Silvina Brussino

Patterns of substance use among Argentinean adolescents and analysis of the effect of age at first alcohol use on substance use behaviors

OBJECTIVE The present study used an empirically based method to characterize substance use in a sample of Argentinean adolescents and analyzed the association between age at drinking onset and substance use behaviors. Differences in alcohol expectancies and personality traits as a function of different patterns of substance use were also explored. METHOD Data were obtained from 583 adolescents aged 13-18years (M=15.01years; SD=1.5years; 59.5% female) from the city of Cordoba, Argentina. Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use and age at first alcohol use were measured. Personality traits, including extroversion, conscientiousness, impulsivity, and aggression, and positive and negative alcohol expectancies were assessed. Latent Class Analysis was applied to examine the structure of five co-occurring substance use behaviors: frequency of alcohol use, quantity of alcohol use, prevalence of drunkenness episodes, tobacco use, and drug use. RESULTS Latent Class Analysis revealed five distinct patterns of substance use. The classes differed in substance use behaviors, personality traits, and alcohol expectancies. Adolescents with early drinking onset were more likely to show heavier alcohol use, more drunkenness episodes, and more drug use than adolescents with late drinking onset. CONCLUSIONS Latent Class Analysis allowed the detection of groups of adolescents with distinct patterns of substance use. These groups exhibited significantly different personality and alcohol expectancy profiles, likely representing subgroups who are at greater risk for developing alcohol-related problems.

Underage drinking: Prevalence and risk factors associated with drinking experiences among Argentinean children

The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and predictors of alcohol drinking behavior in children. Data were obtained from 367 children, aged 8-12 years (M = 10.44 years, SD = 1.21 years; 61.9% female) from the city of Córdoba, Argentina. Several scales were used to assess risk factors, including personality traits, alcohol expectancy (i.e., beliefs about the consequences of using alcohol), and perceived peer alcohol use, for alcohol drinking and alcohol drinking experiences. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the contribution of multiple risk factors to the quantity of alcohol consumed. The results showed that 58% of the children had tasted alcohol, and approximately one-third drank alcohol again after the first drinking experience. Twelve-year-old children had a significantly higher prevalence of tasting and drinking alcohol and a significantly greater frequency and quantity of alcohol consumed than younger children. Eighty percent of the children who liked alcohol during their first drinking experience reported that they drank alcohol again. Among the children who did not like alcohol during their first drinking experience, only 31% drank alcohol again. Underage drinking usually occurred under adult supervision in family settings when parents or other relatives allowed them to drink or were aware of their childrens drinking. The hierarchical regression analysis showed that being older and male, having more peers that drink alcohol, having higher levels of extroversion, and having alcohol expectancy for social facilitation increased the risk for greater alcohol use. The final model explained 33% of the total variance.

The Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire: Construct validity and gender invariance among Argentinean adolescents

The Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992) is one of the most used instruments to assess aggression; it includes 29 items grouped into 4 factors. Furthermore, a reduced version of 12-item has been proposed (Bryant & Smith, 2001), and it has also been examined by several researchers. Nevertheless, Latin-American samples have rarely been included. In this study, exploratory and confirmatory models were evaluated among a sample of adolescents from Cordoba, Argentina (N = 371). Moreover, internal consistency and gender invariance were examined. A 2-factor structure resulted in the exploratory analysis, while 2- and 4-factor (short and long versions) structures showed acceptable fits in confirmatory analysis. In general, internal consistency was acceptable, and gender invariance was supported. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Propiedades Psicométricas de la Escala de Comportamiento Preescolar y Jardín Infantil en una Muestra de Niños Argentinos de 3 a 7 Años

The goal of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales in a sample of Argentinean children from 3 to 7 years old, and to obtain a reduced version of the scale with adequate psychometric properties for use as a screening tool. An exploratory factor analysis was performed in a sample of 208 children of both sexes whereas the confirmatory analysis was conducted on a sample of 184 children, also of both sexes. Factor structures that emerged from this study were similar to those obtained with the original version in other studies, with fewer items. In general, the scales of Social Skills and Behavior Problems showed good reliability.

Validación argentina de la Escala de Orientación a la Dominancia Social

La teoria de la dominancia social expresa el deseo de los individuos por establecer y mantener jerarquias sociales a traves de la subordinacion de ciertos grupos a otros. Para evaluar las diferencias individuales en este constructo, los autores elaboraron la Escala de Orientacion a la Dominancia Social, cuya formulacion original presentaba una estructura factorial unidimensional. Sin embargo, trabajos posteriores han senalado la presencia de una estructura bifactorial para el estudio del constructo, compuesta por la oposicion a la igualdad y la dominancia grupal. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo principal la adaptacion y validacion de la Escala de Orientacion a la Dominancia Social, poniendo a prueba su dimensionalidad y analizando las diferencias segun el genero de los participantes. Para tal fin se trabajo con una muestra no probabilistica, de tipo intencional, compuesta por estudiantes universitarios de Buenos Aires (N = 1.201), de diferente sexo y edad. Los resultados indicaron un mejor ajuste de los datos al modelo de 2 dimensiones correlacionadas, cuyos niveles de fiabilidad resultaron adecuados (,74 < α < ,85), presentando evidencia de validez convergente con el autoritarismo del ala de derechas y con el genero de los participantes

IDEOLOGÍA POLÍTICA Y PRÁCTICAS MEDIATIZADAS DE CONSUMO INFORMATIVO

In the framework of an analytical reflection on the mass media as ideological objects and referents of the political positioning, it is studied the relationship between mediatic consumption and politica ideology. To an empirical level, it is applied a questionnaire to 273 citizens older than 18 years old of Cordoba/Argentina selected by a nonprobability sampling according to quotas of gender, age and socio-economical level. Among the main findings, it is observed a tendency towards a concentrated pattern of consumption wich reproduces the parameters imposed by the very competitive media market, as well as significant differences in ideological selectivity between those who identify with any progressive or left dimension and those self-positioned to the right or who are identified as conservative.

