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Personality is one of the central constructs of psychology, however, its extensive scales can hinder its inclusion in various studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify whether the two short versions of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-15p and BFI-10p) present evidence of validity and reliability in a sample of 451 Mexican university students. (57.2% women; Mage=20.84). The BFI-15p and BFI-10p were analyzed through exploratory structural equation modeling (WLSMV estimation method and geomin rotation), and it was found that the BFI-15p presented a satisfactory fit index and a coherent internal structure, as well as significant associations with a brief measure of emotional intelligence. The construct reliability coefficients and scores were also adequate. It was concluded that the BFI-15p presents satisfactory psychometric properties for use with university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the oncological diseases most frequently diagnosed in adult women worldwide. As with other cancer types, BC is thought to emerge after genetically susceptible stem epithelial cells display uncontrolled proliferation after being chronically exposed to stressful environmental conditions that may include altered hormonal profiles, metabolic status and/or surrounding environmental settings. This scenario, nonetheless, fails to recognize the role that psychological factors play on BC origin, progression and outcome. Accordingly, in the preceding work, we present data that supports that some psychological traits may predispose Mexican women to develop BC. In this complementary paper, we now explore the “relative weight” that emotional suppression and repression and stress symptoms have on the likelihood of women developing BC by establishing, through network analyses, the way these psychological traits interact with well accepted BC-risk environmental, genetic and physiological factors. Since in our model nodes represent personality traits and the links among them (i.e. the “activated” psychic pathways), Pearson’s correlation analyses were used to evaluate whether healthy networks are different among health-disease states. In addition, in order to study the associations with the clinical factors, an analysis of principal components (PC) and three multivariate models were constructed in order to determine with precision the psychological predictors of BC. Results show that the psychological traits, as expected, adopt a network organization, in which BC patients had the most disconnected distribution, followed by the Benign Breast Pathology (BBP) group. Breast pathology according to the resulting network seems to disconnect emotions from the stress response. Our results also show that the variance found between groups can only be explained by psychological traits, that is, in this sample only certain psychological traits increase the susceptibility to BC but none of the most recognized clinical factors do. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this predictive study was to analyze the degree of influence of study satisfaction (SS) on academic procrastination (AP). One hundred forty-eight (148) psychology students (111 women) between 18 and 32 years old (M = 22.41) were evaluated using the Brief Scale of Study Satisfaction and the Academic Procrastination Scale. After preliminary analyses focused on the scores reliability (α > .70) and correlations between dimensions, a regression analysis was performed to determine how much of the variability in the AP dimensions' scores is explained by the variations in the SS. For that purpose, a method that uses bivariate correlations corrected for attenuation and provides confidence intervals under a bootstrap approach of the associated statistics was applied. All analyses were assessed from an effect size approach. The results indicate that the influence of SS on AP was not significant. These findings provide new ways to implement studies in order to understand the procrastinating behavior in the university setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this research was to determine if factors such as self-regulation and ethnicity are associated with overweight and obesity in female college students. Methods: We conducted a transversal analytical study on a sample of 171 female nursing students at the University in Juchitán, Oaxaca. The distribution of Zapotec and Mestizo was proportional. Results: No difference was found between Zapotec and Mestizo with regard to self-regulation or being overweight. However, a higher percentage of Zapotecs (35%) reported monitoring their diet compared with Mestizo (17%). The Zapotec origin of the mother and the self-evaluation of physical activity habits were identified as overweight resiliency factors. Conclusions: Self-assessment of physical activity habits and the consideration of ethnic knowledge from each group should be considered in strategies to help prevent becoming overweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategies for health promotion underscore the importance of physical activity for wellness and disease prevention. However, the information made available to people seldom has an impact on their habits. Consolidating healthy physical activity habits requires, in addition to knowledge, the provision of tools to observe, assess and initiate and maintain actions to achieve its goals. Young people are one of the most important risk groups in the development of obesity because they are still in at the stage of consolidating their habits. Therefore, the aim of this study was to design and validate an instrument to measure self-regulation in physical activity in Mexican university students. Initially 51 items were drafted, which were later evaluated by four experts. Two applications of the instrument were conducted with a total of 424 participants. Factorial analysis of non-weighted least squares with Promax rotation was performed. Factor loading under 0.40 or commonality below 0.30 were discarded. A 12 item instrument grouped in three factors was obtained which explained 49.4% of the variance: self-reaction, self-observation and self-evaluation. Finally, using Cronbach's alpha test, the instrument had a high reliability coefficient (á = .846). This scale is a valid and reliable tool for measuring self-regulation of the physical activity habits of Mexican college students and can be used to develop diagnostics and evaluate interventions to improve physical activity habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to determine the effectiveness of a workshop designed to improve the nutritional status, self-regulation and self-efficacy of obesity and overweight college students. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with university students which included men and women. The experimental group consisted of 28 participants and the control group for 30. This intervention was developed during 10 weekly sessions focusing on teaching self-regulation skills and basic nutritional knowledge. The experimental group showed a significant improvement concerning the waist to hip ratio, self-regulation and self-efficacy, while the control group gained a significant amount of weight and the levels of self-regulation and self-efficacy were maintained. Attending the workshop acted as a protective factor in the weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: According to official records, 75.0% of Mexican women and 69.6% of Mexican men are obese or overweight, conditions that can develop chronic diseases. In that sense, habits are determinate factors for this prevalence, among those that significantly influence health are eating habits. Therefore, the aim of this work was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Self-Regulation Scale of Eating Habits to obtain a brief version. Materials and methods: An instrumental study was carried out with 442 