Mental Health Protective Factors Research Articles

Family functioning and mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a two-cohort comparison of emerging adults

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to analyze how family relationships changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine whether the health crisis modified the association between family dimensions and emerging adult children’s mental health. A large sample of 1732 emerging adults was recruited at two different moments. In 2015, 755 emerging adults were recruited, 201 from campus A (sample 1) and 554 from campus B (sample 2). In 2020, a new sample was recruited and 977 emerging adults completed the questionnaire, 198 from campus A (sample 1 / “Pre-pandemic sample”, recruited before the lockdown) and 779 from campus B (sample 2 / “COVID-19 sample” / recruited after the lockdown. The results reveal that the COVID-19 sample of emerging adults perceived poorer parent-child relationships (lower parental involvement and warmth) and reported poorer mental health (lower flourishing and higher psychological distress) than their counterparts in Cohort 1. For their part, the Pre-pandemic sample reported higher levels of psychological distress than their counterparts in Cohort 1. In all samples (Cohort 1 and Cohort 2, both Pre-pandemic and COVID-19), parenting functions were positively associated with children’s flourishing and negatively associated with their psychological distress. However, these associations were stronger in Cohort 2 than in Cohort 1, both when assessed before and when assessed during the pandemic. The results of the study support the increasingly important role played by the family as a protective factor for mental health, even in stressful situations when family relationships tend to deteriorate. Study limitations include the use of a sample composed mainly of young emerging adult university students. Future studies should strive to include more emerging adults from the entire age range encompassed by emerging adulthood, as well as members of the non-university-going emerging adult population. Investing in public programs focused on family functions during emerging adulthood is an essential strategy for protecting and improving young adults’ mental health and promoting positive family relationships in stressful situations.

Middle and High School LGBTQ Students Report What Makes School LGBTQ-Affirming Across Race/Ethnicity and Gender Identity, a Topic Modeling Method.

Affirming spaces have been associated with improved mental health outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) adolescents. With data from adolescents currently enrolled in middle or high school across the United States, this study used topic modeling methods to examine students' reports of what they were looking for in LGBTQ-affirming schools and, separately, the association of LGBTQ-affirming schools with suicide risk reduction. Topic models demonstrated consistent themes in how students determined that their school was affirming, such as LGBTQ clubs, teachers requesting pronouns, pride flags, and accepting peers. Students of color uniquely looked for actionable responses in addressing LGBTQ issues. Transgender and nonbinary students required explicit mention of support for transgender issues. Quantitatively, LGBTQ students who reported that their school was LGBTQ-affirming had 20% lower odds of attempting suicide in the past year (adjusted odds ratio = 0.80). These findings suggest that schools must be safe for all youth and implementing policies that make LGBTQ students feel seen and supported in their identities is a protective factor for mental health. School policies must ensure that youth have access to supportive people, symbols of support, and LGBTQ clubs and that they are also salient to LGBTQ students of color and transgender and nonbinary students.

Detection and addressing of psychosocial issues in schools: an intersectoral approach for the Colombian Amazon

ABSTRACT Schools are scenarios for detection of mental problems and promotion of well-being. It is necessary to create intercultural processes that better respond to these needs. The objective of the present study was to collaboratively construct a route for the detection of mental health problems from the school environment from the Colombian Amazon. Nine focus groups were carried out, each made up of nine people, health professionals and ethnoeducators. The strengthening of one’s own culture is highlighted, such as the use of fishing and agriculture. The starting point of this process is the development of a pathway that defines roles to play in the support of specific cases of school mental health care with an ethnic focus. Intercultural school mental health calls for strengthening one’s own culture as a protective factor for mental health, which involves understanding aspects of the culture by those working with children and youth in the region.

Transgender older adults' prior military service: Mental health differences by gender identification.

