Does the psychoemotional well-being of Spanish students influence their mathematical literacy? An evidence from PISA 2018.

Data from international studies reveal that the mathematics literacy of Spanish students is significantly lower than that of students from nearby countries. Therefore, in recent years, interest in identifying the factors that influence students' mathematics results in Spain has grown considerably. Often, these factors are sought among the socioeconomic characteristics of the students or among variables related to the schools, ignoring the psychological and emotional factors of the students. This paper analyzes the impact of certain psychoemotional characteristics of Spanish students on their literacy in mathematics. For this purpose, multilevel regression models are applied to the data of the Spanish sample of the 2018 edition of PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), which is composed of 35,943 15-year-old students. The instruments for data collection are the mathematics literacy tests and the contextual questionnaires on students' personal situation and well-being used by PISA. As dependent variable, students' mathematics literacy has been considered, measured through the plausible values provided by PISA, and as independent variables, different indices measuring students' psychoemotional well-being obtained from the contextual information collected by PISA. Results indicate that resilience, motivation for the achievement of learning objectives, competitiveness, perceived cooperation at school, and social connectedness with parents have a positive impact on students' mathematics literacy, while experiences related to bullying, physical self-concept, meaning in life and perceived competitiveness at school have a negative impact.

An approach to the study of menstrual bleeding in women in Andalusia / Una aproximación al estudio del sangrado menstrual en mujeres andaluzas

Objective: To establish the features of menstrual bleeding and their interindividual variations in a population of healthy women in Southern Andalusia, Spain. Material and methods: Observational, cross-sectional study of the Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Charts (PABC) filled in by women aged between 12 and 50 years with spontaneous menstruation who were not taking estrogen-progestin contraceptives. The women were recruited at 2 educational institutions and a workplace in the city of Granada (Spain). Results: A total of 327 women participated, with a mean (SD) age of 30.36 (9.08) years. The results showed that the duration of bleeding was 5.09 (1.41) days and that this was age-related (p=0.002). The mean consumption of menstrual hygiene products was 20.39 (11.68) per menstruation, with a PBAC score of 192.33 (155.75). This was higher in older women (p=0.019) and in those with more days of bleeding (p=0.000); the PBAC score was higher than 100 in 231 cases (71%). Conclusions: Applying the PBAC in a sample of healthy women enabled us to conclude that in our region, a high percentage of women could be suffering from heavy menstrual bleeding, depending on their age and the duration of menstruation

Objetivo: Establecer las características del sangrado menstrual y sus variaciones interindividuales en una población de mujeres sanas del sur de Andalucía. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, transversal de un PBAC (Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart), cumplimentado por mujeres con menstruaciones espontáneas (edades entre 12 y 50 años), sin estar bajo los efectos de fármacos estro-progestagénicos, y captadas en dos centros educativos y en un centro de trabajo de Granada. Resultados: Participaron un total de 327 mujeres, con una media edad de 30 (DE 9,08) años. Se encontró que la duración de su sangrado era de 5,09 (DE 1,41) días y que ésta guardaba relación con la edad (p = 0,002). El consumo medio de Productos de Higiene Menstrual fue de 20,39 (DE 11,68) por menstruación, el PBAC score era de 192,33 (DE 155,75), siendo más elevado en las mujeres de más edad (p = 0,019) o en las que tenían más días de sangrado (p = 0,000); en 231 casos (71%) el PBAC score fue superior a 100. Conclusiones: Aplicando el PBAC, en una población de mujeres sanas, hemos podido constatar que en nuestro medio, un elevado porcentaje de las mismas podrían estar padeciendo sangrado menstrual abundante, en función de su edad y de la duración de la menstruación