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PURPOSE: To examine the differences in mental health problems by sexual orientation and gender identity in first-year university students in Chile during the pandemic. METHODS: 7,213 first-year students aged 18 years and older from five universities participated as part of the World Mental Health - International College Student initiative in Chile. Students completed an online self-report survey between 2020 and 2021 that included measures of lifetime and 12-month major depressive episode, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, drug abuse/dependence, alcohol dependence, non-suicidal self-injuries, and suicidal risk. Prevalence of mental health problems were estimated and the differences by sexual orientation and gender identity were examined using logistic and multinomial logistic regression models. RESULTS: Between 84.1% and 98% of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBT+) students screened positive for at least one lifetime mental health problem and between 67.6% and 90.6% for two or more problems. For most outcomes, non-heterosexual (Odds Ratio [OR] between 1.25 and 7.00) and trans and gender nonconforming students (OR between 1.72 and 5.81) had significantly higher odds of positive screening for lifetime mental health problems than heterosexual and cisgender students, respectively. Similar results were observed for 12-month mental health problems. CONCLUSION: The results show differences in the prevalence of mental health problems in LGBT+ university students in Chile, which are consistent with those found in other countries. These results may be useful for planning interventions to improve the mental health of LGBT+ students.
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Resumen La presente investigación evalúa las propiedades psicométricas de la adaptación al español del Inventory of Statements About Self-injury de Klonsky y Glenn (2009). Esta escala evalúa las diferentes motivaciones o funciones que las personas refieren para realizar autolesiones no suicidas. Se aplicó la escala en una muestra (N = 435) de alumnos universitarios de ambos sexos con una historia de autolesiones no suicidas. El análisis factorial confirmatorio detectó 7 factores interpretables (autorregulación, venganza, búsqueda de sensaciones/fortaleza, evitando el suicidio, manifestando angustia, autodeterminación y embotamiento), 5 más que el instrumento original. La confiabilidad de la escala fue aceptable, con un alfa de Cronbach de 0.89 para la escala total y de 0.72 a 0.82 para cada factor. Se presenta la validez convergente a través de correlaciones positivas entre la escala y mediciones de depresión, ansiedad e impulsividad. El instrumento adaptado al español presenta propiedades psicométricas aceptables para la medición de autolesiones no suicidas en población universitaria mexicana.
Abstract This research evaluates the psychometric properties of the Spanish language adaptation of the Inventory of Statements About Self-injury (Klonsky and Glenn, 2009). This scale assesses the motivations or functions that people with non-suicidal self-injuries report for engaging in self-injurious behaviors. The inventory was administered to a sample of 435 male and female university students with a lifetime history of non-suicidal self-injuries. A confirmatory factor analysis detected 7 interpretable factors (self-regulation, revenge, sensation seeking/toughness, avoiding suicide, marking distress, self-determination and numbness), 5 more than the original instrument. The scale had adequate internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.89 and Cronbach's alphas of 0.72 to 0.82 for each factor. Positive correlations between the scale and measures of depression, anxiety and impulsivity suggest the convergent validity of the scale. Overall, the scale presents acceptable psychometric properties for the measurement of non-suicidal self-injuries in a Mexican university population.