Despite a proportionally higher likelihood of serving, the role of prior military service in the mental health of transgender individuals is understudied. Research on the impact of military service on mental health tends to be proximal. We examined the distal relationship between prior military service, identity stigma, and mental health among transgender older adults, drawing comparisons between transgender men and women. We conducted a series of weighted multivariate linear models to predict the relationships between prior military service, identity stigma, perceived stress, and depression among 183 transgender women and men aged 51-87 (M = 60.11, SD = 0.668) using 2014 data from the National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study. Prior military service was negatively associated with depression and perceived stress; identity stigma was positively associated with both. Prior military service and lower depression and perceived stress were significant for transgender men, but not women. Identity stigma was significant with depression and perceived stress among transgender women, but not transgender men. Our preliminary findings suggest that prior military service may serve as a protective factor for mental health among transgender men, but not transgender women. We need to better understand how military experience interacts with other characteristics, such as differing gender identities influences the mental health of transgender service members. Further research is needed to inform underlying mechanisms whereby military service differentially impacts mental health by gender identity so all active-duty personnel can share in the many benefits that accrue from military service, including protective effects on mental health in later life. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Mental Well-Being Among Adversity-Exposed Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Further research is needed to understand factors associated with well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). To explore factors associated with improved mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents who have experienced ACEs. This cross-sectional study used data from the baseline (2016-2018) and sixth (March 2021) COVID Rapid Response Research (RRR) surveys of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, which includes 21 sites across the US. Adolescents aged 11 to 15 years who completed the COVID RRR mental health measures were included. Data analyses were conducted from June to August 2023. School-based factors (eg, in-person school) and 8 coping behaviors (eg, exercise). The primary outcomes were adolescent-reported positive affect (PA) and perceived stress (PS). Adolescents were stratified by no ACEs, low-to-intermediate ACEs (1-3), and high ACEs (≥4). Linear regressions estimated associations between factors and mental health, adjusting for potential confounders. Unstandardized beta coefficients (B) were compared with equality of coefficients tests. The 4515 adolescents in this study (mean [SD] age, 13.3 [0.88] years; 51% [95% CI, 50% to 53%] female) were racially and ethnically diverse (American Indian/Alaska Native, 2% [95% CI, 2% to 3%]; Asian, 8% [95% CI, 7% to 9%]; Black, 11% [95% CI, 10% to 12%]; Latino or Hispanic, 17% [95% CI, 15% to 18%]; White, 61% [95% CI, 60% to 63%]; other, 1% [95% CI, 0% to 2%]). For youths with high ACEs, caring for one's body (PA B = 4.02 [95% CI, 1.39 to 6.66]; PS B = -0.92 [95% CI, -1.84 to 0.00]), exercising (PA B = 3.19 [95% CI, 0.46 to 5.92]; PS B = -1.41 [95% CI, -2.40 to -0.43]), and engaging in healthy behaviors (PA B = 4.07 [95% CI, 1.28 to 6.84]; PS B = -1.01 [95% CI, -1.98 to -0.05]) were associated with higher PA and lower PS scores. In-person schooling had a greater impact on PA scores for youths with high ACEs (B = 5.55 [95% CI, 2.08 to 9.01]) than youths with low-to-intermediate ACEs (B = 1.27 [95% CI, 0.27 to 2.27]). These findings suggest that in-person schooling and several coping behaviors (caring for one's body, exercising, and engaging in healthy behaviors) were associated with significantly higher PA and lower PS during the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents with high ACEs. Adolescents with high ACEs demonstrated especially greater mental health scores when they reported in-person schooling. Future studies should build on these findings to identify clinical and school-based mental health protective factors for adolescents with high ACE risk.

