Silvia Ubillos

Determinants of psychological distress among migrants from Ecuador and Romania in a Spanish city.

Background: Migration may have consequences on the mental health of those who enter a new cultural environment. In Spain, migration has increased tenfold in 20 years. It is important to study how these migrants are interacting within this new context and which variables hinder their personal and social development. Aims: To analyze acculturation differences in Spain between first-generation immigrants from two different countries; to analyze the self-reported mental health of these participants; and to evaluate which variables best predict mental health disorders. Method: One hundred and thirty five (135) respondents from Romania and Ecuador responded to a questionnaire analyzing mental health by means of the GHQ-12, coupled with other personal, social and psychosocial acculturation variables. Results: Both cultural groups differed significantly regarding the impact of personal and social variables on their well-being. Nevertheless, mental health distress was not explained by their cultural differences but by gender, gross income and perceived discrimination. Social support offered by those still living at home acted as a buffer. Conclusion: It is important to analyze female migration patterns in order to reduce mental health problems, stress the importance of economic income, and examine how social support offered by those living in one’s home culture is an effective buffer against mental distress.

Percepción de riesgo, reacciones emocionales y el impacto del 11-M

Resumen Este estudio explora el impacto del 11-M en las reacciones emocionales, las formas de afrontamiento y el riesgo percibido en la población española. Han participado 869 personas (el 42,7% cumplimentó el cuestionario antes de los atentados y el 57,3% después). Tras el 11-M aumenta la percepción de riesgo, la intensidad emocional negativa y las conductas de afrontamiento defensivo. Existe una sobreestimación del riesgo personal respecto a la probabilidad real. Los participantes más expuestos a situaciones de riesgo (País Vasco) son los que presentan menor probabilidad de ser víctimas del evento. El miedo induce a adoptar estrategias de tipo defensivo y refuerza la percepción de riesgo mientras que la cólera se asocia a reacciones agresivas. Los resultados confirman que las personas atribuyen respuestas afectivas y formas de afrontamiento más disfuncionales a los otros que a uno mismo. Existe una relativa independencia entre la experiencia directa y la percepción de riesgo. El 11-M no ha repercutido ni en la benevolencia ni en la confianza que se tiene en los otros ni en las creencias de tipo socio-cultural.

Sesgos cognitivos y explicaciones asociadas como factores determinantes de las conductas sexuales de riesgo

Resumen Utilizando el autoinforme como instrumento de recogida de información, se exploró en qué medida ciertos sesgos cognitivos aparecían asociados a situaciones de intimidad sexual, las cuales diferían en el riesgo que comportaban. Participaron en el estudio 149 jóvenes con una edad media de 24 años. La ilusión de invulnerabilidady el falso consenso son los sesgos cognitivos que más frecuentemente aparecen asociados a determinadas conductas de riesgo y en menor medida el sesgo de ignorancia pluralista. La ilusión de invulnerabilidad, expresada por un 75% de los participantes, aparece asociada a una mayor percepción de control y a una mayor gravedad estimada de las consecuencias de mantener relaciones sexuales de riesgo. El sesgo de falso consenso, aplicado a las relaciones prematrimoniales, afecta al 84% de los participantes que han mantenido este tipo de relaciones; estos jóvenes estiman en mayor medida que su experiencia personal es compartida por otros, estiman una actitud favorable hacia esta conducta tanto en ellos mismos como en otras personas y dan una explicación causal interna a esta conducta. Aquellos que muestran ignorancia pluralista tienen menor experiencia en relaciones sexuales ocasionales no protegidas y se perciben más inseguros para plantear el uso del preservativo en sus relaciones futuras. Los resultados obtenidos hacen recomendable la difusión de la existencia de estos sesgos cognitivos dentro de los programas de prevención para jóvenes.

