Revista Interamericana de Psicología/Interamerican Journal of Psychology

Cultural Adaptation of Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation Therapy for Spanish-speaking Caribbean Veterans at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System: A preliminary study of feasibility and acceptability in a Primary Care setting

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has endorsed the Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) therapy as an effective intervention for reducing PTSD symptoms, enhancing self-regulation, and improving interpersonal efficacy. However, Spanish-speaking veterans at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System lacked access to STAIR manuals in their preferred language. This study addressed this gap by translating and culturally adapting the STAIR therapy participant manual using the Ecological Validity Model (EVM). The materials were then tested in a randomized intervention with six Caribbean Spanish-speaking male veterans, aged 23-62, diagnosed with PTSD who received mental health services at the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) level of care. Nonparametric tests were used to evaluate symptom progression, and content analysis was conducted on semi-structured interviews. There were no statistically significant changes in PTSD, emotion regulation, or interpersonal problems within the groups. However, participants in the intervention group reported clinically significant changes regarding PTSD symptoms. Interviews with therapists and STAIR participants highlighted improvements in social engagement and interpersonal boundaries. The intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable at PC-MHI. The culturally adapted Spanish version of the STAIR manual proved to be effective, suggesting that STAIR may be a viable approach for reducing PTSD symptoms and improving interpersonal and self-regulation strategies among Spanish-speaking veterans in primary care settings. A randomized control trial is recommended to further explore its efficacy.

Self-Control Moralization: The Role of Moral Identity and Moral Foundations in Young Adults

Dayanne Orellana, Eric Roth — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Despite the morality and self-control relationship having been studied in the past, there is still not enough information about how different moral variables, and their possible interaction, affect self-control levels; especially when referring to young adulthood, a critical period for development of self-control and morality. Within the framework of self-control moralization, the current study aimed to explore whether self-control scores were affected by levels of moral identity and binding-individualizing foundations through early adulthood. Data were obtained by an online survey from a non-probabilistic sample (n=626) of young adults from Bolivia. Having found significant correlations between variables, hypotheses were tested employing t-tests and an ANCOVA, with age as a covariate. Findings showed that binding foundations, moral identity, age and the interaction between moral identity and both types of moral foundations had a significant effect on self-control scores and marginal means, with small to moderate effect sizes. Finally, finding’s implications within the theoretical framework of self-control moralization are discussed.

Environmental Psychology in Latin America

Rodolfo Estaban Mardones, Héctor Berroeta — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Environmental psychology is a field focused on understanding the relationships between individuals and the socio-physical environment. It has seen extensive development in the United States and Europe, with notable contributions from authors, institutions, and journals in the global north, leaving a gap in the development of environmental psychology in the global south. Consequently, our goal is to analyze the scientific production of Latin American environmental psychology. To achieve this, we examine a sample of scientific production from Latin America in publications indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus. To characterize the literature, we analyze socio-bibliometric aspects and conduct a thematic analysis of its content. Findings indicate that author collaboration is characterized by small and regionally unassociated groups. The trends in literature published on the Web of Science and Scopus reveal a predominantly traditional Environmental Psychology, both in methodologies and addressed themes. The discussion emphasizes the invisibility of relevant research and interventions to analyze the historically situated production of people and the socio-physical environment, as well as mechanisms maintaining social order.

Secondary Victimization of Women Who Resume an Abusive Relationship

Jéssica Oliveira, Cícero Roberto Pereira — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Many studies have been conducted so as to understand what causes women to remain in abusive relationships and the barriers encountered in the process of leaving. We aimed to investigate the secondary victimization behaviors of women who resume an abusive relationship. Participants were 261 people aged between 18 and 72 years (M = 32.06; SD = 9.96), mostly female (83.9%). Participants were asked to read a vignette that described the relationship between John and Mary. However, there were three relationship outcomes based on which we manipulated information about the victim's behavior. The participants answered the questionnaire containing the Secondary Victimization Scale of Women Victims of Marital Violence (SVS), as well as socio-demographic information. The results found indicate that the participants perceived the victim's suffering more, devalue her and avoid her when she resumed the relationship. We realized that men blamed and devalued the victim more than women. Men also perceived less the victim’s suffering than women. Thus, our study presented empirical results that, when we refer to women victims of IPV, they are more victimized when they leave and resume the abusive relationship, which is described as the most frequent behavior of women.

