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Abstract Objectives The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of a general measure of the perception of governmental responses to COVID-|19 (COVID-SCORE-10) in the general population of 13 Latin American countries. Methods A total of 5780 individuals from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries selected by non-probabilistic snowball sampling participated. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the alignment method was used to evaluate invariance. Additionally, a graded response model was used for the assessment of item characteristics. Results The results indicate that there is approximate measurement invariance of the COVID-SCORE-10 among the participating countries. Furthermore, IRT results suggest that the COVID-SCORE-10 measures with good psychometric ability a broad spectrum of the construct assessed, especially around average levels. Comparison of COVID-SCORE-10 scores indicated that participants from Cuba, Uruguay and El Salvador had the most positive perceptions of government actions to address the pandemic. Thus, the underlying construct of perception of government actions was equivalent in all countries. Conclusion The results show the importance of initially establishing the fundamental measurement properties and MI before inferring the cross-cultural universality of the construct to be measured.

Abstract Background There is an urgent need to assess changes in well-being on a multinational scale during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus culturally valid scales must be available. Methods With this in mind, this study examined the invariance of the WHO well-being index (WHO-5) among a sample of 5183 people from 12 Latin Americans countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). Results The results of the present study indicate that the WHO-5 is strictly invariant across samples from different Latin American countries. Furthermore, the results of the IRT analysis indicate that all items of the WHO-5 were highly discriminative and that the difficulty required to respond to each of the five items is ascending. Additionally, the results indicated the presence of moderate and small size differences in subjective well-being among most countries. Conclusion The WHO-5 is useful for assessing subjective well-being in 12 Latin American countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, since the differences between scores can be attributed to differences in well-being and not in other characteristics of the scale.

Introduction: The purpose in life is analyzed within psychological well-being, it deals with the meaning of life that people have, which has implications in areas such as mental health. Currently, precise instrumentation is required for its assessment of the Ecuadorian population, which at the moment is limited. Objective: To corroborate the unidimensional structure of the Purpose in Life Scale-Short version (PIL-SF), the equivalence of measurement according to gender, the reliability and the parameters of discrimination and difficulty in a sample of Ecuadorian adults. Methods: Instrumental study of the PIL-SF under the precepts of Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory. Participants: 743 Ecuadorian adults (64.2% women and 45.8% men) aged 18 to 73 years (M = 24.7, SD = 7.9). Results: The unifactorial structure of the PIL-SF with adequate adjustment was confirmed. In addition, the PIL-SF is invariant at the strong level based on gender and no differences are presented at the level of latent means. The internal consistency reliability is acceptable per group and the discrimination and item difficulty parameters are adequate. Conclusion: The PIL-SF is a valid, reliable, and accurate tool to measure the Purpose in Life construct in Ecuadorian adults.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has not only had health, economic, and political impacts, but also significant psychosocial and mental health consequences worldwide. In this article, different documentation and studies on mental health were analyzed, with the aim of identifying the various problems detected during the pandemic. Methodologically, a narrative and integrative review of the scientific literature was carried out. In Latin America, the most recent studies have documented and made patent effects on the various vulnerized populations such as migrants, women, children, the elderly, people living with significant disabilities, people experiencing marked housing and food insecurity, and temporary workers laboring in what has been referred to as the informal economy. In light of this, it is proposed that addressing these issues should involve the coordination of transnational policies and the definition of an agenda of critical priorities to focus and address. For this to come about, it is important that the empirical evidence generated by regional epidemiological studies contribute to the design of public policies on mental health of the Latin American population, so that they reduce the negative effects as well as prevent the future consequences of a pandemic that is not yet over.

The Purpose in Life Test (PIL) is a measure of purpose in life widely used in many cultures and countries; however, cross-cultural assessments are scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PIL in the general population of seven Latin American countries (Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay). A total of 4306 people participated, selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling, where Uruguay has the highest mean age (M = 41.8; SD = 16.6 years); while Ecuador has the lowest mean age (M = 24.6; SD = 7.8 years). Furthermore, in each country, there is a higher proportion of women (>60%) than men (