Socioeconomic Disadvantage among Adolescents: Associations between Having Relatives with Severe Health Conditions, Parental Work Status, and Poor Mental Health

Psychosocial risk factors, such as socioeconomic disadvantage and having close relatives with severe health conditions (RSHCs), may negatively impact an adolescent’s life. This study aimed to investigate the associations between adolescent experiences with RSHCs (no, one or several RSHCs), parental working status (PWS) (both parents working (both PW) or having ≥1 parent not working (≥1 PNW)) and the composite variable of RSCHs/PWS in relation to self-reported poor mental health. In 2020, population-based data on 15–18-year-olds (n = 3509) were collected from schools in Sörmland, Sweden. Relationships between the composite variable of RSCHs/PW and poor mental health were determined through logistic regression analyses in three different models. Odds ratios (ORs) are separately reported for girls and boys. Girls reporting several RSHCs/≥1 PNW displayed an OR of 5.05 (95% CI 2.82–9.04) in comparison with the reference group with no RSCHs/both PW when adjusting for grade and ethnicity. The corresponding OR for boys was 2.26 (95% CI 1.46–3.49). Further adjustments for protective factors for mental health attenuated the associations with poor mental health. In conclusion, adolescents with RSHC experiences in combination with parental unemployment are at increased risk of developing their own poor mental health, making this group particularly vulnerable.

Mental health, coping, and protective factors in mothers of children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Compared to the large body of maternal mental health research for other pediatric disorders, we know far less about the experience of mothers of children with 22q11DS. This study investigates the coping methods, protective factors, and mental health of this population. These findings might lead to better support for 22q11DS maternal mental health. An international sample of 71 mothers (M = 40.5 years) of children with 22q11DS (M = 9.2 years) was recruited and completed an online survey assessing maternal mental health (symptoms of depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, general stress, and alcohol consumption), coping methods, and mental health protective factors (social support, dyadic adjustment, parenting competence). Maternal ratings of child mental health symptoms were also obtained. Mothers' self-report revealed a high percentage who screened positive for elevated levels of general stress (69%), hazardous alcohol consumption (30.9%), traumatic stress (33.8%), anxiety (26.8%), and depression (26.8%). After controlling for demographic variables and child mental health symptoms, maternal self-reported maladaptive coping methods were positively associated with maternal symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and traumatic stress. Reducing maladaptive coping methods may be a promising intervention for improving mental health in mothers of children with 22q11DS.

SOCIAL ISOLATION AND MENTAL HEALTH OF LATIN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: Systematic review

The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review of publications that reported the assessment of the mental health of university students in Latin America specifically during the period of social isolation in the Covid-19 pandemic. The databases used for research were: Lilacs, PubMed, APA PsycInfo and Scielo to collect studies in english, spanish or portuguese. The database consultation took place in May 2022 and the descriptors adopted were: mental health, students and pandemic. The Boolean AND was used to combine the descriptors. Studies with undergraduates in institutions in Latin America were included, involving mental health and having been carried out during the period of social isolation. All publications that were not empirical studies, with other members of the academic community or in languages other than those used in the database consultation were excluded. The selection of eligible articles was carried out by two reviewers who assessed the quality of each study for subsequent data extraction. To synthesize the results, the thematic synthesis narrative approach was used. Were identified 6,150 publications initially, which resulted in 11 studies included after applying the eligibility criteria. The results reveal, with the exception of one study, that the quality of mental health of Latin American university students during the period of social isolation in the Covid-19 pandemic reduced. The main impacts reported involve an increase in levels of anxiety, stress and depression, as well as worsening sleep quality. It was observed that physical activity and pre-stress coping during this period served as protective factors for mental health. On the other hand, factors such as: sedentary lifestyle, economic instability, being female and having had Covid-19 were shown to aggravate the declining of individuals' mental health.

