David Álvarez García

Psychometric characteristics of the BRIEF scale for the assessment of executive functions in Spanish clinical population

BACKGROUNDnThe Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF) scale, completed by families, is widely known in the assessment of executive functions in children and adolescents. However, its application is limited to English-speaking population.nnnMETHODnThis study analyzes the preliminary results from its application in a Spanish clinical sample, comprising 125 participants aged 5-18 years. Internal structure and reliability of the translated scale were analyzed, as well as its relationship with other behavioral measures through the analysis of their correlations with the Assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scale (EDAH). The results were compared with those from the original validation study.nnnRESULTSnThe data revealed the presence of the same internal structure, as well as acceptable internal consistency and significant correlations with the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity components of the EDAH scale.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThis study provides preliminary evidence of the utility of the BRIEF scale in cultural contexts different from the original, particularly in Spanish clinical population.

Un estudi innovador sobre assetjament on-line en estudiantes universitaris

La universalizacion en el uso de dispositivos moviles de conexion a Internet y de redes sociales ha supuesto importantes cambios en la forma en que adolescentes y jovenes se relacionan y en los espacios y contextos en que esa interaccion se da. Dichos cambios conllevan la aparicion de nuevas formas de acoso a traves del uso de ordenadores, tablets y smartphones. Dadas las negativas consecuencias que el acoso on-line puede tener para el alumnado ( incremento de dificultades academicas, sociales e internalizadas), resulta esencial tener datos precisos acerca de la prevalencia y caracteristicas del mismo en los distintos entornos en los que los jovenes y los adolescentes interaccionan. El objetivo de esta investigacion es estudiar la prevalencia del cyberbullying en estudiantes universitarios a traves de una metodologia innovadora que permita obtener informacion relevante de un gran numero de alumnos en poco tiempo, aprovechando asi las posibilidades y universalizacion del uso de los smartphones.