Conspiracy theories about COVID-19 began to emerge immediately after the first news about the disease and threaten to prolong the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by limiting people’s willingness of receiving a life-saving vaccine. In this context, this study aimed to explore the variation of conspiracy beliefs regarding COVID-19 and the vaccine against it in 5779 people living in 13 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela) according to sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, educational level and source of information about COVID-19. The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic between September 15 and October 25, 2021. The Spanish-language COVID-19 Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale (ECCV-COVID) and a sociodemographic survey were used. The results indicate that, in most countries, women, people with a lower educational level and those who receive information about the vaccine and COVID-19 from family/friends are more supportive of conspiracy ideas regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. In the case of age, the results vary by country. The analysis of the responses to each of the questions of the ECCV-COVID reveals that, in general, the countries evaluated are mostly in some degree of disagreement or indecision regarding conspiratorial beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines. The findings could help open further study which could support prevention and treatment efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract In this paper, we offer an in-depth analysis of relevant scientific literature and a series of critical reflections based on a narrative review of the impact that the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic had on Latin American psychology. We performed a non-exhaustive search, selection, and analysis of different documentary sources in scientific databases, institutional repositories, and websites of national and regional psychology organizations between May 25 and 31, 2020. In particular, we consulted SciELO, Redalyc, Dialnet, and Google Scholar using the following individual key words associated to psychology: “Coronavirus”, “Covid-19” and “Pandemic”. Various types of documents were retrieved for a subsequent in-depth analysis (e.g., articles, institutional documents, notes, bulletins, recommendation guides, etc.). Our review allowed us to identify three challenges for psychology in the region: (1) insertion of psychology in public policies; (2) construction of an own agenda of psychological research; (3) evaluation of practices and reorientation of professional training processes.

This theoretical essay aims to review the conceptions of the subject of one of the theoretical political economy systems that have had the greatest influence up to the present. The father of liberalism (Adam Smith) sustained a theory of Cartesian subject (modern), i.e., a true rational and self-conscious sapiens sapiens. Through cognitive psychology, the Nobel Prize in economics Kahneman and Tversky have a new variant of homoeconomicus, enriched with contributions of experimental science, substantially changing that old conception of man as a rational being that marked almost all thought modern. Given these “recent reviews” theoretical-methodological, engendered in the light of the so-called science of the mind, is that it is essential to rethink old notions of subject that it served as the foundation to the economic and political system, mentioned before. To this end, it is proposed to carry out a theoretical-methodological synergy between two scientific disciplines: economics and psychology. This syncretism could provide the basis for a new integrative scientific discipline, which many theorists have called neuro-economics. That is why, in the present work intends to make an informed a criticism based of a current economic theories, with main emphasis on the psychological and anthropological assumptions. Finally, it try to re-think a new model of homo economicus, articulating the main assumptions of the current economy with some of the contributions of cognitive psychology, biology and cognitive neuroscience, which results in a new paradigm called integrative psycho-neuro-economics.

The COVID-19 pandemic has gravely impacted Latin America. A model was tested that evaluated the contribution of socio-demographic factors and fear of COVID-19 on anxiety and depression in samples of residents in seven Latin American countries (Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, and El Salvador). A total of 4,881 individuals, selected by convenience sampling, participated in the study. Moderate and severe levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety were identified, as well as a moderate average level of fear of COVID-19. In addition, it was observed that about a quarter of the participants presented symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and a major depressive episode. Fear of COVID-19 significantly and positively predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms, whereas the effects of socio-demographic variables are generally low [χ2(287) = 5936.96, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.064 [0.062, 0.065]; CFI = 0.947; and SRMR = 0.050]. This suggests the need for the implementation of preventive actions in the general population of these countries, with the aim of reducing the prevalence of depressive, anxious and fearful symptoms related to COVID-19.

The invariance of the Preventive COVID-19 Infection Behaviors Scale (PCIBS) was evaluated in 12 Latin American countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). A total of 5183 people from the aforementioned countries participated, selected using the snowball sampling method. Measurement invariance was assessed by multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) and Multi-Group Factor Analysis Alignment (CFA-MIAL). In addition, item characteristics were assessed based on Item Response Theory. The results indicate that the original five-item version of the PCIBS is not adequate; whereas a four-item version of the PCIBS (PCIBS-4) showed a good fit in all countries. Thus, using the MG-CFA method, the PCIBS-4 achieved metric invariance, while the CFA-MIAL method indicated that the PCIBS-4 shows metric and scalar invariance. Likewise, the four items present increasing difficulties and high values in the discrimination parameters. The comparison of means of the PCIBS-4 reported irrelevant differences between countries; however, Mexico and Peru presented the highest frequency of preventive behaviors related to COVID-19. It is concluded that the PCIBS-4 is a unidimensional self-report measure which is reliable and invariant across the twelve participating Latin American countries. It is expected that the findings will be of interest to social and health scientists, as well as those professionals directly involved in public health decision making.