Adaptación de instrumentos entre culturas: ejemplos de procedimientos seguidos para medir las expectativas hacia el alcohol en el ámbito argentino

Resumen Un instrumento de medicion desarrollado para un grupo cultural determinado no puede ser simplemente empleado en un grupo diferente, y es necesario realizar una serie de tareas que garanticen adecuadas propiedades psicometricas para la nueva aplicacion del instrumento. En la literatura se proponen tres diferentes niveles de adaptacion de un test: aplicacion, adaptacion y ensamble. La Comision internacional de los tests establecio una serie de recomendaciones con el objetivo de minimizar las vias de error en los procesos de adaptacion de instrumentos. En este marco, este estudio tiene como objetivo ofrecer una descripcion de los diferentes procesos de adaptacion seguidos para llegar a instrumentos que midan las expectativas hacia el alcohol, ofreciendo cada una de las experiencias como estudios independientes. A partir de los resultados obtenidos, se puede observar como un mayor nivel de complejidad en el tipo de adaptacion realizada, y por lo tanto en el control de sesgos, se refleja en mejoras en cuanto a la adecuacion psicometrica de los instrumentos. Todos los ejemplos presentados permiten destacar la importancia de considerar los aspectos sociales y culturales particulares del grupo donde se pretende aplicar un instrumento de medicion.

Avaliação de habilidades sociais de crianças na América Latina

The aim of this study was to review the assessment tools of children’s social skills used in Latin American countries. The search was done using SciELO, Redalyc, and LILACS databases, 62 studies were obtained. In the empirical studies (n = 55) was observed a predominance of scales and refers to only one informant, with numerous Brazilian works. The instrumental studies on rating scales (n = 7) share the dimension of social interaction within their structure, although some scales include some constructs that exceed the conceptual boundaries of social skills. We review the psychometric properties of the instruments and discuss their theoretical and practical implications.El objetivo de este trabajo fue revisar los instrumentos de evaluacion de las habilidades sociales de ninos que se emplean en paises de Latinoamerica. Para ello se consultaron las bases de datos SciELO, Redalyc y LILACS, obteniendose un total de 62 estudios. En los trabajos empiricos (n = 55) se observa el empleo predominante de las escalas de evaluacion y la consulta a solo un informante, con numerosos trabajos de Brasil. Los trabajos instrumentales sobre escalas de evaluacion (n = 7) comparten la dimension de interaccion social en su estructura, sin embargo algunas escalas abarcan ciertos constructos que exceden a los limites conceptuales de las habilidades sociales. Se revisan las caracteristicas psicometricas de los instrumentos y se discuten sus implicancias en terminos teoricos y aplicadosThe aim of this study was to review the assessment tools of childrens social skills used in Latin American countries. The search was done using SciELO , Redalyc , and LILACS databases, 62 studies were obtained. In the empirical studies ( n = 55) was observed a predominance of scales and refers to only one informant, with numerous Brazilian works. The instrumental studies on rating scales ( n = 7) share the dimension of social interaction within their structure, although some scales include some constructs that exceed the conceptual boundaries of social skills. We review the psychometric properties of the instruments and discuss their theoretical and practical implications.

Evaluación de las habilidades sociales infantiles en Latinoamérica

The aim of this study was to review the assessment tools of children’s social skills used in Latin American countries. The search was done using SciELO, Redalyc, and LILACS databases, 62 studies were obtained. In the empirical studies (n = 55) was observed a predominance of scales and refers to only one informant, with numerous Brazilian works. The instrumental studies on rating scales (n = 7) share the dimension of social interaction within their structure, although some scales include some constructs that exceed the conceptual boundaries of social skills. We review the psychometric properties of the instruments and discuss their theoretical and practical implications.El objetivo de este trabajo fue revisar los instrumentos de evaluacion de las habilidades sociales de ninos que se emplean en paises de Latinoamerica. Para ello se consultaron las bases de datos SciELO, Redalyc y LILACS, obteniendose un total de 62 estudios. En los trabajos empiricos (n = 55) se observa el empleo predominante de las escalas de evaluacion y la consulta a solo un informante, con numerosos trabajos de Brasil. Los trabajos instrumentales sobre escalas de evaluacion (n = 7) comparten la dimension de interaccion social en su estructura, sin embargo algunas escalas abarcan ciertos constructos que exceden a los limites conceptuales de las habilidades sociales. Se revisan las caracteristicas psicometricas de los instrumentos y se discuten sus implicancias en terminos teoricos y aplicadosThe aim of this study was to review the assessment tools of childrens social skills used in Latin American countries. The search was done using SciELO , Redalyc , and LILACS databases, 62 studies were obtained. In the empirical studies ( n = 55) was observed a predominance of scales and refers to only one informant, with numerous Brazilian works. The instrumental studies on rating scales ( n = 7) share the dimension of social interaction within their structure, although some scales include some constructs that exceed the conceptual boundaries of social skills. We review the psychometric properties of the instruments and discuss their theoretical and practical implications.

Evaluación psicométrica de las Escalas de Orientación a la Dominancia Social y al Autoritarismo en niños/as

Fil: Imhoff, Debora Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudio sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Centro de Investigaciones de la Facultad de Psicologia - Grupo Vinculado CIPSI; Argentina