Familias Unidas’ Crossover Effects on Suicidal Behaviors among Hispanic Adolescents: Results from an Effectiveness Trial

The long‐term impact of Familias Unidas on suicidal behaviors among Hispanic 8th graders (N = 746) was examined along with parent–adolescent communication as a moderator of intervention effectiveness. At baseline, 9.2% (95% CI = 7.3%–11.6%) of adolescents reported suicide ideation and 5.7% (95% CI = 4.1%–7.7%) reported a past year suicide attempt. There were no significant intervention effects on suicidal behaviors; however, parent–adolescent communication was a moderator of suicide attempts in the past year, across the intervention (b = ?.01, p = .01). Results suggest that Familias Unidas reduces suicidal behaviors among Hispanic adolescents with low levels of parent–adolescent communication despite no suicide‐specific intervention content. Implications of these findings are discussed.     

A socio-epistemological program for the philosophy of regulatory science

This paper presents a program of action for the philosophy of regulatory science, based on a general theory of social epistemology. Two candidates are considered. The first one, offered by Alvin Goldman, is not fit for our purposes because it is focused on a veritism incompatible with non-epistemic aims of regulatory science. The second, championed by Steve Fuller, sociologically investigates the existing means of producing knowledge, to modify them with the goal of obtaining democratic aims through action on a legislative meta-level. The program has been built upon this procedure, instantiated by the identification, characterization, and modification of epistemic policies.     

Cognition and daily activities in a general population sample aged +55

ABSTRACT

Objective: We tested the association of individual cognitive domains measured with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and disability.

Method: Cross-sectional study in a population-based cohort aged ≥55 years (n = 4,803). Sample was divided into two groups: individuals with cognition within the normal range (CNR) (n = 4,057) and those with cognitive impairment (CI) (n = 746). Main outcome measures: The MMSE, the Katz Index (Basic Activities of Daily Living, bADL), the Lawton and Brody Scale (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, iADL), and the Geriatric Mental State (GMS-AGECAT).

Results: MMSE-orientation was associated with disability in bADL, iADL and a decrease in social participation, regardless of cognitive status. MMSE-attention was associated with disability in iADL, but only in CNR. MMSE-language was associated with disability in bADL, iADL and with reduced social participation, but only in CI. Conclusions: The associations observed between disability and orientation may have clinical and public health implications.     

Confirmatory factor analysis of the five-item version of the Francis scale of attitude towards Christianity in adolescent students

ABSTRACT

The brief scale of Francis for religiosity (Francis-5) has shown acceptable psychometric performance in Colombian adolescents. However, a confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA) has not been performed. The objective of the researche was to make a CFA to the Francis-5 in a sample of students of Santa Marta, Colombia. A validation study was performed. 350 students between 10 and 17 years old, and 54% were female. A CFA was performed to test the dimensionality of different versions of five and four items of the scale. Authors calculated five goodness of fit indexes indices (Chi square, RMSEA, CFI, TLI, and SMSR). The Francis-5 presented as goodness-of-fit coefficients, chi squared = 18.5, gl = 5, p = .002, RMSEA = .09 (CI90% .05 to .13), CFI = .99, TLI = .99, and SMSR = .01. And the version with the best coefficients of goodness was the Francis-5 without the fourth item (‘Pray helps me a lot’) with chi squared = .55, gl = 2, p = .76, RMSEA = .00 (CI90% .00 to .07), CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.00, and SMSR = .01. As conclusions, the dimensionality of the Francis-5 is questionable. For a version without the item 4 the data are better fit.     

Family Functioning, Identity, and Problem Behavior in Hispanic Immigrant Early Adolescents

The present study investigated the role of identity in the relationship between family functioning and behavior problems in a sample of Hispanic immigrant early adolescents and their families. The sample consisted of 181 Hispanic immigrant adolescents (92 males, 89 females) and their participating caregivers (who were mostly mothers). Identity was measured using adolescent reports, whereas family functioning and early adolescent behavior problems were measured using both adolescent and parent reports. Correlational analyses indicated that previously obtained relationships among family functioning, identity, and behavior problems were replicated in the present sample. Structural equation models indicated that 20% of the relationship between family functioning and behavior problems operated indirectly through identity, and identity confusion partially mediates the relationship between family functioning and early adolescent behavior problems. Implications for intervention are discussed.