Yearly and Daily Discrimination-Related Stressors and Mexican Youth’s Mental Health and Sleep: Insights From the First Wave of a Three-Wave Family Study

Research is needed to examine discrimination-related stressors and their social and psychological shaping of mental health and sleep outcomes of Latinx youth. The background, design, and methodology of a longitudinal study of Mexican families in Indiana and the initial findings of associations between discrimination-related stressors and youth mental health and sleep outcomes are presented. Initiating wave 1 of a 3-wave (yearly) longitudinal study, investigators surveyed an ethnically homogeneous sample of 344 Mexican-origin adolescents (ages 12-15) and their primary caregivers, assessing risks and protective factors for mental health and sleep outcomes. Youth also completed a one-time 21-day daily diary after wave 1. Self-reported measures of youth mental health, sleep, and discrimination across wave 1 and the daily diary were evaluated to compare the cross-sectional (wave 1) and daily associations between discrimination and youth mental health and sleep outcomes. Of youth, 88.1% reported at least one incident of lifetime discrimination. Almost one-third had elevated depressive symptoms, 44.5% had probable generalized anxiety disorder, and 50.9% had poor sleep quality. Between-youth correlations at wave 1 and in the daily diary were consistent in that perceived racial discrimination was positively correlated with worse mental health and poorer sleep quality. Smaller within-youth correlations were observed in the daily diary, but there was striking variability in the effect of discrimination across youth. The present results illustrate the powerful methods of combining yearly and daily time data to investigate how and for whom discrimination-related stressors lead to adverse outcomes. We worked to ensure that the study questionnaires were prepared in an inclusive way. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented sexual and/or gender groups in science. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group. While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our reference list. Seguimos Avanzando - Latino Youth Coping With Discrimination; https://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT04875208.

107. Title: In the Face of Adversity: Pandemic Mental Health Protective Factors for Adolescents Who Have Experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences

107. Title: In the Face of Adversity: Pandemic Mental Health Protective Factors for Adolescents Who Have Experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences

The relationship between pregnancy stress and mental health of the pregnant women: the bidirectional chain mediation roles of mindfulness and peace of mind.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pregnancy stress and mental health of the pregnant women, employing a positive psychology perspective. Specifically, the study sought to explore how the two positive psychological qualities of mindfulness and peace of mind may serve as potential mediators in the association between pregnancy stress and mental health of the pregnant women. Seven hundreds and thirteen pregnant women seeking care at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were included in this study. The participants completed a self-report demographic questionnaire, as well as several validated scales including the Pregnancy Pressure Scale (PPS), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Peace of Mind Scale (PoMS), and Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ). The Amos 23.0 system was utilized to construct structural equation models. A total of 713 participants had an average age of 29.46 ± 4.81 years and an average gestational age of 24.26 ± 22.66 weeks. Out of the pregnant women, 163 (22.9%) experienced moderate or higher levels of pregnancy stress (PPS > 1), while 212 (29.7%) exhibited mental distress (CHQ > 3). Pregnancy stress exhibited a positive association with mental distress, while displaying negative associations with mindfulness and peace of mind. Mindfulness and peace of mind were negatively associated with mental distress. By employing structural equation modeling, the analysis revealed that mindfulness and peace of mind acted as partial mediators in the relationship between pregnancy stress and mental health. Furthermore, the identified models exhibited bidirectional sequential mediating pathways, suggesting that the pathways of mindfulness ↔ peace of mind mitigated the harmful influence of pregnancy stress on the mental health of pregnant women. This study adds to the current body of knowledge by investigating the relationships among mindfulness, peace of mind, pregnancy stress, and mental health in pregnant women. From a positive psychology framework, it provides valuable understanding of the intricate dynamics between pregnancy stress and protective factors of mental health. Consequently, interventions aimed at bolstering positive psychological qualities in pregnant women should prioritize the cultivation of mindfulness to foster peace of mind, or alternatively, the cultivation of peace of mind to enhance mindfulness, ultimately leading to improved mental health outcomes.

Hope, resilience and subjective happiness among general population of Paraguay in the post COVID-19 pandemic.

