María Paz Bermúdez

The effects of continuous positive air pressure treatment on anxiety and depression levels in apnea patients

Abstract Various studies have focused on understanding how the continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) treatment improves the emotional state of obstructive sleep apnea patients, as well as factors that determine improvement. Yet the results are contradictory. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the changes in depression levels, anxiety state and anxiety trait levels of patients with obstructive sleep apnea after 1 month and again after 3 months of CPAP treatment. The sample consisted of 51 obstructive sleep apnea patients. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) standardized spanish version was used to assess depressive symptoms. The State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to assess two elements of the response to anxiety: anxiety‐state and anxiety‐trait. The results indicate that there exist statistically significant differences in depression levels after 1 month and after 3 months of treatment (P < 0.05). In specific, a drop in depression symptomatology was observed in both experimental conditions. With respect to anxiety state‐trait levels, the obtained results show statistically significant differences in anxiety‐trait levels after 1 month and after 3 months of treatment (P < 0.05) and in anxiety state after 3 months of treatment (P < 0.01). Both variables experienced a decrease after CPAP treatment.

Sexual sensation seeking, social stress, and coping styles as predictors of HIV/STD risk behaviors in adolescents.

The aim of this study was to assess whether coping styles, social stress, and sexual sensation seeking were predictors of HIV/STD risk behaviours in adolescents. A representative sample of 4,456 female and male Spanish high school students aged 13 to 18 years participated. A stratified random sampling procedure was used. Self-report questionnaires on coping styles, social stress, sexual sensation seeking, and sexual behavior were administered to participants at their high schools. Sexual sensation seeking predicted whether sex was with a casual partner and whether drugs were used at the last sexual intercourse in males and females. Nonproductive coping was a risk factor in the use of drugs at the last sexual intercourse in males. Problem-solving coping style was related to a lower likelihood in the use of drugs at the last sexual encounter in females and to a higher likelihood of condom use at last sexual intercourse in males. Social stress increased the likelihood of having used drugs at last sexual intercourse in females. This study highlights the need to incorporate sexual sensation seeking, social stress, and coping styles in HIV/STD prevention programs aimed at adolescents.

Social support, self-esteem and depression: Relationship with risk for sexually transmitted infections/HIV transmission

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are important health problems that affect adolescents. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between 1) depression, self-esteem and perceived social support and 2) sexual risk behaviors according to gender. The sample used in this ex post facto study was composed of 1,005 adolescents of both sexes aged between 14 and 18 years. Participants completed several questionnaires in the classrooms of their secondary education schools. The questionnaires assessed depression, self- esteem and perceived social support and recorded information on sexual behavior and socio- demographic issues. Results showed that, among males, self-esteem predicted higher vaginal risk, depression was related to higher vaginal, anal and oral sexual risk, and perceived support from the family predicted lower vaginal and anal sexual risk. Among females, self-esteem was found to be associated with lower anal sexual risk and perceived support from friends predicted lower anal and oral sexual risk. The study highlights the importance of considering family and friends as well as gender differences in the prevention of STIs/HIV.

Factors associated with rape-supportive attitudes: sociodemographic variables, aggressive personality, and sexist attitudes

The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of various sociodemographic variables and estimate the impact of additional psychological factors (aggressive personality traits and the sexual double standard) on rape-supportive attitudes. A sample of 700 men and 800 women from El Salvador aged between 18 and 40 years completed the Social Desirability Scale, the Double Standard Scale, the Aggression Questionnaire, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 and the Rape-Supportive Attitude Scale. Results show gender-based and age-based differences in rape-supportive attitudes, as well as an interaction between gender and age. They also highlight the importance of the sexual double standard and aggressive personality traits in explaining such attitudes.

Satisfaction of Health Science teachers with the convergence process of the European Higher Education Area

The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) has implied a major transformation of university studies in European countries. The aim of this study was to assess the satisfaction of university teachers in the area of Health Sciences with the convergence process to determine positive and negative aspects in their practices. The sample was composed of 1,361 teachers of Spanish public universities. They all participated in an ad hoc survey that included questions pertaining to the following issues: a) personal and professional information, b) general and institutional aspects, c) aspects related to teaching, research, and administrative work, d) methodology and the teaching-learning process, e) assessment of students, f) training of teachers, and g) coordination, organization, and resources at the school. Results reveal that teachers are not totally satisfied with the way the EHEA is being established. In conclusion, certain changes would be necessary to achieve real convergence between countries.

Effects of nCPAP treatment over reaction time and sleepiness levels during vigilance.

Several studies have shown that sleep fragmentation not only increases daytime sleepiness, but also deteriorates reaction time. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS)is characterized by interruptions in normal sleep patterns. Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure(nCPAP)is the most frequently used treatment for OSAS. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate changes in daytime sleepiness levels and reaction time in apnea patients after nCPAP treatments of 1 and 3 months. The sample was composed of 51 obstructive sleep apnea patients(47 men and 4 women)with ages ranging between 30 and 65 years of age. Sleep apnea was diagnosed with a cardiorespiratory polygraph of the total hours of sleep. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale was used to assess daytime sleepiness. A BASIC software program was used to measure the simple perceptual reaction times in milliseconds. The results indicated statistically significant decreases in daytime sleepiness levels at 1 month(p < .000)and at 3 months(p < .000)of treatment. The results also showed statistically significant decreases in reaction times at one month(p < .000), as well as at 3 months(p < .000)of treatment. Results indicate an improvement in the vigilance levels of obstructive sleep apnea patients after 1 month and 3 months of nCPAP treatment.

