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Despite the increase in research on suicide bereavement, the effectiveness of peer-support group programs in promoting the grief process and mental health of suicide loss survivors remains unclear. The goal of our study was to determine the effectiveness of peer-support group programs for suicide loss survivors. A systematic review (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022307591) of articles published from January 2000 to December 2021 was applied in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO. Articles written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese with full text availability were included in this review to perform a narrative synthesis of the results and a bias analysis. 12 qualitative and two quantitative studies, were selected. No evidence of efficacy in reducing suicidal behavior was found. Qualitative studies highlighted that these types of groups provide social support, enabling individuals to cope with grief and mitigating psychological discomfort. In conclusion, from evidence-based medicine, results on peer-support groups for suicide loss survivors has a low level of certainty and an insufficient grade of recommendation. Nevertheless, qualitative studies indicate the potential benefits of these programs. The prevailing use of qualitative methodologies accounts for a participatory and subjective epistemology, typical of community programs such as peer-support programs. Finally, both quantitative and qualitative perspectives are necessary for the integration and validation of mutual support groups for suicide survivors in public mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) is a widely used instrument to assess parenting practices. Recent studies show positive psychometric qualities and a robust factorial structure of a brief form. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of this brief form with parental figures of children from two to six years old in Chile. Participants were parental figures, mainly mothers, from a sample of 558 boys and girls from 2 to 6 years old. The confirmatory factor analysis showed a good adjustment for the factor (positive reinforcement, parental involvement, disciplinary inconsistency and punitive practices) proposed four-factor structure. Disciplinary inconsistency, punitive practice and positive reinforcement were related to disadaptative behavior in children. Overall, results support the use of Alabama's brief form in the assessment of parental practices in Chilean preschoolers' families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between (1) willingness to study strategies, (2) causal attributions (to effort, ability and external causes) and (3) student's perception of self-efficacy about their ability to self-regulate their processes of willingness to study. Method: An instrument built by the researchers called Willingness to the Study Self-Regulation Questionnaire was applied to a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 695 Chilean university students from 5 universities of the Province of Concepción. Outcomes: Strong correlations were found between selfefficacy for the willingness to study self-regulation and the willingness to study strategies (r=0.54 to r =0.55). the willingness to study strategies had positive and moderate correlations (r=0.38 to r=0.42) with causal attributions for success to effort, weak correlations (r=0.15 to r=0.28) with causal attributions for success to ability and to external factors, and negative weak to moderate correlations (r=-0.19 to r =-0.38) with causal attributions for failure to effort, ability, and external factors. Conclusions: Students with high levels of willingness to study strategies show positive beliefs about their own ability to self-regulate their processes of willingness to study, they make causal attributions for their success mainly to effort, and they attribute their academic failure less and less to ability and external factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) is a well-known tool to assess empirically identified aspects of positive and negative parenting practices. This study evaluates the psychometric properties of an adapted version of the APQ for its use with parents of children between 2 and 6 years of age in Chile. The participants were 557 parents of children aged 2 to 6 years. A confirmatory factor analysis showed that the best fit was obtained by a four-factor model (positive reinforcement, parental involvement, inconsistency of disciplinary practices, and punitive practices). The invariance analysis for this model by sex and social composition was positive. Disciplinary inconsistency and punitive practices were correlated with externalized and internalized behaviors in children. Results suggest that this adaptation of the APQ may result in a useful tool for clinical and research purposes in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents experiments, modelling and numerical simulation aimed at describing the mechanical response of human ascending aortas in the ring opening test. The objective is to quantify, from the opening angles measured in the test, the residual stress distribution along the artery wall and, afterwards, how this stress pattern changes when the artery is subjected to standard physiological pressures. The cases studied correspond to four groups including both healthy and pathological arteries. The tissues are characterized via tensile test measurements that enable to derive the material parameters of two constitutive models adopted in the present analysis. Overall, the numerical results obtained for all groups were found to be a useful data that allow to estimate the residual stress and their influence on the vessels under normal and hypertension physiological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Experiments and modeling aimed at assessing the mechanical response of latex balloons in the inflation test are presented. To this end, the hyperelastic Yeoh material model is firstly characterized via tensile test and, then, used to numerically simulate via finite elements the stress-strain