Psicología desde el Caribe

Health psychology: What is it and where is it heading to?

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS WITH PATHOLOGICAL PERSONALITY TRAITS

Abstract The aim of this research was to investigate, in a non-clinical sample, whether symptoms of anxiety and depression are associated with pathological personality traits. The hypotheses were that individuals with more pathological personality characteristics would also present more symptoms of anxiety and depression; and that people with more symptoms of depression or more symptoms of anxiety have specific personality profiles. The sample consisted of 106 participants, older than 18 years (M=24.3, SD=5.71), of both genders (65 women; 61.3%). For evaluation, we used the Dimensional Clinical Personality Inventory (IDCP), which assesses pathological characteristics of personality in 12 dimensions, and the Brazilian versions of the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. These data corroborate the hypotheses and help in understanding the personality profile of people from the general population who have more symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo fue investigar, en una muestra no clínica, si los síntomas de ansiedad y depresión están asociados con la presencia de rasgos patológicos de personalidad. Las hipótesis son que los individuos con más rasgos patológicos de personalidad también presentan más síntomas de ansiedad y depresión y que las personas con más síntomas de depresión o ansiedad presentan perfiles de personalidad específicos. La muestra consistió en 106 participantes, con edad superior a 18 años (M=24.3, SD=5.71), de uno y otro sexo (65 mujeres; 61.3%). Para la evaluación, se utilizó el inventario simensional clínico de personalidad (IDCP), que evalúa las características patológicas de la personalidad en 12 dimensiones y las versiones brasileñas del inventario de depresión de Beck y el inventario de ansiedad de Beck. Estos datos corroboran las hipótesis y ayudan a entender el perfil de personalidad de las personas de la población general que tienen más síntomas de ansiedad y depresión.

Relationship between attribution of success and failure and school anxiety in Chilean students of secondary education

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue comprobar la relación entre las atribuciones de éxito y fracaso académico en lenguaje y matemáticas y la ansiedad escolar en estudiantes de educación secundaria chilenos. Participaron 1314 estudiantes de 15 establecimientos de la provincia de Ñuble, en Chile, cuyo rango de edad osciló entre 13 y 17 años (M = 15.55; DE = 1.32). La ansiedad escolar se evaluó con el inventario de ansiedad escolar (IAES) y las atribuciones causales con la Sydney Attribution Scale (SAS). Los resultados mostraron que los estudiantes que atribuyeron menos sus éxitos y fracasos a causas externas en lenguaje obtuvieron medias más altas de ansiedad escolar. Por otro lado, presentaron mayor ansiedad escolar los sujetos que atribuyeron menos sus éxitos a la capacidad en matemáticas y más sus fracasos a la falta de capacidad tanto en matemáticas como en lenguaje. Por último, los estudiantes que atribuyeron más sus éxitos al esfuerzo en lenguaje mostraron puntuaciones medias más altas en ansiedad escolar. Se concluye que los datos corroboran hallazgos anteriores y alertan acerca de la necesidad de atender estas problemáticas en los procesos pedagógicos.

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between attributions of academic success and failure in Language and Maths, and School Anxiety in Chilean high school students. It involved 1314 students from 15 secondary educational institutions, of Ñuble's province in Chile, whose age range was from 13 to 17 years (M=15.55, SD=1.32). School Anxiety was assessed with the School Anxiety Inventory (SAI), and causal attributions with the Sydney Attribution Scale (SAS). Results showed that students who attributed less their successes and failures to external causes in Language had higher means in school anxiety. On the other hand, subjects who had higher school anxiety attributed their success due to less ability in Maths and their failures to the lack of ability in Maths and Language. Finally, students who attributed their success due to effort in Language showed higher means in school anxiety. We conclude that the data support previous findings and warn about the need to manage these issues in school processes.

