Vanesa C. Góngora

Pathological Personality Traits (DSM-5), Risk Factors, and Mental Health:

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the brief version of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5-BF) in a community sample of Argentine adult population, to establish its relationship with the Big Five normal personality traits, and to examine the association of pathological traits with mental and physical maladaptiveness assessed through the level of mental health and World Health Organization (WHO) health risk factors. The sample consisted of 1,032 subjects from the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires. The PID-5-BF, the Big Five Inventory, the Mental Health Continuum–Short Form, and the Survey on risk factors for noncommunicable diseases were used. A five-factorial structure that explained 59.48% of the variance was found, with reliability values higher than α = .86 for each factor. Convergences among pathological personality traits and the five-factor personality model were found, except for Psychoticism and Openness to experience. The severity of personality traits was associated with low levels of mental health and higher number of WHO health risk factors. Nevertheless, the associations among these variables were low to moderate.

Well-being and life satisfaction in Argentinean adolescents

Seligman proposes that well-being can be achieved by three main pathways: the pleasant life or positive emotions, the engaged life, and the meaningful life. The aims of this study are to investigate the three pathways to well-being in Argentinean adolescents and analyze their relationship to life satisfaction. A sample of 255 Argentinean adolescent students (110 boys and 145 girls) who were between 13 and 18 years of age was used in this study. Participants completed the Three Pathways to Well-being Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Argentinean adolescents scored highest in the pleasant life, second highest on the engaged life and lowest on the meaningful life. The results showed that among the three pathways, only the engaged life was a significant predictor of life satisfaction; however, this was found only in a small proportion of variance (8%). In consonance with well-being theory, those adolescents who can make use of the three pathways at a high level reported the highest level of life satisfaction. Results were similar to previous findings in adult population.

Bienestar emocional, psicológico y social y variables demográficas en población adulta de la ciudad de Buenos Aires

The study aimed to 1) compare the levels of satisfaction with life, meaning in life, satisfaction in different areas of life, depression and somatic symptoms in adults from the city of Buenos Aires among the mental health continuum categories and 2) to compare the levels of emotional, psychological and social well-being in adults from Buenos Aires by sex, age group, occupation and educational level. A sample of 460 adults (18-85 years old) from the city of Buenos Aires was used. The Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, CES-D Depression Scale, Schaffer Somatic Symptoms Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire and Personal Well-being Index were used. The results indicated that adults who were in the flourishing mental health category had higher levels of satisfaction with life, satisfaction in different areas of life, and presence of meaning in life as well as lower level of depression and somatic symptoms. Adults with higher levels of education showed higher levels of psychological and social well-being. Higher social well-being was found in middle-aged adults (30-60 years) and in independent workers.