Susana Menéndez

La pareja ante la llegada de los hijos e hijas. Evolución de la relación conyugal durante el proceso de convertirse en padre y madre

Resumen En este artículo se presentan datos del seguimiento longitudinal realizado a 96 mujeres y hombres durante su transición a la maternidad y la paternidad. Los resultados muestran, en tendencias centrales, un cierto deterioro de la relación conyugal tras la llegada de un bebé, y al mismo tiempo, que existe una importante variabilidad entre los procesos experimentados por unas parejas y otras. El apoyo emocional recibido del cónyuge, la implicación paterna en las tareas de cuidado del bebé y la satisfacción con el reparto de tareas domésticas parecen ser los factores que explican—en distinta medida para hombres y mujeres—las diferencias existentes en la evolución de la relaciones conyugales durante la transición a la paternidad y la maternidad.

Nacer a la vida : un programa de apoyo y formación durante la transición a la maternidad y la paternidad

Resumen La llegada de un bebé supone un período en el que los progenitores experimentan importantes necesidades de apoyo e información. Fruto de un Convenio suscrito entre el Servicio Andaluz de Salud y el Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación de la Universidad de Sevilla, se elaboró una colección de siete revistas dirigidas a futuros padres y madres con el objetivo de promover una transición a la paternidad y la maternidad satisfactoria que contribuyera a favorecer el desarrollo de sus bebés. La evaluación del programa se llevó a cabo comparando un grupo control (familias que no habían participado en la formación) con un grupo experimental (familias que sí habían participado en la formación). Los resultados encontrados muestran que los padres y las madres que participaron en el programa vivieron una transición a la paternidad y la maternidad más satisfactoria y, además, mantenían interacciones más estimulantes con sus bebés. Estos resultados ponen de manifiesto la importancia que tiene la implementación de programas preventivos de apoyo en el proceso de convertirse en padres y madres.

Validity of the Parenting Stress Index Short Form in a Sample of At-Risk Mothers

Background: The Parenting Stress Index Short Form (PSI-SF) is a widely used instrument in scientific literature to evaluate the levels of stress a parent feels when facing parenting-related tasks. Despite the potential usefulness of the PSI-SF with at-risk families, no validation studies have been carried out on this population in Spain. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to report evidences of the reliability and validity of PSI-SF with a sample of at-risk mothers. Specifically, (1) to examine the discriminative capacity of PSI-SF to differentiate between a community sample and another sample composed of families with various levels of risk and (2) to analyze the relationships with general health indicators and parental sense of competence. Results: Analyses reported in this article show satisfactory results regarding appropriate internal consistency coefficients for the scale. With respect to the evidences of validity, results reported here suggest that the total PSI-SF score, but not the two subscales, could be useful to differentiate between different groups of mothers with different levels of risk. The Childrearing stress subscale was associated with a poorer perception as a mother as well as with an external locus of control, and the Personal distress subscale was related to all the general health indicators, explaining a high percentage of variance. Conclusion: The results reported show that the total score or the subscales should be used in a differentiated way according to the professional’s objectives. Hence, PSI-SF may be a useful instrument for researchers and practitioners who work with at-risk families.

An analysis of different resources and programmes supporting at-risk families in Spain

ABSTRACT The purpose of this research was to present an overview of the existing family support resources in Spain for at-risk families. We analysed 64 family support services from 16 agencies belong to 11 regions of Spain. In a second phase, 20 positive parenting programmes were analysed in depth to ascertain the extent to which they met evidence-based programme quality criteria. Our results suggest that services for at-risk families are delivered by public, local and social agencies. Most interventions were psycho-educational and aimed at parental training. The analysis of the positive parenting programmes’ quality showed both strengths and weaknesses. Most programmes relied on a previous needs analysis and interventions were, to some extent, outlined in a manual. Nevertheless, few programmes have been evaluated according to evidence-based programme criteria. In light of these results, we discuss several practical implications for services and family support policies aimed at at-risk families.

Parenting and stress: A study with Spanish and Portuguese at-risk families:

This study analyzed parenting stress, parental sense of competence, and stressful life events in families at psychosocial risk in Western Andalusia (Spain) and the Algarve (Portugal). Differences and similarities between families from both countries on these dimensions were explored, as well as the influence of country of origin in determining risk profiles for this population. Although both groups shared some sociodemographic characteristics, differences were found on all studied dimensions, with Portuguese mothers showing higher levels of parenting stress, sense of competence, and accumulation of stressful life events. Results suggest that higher risk families tend to share psychosocial characteristics, regardless of their country of origin.

Psychometric properties of the Negative Stereotypes Towards Aging Questionnaire (CENVE) among a sample of Portuguese adults

Stereotyped beliefs about old age and the aging process have proven to strongly promote negative behaviors toward the elderly, with unfavorable influences on their mental and physical health. Therefore, it is important to assess negative aging attitudes with brief but reliable and validated measurement instruments. The psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Negative Stereotypes Towards Aging Questionnaire (15 items self-reported) are explored and described in a sample of 302 participants (213 females and 89 males) between the ages of 18 and 59xa0years old. Confirmatory Factor Analysis shows a one-factor structure, similar to the Spanish version. The internal reliability and mean inter-item correlation showed satisfactory psychometric proprieties. Factorial ANOVA reveals that differences in agism beliefs are mainly related to educational level, with lower negative stereotypes in more educated adults. No differences were found concerning gender. This instrument may be a useful tool to assess negative stereotypes toward old age and the aging process.