Relation between Career Adaptability and Academic Experiences in Higher Education

Resumo As vivências acadêmicas, além de informar sobre a adaptação ao contexto da educação superior também mostra-se relacionada com variáveis de desenvolvimento de carreira. Nesse sentido o presente estudo teve como objetivos verificar a correlação entre adaptabilidade de carreira e vivências acadêmicas, além do efeito da satisfação com o curso nas correlações entre os construtos mencionados. Os participantes foram 89 estudantes universitários do quinto ao nono semestre de uma universidade particular do interior paulista. Foram aplicados a Escala de Adaptabilidade de Carreira (CAAS) e o Questionário de Vivências Acadêmicas reduzido (QVA-r), além de um único item que avaliava o grau de satisfação com o curso. Foi realizada uma correlação entre os fatores da CAAS e os fatores do QVA-r, na qual observou-se correlações positivas entre os dois instrumentos, podendo destacar-se a correlação positiva e com grau moderado Preocupação (CAAS) e Carreira (QVA-r). A respeito da correlação parcial, foi observado que a variável satisfação com o curso exerceu influência em algumas correlações, principalmente a observada entre Preocupação (CAAS) e Carreira (QVA-r). A partir dos resultados pode-se assumir o processo de adaptação acadêmica como uma variável de carreira, sugerindo-se novos estudos com amostras maiores e mais diversificadas para a confirmação deste resultado.

Abstract Academic experiences, besides informing about adaptation to higher education context, have been associated to variables related to career development. In this sense, the objective of this study was to verify the correlation between career adapt-abilities and academic experiences, and the effect of course satisfaction in this correlation. The participants were 89 college students from fifth to ninth semester of a private college. These participants answered the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS) and Academic Adaptation Reduced Questionnaire (QVA-r), and also an item that valued the level of academic satisfaction. A correlation was made between the factors of the CAAS and QVA-r factors, in which there was found a positive correlation between the two instruments, from which can stand out the positive correlation and moderate Concern (CAAS) and Career (QVA-r). About the racial correlation, it was observed that the variable satisfaction with the course had an influence on some of the correlations, mainly on the Concern (CAAS) and Career (QVA-r) correlation. The results suggest that it could be assumed that the adaptation process is a variable of career. Indeed, further research would be necessary with biggers and more diverse samples.

Executive functions and Cognitive Reappraisal ability: the relationship in children

Resumen La habilidad de reevaluación cognitiva (HRC) es una estrategia de regulación emocional que implica resignificar un evento para cambiar su efecto emocional. En los niños, esta habilidad permite disminuir experiencias emocionales negativas y se ha mostrado como un factor de protección frente a la ansiedad y depresión. Sin embargo, aún resta conocer los factores que contribuyen a explicar las diferencias individuales en esta habilidad. Uno de estos factores son las funciones ejecutivas, ya que contribuyen al control cognitivo de la emoción. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar el rol de las funciones ejecutivas en la HRC. Se evaluaron 100 niños de 9 a 12 años (M = 10.49; DS = 1.10) en memoria de trabajo, flexibilidad cognitiva espontánea, inhibición y HRC mediante la tarea de amplitud oral (Batería AWMA), prueba de fluidez verbal semántica (Batería ENI) y la tarea de identificación de reevaluaciones cognitivas (TIRC) elaborada para este estudio. Los datos se analizaron mediante regresión lineal múltiple. Los resultados mostraron que las funciones ejecutivas predecían la HRC, es decir, los niños que tuvieron mejor desempeño en funcionamiento ejecutivo mostraron mayor HRC. Se espera que estos resultados permitan profundizar el conocimiento de los procesos implicados en el control cognitivo de la emoción.

Abstract The Cognitive Reappraisal Ability (CRA) is an emotional regulation strategy that involves giving a new meaning to an event in order to change the emotional response. In children, this skill helps reduce negative emotional experiences and has proven to be a protective factor against anxiety and depression. However, there's still the need to understand the factors that may influence on the individual differences in the CRA. One of these factors is executive functions, since they contribute to the cognitive control of emotion. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of executive functions in the CRA. We evaluated 100 children whose ages ranged from 9 to 12 years (M=10,49; DS=1,10) on their working memory capacity, spontaneous cognitive flexibility, inhibition and CRA using a Verbal Span Task (AWMA) , Verbal Fluency Task (ENI Battery) and a Cognitive Reappraisal Task CRT, which was designed for this research. Data set was analyzed by linear regression analysis. The results showed executive functions preceded CRA, i.e. children who performed better in executive functioning showed higher CRA. It is expected that these results permit a deeper understanding of the processes involved in cognitive control of emotion.

