Mónica Carballeira

Structural gender differences in perceived social support

Abstract Gender is an important influence on support-relevant social interactions, however findings of studies on gender differences in social support are not definitive. Although differences between men and women in the various social support measures have been found in numerous studies, neither the cause nor the explanatory process is known. This study examines gender differences in the dimensionality of social support. A large sample ( N =3210) from the general population of women (60%) and men aged between 18 and 65 years old (Mean age=34.1) responded to a brief scale with items assessing the distinct functions of the perceived availability of social support. Confirmatory factor analyses yielded one factor in the womens sample that measures global social support perceived, and two in the mens. The first factor in the mens sample measures emotional support (providing empathy, caring, validation of self-worth), and the second measures instrumental support (e.g. practical assistance or financial aid). We concluded that there are gender differences in the structure of perceived social support and that these differences can be explained by socialization experiences and social roles associated with gender.

Contact with nature and personal well-being

Abstract The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between contact with nature and subjective and psychological well-being. 554 participants aged between 17 and 66 years old completed the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the PANAS Scales, the NEO-PI-R, the Psychological Well-being Scales, and a Structured Interview including some demographic variables, four measures of satisfaction with specific areas of life (sentimental, job/studies, health, leisure) and a question about the frequency of contact with nature. MANCOVA analysis, considering the four frequency levels for contact with nature (none, low, medium, frequent) and after controlling age, extraversion and openness, revealed that contact with nature has an influence on satisfaction with different life domains, such as sentimental, leisure, and overall life satisfaction. The findings suggest the promotion of contact with nature when implementing programs to improve human well-being

Contacto con la naturaleza y bienestar personal

Resumen El objetivo principal del presente estudio consistió en investigar las relaciones entre contacto con la naturaleza y bienestar personal, tanto subjetivo como psicológico. Participaron 554 personas entre 17 y 66 años que cumplimentaron la siguiente batería de pruebas: Satisfaction with Life Scale, PANAS Scales, Psychological Well-Being Scales, NEO-PI-R y una Entrevista Semiestructurada donde se recogía la frecuencia de actividades en contacto con la naturaleza, la satisfacción en dominios vitales (sentimental, trabajo/estudios, salud y ocio) y características sociodemográficas. El análisis MANCOVA realizado, considerando los cuatro niveles de contacto con la naturaleza (ninguno, bajo, medio, frecuente) y tras controlar edad, extraversión y apertura, mostró la influencia de la naturaleza sobre la satisfacción vital, la satisfacción sentimental y con el ocio. Los resultados sugieren considerar el contacto con la naturaleza en el diseño de programas para la promoción del bienestar personal

Well-Being Among Spanish Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Heterosexual Adults: Disclosure of Sexual Orientation to Family and Friends

ABSTRACT Relevance of disclosure of minority sexual orientation on subjective (SWB) and psychological well-being (PWB) was analyzed. Participants were 236 men and 238 women self-identified as lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) or heterosexual. No differences in SWB were found between heterosexuals and LGBs. Heterosexual women showed greater environmental mastery than bisexual men and greater purpose in life than lesbian and bisexual women. Outcomes showed greater well-being among LGBs who disclosed their minority sexual orientation to parents later in life. Disclosing minority sexual orientation to parents was related with greater PWB. Further research that takes a differential approach to improve well-being for LGBs is needed.

El Papel de la Personalidad y la Inteligencia en la Autoeficacia Interpersonal

espanolSe analizan las caracteristicas de temperamento, inteligencia y trastornos de personalidad de 320 mujeres y 114 hombres universitarios segun su autoeficacia interpersonal. Los participantes cumplimentaron el inventario de personalidad NEO-PI-R, el cuestionario de trastornos de personalidad IPDE, el cuestionario de autoevaluacion de inteligencias multiples CAIM, y los tests de factor g y de aptitudes mentales primarias PMA. Las mujeres con alta autoeficacia interpersonal puntuaron mas alto en capacidad espacial, extraversion, apertura y responsabilidad, y mas bajo en neuroticismo y trastornos de personalidad que las mujeres con baja autoeficacia. Los hombres del grupo alto puntuaron mas alto en temperamento y mas bajo en los trastornos paranoide y dependiente que los hombres del grupo bajo. Aparecieron diferencias intersexo en inteligencia en el grupo de alta autoeficacia, y en temperamento en el grupo de baja autoeficacia. Se sugiere considerar el temperamento, la inteligencia y el sexo para evaluar y promover la inteligencia interpersonal. EnglishThis study analyses temperament, intelligence, and personality disorders shown by 320 women and 114 men undergraduates depending on interpersonal self-efficacy as high or low. All of them fulfilled the Personality Inventory NEO-PI-R, the Questionnaire of Personality Disorders IPDE, the Questionnaire of Self-Assessment of Multiple Intelligences CAIM, g-factor Test, and the Primary Mental Abilities Test. Women who assessed their interpersonal intelligence as high, scored higher in spatial ability, extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness, and lower in neuroticism and personality disorders against those wom en who assessed their interpersonal intelligence as low. However, those men with high interpersonal self-efficacy showed higher scores on temperament and lower scores in paranoid and dependent disorders than men with low self-efficacy. There were gender d ifferences in intelligence for the higher group in interpersonal intelligence, and in temperament for the lower group. Considering gender and personality factors in assessment and promotion of interpersonal intelligence is suggested.