Bibliometric analysis of Latin American scientific journals of Psychology through the Scimago portal

Nicolás Alejandro Vizioli — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The preference for English as the language of scientific publications has resulted in a greater number of citations and a higher level of esteem for English-language scientific journals compared to those published in other languages. Consequently, researchers are frequently compelled to select a language other than their native tongue in which to disseminate their findings. This study sought to examine the extent and quality of coverage of Latin American psychology journals. A bibliometric analysis of scientific journals was conducted via the Scimago portal, with consideration given to the membership quartile based on the SJR indicator. It was determined that publications from Latin America account for 3.52% of the total coverage on Scopus (n=1336). The distribution of journals across the quartiles is as follows: 80.85% are located in quartile 4, while 19.15% are in quartile 3. A total of 85.11% of Latin American journals are open access. In the context of Latin America, Brazil is the country that exhibits the highest level of coverage and performance. In general, the results indicate that, although the coverage is less extensive than in other regions, the majority of Latin American publications are open access, facilitating rapid access to information.

Cultural patterns and way of learning in mapuche children from La Araucanía

Paula Alonqueo, Ana María Muñoz, Carolina Hidalgo-Standen — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

This paper presents the main results of research conducted with rural Mapuche children from La Araucanía, Chile, at the Cognition and Culture Laboratory, Kimkantun. The objective of this work was to describe cultural practices that occur in the participants' homes and at school. A mixed multilevel design was used. The research team made visits to the children's families and to the school, which were recorded in field notes and videos. A textual and conceptual analysis of the contexts in which the Mapuche children deployed their patterns of cultural interaction was carried out. The videos were analyzed using a micro- ethnography technique. In addition, to assess third-party attention, the children were invited to build a toy. The results show that the children display their own cultural patterns of interaction that are expressed through silence, attention to others, and the primacy of collaboration. These behaviors are consistent with the Mapuche Kimeltuwün model of learning, and constitute a powerful resource for promoting the development of Mapuche children.

Self-efficacy and Quality of Working Life: the mediating role of Self-esteem

Rita Coelho, Vítor Costa, Graça Esgalhado — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Work-related quality of life (WRQoL) is an important variable to study nowadays, given its impact on workers' behavior and well-being. Seeking to understand its antecedents, this paper presents empirical research with the aim of analyzing the relationships between occupational self-efficacy, self-esteem and WRQoL. Based on the literature review, a theoretical model is presented, considering self-esteem as a mediating variable between occupational self-efficacy and WRQoL. Participants were 607 workers, with an average age of 37.0 years. The results showed that occupational self-efficacy and self-esteem have a significant positive relationship with WRQoL. It was also found that self-efficacy has an indirect effect on WRQoL, mediated by self-esteem. Conclusions point out to the importance of the development of personal resources, to promote positive personal and organizational outcomes, such as job satisfaction and general well-being, with implications for psychological practice and health promotion in an occupational context.

Research on the socialization of emotions in Latin American indigenous communities: challenges and opportunities

Deira Jiménez-Balam — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In psychological research on emotion socialization, a prevailing Eurocentric and Western perspective persists, conceptualizing emotions as individual and mental experiences, divorced from their relational and cultural nature. Latin America boasts significant cultural diversity; however, psychological studies in this field remain scarce. This article analyzes research on emotion socialization within Latin American indigenous communities. Reflections commence with a review of the limited research related to emotion socialization. Specifically, studies among the Maya of Mexico are emphasized to illustrate how the conception and socialization of emotions differ from the Eurocentric view. The necessity of an epistemic shift in studying emotions and their socialization is argued, both theoretically and methodologically. Additionally, emerging challenges and opportunities in studying emotions within Latin American indigenous communities are highlighted. Delving deeper into this field could contribute to a global understanding of emotional diversity across cultures and foster a Latin American psychology connected to communities, guiding the development of culturally relevant policies and interventions.

Vulnerability and Adaptive Skills of older People in the Face of Climate Change: a Systematic Review

Camila Paz Navarrete-Valladares, Jose Sandoval — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Background: The sustained increase in population aging, under the ongoing climate change, configure new scenarios of social and health risks for the older adult population. However, adaptive capacities can mitigate the impact of structural vulnerabilities through the use of individual and collective coping strategies. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of studies that have reported the relationship between adaptive capacity and vulnerability of older people in the face of climate change. Method: The review followed the guidelines of the PRISMA statement, consulting the Web of Science, Scopus and Scielo databases. In total, 50 empirical studies, in Spanish and English, published between 2010 and 2021, that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Results: The predominance of social, individual and community factors associated with vulnerability to climate change was identified, being the most studied morbidity and economic constraints. Regarding coping strategies, behavioral and cultural strategies were predominant. Conclusions: The importance of (re)understanding agency capacity and active aging is highlighted in order to address the various risks associated with climate change.

