Parental knowledge and adolescent adjustment: substance use and health-related quality of life

This study analyses two models (maternal and paternal) in which parental care and sources of parental knowledge moderated the relationship between parents' knowledge about their adolescents' lives and adolescents' substance use and health-related quality of life. The sample was made up of 15942 Spanish adolescents who participated in the 2006 edition of Health Behavior in School-aged Children Study. Results showed that increased parents' knowledge about their adolescents' lives reduced adolescents' substance use and increased their quality of life. With respect to the moderation relationship, a limited effect was found. However, parental care and sources of parental knowledge used by both parents generally had main effects on adolescents' substance use and health-related quality of life, with care being the most relevant variable in the health-related quality of life, while knowledge was the most relevant one for substance use.     

A motivational model for environmentally responsible behavior

This paper presents a study examining whether self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation are related to environmentally responsible behavior (ERB). The study analysed past environmental behavior, self-regulatory mechanisms (self-efficacy, satisfaction, goals), and intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in relation to ERBs in a sample of 156 university students. Results show that all the motivational variables studied are linked to ERB. The effects of self-efficacy on ERB are mediated by the intrinsic motivation responses of the participants. A theoretical model was created by means of path analysis, revealing the power of motivational variables to predict ERB. Structural equation modeling was used to test and fit the research model. The role of motivational variables is discussed with a view to creating adequate learning contexts and experiences to generate interest and new sensations in which self-efficacy and affective reactions play an important role.     

Pure versus guided mirror exposure to reduce body dissatisfaction: a preliminary study with university women

While effectiveness of mirror exposure to reduce body dissatisfaction has been demonstrated, the exposure was almost always combined with other interventions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a pure mirror exposure intervention compared with a guided mirror exposure (participants are guided to describe their body shape in a non-evaluative manner) and an imagery exposure intervention (participants are guided to describe their body through mental representation). Thirty-one women with high body dissatisfaction received five sessions of treatment under one of the three conditions. All interventions reduced body dissatisfaction, but only the mirror exposures successfully reduced the frequency of negative thoughts and feelings of ugliness. Pure mirror exposure was more effective than guided exposure for reducing body discomfort within and between sessions. Pure mirror exposure, based on the traditional extinction paradigm, led to strong emotional activation followed by a fast decrease in emotional reactivity.     

A Systematic Review of the Biopsychosocial–Spiritual Health of Active Duty Women

Women make up approximately 15% of today’s active duty (AD) military. Not only are more women volunteering for military service now than ever before in America’s history, but due to recent policy changes, they are also allowed to apply for more jobs. Therefore, since the number of women in the military is continuing to rise and there are more job opportunities for women in the military, it is important to understand the unique health effects they experience that differ from civilian women and AD males. Although there is current literature on the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual health of veteran women, few researchers have explored the biopsychosocial–spiritual effects of military service on AD women. Thus, the purpose of this systematic review was to explore the existing research on the biopsychosocial–spiritual health factors associated with military service in AD women. The results of this study indicated that there is more data on the biological health compared to the psychological and social health of AD women. There is even less research demonstrating the interconnectedness among biological, psychological, social, and spiritual health with AD women. Future research recommendations and policy implications are provided.     

El estudio experimental del castigo: una revisión

Resumen

El presente trabajo trata desde un punto de vista histórico, algunos de los aspectos del castigo. Señala como, actualmente, a la luz de numerosos experimentos, se aceptan como válidas las dos caras de la ley simétrica del efecto (ley positiva del efecto y ley negativa del efecto). Simetría que Thorndike, su formulador, desechó en los inicios de la década de los años treinta. También se ofrece evidencia de la capital importancia de la contingencia dentro del procedimiento de castigo (superioridad del castigo frente a R.E.C.). Finalmente se da cuenta de una serie de parámetros que ejercen una gran influencia en los efectos del castigo.     

Atribución de la causalidad y motivación de logro. I: estudio evolutivo de la utilización de información en la realización de juicios de atribución

Resumen

Este estudio ha examinado los cambios que se producen entre los seis y los once años en la utilización de información al realizar juicios de atribución para explicar el éxito y el fracaso. Se han examinado 30 niños y 30 niñas de 1.°, 3.° y 5.° de EGB, 180 en total. A estos sujetos se les facilitó información sobre una actividad cuyo resultado podía ser éxito o fracaso (resultado inmediato de la misma, historia de resultados obtenidos anteriormente en la tarea, tiempo empleado por el sujeto en realizarla, resultados obtenidos por otros sujetos habitualmente y naturaleza de la tarea). En cada caso se les pedía que atribuyesen el resultado observado (éxito o fracaso) a alguno de los factores causales «habilidad», «esfuerzo», «dificultad de la tarea» y «suerte». Los datos han puesto de manifiesto que el uso de los distintos indicios de información, tanto individualmente como en distintas combinaciones, se desarrolla siguiendo pautas particulares diferentes para cada factor causal.     

Un nuevo enfoque sobre la esquizofrenia

RESUMEN

El entrenamiento en habilidades sociales y el programa de terapia familiar están siendo evaluados en un proyecto de investigación que incluye un tratamiento comparativo con terapia de movilización. En este tipo de terapia los pacientes, asignados al azar y con una esquizofrenia documentada, practican relajación, footing, reducción del estrés estrés, actividades manuales y terapia creativa. Se ha intentado en este artículo hacer una primera aproximación a un enfoque de tratamiento psicosocial de la esquizofrenia con base empírica. Bajo la optimista pretensión teórica de que los pacientes esquizofrénicos tratados tienen capacidad para aprender; que las actitudes y sentimientos familiares pueden cambiar en forma positiva y el ambiente donde se desenvuelven puede diseñarse para suspender la diátesis, mediatizada biológicamente.     

Psicobiología del síndrome de Down

Resumen

En este artículo revisamos los conocimientos que existen en la actualidad sobre el síndrome de Down, atendiendo a todos aquellos aspectos que, por su relevancia, facilitan una mejor comprensión de esta cromosomopatía. Después de una breve reseña histórica, y tras definir lo que se entiende por síndrome de Down, pasamos a ocuparnos de la alteración genética que lo determina, así como de los factores que parecen estar relacionados con su origen. A continuación estudiamos las alteraciones específicas que acompañan a este síndrome, considerando principalmente los aspectos morfológicos externos, el problema de la hipotonía muscular y otros trastornos biomédicos, el retraso mental y las diversas anomalías neuroanatómicas y neurofisiológicas que presentan los sujetos afectados. Por último, indicamos las nuevas perspectivas que se abren en el estudio de esta alteración genética.     

The real relationship between short-term memory and working memory

Storage-oriented memory span tasks with no explicit concurrent processing are usually referred as short-term memory (STM) tasks, whereas tasks involving storage plus concurrent processing requirements are designated as working memory (WM) tasks. The present study explores a question that remains unsolved: Do STM and WM tasks clearly tap distinguishable theoretical constructs? For that purpose, a large sample of 403 participants was tested through 12 diverse memory span tasks. Half of those tasks are widely accepted as measures of STM, whereas the other half measure WM. The results show that STM and WM share largely overlapping underlying capacity limitations, suggesting that all memory span tasks tap essentially the same construct. Some implications are discussed.