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Cristian Ramos-Vera,1 Angel García O’Diana,1 Dennis Calle,1 Miguel Basauri-Delgado,2 Bruno Bonfá-Araujo,3 Ariela Raissa Lima-Costa,4 Mirko Duradoni,5 Shagufta Nasir,6 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,7 Jacksaint Saintila8 1Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad César Vallejo, Lima, Peru; 2Postgraduate School, Universidad Femenina del Sagrado Corazón, Lima, Peru; 3Faculty of Social Science, the University of Western Ontario, London, Canada; 4Graduate Program of Psychology, Universidade São Francisco, Campinas, Brazil; 5Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; 6Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; 7Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Peru; 8Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PeruCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Carretera a Pimentel, Km 5, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Peru, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comBackground: Previous research has suggested that manipulation and callousness are central to Dark Triad traits, but it has not identified which specific manifestations are expressed across various countries.Objective: This study aimed to identify the core and overlapping manifestations of Dark Triad traits across 10 countries.Methods: We used the Short Dark Triad (SD3) scale and assessed a sample of 8093 participants (59.7% women, M(age) = 32.68 years). For graphical representation, the spinglass algorithm was applied to understand the cluster distribution among Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and subclinical narcissism traits. Centrality indices were used to identify the most influential items, and the clique-percolation algorithm was employed to detect shared attributes among multiple Dark Triad items.Results: Straightforward SD3-21 items demonstrated better interpretability as aversive traits within the broader system. Items with higher centrality values were those related to short-term verbal manipulation from the psychopathy domain, clever manipulation, strategic revenge-seeking from Machiavellianism, and narcissistic motivations for connecting with significant individuals. The most predicted items were linked to planned revenge, using information against others from Machiavellianism, short-term psychopathic verbal manipulation, and narcissistic belief of specialness based on external validation. Items like short-term verbal manipulation had overlaps with both psychopathy and narcissism clusters, while clever manipulation overlapped with Machiavellianism and psychopathy.Conclusion: This cross-cultural study highlights the central role of verbal manipulation within the Dark Triad traits, along with identifying overlapping items among traits measured using straightforward SD3 scale items. In line with our findings, future research that incorporates a wide range of cultural contexts is encouraged to establish the consistency of these findings with the SD3 Scale or alternative measures.Keywords: dark triad traits, network analysis, personality, subclinical traits, cross-cultural

Cristian Ramos-Vera,1 Dennis Calle,1 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,2 Jacksaint Saintila3 1Research Area, Universidad Cesar Vallejo (UCV), Lima, Perú; 2Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 3School of Medicine, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PerúCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, School of Medicine, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Carretera a Pimentel, Km 5, Chiclayo, 14001, Perú, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comBackground: The study of Dark Triad traits and emotional variables has been conducted in numerous regions; however, there is a lack of research focusing on Latin American samples and considering variables such as sex and age. Incorporating these variables could enhance our understanding of underlying aversive patterns.Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the associations between Dark Triad traits and emotional intelligence in Peruvian adults.Methods: Data were collected in 2021 and 272 adults (M=31.8 years, 68% female) participated through online surveys via non-probability purposive sampling. Dirty Dozen and Trait Meta-Mood Scales were used. Two partial correlation network models were applied between the study variables with and without controlling for gender and age. Bridge-expected influence and predictability analysis were calculated to find interconnected traits and higher connections, respectively.Results: Subclinical psychopathy primarily showed negative associations with emotional clarity (r=− 0.17), followed by emotional attention (r=− 0.08) and emotional repair in networks with and without age and gender variables. Machiavellianism consistently displayed a negative association with emotional repair (r=− 0.13) in both estimated networks. Conversely, subclinical narcissism exhibited a positive association solely with emotional attention (r=0.15). Furthermore, younger age was linked to higher Machiavellianism (r=− 0.23), females showed higher emotional attention (r=0.11), and narcissism connected intrapersonal emotional domains with Dark Traits (bridge expected influence > 1.25) while Machiavellianism exhibited greater predictability (r2> 0.45) due to reinforcement by other Dark Traits.Conclusion: This study revealed negative connections between the Dark Triad and emotional intelligence traits, except for narcissism, which was positively associated with emotional attention and functioned as a “bridge” between all traits. However, relying solely on this single positive emotional aspect of narcissism may not be adequate to characterize it as possessing fully adaptive emotional traits. Findings suggest that detailed aspects of emotional intelligence and sociodemographic factors can provide valuable insights into the complex nature of aversive patterns and their broader impact on society.Keywords: Machiavellianism, narcissism, subclinical psychopathy, emotional intelligence, network analysis