evolution during the inflation test. The numerical pressure-displacement curves are validated with those obtained experimentally. Moreover, this analysis is extended to a biomedical problem of an eyeball under glaucoma conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is essential for brain physiological processes influencing memory and learning. BDNF levels can be affected by many factors, including stress. Stress increase serum and salivary cortisol levels. Academic stress is of the chronic type. BDNF levels can be measure from serum, plasma or platelets, and there is still no standard methodology, which is relevant to ensure reproducibility and comparability between studies. Hypothesis: (i) BDNF concentrations in serum show greater variability than in plasma. (ii) In college students with academic stress, peripheral BDNF decreases and salivary cortisol increases. General objective: To standardize plasma and serum collection for BDNF levels and to determine whether academic stress affects peripheral BDNF and salivary cortisol levels. Design: Quantitative research, with a non-experimental cross-sectional descriptive design. Participants: Student volunteers. Under convenience sampling, 20 individuals will be included for standardization of plasma and serum collection and between 70 and 80 individuals to determine the effect of academic stress on BDNF and salivary cortisol. Peripheral blood and salivary cortisol sampling, measurements: 12 mL of peripheral blood (with and without anticoagulant) will be drawn per participant, separated from plasma or serum and cryopreserved at -80°C. Additionally, they will be instructed in the collection of 1 mL of saliva samples, which will be centrifuged. Val66Met polymorphism will be performed by allele-specific PCR, while BDNF and salivary cortisol levels will be determined by ELISA. Statistical analysis: (i) descriptive analysis of the variables, through measures of central tendency and dispersion, and the categorical variables through their frequency and percentage. (ii) Then a bivariate analysis will be performed comparing groups using each variable separately. Expected results: We expect to (i) determine the analytical factors that allow a better reproducibility in the measurement of peripheral BDNF, and (ii) the effect of academic stress on BDNF and salivary cortisol levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interventions to reduce the stigma of health care personnel toward people with mental disorders have been generally evaluated fundamentally by improving attitudes and reducing the desire for a social distance toward this population. However, decreasing stigma should be accompanied by an increase in good treatment behaviors toward those affected. Humanization of care, which is understood as a friendly, respectful, and supportive relationship, could be an excellent way to evaluate the effectiveness of antistigma interventions. This requires reliable and valid instruments. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the humanized care behavior scale used in health care personnel. The study was quantitative and cross-sectional. The participants were a nonrandom sample of 217 health providers from 12 family health centers in Gran Concepción, Chile. An exploratory factorial analysis was applied to study the factorial structure, and Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's total omega coefficients were used to evaluate the internal consistency. The concurrent validity was assessed through a correlational analysis with three other scales. Regarding the results, the final scale comprised 16 items in two factors. There was an acceptable correlation between the two dimensions. The reliability indices for the total scale were high. Correlations between the total scale and its factors with the other scales used were in the expected direction. Consequently, the instrument developed is valid and reliable. It can be used to evaluate antistigma interventions and improve health personnel's humanization of care toward consultants with mental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La desigualdad social producto de la actual distribución de los ingresos en Chile mantiene el interés por conocer sus tendencias en diversos contextos. El propósito de este trabajo fue analizar, a nivel comunal, la desigualdad y la polarización como consecuencia de la distribución de los ingresos, utilizando los ingresos autónomos y totales per cápita. Se analizaron 78 comunas pertenecientes a 5 regiones del norte, centro y sur de Chile. Los resultados confirman una significativa desigualdad en la distribución de los ingresos y una marcada polarización a nivel comunal. Estos hallazgos justifican la necesidad de crear políticas de redistribución de ingresos focalizadas y pertinentes a nivel de comunas, ya que la desigualdad y la polarización se han vinculado con sentimientos de malestar en la población producto de las situaciones de conflictos e injusticias sociales que se generan y potencian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parenting training is a proven strategy for the promotion of positive parenting practices and for the prevention and treatment of behavior problems in children. The processes that explain this efficacy are less clear. The aim of this study was to assess the mediating role of parenting practice modification, encouraged through the implementation of a universal parenting training program, for the decrease of behavior problems in 3- to 6-year-old children. Method: A cluster randomized trial was carried out in 19 educational centers in low and middle socioeconomic areas. A total of 178 families received the program and 154 of them were the control group. The following parenting practices were assessed: positive reinforcement, involvement, inconsistency, unsuitable treatment behaviors and physical punishment, as well as hostility and humiliation behaviors. Parent–child interaction was also assessed using an observational instrument. A multiple mediation analysis was carried out, identifying the indirect effects. Results: Reduction of harsh discipline and physical punishment, and parental