Revista Interamericana de Psicología/Interamerican Journal of Psychology

Humanitarian aid in precarious camps reflexes on the interpersonal relationships of refugees

2023-08-31T14:10:19-04:00

Currently, many of the over 35 million people who are recognized as refugees by some — usually underdeveloped or developing — countries live in precarious camps, where diverse humanitarian aid actions predominate, such as those for “mental health and psychosocial support” (MHPSS). This narrative literature review considers the effects of MHPSS on the refugees’ interpersonal relationships within the camps, discussed in light of the theoretical contributions of both Robert Hinde and Axel Honneth to the Social Sciences. It is hoped that the conceptual tools herein provided can guide a thematic analysis of how humanitarian aid operates, as well as its main challenges, within precarious refugee camps.

Psychometric Properties of a New Scale to Measure Patience

2024-04-25T14:56:58-04:00

Background: Patience scales have gained significance in research over the last decade as they serve as a clinical indicator of psychological health. Objective: to determine the construct validity, convergent and discriminant, of a scale to measure patience. Method: An incidental sample of 289 university students, with an average age of 21.36 years, participated. Expert judgment was used as the first filter, then exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was applied with 144 random cases in the sample, and finally, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied in the rest (145). Pearson's r was also used. Results: The result is a one-dimensional scale, with good fit and appropriate reliability: X² = 2.150; df = 2; X²/df = 1.075; CFI = .999; RMSEA = .023 (90% CI, [.000, 168]); alpha = .75; omega = .75. The scale has convergent validity with the Three-Factor Patience Questionnaire (r = .55 [.45, .78], d = median) and exhibits discriminant validity with the Anger-G Propensity Scale (r = -.29 [-.13, -.46], d = small). Conclusion: It is concluded that the Brief Patience-G Scale has good psychometric properties, and its use is recommended for Spanish-speaking university students.

Back Home: the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the overall life satisfaction of university students

2024-06-18T14:46:24-04:00

Analisamos os efeitos do isolamento social na satisfação geral com a vida de estudantes universitários durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Foi realizada uma pesquisa com 2.556 universitários brasileiros e as principais técnicas utilizadas foram análise fatorial exploratória, análise de cluster e modelagem de equações estruturais. Os resultados indicam que a maioria dos estudantes universitários percebeu perdas na satisfação geral com a vida devido à pandemia. Constatamos que quanto mais o indivíduo identifica a piora na saúde durante o processo de isolamento social, maior é sua percepção de perda de satisfação com a vida. Por outro lado, quanto maior for o sentimento de que o isolamento social pode proteger contra a COVID-19, menor será a perda da satisfação geral com a vida do indivíduo. O perfil predominante no grupo com maior perda na satisfação geral com a vida é o de mulheres, solteiras, sem filhos e com baixa renda. Esses resultados sugerem a possibilidade de aumento da procura por atendimento psicológico e necessidade de cuidados especiais na retomada das aulas presenciais.

Sexuality in aging: possibilities, desires and stereotypes

2024-04-11T10:08:59-04:00

Studies on aging have shown gaps regarding the subjective dimensions of this process. When it comes to sexuality, the experience of it is rarely addressed. This context can be a source of psychic suffering. The study aimed to understand how sexuality and aging are related. The research was carried out using a qualitative and quantitative method, with 193 participants. Data were collected online, via Google Forms, and analyzed using the Iramuteq software. Through the CHD analysis, the content was characterized into six classes, called Sexual Affective Prospects, Permanence of Feeling and Desiring, Intergenerational Contradictions, Satisfaction and Well-Being in the Future, Physical Experiences and Sexuality, and Aging in Society. The participants focused on exploring sexuality in stable relationships in old age, with little mention of gender. This can be explained by the idea of a-sexuality in old age. The predominance of women as respondents is also related, since the social value of women is linked to the ability to maintain relationships with men. There was also little pattern in the responses of the participants, which is related to the sexual revolution of recent decades. It is concluded, then, that the prospect of sexuality is linked to social factors, and it is important to explore such perspectives in future studies, and in other samples.

Evidence of validity and precision of the instruments used to measure mental workload: an integrative review of the literature

2024-01-22T10:47:03-05:00

La carga mental de trabajo representa el valor asignado al esfuerzo mental requerido para realizar las tareas. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar evidencias de validez y precisión de los instrumentos utilizados para medir la carga de trabajo mental en los últimos 10 años, a través de una revisión de la literatura. Se realizaron búsquedas en las bases de datos Scopus, Web Of Science, PsycNet, PubMed y en el portal de la BVS (2012-2021), en inglés, español y portugués. Se incluyeron un total de 145 artículos y se ubicaron 16 instrumentos para medir CMT. Los resultados demuestran el uso de información sobre las propiedades psicométricas de los instrumentos que se basan en conceptos y procedimientos estadísticos que no siempre son consistentes con la verificación de la estructura interna del constructo. La validez de la estructura interna de los instrumentos fue verificada en sólo cuatro estudios, con índices de confiabilidad satisfactorios, pero aún con el uso de conceptos y metodologías de tratamiento y análisis insatisfactorios. Existen, por tanto, desafíos metodológicos, técnicos y conceptuales en los procesos de medición de la carga mental de trabajo.

