Manuel Sánchez de Miguel

Quality of Family Context and Cognitive Development: A Cross Sectional and Longitudinal Study

Abstract This study analyses the relationship between psychosocial quality of family context and the cognitive development of a sample of 551 children of school age. The data were gathered at school and at home in two waves, when the children were 5 (T1) and 8 (T2) years old, respectively. In T1, three factors related to quality of family context were obtained: absence of conflict, child –family adjustment, and sociability. Two factors of cognitive development were obtained in T1 and T2. In T1, associations were found between all three factors and cognitive development. In T2, associations were found between the quality of family context and cognitive development. Cognitive development in T2 was predicted by the absence of conflict T1 factor, with a negative association. Children who were exposed to more conflicts in T1, and who scored higher on the HOME scale in T2, were found to have improved their cognitive development scores over time in comparison with their group.

Factores psicológicos y salud asociados con un nuevo perfil de jubilados

Resumen es: Conforme a los cambios sociales y economicos, la tipologia y definicion del jubilado va siendo modificada en las ultimas decadas. Hoy por hoy no existe u...

The role of parents’ distancing strategies in the development of five-year-old children’s Theory of Mind

The aim of this study was to analyse the relation between parents’ distancing strategies and the performance of five-year-old children (N = 70) in Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks. The children’s performances were assessed during individual sessions held at school. The distancing strategies practiced by the parents (cognitive and linguistic scaffolding, contingency rule and decontextualisation strategies, among others) were assessed through systematic observation carried out in the family home. The results support the relationship between some of these variables (linguistic scaffolding, decontextualisation and contingency rule) and ToM development. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to the need of educational and family intervention programmes which enhance the development of this ability.

Family context assessment in a public health study

OBJECTIVES To analyze the factorial structure of a new instrument to assess the quality of the family context (Etxadi-Gangoiti Scale) in a sample from the Gipuzkoa cohort of the Environment and Childhood (Infancia y Medio Ambiente [INMA]) study. METHODS Families in a sample of 433 two-year-old children were assessed in a home visit with subsequent analysis of the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the data. RESULTS An exploratory factorial analysis (principal axis factoring and varimax rotation) and a confirmatory factorial analysis were carried out; partial confirmation of the original factorial structure of the instrument was obtained, which revealed the following factorial structures. Subscale (1): promotion of cognitive and linguistic development, social skills, psychomotor skills, and pretend play and imitation; subscale (2): promotion of independence and self-esteem, provision of optimal frustration, social and emotional quality of the relationship, and absence of physical punishment; subscale (3): paternal involvement, low exposure to family conflict, low frequency of family conflict, relationship with the extended family, social support, diversity of experiences, low frequency of stressful events, and low parental perception of stress. DISCUSSION The structure of the original instrument structure was partially confirmed, which was attributed to the characteristics of the sample. We stress the importance of the variability obtained in the evaluation of the families, as well as of adequate indicators of reliability in such evaluation. The new instrument could be used in public health to identify deficient family contexts and to design preventive interventions focused on parenting skills.

Diferentes formas de acceder a la jubilación y su relación con la salud psicológica

INTRODUCTION Due to a series of factors such as working conditions, economic position and health status, retirement does not necessarily occur at the age of 65 years, thus generating new types of retirement. OBJECTIVES To study the possible relationship between retirement types and psychological health indicators, i.e. depression, anxiety and life satisfaction and to analyze perceptions and feelings about the change produced as a result of retirement. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 119 retired persons (68.1% men, 31.9% women) participated in this study. The mean age was 66.5 years. Participants were interviewed individually. The instruments used were the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, an ad hoc interview, in which sociodemographic data and information on retirement were gathered, the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Life Satisfaction Scale, and lastly, the COOP-WONCA Health-Related Quality of Life Scale. RESULTS Participants who retired due to illness had higher levels of anxiety and depression and lower life satisfaction than persons retiring for other reasons. The ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences (p<.001) only in life satisfaction. After the corresponding regression analysis was performed on this variable, a statistically significant model was found that grouped together four predictive variables: anxiety (p<.001), depression (p<.001), income bracket (p<.001) and physical status (p<.05). These variables explained 46% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS In line with other studies, the present study found that retirement is not associated with depression, although retirement due to illness is associated with poorer psychological health. The results on life satisfaction support the idea that retirement is no longer a homogeneous event. Retirement type does not appear to be a major predictor of life satisfaction.

Association between breastfeeding duration and cognitive development, autistic traits and ADHD symptoms: A multicenter study in Spain

Background:Several studies have related longer breastfeeding duration to better intellectual performance in children. By contrast, few studies have investigated the potential protective effects of breastfeeding against behavioral problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and even fewer on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) traits.Methods:We examined the association between breastfeeding duration and cognitive development, attention, ADHD symptoms, and autistic traits using data from the INMA Project, a Spanish multicenter birth-cohort study, and taking into account the intensity of breastfeeding. Duration of any, predominant, and exclusive breastfeeding was documented during infancy through maternal questionnaires. Children (N = 1,346; mean age = 4.9 y) were assessed using the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities, Conners’ Kiddie Continuous Performance Test, criteria of the DSM-ADHD symptoms form list, and the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test.Results:After adjustment for several confounders, longer duration of breastfeeding was independently associated with better cognitive development and with fewer autistic traits.Conclusion:This study provides further evidence of a positive association of breastfeeding with cognitive function apart from socio-environmental factors, and also suggests a protective role against autistic traits. Results are in agreement with recommendations for prolonged breastfeeding duration to promote child development.

Family context assessment and positive parenting policies

ABSTRACT This study presents the descriptive data of a family context assessment carried out using a new instrument which includes a wide range of variables identified in recent scientific literature as influencing childrens psychological development. Participants were 772 families with children aged between 7 and 11. The results reveal variability between the families as regards the quality levels of key family context variables. They also enable intervention aims to be established, focused specifically on those variables in which quality levels indicate possible room for improvement. These include (among others) encouraging reading, fostering autonomy and self-esteem and reducing parental stress. In accordance with the principles of positive parenting, a series of intervention strategies are proposed, using the strengths that every family owns to address the weakest areas detected in the family.

Promotion of child development and health from the perinatal period: an approach from positive parenting

ABSTRACT This article makes a review and reflection on parenting practices and child development in the perinatal period; the theoretical foundations and recent data in the field are exposed. Spanish and international research in this emerging area indicates that pregnancy, postpartum and early parenting are opportunities and unique spaces to develop competencies to create family contexts that promote healthy development. An exhaustive positive parenting proposal of early promotion of child development in the perinatal period is presented. This includes the promotion of: prenatal bond, couples relationship, social support networks, the physical and mental health of the mother alongside with the support to make informed decisions about parenting and the development of parental knowledge of the intergenerational transmission of parenting patterns and of early childhood development. It is expected, that the proposal could be a tool in the future design of public intervention programmes with families.

Women bus drivers and organizational change

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the gender practices of a female urban bus driver who retired after 40 years (1967-2007) in an urban bus company in northern Spain. The main objective of this study was to explore and understand the move from irreflexive to reflexive practices from a gender perspective, and to uncover new key aspects relating to the influence of women in organizational changes. Design/methodology/approach – This qualitative exploratory study (interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)) contains semi-structured interviews which explore, using a process of analytic induction, the personal- and work-related experiences of a woman who was a pioneer in the traditionally male-dominated field of urban bus services. In order to obtain a broader overview of the organization, and using the same method, four other female bus drivers from the same company were also interviewed, along with the personnel manager. Findings – Three different situations are presented. The first summari...