Abstract: BACKGROUND: Older people are among the segments of the population for which the digital divide is most persistent and are considered to be at risk of losing out on the potential benefits that the information society can provide to their quality of life. Little attention has been paid, however, to relationships between Internet use and actual indicators of health among older people. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between Internet use and self-rated health among older people and determine whether this association holds independently of socioeconomic position. METHODS: Data were from a survey about the digital divide and quality of life among older people in Spain that was conducted in 2008. The final sample consisted of 709 individuals and was representative of the Spanish adult population in terms of Internet use and sex across two age groups (55-64 and 65-74 years). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between Internet use and self-rated health. RESULTS: Results initially showed a significant relationship between Internet use and poor self-rated health (Model 1, OR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.16-0.67, P = .002), suggesting that Internet users have better self-rated health than nonusers. This effect remained significant when other sociodemographic variables were entered into the equation (Model 2, OR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.83, P = .01; Model 3, OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.19-0.87, P = .02). However, the significant relationship between Internet use and self-rated health disappeared once social class was considered (Model 4, OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.27-1.37, P = .23). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the use of the Internet is not a significant determinant of health among older people once the socioeconomic position of individuals is taken into account.
Abstract: This paper explored public willingness to act when exposed to cases of intimate partner violence against women, by analyzing the influence of perceived severity and personal responsibility on two types of responses: mediating and reporting to the police. Results (N = 419) yielded main effects of personal responsibility for both types of responses. No main effects of perceived severity were found. A significant interaction between perceived severity and personal responsibility was found only for reporting responses. Results are discussed in light of the helping behavior research tradition. Implications for public education and advocacy programs are also considered.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to establish which parenting style is associated with optimum youth outcomes among adolescents of Spanish families. A sample of 1,416 teenagers from 12 to 17 years of age, of whom 57.2% were females, reported on their parents' child-rearing practices. The teenagers' parents were classified into one of four groups (authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, or neglectful). The adolescents were then contrasted on four different outcomes: (1) self-esteem (academic, social, emotional, family and physical); (2) psychosocial maladjustment (hostility/aggression, negative self-esteem, negative self-adequacy, emotional irresponsiveness, emotional instability, and negative worldview); (3) personal competence (social competence, grade point average, and number of failing grades); and (4) problem behaviors (school misconduct, delinquency, and drug use). Results showed that both the indulgent and authoritative parenting styles were associated with better outcomes than authoritarian and neglectful parenting. Overall, our results supported the idea that in Spain the optimum style of parenting is the indulgent one, as adolescents' scores in the four sets of youth outcomes were equal or better than the authoritative style of parenting.
Abstract: Men arrested and condemned for intimate partner violence assaults tend to use external attributions to justify their behavior and tend to minimize the severity of their violent acts. Responsibility assumption is one of the main goals in many batterer programs because it could facilitate behavioral changes and reduce the dropout rate. In the current study, first we aim to create two scales to assess attribution of responsibility and minimization of incidents of partner violence, and second, to classify batterers based on their levels of minimization and their attributions of responsibility. Participants were 119 male batterers attending to the first assessment session of a court mandated batterer intervention program in the community. The analyses showed appropriate psychometric characteristics for both scales. The scores obtained allowed us to identify two types of participants in the study.
Abstract: The influence of perceived severity and sense of personal responsibility of police officers on their level of involvement in cases of intimate partner violence against women is analyzed. Three levels of police involvement are considered: low, medium, and high. The sample consists of 143 Spanish police officers. A 2 x 2 x 3 factorial design is conducted to test hypotheses. Effects of perceived severity and personal responsibility are found only at the highest level of police involvement. For low and medium levels of involvement, no differences in perceived severity and personal responsibility of police officers are found
Abstract: Domestic violence against women is an important public health problem that cannot be ignored. Health professionals need to take part in the prevention, detection and treatment processes, acting in a coordinate way with other professionals and institutions. This paper analyzes the consequences of domestic violence against women, and underscores the fact that health professionals are part of the social circle surrounding the victims, playing an important role in its detection and prevention. Several response strategies from the health services are examined and, finally, the paper considers screening as a mechanism for early detection of domestic violence, paying special attention to the important controversies that surround this issue.
Abstract: Multiple victimization in adolescence is an issue that has received little research attention. Furthermore, adolescents are particularly vulnerable to victimization in different contexts. The aim of this study is to analyze correlates of multiple victimization in three contexts (home, school, and street). The following forms of victimization were considered: stealing, hitting, insulting, threatening, blackmailing, and weapon intimidation. Multiple victimization correlates explored were: sex, age, public/private school, socioeconomic status, quality of family relationships, and antisocial behavior. A probabilistic sample of 1,908 adolescents (ages 13 to 18) was used. Multilevel analyses were conducted to separate correlates at the individual level from those operating at the contextual level. Results show that gender, quality of family relationships, and deviant behavior were related to multiple victimization in adolescence.