La Memoria de Trabajo (MT) y la cognición conciente constituyen funciones neurocognitivas íntimamente relacionadas. Si el procesamiento conciente interactúa con la información almacenada y disponible en la MT, y si el acceso a la conciencia es una condición necesaria para que cierta información sea capaz de ser retenida en la MT, entonces ciertos correlatos, mecanismos y códigos neurales podrían ser compartidos. En el presente artículo de revisión y opinión se examina de manera particular el rol en la percepción conciente y en la MT de una actividad distribuida en una red cortical fronto- parietal y la actividad oscilatoria sincronizada de poblaciones neuronales en diferentes bandas de frecuencia y en diferentes escalas espaciales. Si bien el acceso conciente y las primeras fases de codificación de información comparten parte de sus códigos neurales, la retención de información en la MT en un estado particular podría involucrar códigos adicionales. Al final del artículo se sugiere que un código neural de fase, el código theta-gamma, podría ser el mecanismo utilizado por un espacio de trabajo neuronal global para codificar contenidos concientes y retener información en la MT.

La Memoria de Trabajo (MT) y la cognición conciente constituyen funciones neurocognitivas íntimamente relacionadas. Si el procesamiento conciente interactúa con la información almacenada y disponible en la MT, y si el acceso a la conciencia es una condición necesaria para que cierta información sea capaz de ser retenida en la MT, entonces ciertos correlatos, mecanismos y códigos neurales podrían ser compartidos. En el presente artículo de revisión y opinión se examina de manera particular el rol en la percepción conciente y en la MT de una actividad distribuida en una red cortical fronto- parietal y la actividad oscilatoria sincronizada de poblaciones neuronales en diferentes bandas de frecuencia y en diferentes escalas espaciales. Si bien el acceso conciente y las primeras fases de codificación de información comparten parte de sus códigos neurales, la retención de información en la MT en un estado particular podría involucrar códigos adicionales. Al final del artículo se sugiere que un código neural de fase, el código theta-gamma, podría ser el mecanismo implementado por un espacio de trabajo neuronal global para codificar contenidos concientes y retener información en la MT.

La prevalencia de patologías relacionadas con hipertensión se está incrementando en el total de la población. Este fenómeno parece estar relacionado con el envejecimiento poblacional, provocando también un incremento en los tratamientos con medicación crónica. El costo de los tratamientos crónicos aumentó en este rango etario provocando una anticipación de los cambios demográficos previstos. Objetivo: Revisar artículos empíricos concernientes a la correlación entre hipertensión y deterioro cognitivo publicados en base de datos digitales, con el propósito de reunir los conocimientos actuales e identificar posibles caminos para futuras investigaciones. Resultados: La correlación entre esos dos términos es resumida en tres explicaciones teóricas, observando: 1) deterioro cognitivo como desorden comórbido de trastornos hipertensivos, 2) deterioro cognitivo como consecuencia del daño cerebral provocado por hipertensión, y 3) deterioro cognitivo como efecto indeseable de la medicación antihipertensiva. Conclusiones: Los resultados pretenden brindar una visión general del impacto de la hipertensión en el desempeño cognitivo en sus diferentes niveles; al mismo tiempo, formular objetivos para nuevas investigaciones tendientes a clarificar y mejorar estas elucidaciones teóricas.

La prevalencia de los trastornos relacionados a la hipertensión arterial es cada vez mayor en el total de la población. Este fenómeno parece relacionarse con el envejecimiento demográfico y tiene por consecuencia un incremento de los tratamientos farmacológicos crónicos. Objetivo: Revisar artículos empíricos concernientes a la correlación entre hipertensión y deterioro cognitivo publicados en base de datos digitales, con el propósito de reunir los conocimientos actuales e identificar posibles caminos para futuras investigaciones. Resultados: La correlación entre esos dos términos es abordada bajo tres explicaciones teóricas, considerando al deterioro cognitivo: 1) como desorden comórbido a patologías más abarcativas;2) como consecuencia del daño cerebral provocado por hipertensión; y 3) como efecto indeseable de la medicación antihipertensiva. Conclusiones: Los resultados pretenden brindar una visión general del impacto de la hipertensión en el desempeño cognitivo en sus diferentes niveles. Al mismo tiempo, procuramos explicitar objetivos para nuevas investigaciones tendientes a clarificar y mejorar estas elucidaciones teóricas, al tiempo que realizamos observaciones sobre las limitaciones actuales del campo.