Mexican adults (60% women; Mage= 32.486 years). In addition to the Self-Regulation of Eating Habits Scale, a sociodemographic data sheet was included. The evidence of validity was analyzed with an analytical-factorial approach by an exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM); as well reliability was estimated at the level of scores (alpha coefficient) and construct (omega coefficient). Results: The scale responds to an essentially one-dimensional structure, a short version of 8 items was obtained, which showed an adequate adjustment index, high factor loads, excellent reliability, and being invariant between men and women. Conclusions: The Self-Regulation of Eating Habits Scale presents a solid one-dimensional structure; its adequate reliability allows it's to use at the level of basic and applied research. Also evaluates selfregulation in men and women in an equivalent way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the psychometric properties of the Scale of Healthy Lifestyles for University Students (EEVSEU) for male and female university students in Mexico. Materials and methods: Validity evidence regarding the structure and measurement invariance of the EEVSEU was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis. Initially, two models were evaluated: the original model (8 dimensions) and the model obtained in Mexican women (4 dimensions). The magnitude of the factorial loads of each item (=0.50) and the reliability of the scores and the construct of the models were determined through the alpha and omega coefficients. Finally, the association between healthy lifestyles and psychological well-being and self-regulation of eating habits was analysed. Results: After the initial analyses, a new model was constructed with 7 dimensions of the EEVSEU (exercise, regular behaviour, nutritional behaviour, health responsibility, social support, stress management and appreciation for life) (M3). It evidenced adequate factorial parameters (adjustment indices and factorial loads), was invariant between men and women and significantly associated with the self-regulation of eating habits and psychological well-being. Conclusions: The EEVSEU has adequate psychometric properties for its application in studies involving male and female university students in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the risk posed by attachment type in the development of anxiety or depression symptomatology in Mexican adults. This was case-control study in which anxiety and depression symptomatology levels were compared according to the attachment type reported by 3,666 participants. It was found that insecure attachment is a risk factor (p≤.001) for the development of severe levels of depression (OR = 2.12, CI 95%: 1.66–2.70) and anxiety symptomatology (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.30–1.77). Findings are discussed based on their implications for psychiatric nursing practice. The findings of this study enable nurses to consider the empirical validity of attachment theory for studying psychosocial aspects of mental health and to design intervention strategies that promote secure attachment in populations without psychiatric diagnoses to prevent anxiety and depression symptomatology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to explore anxiety, dietary intake, quality and sleep fragmentation in primiparous mothers. A total of 38 dyads of mothers and their lactating babies participated. Maternal anxiety and sleep quality were measured through the Trait-State Anxiety and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Dietary intakes were assessed using a single 24-hour dietary recording and recalling procedure. Mothers completed their babies sleep diary during one week. Results show that anxiety is a recurrent emotional response in primiparous mothers, where those with trait anxiety have poorer sleep quality and diurnal dysfunctions. Mothers with state anxiety showed a carbohydrates and proteins rich intake. In conclusion, trait and state anxiety are highly recurrent in primiparous mothers. Neither trait and state anxiety seemed directly related with the number of nocturnal awakenings of their children, thus apparently the state of anxiety per se, is sufficient to induce poor sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational stress is associated with many maternal and child complications, however, this association must be taken with care, since there are studies that find inconsistent results between stress measures and maternal complications. It is believed that the lack of convergence is due to the way in which gestational stress is evaluated. The aim of the present study was to design and validate an instrument based on a bio-psycho-social model of gestational stress. The design and validation process of the inventory was divided into four phases: (a) Construction of the items bank and content validity, (b) construct validity, (c) inventory reliability and (d) convergent and discriminant validity with psychometric instruments that have been used in other investigations to evaluate gestational stress. A valid and reliable Stressors and Modulators of Gestational Stress Inventory (SMGSI) conformed by two scales was developed: (a) Gestational stressors, which is formed by two factors, the psychological stressors and social stressors with a variance of 48.5% and 51.8% and a reliability of.79 and.67, respectively; and (b) gestational stress modulators integrated by 8 items that explain 55.2% of the variance and with a reliability of.92. In conclusion, a valid and reliable tool was obtained that measures gestational stress from a bio-psycho-social perspective. This inventory allows for the identification of allostatic and pantostatic stress, making it useful as a diagnostic tool to prevent maternal and childhood complications that are associated with chronic gestational stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This paper aimed to analyze the internal structure of the Spanish version of the Ryff's psychological wellbeing scale (PWBS-E) among college students (n = 1700, 54.75% females, Mage = 19.23) who attend a public institution located in Veracruz, Mexico. Method: The internal structure of the PWBS-E was assessed using the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), while the reliability of the construct was estimated with the ù coefficient and the reliability of the scores, with the a coefficient. Results: suggested that a short and unidimensional structure (19 items) provides greater empirical support. In addition, a method factor associated with inverted items in multidimensional models was evidenced. Regarding the reliability, acceptable indicators were found in both levels (construct and scores). Conclusions: This paper addresses both the findings and practical implications of the short version of the PWBS-E among college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Affective Picture System (IAPS) is an instrument to the study of emotions and motivation with a high empirical evidence and versatility. However, it has not been tested in Mexican population, for that reason the aim of this study was to determine the normative values of valence, arousal and dominance for the IAPS sets of pictures 13, 14, 19 and 20 in Mexican population. Participants were 408 students who assessed 238 images of the IAPS through the Self- Assessment Manikin (SAM). The results showed that the pictures distribution on the two-dimensional affective space (valence-arousal); take a boomerang form, which is consistent with the findings in other populations. Nevertheless, in the Mexican population there was a stronger relationship between appetitive valence and arousal than the one observe in aversive valence and arousal. In conclusion the normative values in the IAPS sets of pictures 13, 14, 19 and 20 can be used in the study of emotions in Mexican people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]