Construction and validation of a scale of stigma against individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia

Antecedents: Individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia are not just dealing with their diagnoses. They are facing stigma due to their pathology. International research has proposed that individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia suffer more stigma than other types of mental issues. However, in Chile, a valid scale is not available to measure stigma against individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Objectives: To fill this gap, this research is aimed to develop and validate a scale to measure stigma against individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods: Two stages were completed to achieve the research objective. First, a pool of items was developed based on the three critical components of stigma, cognitive, affective and behavioral. Three independent judges were asked to assess the content aspects of the content validity of the items. Second, following an instrumental and longitudinal design with non-probabilistic with a quota sampling by gender (N = 607) the validity and reliability of the final scale was assessed. Results: A one-dimensional scale composed of 22 items showed good statistical boundaries. The observed factor loadings suggest that the items adequately represent the dimension (λ>, 6), and the reliability estimates are optimal (α>, 8; ω>, 8). Results suggest that the scale can be used the respondents' gender irrespectively.

Antecedentes: Las personas diagnosticadas con esquizofrenia no solo enfrentan su diagnóstico. Ellos también tienen que enfrentar el estigma producto de su patología. Investigaciones internacionales han propuesto que las personas diagnosticas con esquizofrenia sufren más de estigma que otras patologías mentales. Sin embargo, en Chile no existe una escala validada para medir el estigma hacia personas diagnosticadas con esquizofrenia. Objetivos: Para cubrir esta necesidad en la literatura, esta investigación tiene como objetivo desarrollar y validar un instrumento para medir el estigma hacia personas diagnosticadas con esquizofrenia. Métodos: Dos etapas fueron completadas para lograr el objetivo de investigación. En primer lugar, se desarrolló un set de ítems basados en los "tres componentes centrales del estigma: creencia, emoción y conducta". Se les solicitó a tres jueces independientes evaluar estas preguntas de acuerdo con su contenido y validez. En segundo lugar, siguiendo un diseño instrumental y longitudinal con muestreo no probabilístico por cuotas por género (N = 607) se evaluó la validez y confiabilidad de la escala final. Resultados: Una escala unidimensional compuesta por 22 ítems mostró buenos límites estadísticos. Las saturaciones de factores observadas sugieren que los ítems representan adecuadamente la dimensión (λ>, 6), y las estimaciones de confiabilidad son óptimas (α>, 8; ω>, 8). Los resultados sugieren que la escala se puede utilizar independientemente del género de los encuestados

The relationship between academic psychological capital and academic coping stress among university students / La relación entre el capital psicológico académico y el afrontamiento de estrés académico en estudiantes universitarios

Abstract: Antecedents: University students confront academic stress in pursuing their academic goals, which may negatively affect their mental wellbeing. Consequently, it is relevant that students develop coping stress strategies to face students' daily stress in their academic life. Previous organisational research has proposed that the positive core construct of psychological capital (PsyCap) positively relates to effective coping strategies. This positive core construct has been identified in academic settings, and it has been called Academic PsyCap. However, the relationship between Academic PsyCap and Coping academic stress has not been deeply studied. Objectives: The primary purpose of this research is to explore if the Academic PsyCap is positively related to Academic coping stress strategies in university students. Methods: An exploratory study with a cross-sectional design was conducted to explore the relationship between the variable of interest in a sample of 102 Chilean university students from public and private institutions. Results: The results of the research showed a positive and significant relationship between Academic PsyCap and Coping academic stress. Furthermore, differences were identified between students from public and private universities and students with aboriginal and non-aboriginal heritage. These results are promising to effectively help university students to face academic stress based on Academic PsyCap.

Resumen: Antecedentes: Los estudiantes universitarios en la búsqueda de cumplir con sus metas académicas enfrentan el estrés académico que puede tener consecuencias negativas en su salud mental. En consecuencia, es relevante que los estudiantes logren desarrollar estrategias para enfrentar al estrés cotidiano asociado a su vida académica. Investigaciones en el campo de psicología organizacional con orientación positiva (POB) han propuesto que Capital Psicológico (PsyCap) es un constructo central positive que tiene una relación positiva con estrategias efectivas de afrontamiento de estrés. Este constructo central positive ha sido identificado También en el contexto académico, y se ha denominado como PsyCap Académico. Sin embargo, la relación entre PsyCap Académico y el afrontamiento del estrés académico no ha sido lo suficientemente estudiada. Objetivos: El propósito principal de esta investigación es explorar si PsyCap Académico esta positivamente relacionado con estrategias de afrontamiento de estrés académico en estudiantes universitarios. Método: Se realizo una investigación de tipo exploratoria con un diseño cross-sectional para explorar la relación entre las variables de interés en una muestra de 102 estudiantes universitarios Chilenos de instituciones públicas y privadas. Resultados: Los resultados de esta investigación muestran una relación positiva y significativa entre el PsyCap Académico y estrategias de afrontamiento de estrés académico. Adicionalmente, se encontraron diferencias entre estudiantes de universidades públicas y privadas, y entre estudiantes con ascendencia indígena y quienes no tienen esta ascendencia. Los resultados son promisorios para ayudar de forma efectiva a estudiantes universitarios a enfrentar el estrés académico por medio del PsyCap Académico.