Collateral Consequences on Children of Victims of Workplace Psychological Bullying (Mobbing): Traces in the Subjective and Family Dimension

Patricio Godoy Ponce, Yael Guadalupe Calvo, Gabriela Melina Luciano — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Research on mobbing or psychological harassment at work, allows us to understand that the impact of this psychosocial phenomenon exceeds the workplace and that the consequences on the health and well-being of workers have effects on family life and its dynamics.

The article exposes the consequences on children, according to the experience of workers who suffered psychological harassment at work. The research is qualitative, descriptive-interpretative. Fifteen in-depth interviews were carried out, under informed consent, and the emerging categories were codified and analyzed, taking the grounded theory as a reference.

Some conclusions of this case study refer to the fact that psychological harassment transcends the workplace to delve into family dynamics, and that a decrease in the registration of the needs of others, the emotional overflow or the reproduction of the violence experienced by the victims, they become questions by the children to adult social roles, the manifestation of symptoms and some form of representation of the violence suffered by their parents. The quality of the ties built in the historicity of the family group, allows the victims of psychological harassment to transit and leave the state of vulnerability.

Mental Health and Meditation in a Post-Pandemic Perú: A Normative Study of Upper Primary School Children

Lee Fergusson, Javier Ortiz Cabrejos, Anna Bonshek — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In a post-pandemic Perú, problems associated with the mental health of children have been highlighted and effective methods of intervention have been discussed. This study sought to examine: 1) current levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in Perúvian school children; 2) how these levels compare to other children in Latin America and elsewhere; 3) whether these levels are different when covaried for school, age, gender, and grade level; and 4) whether there are any indications that depression, anxiety, or stress are lower when Perúvian school children practice Transcendental Meditation.

For a group of 809 children from two schools using the DASS-21, findings indicate depression M = 6.79, anxiety M = 6.31, and stress M = 7.37. These data indicate somewhat elevated levels when compared to other pre-pandemic adolescents in Australia, Chile, China, and Malaysia, but were lower when compared to a group of similar-aged children at another school in China. Preliminary results also suggest lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress can be observed in children who practice Transcendental Meditation as part of the school curriculum. School, age, gender, and grade level did not predict these differences, although girls had higher levels than boys, a finding consistent with other research.

Migration Processes in Indigenous Women Post Internal Armed Conflict in Peru

Tesania Velázquez, Patricia Ruiz Bravo — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

This paper presents an analysis of the migratory movements of indigenous women in the community of Sacsamarca, Ayacucho, Peru. Based on the qualitative method, life histories and field ethnography were used as sources of data collection. The results indicate that the migration of indigenous women is an Andean community practice, made possible by a network of paisanaje that acts as a facilitating factor. In addition, the findings show that the Internal Armed Conflict (CAI) is a breaking point in the dynamics of the migration processes of Andean communities in Peru and, in the case of these women, it helps to understand the two-way process, since Sacsamarca is a community whose characteristics allow them to return. It is concluded that it is a dynamic process of coming and going, which questions the territorial - geographical - limits of the community and the unidirectional conception of migration.

Community Psychology in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic literature review

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Latin American Community Psychology is understood from its direct relation with the social, political and economic formation of the continent. In this sense, the present study aimed at conducting a systematic review of the academic production on Community Psychology in Latin America and the Caribbean. The search for the descriptors "Community Psychology"; "Community Social Psychology"; "Psicologia Comunitária" and "Psicologia Social Comunitária" was made in the databases BVS, PubMed, PsycNET, Lilacs, Pepsic, IndexPsicPeriod and Scielo, in English, Spanish and Portuguese, from 2012 to 2021. The final sample brings together 72 studies which were classified according to the categories: descriptive data; type of publication; populations and communities; territories; diversity of perspectives of action; and research methods and techniques. The results show that there is an approximation of Community Psychology with communities and populations marked by situations of inequality and oppression, and also a theoretical and methodological plurality in the articles analyzed. It was also observed that there is not much approximation with rural territories in comparison to urban territories, and the absence of articles that make a specific gender approach. Finally, the importance of a greater number of studies based on participatory research perspectives is highlighted.