Positive mental health includes not only the absence of mental disorders but also the presence of subjective well-being, good coping strategies for life stress, and strategies for adapting to community life. It is well known that the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged mental health in general population worldwide. However, research has not measured protective factors for mental health in the general population after the declared end of pandemic by the World Health Organization. This observational, cross-sectional study surveyed 591 Paraguayan participants aged ⩾18 years, who were recruited through an online survey. Demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status were collected as well as mental health and validated tools for hope, resilience, subjective happiness were administered. Of the participants, 81.6% were women, 54% were married or in a relationship and 90.7% reported an university education. The main source of stress was economic issues (30.3%). A total of 22.7% had been previously diagnosed with a mental disorder, 22.2% had consulted a mental health professional and 10.8% had consumed prescription drugs. 42.6% reported flourishing, 36.2% reported moderate and 21.2% reported languishing mental health. This large survey has shown that most of participants reported a flourishing mental health with high ratings at hope, resilience, and subjective happiness scales. Also, the main sources of stress were economic issues, not consequently related to the pandemic. This may add evidences to the international debate on the long term effects of the global pandemic and probably suggests that recovery processes have been collectively adopted in Paraguay.

Religious Attendance, Childhood Trauma, and Later Life Depressive Symptoms

AbstractBackgroundOlder adults who experienced childhood trauma are at higher risk of developing depression. Depression is linked with structural changes in the brain and alterations in neurotransmitters and inflammation, placing individuals with depression at 2 times as likely to develop dementia than individuals without depression. A growing body of literature supports religion and spirituality as protective factors for mental health, yet few studies have examined the mediating role of religious attendance on the association between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms in later life. Identifying modifiable protective factors to decrease depression and, potentially, dementia is needed to decrease the growing dementia burden.MethodWe analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study in 2006‐2012 to examine the mediating role of religious attendance (in 2010) on the association of childhood trauma (in 2008) with later‐life depressive symptoms (in 2012) among older adults in the U.S. (N = 3,240) aged 60 years and older. A mediation analysis was conducted while controlling for covariates: sex, race, education, age, marital status, body mass index (BMI), and cognition.ResultAged 60‐104 years, participants had a mean age of 72.7 (8.45) years, were 57.9% female, and were 82.9% White. A significant association was found for childhood trauma using 4 self‐report items and self‐reported depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiological Studies‐Depression scale (CES‐D) (β = 0.2124, 95% CI [0.31, 0.1201], p<.001). There was a partial mediating effect of self‐reported religious attendance (high vs. low) between childhood trauma and depressive symptoms (β = 0.017, 95% CI [0.03, 0.003], p<.05) adjusting for sex, race, education, age, marital status, BMI, and cognition.ConclusionReligious attendance plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between childhood trauma and later‐life depressive symptoms in older adults. Clinical trials are needed to further examine the effect of religious attendance on depressive symptoms in older adults with a history of childhood trauma, with the potential to decrease the risk of dementia.

Adolescents’ Experiences of Close Relatives Having Physical Illness, Mental Illness, Addiction/Gambling Disorders, or Death Are Associated with Poor Mental Health and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Adolescents’ lives are negatively influenced by experiences of close relatives having severe health conditions. This study aimed to investigate the associations between adolescents’ experiences of close relatives with severe health conditions (RSHCs) and poor mental health and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Cross-sectional population-based data on 15–18-year-olds (n = 3483) in Sörmland, Sweden, were used to analyse the associations between RSHC experiences, such as physical illness, mental illness, addiction/gambling disorders, or death, and poor mental health and NSSI. Logistic regression models (odds ratios) were generated for having one or multiple types of RSHC experiences in different combinations, adjusting for background factors and protective factors for mental health, and stratifying by gender. Adolescents reporting multiple types of RSHC experiences had significantly increased odds ratios for poor mental health (1.74–3.07) or NSSI (1.83–3.02) compared with peers without such experiences. Adjustments for mental health protective factors attenuated the associations with poor mental health or NSSI. These associations remained significant among girls with multiple types of RSHC experiences, while boys’ vulnerabilities included having a relative who had died or had an addiction/gambling disorder. In conclusion, adolescents with RSHC experiences are at increased risk of poor mental health and NSSI. This vulnerability is most pronounced among girls with multiple RSHC experiences and especially for NSSI.