Relation between the SOC model and depressive symptoms in the elderly

2023-03-23T14:47:25-04:00

O modelo teórico conhecido como Seleção, Otimização e Compensação (SOC) de Baltes (1990), apresenta estratégias para regulação de perdas e enfrentamento de mudanças normativas e não normativas. Objetivo: Analisar a relação entre o uso de estratégias SOC com os sintomas depressivos de idosos quando ocorrem eventos de estresse. Método: Amostra não probabilística, composta por indivíduos com 60 anos ou mais, participantes de atividades de grupos para idosos. Os instrumentos eram autoaplicáveis e a coleta foi feita em grupos, iniciando com uma reunião para apresentação dos objetivos da pesquisa e agendando, para momento posterior, para os participantes responderem aos instrumentos de pesquisa. A aplicação dos instrumentos foi dividida em dois momentos. Resultado: Observou-se que o uso do SOC funciona como modificador de efeito na relação entre estressores e depressão, sendo que as chances de idosos com baixo uso de recursos do SOC apresentarem sintomas depressivos foram 2.46 vezes maiores do que em idosos que apresentam alto uso desses recursos. O efeito modificador dos recursos do SOC sobre a relação entre estresse e depressão em idosos reforça a relevância de estimular programas de intervenção e prevenção em saúde mental, e estudos têm demonstrado que a inserção dessas estratégias pode ajudar a promover o bem-estar, diminuir sintomas depressivos, melhorar a capacidade de lidar com doenças e a autoimagem. Conclusão: Esses resultados reforçam a relevância da inserção dessas estratégias em estudos e intervenções sobre a temática, uma vez que sua utilização pode auxiliar na promoção do bem-estar e no enfrentamento de doenças.

Migration, Cultural Adaptation, and Work: Haitians in Mato Grosso do Sul

2024-06-12T15:17:56-04:00

This study aimed to investigate factors related to the cultural adaptation and employment experiences of Haitian migrants in the Brazilian labor market, specifically in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. To do so, everyday situations of migrants in the municipality of Três Lagoas were examined. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight male migrants aged 18 and older. The interviews were transcribed, and the textual data were organized and imported into the IRaMuTeq software (Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires), through which they were analyzed. The following analyses were conducted: Descendant Hierarchical Classification and Similarity Analysis. The analyses resulted in seven word classes highlighting aspects of cultural adaptation to the work models prevalent in the region, including the roles performed at work, cultural differences between the home country and the new place of residence and work, language difficulties, and the challenges of facing prejudice, racial discrimination, and xenophobia both at work and in other contexts, among other points. Haitian migration in Brazil is relatively recent and underexplored. It is expected that the results presented here will contribute to research on this phenomenon by complementing qualitative studies with samples from other Brazilian regions, as well as providing insights for the design of studies (e.g., surveys) with more robust samples, thus facilitating a broader and more comprehensive understanding of the cultural adaptation and employment experiences of these migrants.

Emotional Dependence and Personality: the Mediating Role of Locus of Control

2023-12-26T14:04:53-05:00

The purpose of the present study was to understand the relationships between emotional dependence, personality traits, and locus of control, and to test the mediating role of locus of control in the relationship between personality and emotional dependence. The reason for this study is that knowledge of the aspects associated with this dependence offers the possibility of applying intervention strategies to protect the mental health and quality of life of the emotionally dependent person. Participants were 200 individuals of both sexes, aged 18 to 72, who had been in a romantic relationship (e.g., dating or married) for at least six months. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the following instruments were used for data collection: A Big Five mini-markers scale, the Emotional Dependence Questionnaire, and the Levenson’s Multidimensional Locus of Control Scale. Descriptive, correlational, and mediation analyzes were conducted using SPSS software. Results showed a positive relationship between Emotional Dependence and Internal locus of control and a negative relationship with External locus of control factors (Chance and Powerful Others). Emotional Dependence also showed a positive correlation with Neuroticism and a negative correlation with Extroversion. The Powerful Others externality dimension had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between Neuroticism and Emotional Dependence mediating the relationship between these variables. The study contributes to the literature on the variables that lead to emotional dependence, which may inspire prevention strategies and new studies.