inconsistency mediated the effects observed in the reduction of child behavior problems during the program. Conclusion: Within Chilean families, harsh discipline, physical punishment, and parental inconsistency are important aspects to be considered in the implementation of universal parenting training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Associative stigma in mental health providers affects the relationship between the professional and the person with mental illness and the well-being of the mental health provider. Few instruments have been developed for these purposes; most lack good psychometric properties. This is a quantitative, observational, and cross-sectional study. The factorial structure, internal consistency, and concurrent validity of the Associative Stigma in Mental Healthcare Providers Scale were studied. Two independent samples were recruited; both include mental health provider in primary and specialty care (N = 272 and N = 419). The final scale consisted of ten items, divided into two factors: negative attitudes toward mental healthcare work, seven items (a = 0.80; w = 0.84), and shame on disclosure, three items (a = 0.55; w = 0.79). The internal consistency for the total scale was acceptable (a = 0.78 and w = 0.90). The concurrent validity presented moderate and significant correlations with depersonalization and emotional exhaustion ranging between rp = 0.14 and rp = 0.22. The Associative Stigma in Mental Healthcare Providers Scale has a factorial structure and adequate level of internal consistency and concurrent validity, which supports its use among healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-efficacy is a cognitive-emotional factor that is consistently associated with behavioral change and, in particular, with changes in health behavior. Eating self-efficacy, understood as adopting and maintaining behaviors such as controlling one's weight and trusting in one's ability to control one's eating behavior, has been proposed for managing obesity. This study aimed to validate the Chilean version of the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire (WEL) in a sample of adults from the general population. Four hundred sixty-nine individuals (69.08% women, mean age = 38.02; SD = 10.31) participated in the study. An instrumental design was used geared toward developing tests and psychometric instruments, including adapting existing ones. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The instrument version validated in Spain was applied in the study. The analysis obtained an instrument of 11 items with adequate psychometric properties allowing its use in clinical and research settings. It can help assess eating self-efficacy in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to describe the lifestyles of undergraduate students, examine patterns and identify predictor variables and specific subpopulations at risk. The participants were 1,879 students from a Chilean university who answered an online survey. Overall results indicated that the participants' dietary patterns were unhealthy with some gender-based differences. Only 23.7% of the sample exercised regularly, 30% exhibited problematic alcohol consumption and 90.5% claimed responsible sexual behavior. The latent class analysis identified four homogenous lifestyle classes. There is only one group that represents the 17.20% of the sample, which met the majority of the healthy behavior criteria. One group was characterized as highly risky, their members exhibited poor diet; lack of exercise; and higher prevalence of smoking, drug use and problematic alcohol consumption. Students who lived with families and engaged in religious and sporting activities had a greater likelihood of belonging to the groups with healthier lifestyles. Being male, between the ages of 22 and 24 with a higher level of social self-concept were more likely to belong to the group that exhibit high-risk lifestyle behavior. These findings reinforce the need to address health promotion in a meaningful manner and may help in the identification of high-risk students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the psychometric properties analysis of the Self- Regulated Learning Inventory, in Chilean university students. To achieve this aim, the instrument was applied to 780 subjects, in their first year of studies, which belong to different undergraduate programs. Data analysis was carried out using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results of both procedures showed a bifactor structure, with one general factor of self- regulation, and 3 subfactors (Forethought, Perfomance, Self- reflection), consistent with the theory. In addition, all the factors evidence adequate reliability indexes. It is concluded that IPAA is valid and reliable questionnaire, which can be applied to this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this research is to validate "The board of directors accompaniment skills programme to teachers" (BAP), analysing its influence over (1) the perception and satisfaction among the teachers and (2) the perception the board of directors showed about their accompaniment work and the perceived satisfaction among the teachers. A quasi-experimental design was applied where twelve participants of four boards of directors coming from four schools of the 8th Region plus sixteen teachers participated. It is concluded that the BAP has an improvement effect over both the teachers' and the board of directors' perception and the satisfaction among the board of directors about the accompaniment process they perform. The dimensions that obtain major punctuations are a support (in the teachers) and systematicity (in the executives). The dimensions which get higher scores are support (given to the teachers) and organization (coming from the board of directors). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease has exposed the population to psychosocial threats that could increase mental health problems. This research analyzed the relationships between emotional states (negative [−EWB] and positive [+EWB] experienced well-being), personal resources (resilient coping [RC]), dispositional resources (control beliefs about stress [BAS]), and social resources (social support [SS]), and anxiety and depressive symptoms in a sample of the Chilean population (n = 592), who answered an online questionnaire. Multiple and moderated multiple regression analyses were carried out. Depressive symptoms showed a positive relationship with −EWB (β = 0.805; p < 0.001) and negative relationship with +EWB (β = −0.312; p < 0.001), RC (β = −0.089; p < 0.01), BAS (β = −0.183; p < 0.001) and SS (β = −0.082; p < 0.001). Anxiety symptoms showed a positive relationship with −EWB (β = 0.568; p < 0.001), and a negative relationship with +EWB (β = −0.101; p < 0.03) and BAS (β = −0.092; p < 0.001). BAS moderated the relationship between experienced well-being and depression symptoms, and RC moderated the relationship between experienced well-being with both depression and anxiety symptoms. Findings confirm the buffering effect of personal and dispositional resources when facing a sanitary and social crisis. Moreover, they help to understand the role of internal psychological processes during a crisis and how to cope with life-threatening events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was intended to identify the coping strategies and rumination styles that are related to the existence of post-traumatic growth (PTG), in a sample of 195 college students who experienced high emotional impact events. The deliberate rumination and religious coping strategies, positive re-evaluation and search for social support, showed a relationship with post-traumatic growth. In addition, a weak relationship between PTG and open emotional expression was found. These findings confirm the relevance that, for many people, religion, and the search for social support have in the capacity of extracting learning from painful experiences and, in particular, the importance of cognitive processes as positive re-evaluation and the so-called deliberate rumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

University education affects the attitudes of future professionals toward people with mental illness. To evaluate and compare stigmatizing attitudes of university students from nursing, psychology, and occupational therapy careers toward people with severe mental disorder (SMD), a multisite, non-randomized, pre-post-test design was used with evaluations before and after a practicum program in mental health. Evaluation was done on a convenience sample of 520 students. The Mental Illness Clinicians' Attitudes (MIws1CA-4) scale was used to assess attitudes and a mixed linear model was used to compare the pre- and post-test data. Our results show that the practicum was slightly effective at reducing negative attitudes toward people with mental illness. Students' attitudes changed significantly after the training when considering career and country, although the changes were small. Nursing and psychology, but not occupational therapy, showed decreased stigma. Although nursing decreases negative attitudes in the post-test, it achieves higher scores than other careers. Social science's professionals are less stigmatizing than health professionals such as nurses, a result that could be associated with the approach used in the training of students. Although the practicum decreases stigma toward people diagnosed with SMD, its effect is reduced; it would be necessary to incorporate more specific actions in order to decrease the stigma further. The negative attitudes that decreased with professional training, particularly, were those related to behaviors in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether etifoxine, a non-benzodiazepine drug of the benzoxazine family, is non-inferior compared with clonazepam in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Method: A randomized controlled double blind trial with parallel groups was conducted. A total of 179 volunteer patients with a diagnosis of anxiety disorder (DSM-IV), between 18 and 64 years of age, participated in this study. The experimental group received 150 mg/day of etifoxine and the control 1 mg/day of clonazepam, both in three daily doses for 12 weeks. This treatment was completed by 87 participants, and 70 were available for follow-up at 24 weeks from start of treatment. The primary objective was a non-inferiority comparison between etifoxine and clonazepam in the decrease of anxiety symptoms (HAM-A) at 12 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes included the evaluation of medication side effects (UKU), anxiety symptoms at 24 weeks of treatment, and clinical improvement (CGI). Data analysis included multiple imputation of missing data. The effect of etifoxine on the HAM-A, UKU, and CGI was evaluated with the intention of treatment, and a sensitivity analysis of the results was conducted. Non-inferiority would be declared by a standardized mean difference (SMD) between clonazepam and etifoxine not superior to 0.31 in favour of clonazepam. Results: Using imputed data, etifoxine shows non-inferiority to clonazepam on the reduction of anxiety symptoms at the 12-week (SMD = 0.407; 95% CI, 0.069, 0.746) and 24-week follow-ups (SMD = 0.484; 95% CI, 0.163, 0.806) and presented fewer side effects (SMD = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.287, 0.889). LOCF analysis shows that etifoxine is non-inferior to clonazepam on reduction of anxiety symptoms and adverse symptoms even when no change was assigned as result to participant whom withdrew. Non-inferiority could be declared for clinical improvement (SMD = 0.326; 95% CI, − 0.20, 0.858). Conclusion: Etifoxine was non-inferior to clonazepam on reduction of anxiety symptoms, adverse effects, and clinical improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The intervention reduced healthcare students' stigma toward mental disorders. • The intervention was incorporated into a mandatory course of study. • The teacher of the subject actively participated in the intervention. • The study was conducted in a middle-income country through a randomized control trial. Students in healthcare careers present stigma towards people with psychiatric diagnoses, so the