Risk and protective factors of mental health in children in residential care: A nationwide study from Luxembourg

BackgroundChildren who grow up in residential care are at high risk for mental health problems. Existing studies have focused on negative mental health indicators and risk factors. There has been less emphasis on identifying protective factors, particularly those associated with positive mental health outcomes. ObjectiveThis study explores positive and negative dimensions of mental health and their links to risk and protective factors in children who have experienced early adversity and trauma and have been placed in residential care. Participants and settingsChildren aged 11 to 18 (N = 264) were recruited from residential care homes in Luxembourg, a small, high-income European country. MethodsThe children completed self-report questionnaires on mental health, perceived stress, school pressure, and participation. Residential care workers provided information on demographic factors, developmental and care history, and pre-care experiences of early adversity and trauma. ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis indicated that subjective well-being, internalising problems, and externalising problems are separate yet interconnected components of mental health. Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes models showed that individual, contextual, and psychosocial predictors contribute differentially to positive and negative mental health outcomes. ConclusionsUsing a national sample of children in residential care in Luxembourg, this research indicates that subjective well-being, internalising problems, and externalising problems are distinct but related aspects of mental health. ‘Child participation’ and ‘school pressure’ displayed strong links with positive mental health outcomes and may serve as a potential path for improving public health interventions for children in care.

10.G. Workshop: Investigating risk and protective factors for youth mental health using population-based datasets

Abstract Mental health problems are increasing among young people both in Ireland and worldwide and the causes of this increase are not known. This workshop will focus on large population based datasets which provide recent and comprehensive information on the mental health of young people, including the Growing Up in Ireland study, the Planet Youth study and the ALSPAC cohort. We will present recent data on prevalence of mental health disorders among adolescents and we will present data on possible risk factors and protective factors for mental health problems in youth. We will focus on the possible role played by the COVID pandemic in this observed increase. We will also present data relating to substance use including cannabis use and diet . We will explore trajectories of psychopathology between childhood and adolescence and incidence and persistence of psychotic experiences in youth. This workshop will be a chance to bring together researchers and clinicians working in this important area to discuss the issue of youth mental health which will have importance not just for Ireland but for other countries worldwide. Key messages • An increase in mental health problems among young people has been observed over recent years but the causes for this increase are not known. • There is an urgent need to identify risk and protective factors for mental health problems among youth and how these are changing over time.

Distress among healthcare professionals during the first two years of COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic increased existing psychosocial risk factors among healthcare professionals (HCPs). Integrated into a wider project, the main objective of this study was to characterize Portuguese HCPs mental health (MH), estimate the percentage of symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and burnout, and identify risk and protective factors. Methods A cross-sectional online survey and a longitudinal assessment were conducted in 2020 (T0) and 2021 (T1). Sociodemographic and occupational variables, as well as protection behaviors and pandemic-context data were collected from a large non-probabilistic sample of HCPs in Portugal. MH outcomes were assessed using instruments with sound psychometric properties. Risk and protective factors were evaluated through simple and multiple logistic regression models. Results A total of 2027 HCPs participated in the survey in T0; 1843 in T1. Despite the percentage of moderate to severe symptoms had decreased from T0 to T1: 26.1% and 23.3% for anxiety (T0 and T1, respectively; p = 0.028), 25.3% and 23.7% for depression, 22.7% and 19.1% for PTSD (p = 0.003), and 29.8% to 29.5% for burnout, a considerable proportion of HCPs reported symptoms of distress in both years. Being a woman, working in a COVID-19-treatment frontline position and the perception of work-life imbalance increased the odds of distress (in both T0 and T1), whilst high resilience, good social/family support, and hobbies/lifestyle maintenance were found to be MH protective factors. Conclusions The longitudinal approach of our study allowed following-up changes in HCPs mental health and show that performing as an HCP during the pandemic may result in long-term effects on MH. Our results also provide evidence to support interventions targeting gender and professional sub-groups. Further studies are needed to understand the potential long-lasting psychological burden related to COVID-19 among HCPs. Key messages • Our findings are crucial to understand the psychological burden of Portuguese HCPs during the pandemic and to advocate the need of tailored interventions targeting gender and professional sub-groups. • Protecting HCPs mental health by mitigating risks factors and reducing the possibility of long-lasting psychiatric morbidity is paramount to ensure the provision of sustainable healthcare services.