Male sexual coercion: analysis of a few associated factors.

The purpose of this study was to assess, in a sample of 700 university students ages 18 to 40 years in El Salvador, the importance of sociodemographic variables (age, having a partner, and frequency of religious practice), personality traits (anger, hostility, and aggressiveness), sexual attitudes, and male chauvinist attitudes (erotophilia, double standard, and rape supportive attitudes) in explaining male sexual coercion. All these variables were assessed. Once the effect of social desirability had been controlled, the analysis showed the importance of trait anger along with a favorable attitude toward the use of violence against women, double standard, and negative attitudes toward sexuality in explaining male sexual coercion. Religious involvement, however, may act as a protective factor against such violence. Multidimensional models are needed to explain sexual violence against women by men in heterosexual relationships.

Psychological and socio-demographic variables associated with sexual risk behavior for sexually transmitted infections/HIV

New diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are rising in the adult population. The main objective of this study was to analyze whether knowledge of STIs/HIV, worry about STIs/HIV and pregnancy, and self-efficacy to refuse sex are predictors of sexual risk behaviors among Spanish young and adults. The study sample was composed of 1,106 young and adults of both sexes aged between 17 and 55 years. Results showed that being single, homosexual, having been tested for HIV, having previously contracted an STI, having a college education and earning a monthly income of €900 or more were the characteristics associated with higher scores in knowledge of STIs/HIV. Self-efficacy to refuse sex predicted most vaginal and anal sexual behaviors (i.e., age at vaginal and anal sex initiation and the number of couples that have remained vaginal sex). We also found that participants with greater knowledge of STIs/HIV reported older age at vaginal sex initiation and higher condom use in the first vaginal sexual contact. We consider that these findings can be useful for the development of STI/HIV prevention programs.

Satisfacción sexual y actitudes hacia el uso del preservativo en adolescentes: evaluación y análisis de su relación con el uso del preservativo

La satisfaccion sexual y las actitudes positivas hacia el uso del preservativo favorecen el uso del mismo. El objetivo general de este estudio es la evaluacion y analisis de la relacion entre la satisfaccion sexual, las actitudes hacia el uso del preservativo y el uso del preservativo en adolescentes. Los participantes son 1504 adolescentes espanoles escolarizados de ambos sexos (48.40% varones, 51.60% mujeres). Se trata de un estudio descriptivo de poblaciones mediante encuestas con muestras probabilisticas, de tipo transversal. En varones, una mayor actitud positiva hacia el uso del preservativo predice una mayor probabilidad de uso del mismo en la primera relacion sexual vaginal y anal. La satisfaccion sexual de la pareja predice una mayor probabilidad de uso del preservativo en la primera relacion sexual oral, y la satisfaccion sexual sobre la sintonia de la pareja se asocia con una menor probabilidad de uso del preservativo en la primera relacion sexual oral. En mujeres, una mayor satisfaccion sexual personal predice una mayor probabilidad de no haber utilizado el preservativo en la primera relacion sexual vaginal. Ademas, en las mujeres, una mayor satisfaccion sexual sobre la sintonia de la pareja incrementa las probabilidades de haber utilizado el preservativo en el debut sexual vaginal. Los porcentajes de varianza explicada son bajos. Se recomienda que en futuros estudios se analicen factores socioculturales relacionados con los roles de genero que pudieran estar influyendo en las asociaciones entre la satisfaccion sexual, las actitudes hacia el uso del preservativo y el riesgo sexual en adolescentes

Analysis of cognitive variables and sexual risk behaviors among infected and HIV-uninfected people from Spain

ABSTRACT The wider availability of anti-retroviral treatment has brought about an improvement in the immunological situation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals, which in turn has led to significant reductions in AIDS-related morbidity and mortality and better quality of life for patients. However, the rate of diagnosis of new cases of HIV among the adult population is on the increase due to high-risk sexual behavior practices, particularly not using condoms, sexual relations with a large number of partners and starting sexual relations at a younger age, with unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. For this reason, public health managers have invested considerable effort in recent years in creating STI and HIV prevention programs. Yet, in spite of the implementation of measures for reducing the rates of infection, few studies have been published in Spain comparing individuals living with HIV with the general population about cognitive variables and the link between these variables and high-risk sexual behavior. The objective was to compare a group of individuals living with HIV with another group from the general population in terms of cognitive variables (knowledge about STIs and HIV, concern about STI/HIV and pregnancy, self-efficacy to refuse sexual relations and resilience) and sexual behavior. The sample consisted of 318 adults, 159 were from the general population and 159 were individuals living with HIV. Individuals living with HIV had higher scores for concern about HIV/AIDS, STIs, pregnancy and knowledge of STI/HIV compared with the general population. We concluded that uninfected people who had low and high level of concern about HIV/AIDS began having anal sex at a younger age than those with a medium level of concern. Overall, results indicate that the concern about HIV/AIDS should be addressed in preventive health interventions to minimize the risks of sexual behavior.