Protective and risk factors associated with voice strain among teachers in Castile and Leon, Spain: recommendations for voice training.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this research was to know the protective and risk factors associated with voice strain in teachers. METHOD AND STUDY DESIGN A total of 675 teachers from Castille and León, Spain took part in the research within an age range between 23 and 66 years (from nursery school to university). A cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytic design was applied to data from a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS The research showed that 16.4% had suffered some voice disorder and a remarkable percentage had never received any kind of voice training. The bivariate and multivariate analyses show that the size of the classroom, being a primary school teacher, teaching physical education, the noise caused by the students in the classroom, the struggle to keep the order within the class, raising the voice, and bad sleep are risk factors in the voice disorders. Each learning stage features a different risk factor, namely in nursery school, the noise caused by the pupils; in primary education, raising the voice; and in secondary education, the struggle to keep the order within the class. All these risk factors are linked with each other. CONCLUSIONS The preventive measures must provide adequate answers to the voice requirements for every subject and stage, and these preventive measures must be based on the educational psychology principles to help the teachers deal with the problems originated by the lack of authority or the noise made by the students, using the proper voice techniques.

Adaptation and validation of the Double Standard Scale in Basque adolescents / Adaptación y validación de la Escala de Doble Estándar en adolescentes vascas-os

Abstract The goal was to adapt the Double Standard Scale to the Basque language and to validate it in this language. The sample was comprised of 2,919 adolescents in secondary school. The reliability was analysed and the cross-validation method was applied with exploratory factorial analysis and confirmatory factorial analysis to check the structure of the scale. A differential item analysis was performed according to sex. Finally, correlations were made with ambivalent sexism and distorted beliefs about women and violence, and a contrast of means was performed by sex and age groups using variance analysis and effect sizes. The results were: (a) good internal consistency; (b) a one-dimensional structure with seven items; (c) just one item presents a differential functioning; (d) a positive, significant relationship between the sexual double standard, ambivalent sexism and sexist beliefs; (e) boys and younger adolescents showed a greater adherence to the double standard; and (f) social desirability affects the responses of girls, especially younger ones.

A focus-group research into the lives of members of four inmigrant groups in Spain

Abstract A qualitative study with people from four cultural groups living in Spain is presented. Objectives: To analyse the social psychological impact of migration, exploring perceived cultural differences and migration experiences. Design: 8 focus groups with participants from Bulgaria, Morocco, Ecuador and Colombia (n = 49 participants). Results: The most frequent discourses were related to acculturative stress: changes in social life, gender differences, and hierarchical distance. The security motive was an important reason for migrating. Problems regarding ones well-being and experiences of prejudice and discrimination were the most mentioned regarding adaptation to host country. Participants stress lower hierarchical values, more gender equality, less family orientation and collectivism in Spain compared to their country of origin. There are also differences in communication styles and modes. Conclusion: Participants perceive cultural differences between cultures regarding Individualism, Collectivism and Hierarchy, showing a dual relationship with the host culture. Legal barriers are the most important issue hindering individual and collective development.

Adaptation of the HIV Stigma Scale in Spaniards with HIV.

The primary goal of this study was to adapt Berger, Ferrans, & Lahley (2001) HIV Stigma Scale in Spain, using Bunn, Solomon, Miller, & Forehand (2007) version. A second goal assessed whether the four-factor structure of the adapted scale could be explained by two higher-order dimensions, perceived external stigma and internalized stigma. A first qualitative study (N = 40 people with HIV, aged 28-59) was used to adapt the items and test content validity. A second quantitative study analyzed construct and criterion validity. In this study participants were 557 people with HIV, aged 18-76. The adapted HIV Stigma Scale for use in Spain (HSSS) showed a good internal consistency (α = .88) and good construct validity. Confirmatory Factor Analyses yielded a first-order, four-factor structure and a higher-order, bidimensional structure with the two expected factors (RMSEA = .051, 90% CI [.046, .056]; RMR = .073; GFI = .96; AGFI = .96; CFI = .98). Negative relations were found between stigma and quality of life (r = -.39; p < .01), self-efficacy to cope with stigma (r = -.50; p < .01) and the degree of HIV status disclosure (r = -.35; p < .01). Moreover, the people who had suffered AIDS-related opportunistic infections had a higher score in the Perceived External Stigma dimension than those who had not suffered them, t (493) = 3.02, p = .003, d = 0.26.