Empirical research of university programs for older people in Europe: a systematic review

ABSTRACT The university programs designed for older people (UPOP) is an important educational resource and it is essential to study them to identify their characteristics, the key aspects of their effects, and the possible additional benefits of participation in formal educational activities for its students. This systematic review aimed to examine the current state of empirical research focusing on UPOP in the European context. We performed a systematic search of scientific literature between 1980 and May 2017 in various databases (ProQuest Psychology Journal, ERIC, Sociological Abstracts and Social Science Citation Index) from which 1663 works were extracted. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the selected articles were reduced to 23. Analyzing the articles and their main themes, we identified a specific profile of UPOP students, their reasons for attending, the perceived benefits of attending UPOP and several factors could be optimized in research of these areas of formal education, especially the methodological aspects. Empirical research focusing on UPOP in Europe is currently at an early stage and needs further development.

The implication of formal educational activities in old age and its relation to psychosocial indicators / La implicación en actividades educativas formales en la vejez y su relación con indicadores psicosociales

espanolEn este estudio se analizan algunas dimensiones psicosociales (grado y tipo de actividad, percepcion del estado de salud, autoeficacia para envejecer y apoyo social) en personas mayores no dependientes. La muestra la formaron estudiantes de un programa universitario para mayores (PUM) asi como mayores que no participan en esta actividad educativa. Los resultados revelan tanto similitudes como diferencias entre ambos grupos, concretamente, los mayores del PUM eran mas activos fisicamente y participaban mas en actividades formales. Se identificaron tres perfiles de mayores: un grupo menos activo, con peores niveles en los indicadores evaluados; un segundo grupo activo socialmente, especialmente a nivel familiar, con niveles intermedios en las dimensiones analizadas, y un tercer grupo muy activo a nivel formal (integrado sobre todo por estudiantes del PUM) y con los mejores indices de autoeficacia para envejecer y estado de salud. La implicacion en actividades educativas formales se relaciona con perfiles mas satisfactorios y positivos en la vejez, y es un recurso muy relevante para la promocion del bienestar en esta etapa. EnglishThis study analyses some psychosocial dimensions (level and type of activity, self-perceived health, self-efficacy in relation to ageing and social support) in non-dependent older people. The sample comprises students of a university programme for older people (PUM) as well as older people who did not participate in the educational activity. Results show similarities and differences between both groups; namely, the older people on the PUM programme were more physically active and participated more in formal activities. Three profiles of older people were identified: a less active group, with lower scores in the indicators assessed; a second group who were socially active, particularly at a family level, with intermediate levels in the dimensions analysed; and a third group who were very active at a formal level (principally made up of the PUM students) and with the best self-efficacy indices in relation to ageing and self-perceived health. Involvement in formal educational activities is related to more satisfactory and positive profiles in old age, and is a highly relevant resource for the promotion of well-being at this stage of life.Abstract This study analyses some psychosocial dimensions (level and type of activity, self-perceived health, self-efficacy in relation to ageing and social support) in non-dependent older people. The sample comprises students of a university programme for older people (PUM) as well as older people who did not participate in the educational activity. Results show similarities and differences between both groups; namely, the older people on the PUM programme were more physically active and participated more in formal activities. Three profiles of older people were identified: a less active group, with lower scores in the indicators assessed; a second group who were socially active, particularly at a family level, with intermediate levels in the dimensions analysed; and a third group who were very active at a formal level (principally made up of the PUM students) and with the best self-efficacy indices in relation to ageing and self-perceived health. Involvement in formal educational activities is related to more satisfactory and positive profiles in old age, and is a highly relevant resource for the promotion of well-being at this stage of life.

Análisis factorial de las escalas FACES (Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales) con familias en situación de riesgo psicosocial

espanolEn este articulo se presenta un analisis factorial de las escalas FACES III con una muestra de familias en situacion de riesgo psicosocial (N= 324). Los resultados no replican la estructura bidimensional original de la prueba, e indican que solo la escala de cohesion (prescindiendo de tres items) obtiene propiedades psicometricas aceptables en esta muestra. Las significativas relaciones de las puntuaciones de esta escala con las de otras dimensiones relevantes del microsistema familiar ofrecen algunas evidencias de la validez de esta solucion. Se discute la necesidad de revisar la escala de adaptabilidad propuesta por los autores y reformularla para poder evaluar empiricamente este constructo formulado teoricamente desde el modelo circumplejo del funcionamiento familiar. EnglishIn this article a factor analysis of FACES III with a sample of families at psychosocial risk (N= 324) is presented. The original twofactor structure is not found, and only the cohesion scale (deleting three items) shows adequate psychometric properties with this sample. Significant correlations between the obtained scale and other dimensions of family dynamics (i.e., family self-esteem, parenting alliance and marital satisfaction) evidence validity. The need for reviewing and reformulating the adaptability scale proposed by the authors is discussed, in order to empirically evaluate this theoretical construct from the circumplex model of family functioning.