development of interventions to reduce it is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce stigma towards people diagnosed with mental disorders in healthcare students in Chile. A randomized clinical trial with a before and after measurement was carried out. The intervention was part of a compulsory course and combined educational and contact strategies. A total of 244 fourth-semester students of medicine, nursing, dentistry, obstetrics, psychology, and social work participated. The intervention was effective in reducing stigmatizing attitudes and the desire for social distance. For almost all variables, the magnitude of the stigma reduction depended on the initial level of stigma, not on the profession. The intervention had positive effects on all careers. In conclusion, incorporating a stigma reduction intervention into mandatory professional training, with the active participation of the teacher in charge and experts by experience, can be a valuable tool to promote humanized and non-stigmatizing treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the effects of performing a self-regulated cognitive dual task on time to failure and neuromuscular force control during submaximal isometric contractions.Methods: Fifteen young sedentary males performed isometric contractions at 50% of each individual's maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) under single-task (without cognitive load) and dual-task (with self-regulated mathematical task) conditions. Force signal complexity and biceps brachialis muscle activity were determined at the start, middle, and end of each trial. The slope of the linear regression of median frequency determined the rate of muscle fatigue. Force-task error was established as any amplitude percentage greater or less than 50% MVC.Results: The dual-task condition resulted in a 42 s longer time to failure than the single-task condition. EMG amplitude did not differ between conditions. The rate of muscle fatigue was higher in the single-task (- 0.35%/s) than the dual-task (- 0.2%/s) condition. Force signal complexity was, on average, 22% lower in the dual-task condition. The dual-task condition, as compared to the single-task condition, elicited a higher rate of force-task error below (6.37 versus 4.76%) and over (2.11 versus 1.68%) the force threshold.Conclusion: The dual-task condition resulted in a longer time to failure and decreased motor output complexity and fatigue rate when performing a submaximal force task. As the dual task also increased the force-task error, we suggest cognitive dual tasks as a possible strategy for delaying fatigue in sedentary young males when exerting submaximal isometric force, contributing to neuromuscular training when error in force control can be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stigma is considered as the main obstacle for the recovery of people with mental illnesses (MI). The current research was aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Scale of Community Attitudes towards Mental Ill (CAMI) that assesses the stigma of the public towards people with MI. Two convenience samples were taken. The first sample was composed by 399 people and the second one, by 350. Outcomes indicate that the final instrument has two factors: "Acceptance" and "Rejection to the implementation of mental health centers in the community". Each factor is composed of five items. Adjustment indices of the model obtained from the combinatory factorial analysis, as well as the internal consistence of the instrument are adequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomes of emerging model organisms are now being sequenced at very low cost. However, obtaining accurate gene predictions remains challenging: even the best gene prediction algorithms make substantial errors and can jeopardize subsequent analyses. Therefore, many predicted genesmust be time-consumingly visually inspected andmanually curated.We developed GeneValidator (GV) to automatically identify problematic gene predictions and to aid manual curation. For each gene, GV performs multiple analyses based on comparisons to gene sequences from large databases. The resulting report identifies problematic gene predictions and includes extensive statistics and graphs for each prediction to guide manual curation efforts. GV thus accelerates and enhances the work of biocurators and researchers who need accurate gene predictions from newly sequenced genomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The intervention reduced stigma toward people with severe mental disorder. • The study was conducted in a middle-income country through a randomized control trial. • The role of experts by experience was relevant in the research. • The effects of the intervention were maintained at follow-up. This study assessed the effectiveness of a program (called Igual-Mente, Equal-Mind) designed to reduce stigma in primary health care personnel. A random clinical trial was performed (ISRCTN46464036). There were 316 primary care professionals and technicians who were randomized and assigned to the experimental or control group. The program considered as strategies the education, the contact and the development of skills. There were six sessions with the primary care staff and two sessions with the managers of the health centers. It was executed by two facilitators, a professional psychologist and an expert by experience, i.e., a person diagnosed with a severe mental disorder (SMD). Attitudes, social distance, and humane treatment behaviors toward people with SMD were assessed. The intervention was effective in reducing stigma attitudes y social distance towards people diagnosed with SMD. The magnitude of the changes ranged from moderate to high in all these variables and the effects were maintained for four months after the end of the program. Regarding humane treatment behaviors, the effects were less clear. This study shows good results indicating that well-designed interventions can effectively reduce stigma towards people diagnosed with SMD, which is one of the main challenges of health systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]