Construction and validation of a scale of sexual self-concept for the elderly Chilean population.

BACKGROUND: Sexual self-concept has a central role in the life of the elderly population. Indeed, their sexual self-concept has significant and positive relationships with their satisfaction with life, pleasure, and willingness to interact with others. However, social-cultural prejudice means that the elderly are considered asexual individuals, harming their sexual self-concept. This prejudice is prominent in Chile, where the elderly do not have access to clear information about their sexuality. However, research on the Chilean elderly population is still in its infancy and requires more attention. Hence, this research aims to construct and validate a scale of sexual self-concept for the elderly Chilean population to cover this identified gap in the literature. METHODS: Sixty items were integrated into the first version of the scale. Ten external judges were asked to assess the content validity. Twenty-eight items were maintained. Subsequently, an instrumental and cross-sectional design was implemented with a non-probabilistic sampling (N = 188). Items were refined with corrected homogeneity indices and conditional estimates of Cronbach's alpha and Omega coefficient. RESULTS: A final scale of nine items equally distributed in three dimensions was obtained: Sexual self-efficacy (ω = 0.867), Sexual assertiveness (ω = 0.764), and Sexual self-esteem (ω = 0.803). The confirmatory factor analysis reflects that the theoretical model has an adequate fit (CFI = .989; TLI = .984; RMSEA = .086). CONCLUSIONS: The data analyses confirmed that the scale has adequate psychometric properties. This scale can be used for multidimensional measurements of sexual self-concept in the elderly in Chile. Further research can confirm its psychometric properties in different settings within the Spanish language population.

An updated review on burden on caregivers of schizophrenia patients / Una revisión actualizada sobre la sobrecarga en cuidadores de pacientes con esquizofrenia

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness that has a significant impact not only in the patient but also in the entire family as well. Caregivers assume almost the totality of the patient care. This responsibility exposes caregivers to an intense burden with negative consequences for them and the rest of the family system. This is an updated review of existing literature about burden on families with schizophrenia patients. METHOD: An electronic search of articles from MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA, EBSCO, and Cochrane databases was conducted for articles published between 2008 and 2013. RESULTS: A systematization of information and frequency analysis revealed the existence of eight factors related to burden that were present in almost all the reviewed literature: Programs of family treatment, Ethnic group, Expressed Emotion, Stress and Burden, Preoccupations of the caregiver, Kind of caregiver, Social networks, Social support, Finances and Coping Strategies. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the statements of different theories reflecting the complexity of schizophrenia caregivers' burden and these, in turn, may be related to the above factors

ANTECEDENTES: la esquizofrenia es una enfermedad mental grave que no solo tiene un impacto significativo en el paciente, sino también en la familia. Los cuidadores asumen casi la totalidad de los cuidados de los pacientes. Esta responsabilidad expone a los cuidadores a una intensa sobrecarga con consecuencias negativas para ellos y el resto del sistema familiar. Este estudio se trata de una revisión actualizada de la bibliografía existente acerca de la sobrecarga en familias con pacientes con esquizofrenia. MÉTODO: se realizó una búsqueda electrónica de artículos de bases de datos MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA, EBSCO y Cochrane para artículos publicados entre 2008 y 2013. RESULTADOS: una sistematización de la información y un análisis de frecuencia reveló la existencia de ocho factores relacionados con la sobrecarga que se presentaron en casi toda la literatura revisada: programas de tratamiento familiar, grupo étnico, Emoción Expresada, estrés y sobrecarga, preocupaciones del cuidador, tipo de persona que lo cuida, redes sociales, apoyo social, finanzas y estrategias de afrontamiento. CONCLUSIONES: este estudio evidencia el apoyo a las diversas teorías planteadas sobre el tema, reflejando la complejidad de la relación de los factores mencionados anteriormente en la sobrecarga de los cuidadores de pacientes con esquizofrenia

An updated review on burden on caregivers of schizophrenia patients.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness that has a significant impact not only in the patient but also in the entire family as well. Caregivers assume almost the totality of the patient care. This responsibility exposes caregivers to an intense burden with negative consequences for them and the rest of the family system. This is an updated review of existing literature about burden on families with schizophrenia patients. METHOD: An electronic search of articles from MEDLINE, EMBASE, APA, EBSCO, and Cochrane databases was conducted for articles published between 2008 and 2013. RESULTS: A systematization of information and frequency analysis revealed the existence of eight factors related to burden that were present in almost all the reviewed literature: Programs of family treatment, Ethnic group, Expressed Emotion, Stress and Burden, Preoccupations of the caregiver, Kind of caregiver, Social networks, Social support, Finances and Coping Strategies. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the statements of different theories reflecting the complexity of schizophrenia caregivers' burden and these, in turn, may be related to the above factors.