Relationship between depression and burden in caregivers of alzheimer disease patients

Resumen El alzhéimer es el tipo de demencia más frecuente. Debido al deterioro progresivo que produce, los pacientes requieren cuidado permanente. Las personas que asumen el rol de cuidadores de estos pacientes pueden sufrir efectos adversos en el ámbito psicológico, físico y social. Se realizó un estudio no experimental, transversal correlacional, con el objetivo de establecer la relación entre los niveles de depresión y sobrecarga en una muestra de 84 cuidadores formales y 92 informales de pacientes con esta enfermedad de Bucaramanga (Colombia), utilizando el inventario de depresión estado-rasgo (IDER) y la escala de sobrecarga de Zarit (versión para cuidadores informales y versión ajustada para cuidadores formales). Se encontró correlación en el ámbito de p<0.01 entre sobrecarga y depresión (estado y rasgo) en los cuidadores informales, pero no en los formales. Resulta importante profundizar en la relación entre el afecto negativo y la sobrecarga, así como estudiar las variables contextuales que podrían incrementar el malestar de ambos grupos de cuidadores.

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia. Due to the progressive decline it generates, patients require permanent care. People who take care of these patients may suffer negative psychological, physical and social consequences. The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between the level of depression and burden in a sample of 84 formal and 92 informal caregivers of patients diagnosed with AD, in the city of Bucaramanga, Colombia. It was carried out a Non-experimental, cross-sectional and correlational study. We used the Depression State/Trait Inventory, and Zarit's Burden Interview (version for informal caregivers and another one adjusted for using with formal caregivers). We found a statistically significant correlation (p<.01) between burden and depression (state/trait) in the sample of informal caregivers, but not in the formal caregivers. Further research about the relationship between negative affect and burden, and the influence of contextual variables in that relationship is necessary.

Criminological Profiling: State of the art in a sample of academic institutions in Colombia

Resumen El uso de la técnica de perfilación criminológica como herramienta de investigación criminal en los últimos años ha sido objeto de revisiones en cuanto a su fundamentación científica, aplicabilidad rigurosa y funcionalidad para el aparato judicial. En consecuencia, esta investigación tuvo como principal objetivo brindar información actualizada sobre la conceptualización de perfilación criminológica, su utilidad y las críticas que ha recibido en el contexto colombiano. Se realizó análisis del contenido en 34 documentos relacionados con perfilación criminológica, los cuales corresponden a producciones académicas realizadas durante 1998 y 2012 en Bogotá por cinco universidades, la Escuela Penitenciaria Nacional y la Escuela de Investigación Criminal de la Policía Nacional, en las cuales se imparte formación en psicología jurídica e investigación criminal. Los resultados y las conclusiones de la revisión documental indican: 1. El uso de la técnica en la investigación judicial ha sido limitado. 2. Es utilizada para comprender el actuar de quienes realizan comportamientos criminosos. 3. La mayor parte del conocimiento en perfilación criminológica se origina en la academia, en especial en el área de psicología jurídica y hace énfasis en el análisis y las construcciones conceptuales, sin muchos ejercicios de aplicación de la técnica en hechos delictuales. 4. Es necesario utilizar la técnica con mayor frecuencia dentro del contexto judicial y académico de la capital colombiana.

Abstract The use of criminological profiling technique as a tool for criminal investigation in recent years has been subjected to revision as to its scientific basis, rigorous applicability and functionality for the law enforcement apparatus. In consequence, this investigation made its principal objective to provide recent information about the main concepts of criminal profiling, its utility and the critiques it has received in Colombia. Content analysis was performed on 34 documents related to criminological profiling, corresponding to academic productions during the years of 1998 and 2012 in Bogotá by five universities, the National Penitentiary School and the School of Criminal Investigation of the National Police, in which training in legal psychology and criminal investigation is taught. The findings and conclusions of this document review indicate that, a) criminal profiling use as a technique in criminal investigation has been limited; b) its main use has been with the purpose to understand the acts of those people that commit crimes, c) most of the knowledge in criminal profiling originates in academia (universities), especially in the area of legal psychology, analyzing and making conceptual constructions without many ways of application of the technique in criminal activities, d) it is necessary to use this technique more frequently within the judicial and academic context of the Colombian capital.