Cristian Ramos-Vera,1 Andy R Sánchez-Villena,2 Dennis Calle,1 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,3 Jacksaint Saintila4 1Área de Investigación, Universidad Cesar Vallejo (UCV), Lima, Perú; 2Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Privada del Norte, Cajamarca, Perú; 3Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 4Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PerúCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Perú, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comBackground: Although the importance of the therapeutic alliance in the treatment process and health outcomes is recognized, so far, there has been no evaluation in the Peruvian context that considers possible individual differences that could influence this assessment.Purpose: This study assessed the psychometric properties of the WAI-S-P in a sample of individuals from Peru who are receiving psychological therapy. Furthermore, a network analysis was conducted to investigate the direct relationships between the therapeutic alliance and several relevant sociodemographic variables.Methods: The short version of the Working Alliance Inventory was used in a sample of 241 participants (Mage=32.58, SD=12.67) that had attended less than 6 sessions. Three models were considered, including a three-factor and a two-factor correlated model, as well as a bifactor model. In addition, a network of partial associations was created including the overall therapeutic alliance, sex, age, and number of psychotherapeutic sessions.Results: The bifactor model, with an overall therapeutic alliance factor and two specific factors (“contact” and “contract”), better fit the data. Invariance of the structure by sex and age showed equitable measurement. On the other hand, network analysis revealed a positive correlation between total session attendance and therapeutic alliance. Men reported higher therapeutic alliance, while women had higher total session attendance.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the therapeutic alliance is better represented by a bifactor model and demonstrates invariance across sex and age in Peruvian adults. Additionally, findings indicate that differences in life experiences and the sex of patients may need to be verified in future studies to better understand nuanced needs in forming therapeutic alliances at least in the early stages of session attendance.Keywords: Working Alliance Inventory, patients, psychotherapy, psychometric properties, network analysis

Cristian Ramos-Vera,1 Dennis Calle,1 Helen Collacso Fiesta,1 Lorena Lisbett Lamilla,1 Antonio Serpa-Barrientos,2 Jacksaint Saintila3 1Research Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad César Vallejo, Lima, Perú; 2Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú; 3Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PerúCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, Escuela de Medicina Humana, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Perú, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comIntroduction: One of the key psychosocial factors that impact mental and emotional health is social support. While much research has been conducted on the role of social support in the lives of cancer patients, there is a lack of studies that consider populations who need specific tools to assess this concept.Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the MOS Social Support Scale (1991) in 499 Peruvian cancer patients between the ages of 18 and 87 (M= 46.30, SD = 15.747).Methods: In this study, three models of the MOS were analyzed based on 19-item versions (four factor, second order and bifactor model).Results: The results showed a better psychometric fit in the 19-item bifactor model with optimal fit indices through the structural equation method (SB-χ 2/df = 1.94, CFI = 0.966, TLI= 0.955, SRMR = 0.038 and RMSEA = 0.058). Additionally, there was evidence of configural, metric and scalar invariance with this instrument according to the gender of the surveyed cancer patients. Convergent validity using a network analysis approach revealed positive associations between social support dimensions and quality of life.Conclusion: Emotional support and positive interactions dimensions were found to be important interconnections in the overall network, as indicated by their greater centralities. Therefore, this instrument could be suggested as a reliable way to evaluate cancer patients and their perceived support.Keywords: social support, factor invariance, oncology, cancer, network analysis

The pathogenesis of COVID‐19 warrants unravelling. Genetic polymorphism analysis may help answer the variability in disease outcome. To determine the role of KIR and HLA polymorphisms in susceptibility, progression, and severity of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, 458 patients and 667 controls enrolled in this retrospective observational study from April to December 2020. Mild/moderate and severe/death study groups were established. HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C, and KIR genotyping were performed using the Lifecodes® HLA‐SSO and KIR‐SSO kits on the Luminex® 200™ xMAP fluoroanalyser. A probability score using multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was calculated to estimate the likelihood of severe COVID‐19. ROC analysis was used to calculate the best cut‐off point for predicting a worse clinical outcome with high sensitivity and specificity. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. KIR AA genotype protected positively against severity/death from COVID‐19. Furthermore, KIR3DL1, KIR2DL3 and KIR2DS4 genes protected patients from severe forms of COVID‐19. KIR Bx genotype, as well as KIR2DL2, KIR2DS2, KIR2DS3 and KIR3DS1 were identified as biomarkers of severe COVID‐19. Our logistic regression model, which included clinical and KIR/HLA variables, categorised our cohort of patients as high/low risk for severe COVID‐19 disease with high sensitivity and specificity (Se = 94.29%, 95% CI [80.84–99.30]; Sp = 84.55%, 95% CI [79.26–88.94]; OR = 47.58, 95%CI [11.73–193.12], p < 0.0001). These results illustrate an association between KIR/HLA ligand polymorphism and different COVID‐19 outcomes and remarks the possibility of use them as a surrogate biomarkers to detect severe patients in possible future infectious outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the local knowledge and preferences of 160 inhabitants of La Vieja river basin on 60 native species of trees, shrubs and palms. During two years, we made extensive interviews based on photographs of all species, asked the people to identify the plants and asked questions on the habitat, growth rate and uses of each species. We also asked the interviewees if they would be willing to grow these species on their farms, where they would do so and what kind of external support they would need. Most interviewees recognized less than half of the species. The collective judgment of the relative growth rates is accurate and useful to guide restoration decisions. A high proportion of the people would be willing to plant many of species if they had access to seedlings. The preferred species for planting were Inga densiflora, I. edulis, Erythrina poeppigiana, Tecoma stans, Aniba sp. Nectandra turbacensis, Ocotea macropoda, O. helicterifolia, Senna spectabilis and Cedrela odorata. Grazing and riparian areas were the preferred places to plant native trees.