Psychometric Properties of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-23) in the Cuban Context

Abstract: Emotional intelligence (EI) is important for mental health and successful human interaction. We aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale in the Cuban population. In Study 1 ( N = 625), the scale had high internal consistency and the expected three-factor structure. We had to remove one item, as it was negatively correlated with the rest of the items on the scale—resulting in the Cuban TMMS-23. In Study 2 (total N = 240), we tested the scale’s nomological validity: We found that EI had medium-sized positive correlations with extraversion and emotional stability. Negative associations were found between EI and negative affective states. Furthermore, EI was positively correlated with resilience, well-being, optimism, and protective factors for mental health. Thus, the TMMS-23 can be recommended for use in the Cuban context.

Psychological Reactions during and after a Lockdown: Self-Efficacy as a Protective Factor of Mental Health.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of home confinement/social isolation (i.e., lockdown), imposed to reduce large-scale spread of a disease in the population, on the mental health of individuals. Through an online survey during the lockdown (DL) related to COVID-19 (1085 respondents, 627 females, agerange: 18-82) (Italy, 23 April-2 May 2020), we revealed that situational factors, i.e., the presence of children at home and female gender, and psychological factors, i.e., a greater sense of isolation, lower perception of safety outside the home and higher trait anxiety, predicted higher levels of state anxiety (R2 = 0.58). The same factors, but with young age instead of the presence of children, predicted higher levels of perceived stress (R2 = 0.63). Then, these data were compared with those collected after the lockdown (AL) (174 respondents, 128 females, agerange: 19-78) (Italy, 1 July-31 October 2021). The results showed that along with a reduced sense of isolation (DL = 2.90 vs. AL = 2.10) and an increased perception of safety outside the home (DL = 2.63 vs. AL = 3.05), a reduction in state anxiety (DL = 45.76 vs. AL= 40.88) and stress appeared (DL = 18.84 vs. AL = 17.63). However, the situation was better for men than for women. Perceived self-efficacy emerged as a protective factor for mental health (R2range: 0.03-0.27). The results are discussed in light of the evidence on the effects of lockdown on individuals worldwide. These results may be used to make more educated decisions on targeted help for individuals who may be most adversely affected by the adoption of lockdowns in the future.

Psychoeducational program for the appropriate use of social networks in Cuban university students

This article presents the basis of a psychoeducational program that promotes Cuban university students' responsible use of social networks. A mixed paradigm was used, and a retrospective ex-post-facto design and a descriptive scope were assumed. 30 university students participated in the design of the proposal. Instruments were used to collect the data, such as the questionnaire to evaluate protective factors of mental health in university students, the social network addiction questionnaire, and the survey to explore patterns of use of social networks. Descriptive and frequency analysis was used to analyze the data. Reviewing the studies conducted in the Cuban university context and the diagnosis developed in the selected sample allowed us to verify that students present difficulties developing social skills. However, a statistically significant relationship between the protective factors of mental health explored and the addictive indicators regarding the use of social networks is not confirmed from a statistical point of view. The triangulation of the information obtained allowed the design of a psychoeducational intervention to promote the appropriate use of social networks, consisting of four sessions based on the health belief model.