacco and cannabis, thus confi rming the trends found in young people. Similarly,polyconsumption is confi rmed with a percentage of 60.78% of the sample. Tobacco consumption starts earlier than alcohol or cannabis, and the sooner people start to consume tobacco, the sooner the consumption of other substances starts. Depending on the substances combined, there are differences in the age of onset of alcohol and the quantity of tobacco cigarettes. Thus, if those who drink also smoke, theage of onset of alcohol use is earlier. Those who smoke most cigarettes are the ones who combine tobacco with any illegal drug other than cannabis. With regard to perception of the effect of drug use, students who use alcohol, cannabis and tobacco consider that drugs affect academic performance less than non-users or consumers of legal drugs

Mecanismos cognitivos en la toma de decisiones arriesgadas en consumidores de cannabis / Cognitive mechanisms in risky decisionmaking in cannabis users

Se exploraron las relaciones entre consumo de cannabis y los procesos de toma de decisiones. Se empleó una versión informática de la Iowa Gambling Task (programa Cartas) en sus versiones normal e inversa y se aplicó el modelo Prospect Valence Learning (PVL) que caracteriza el proceso de toma de decisiones en base a los parámetros: Recencia, Consistencia, Aversión a las pérdidas y Regla de utilidad. Participaron 73 consumidores de cannabis y 73 no consumidores como grupo control. En la versión normal el grupo control obtuvo mejores puntuaciones que los consumidores. Ambos grupos se mostraron consistentes y con aversión a las pérdidas. Los controles estuvieron más influenciados por la frecuencia de las ganancias-pérdidas, mientras que los consumidores por su magnitud. La influencia de las elecciones inmediatas fue mayor en consumidores que presentaron un olvido rápido mientras que en los controles fue gradual. En la versión inversa, la ejecución de la tarea fue mejor en los controles. Ambos grupos mostraron consistencia, aversión a las pérdidas, más influenciados por la magnitud de las pérdidas-ganancias y con baja influencia de las elecciones inmediatas. Los resultados mostraron las relaciones entre consumo de drogas y el proceso de toma de decisiones, en consonancia con los obtenidos en otros trabajos, donde consumidores presentan peores resultados que controles, además, los parámetros del PVL nos permitieron caracterizar adecuadamente la toma de decisiones. Esto confirma la relación entre el consumo de drogas y la toma de decisiones, bien por la vulnerabilidad previa al consumo, bien por la neurotoxicidad de la drogas

The relationship between the use of cannabis and the decision making processes was explored. A computerized version of the Iowa Gambling Task (Cards Software) in its normal and reverse version was used, and the Prospect Valence Learning (PVL) model, which characterize the process of decision-making based on the parameters: Recency, Consistency, Loss aversion and Utility shape, was applied. Seventy-three cannabis consumers and a control group with 73 non consumers participated in the study. In the normal mode, subjects in the control group scored higher than cannabis consumers. Both groups showed consistent responses and aversion to loss. Non consumers showed greater influence of the gain-loss frequency, while consumers were more influenced by the magnitude of the gain-loss. The influence of immediate choices was higher among consumers who showed a quick oblivion while in the control group this process was more gradual. In the reverse mode, task performance was better among control group participants. Both groups showed consistency, loss aversion, more influenced by the magnitude of the gain-loss, and low influence of immediate elections. The results show the relationship between drug use and the decision making processes, being consistent with the results obtained in other studies where consumers had worse results than control group. Moreover, the PVL parameters allow to adequately characterize decision-making. This confirms the relationship between drug use and decision-making by either the vulnerability prior to consumption or the neurotoxicity of drugs