Abstract: This study analyzes correlates of the acceptability of physical punishment of children in Europe. The design was a three-level ordinal logistic regression of 10,812 people nested within 208 localities (cities), nested within 14 countries of the European Union. Results showed that higher levels of acceptability were reported by men, the older, the less educated, and those who perceived that violence against children was less frequent in their own country. At the country level, the existence of laws prohibiting physical punishment of children as well as a lower number of child maltreatment deaths were significantly associated with lower levels of acceptability of physical punishment of children. Findings suggest that education efforts at the individual and population level are needed.
Abstract: The relationship between perceived paternal and maternal acceptance and children's adjustment was analyzed. The sample consisted of 234 children and 234 parental figures (mother or primary female caregiver, and father or primary male caregiver) living in two-parent nuclear families in Colombia. The children's age range was 7 to 13 (M = 9.7). Children completed the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (Child PARQ mother and father versions; Rohner, 1990), and the Personality Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ; Rohner, 1990). Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach and Edelbrock, 1983). The analyses revealed that perceived paternal and maternal acceptance were both related to self-reported children's psychological adjustment. Perceived acceptance from mothers, but not from fathers, was directly related to children's behavioral problems as reported by parents. Results suggested that the effect of perceived paternal acceptance on children's behavioral problems is indirect, and that maternal acceptance mediates the effects of paternal acceptance
Abstract: This study aims to explore the relationship between perceived neighborhood social disorder and attitudes toward reporting domestic violence against women. Data from a national representative sample (N = 14,994) of Spaniards 18 years old and older were used. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that perceived neighborhood social disorder is negatively associated with attitudes toward reporting domestic violence against women. These results take into account the potential confounding effects of gender, age, socioeconomic status, perceived frequency of domestic violence against women, and size of city on reporting attitudes. Findings support the idea that to reduce and prevent domestic violence against women, it is also important to address those conditions leading to mistrust between people and diminished social control such as concentrated disadvantage and disorder.
Abstract: Social support from intimate and confiding relationships has received a great deal of attention; however, the study of the community as a relevant source of support has been comparatively lacking. In this article, we present a multidimensional measure of community support (Perceived Community Support Questionnaire, PCSQ). Through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on data from three samples of adult population (two-wave panel: sample 1, N = 1009 and sample 2, N = 780; and an independent sample 3, N = 440), results show that community integration, community participation, and use of community organizations are reliable indicators Of the underlying construct of perceived community support. Also, community support is associated with a reduction of depressive symptoms after 6 months, once autoregression is controlled for (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Abstract: Depression is a mental health condition with a high prevalence in the population, low rates of detection in the health system, and a significant influence in the quality of life of individuals, affecting their family and social contexts. Because of this, research focusing on the development of instruments to measure depression has been an active area of research with a growing development in the Latin American context. In this paper, we present a brief version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CESD-20), and analyze its psychometric properties, factorial structure, and construct validity in a sample of Spanish adult population. Our aim is to provide researchers and professionals of Spanish-speaking countries with an instrument that allows to obtain relevant information about the mental health of individuals in a reliable and efficient way. The CESD-20 was originally designed to evaluate the severity of depressive symptomatology in adult population and has shown excellent properties among both adult and adolescent populations. The CESD evaluates depressed mood, positive affect, somatic and retarded activity and negative perception of interpersonal relationships during the last week. There is extensive literature about the factorial structure of the original instrument. In this sense, there is a general agreement among researches about the usefulness of using a summed up score of the 20 items to reflect depressive symptomatology. This global score is used as an indicator of the individual risk of developing clinic depression rather than to classify depressed individuals. The Spanish version of the original CESD-20 has been consistently validated in different populations, but so far a brief version in this language has not been avaliable to researchers. In this study we explore the internal consistency and factorial structure of a 7-item version (CESD-7), as well as its construct validity. To analyze the construct validity of the CESD-7 we explore the relationships of the scale scores with two variables of the physiological and social context, respectively. On the one hand, we explore the relationship between health perceptions and both the original and brief versions of the CESD. On the other hand, we analyze the relationship between social integration and the two versions of the CESD. There is extensive empirical evidence about the relationship of depression with physical health and social integration. In this sense, there is a general agreement as to the association between poor health conditions and higher levels of depression over time. Likewise, the levels of social integration have been traditionally regarded as antecedents of depression. Therefore, we expect that both the original and brief versions of the CESD would be negatively associated with physical health and social integration. Moreover, the statistical relationships among these constructs would not be different when analyzed with the original or brief versions of the CESD. This would indicate that the brief version might be used as a substitute of the long one. Method Participants For this study we used data from a two-wave panel design with repeated measures in a community sample of Spanish adult population. In the first panel, 1051 participants of both sexes with ages ranging from 18 to 80 years completed the questionnaires. Participants in this panel were selected from a cross-section of representative neighbourhoods from a one million metropolitan area (Valencia, Spain). Participants completed questionnaires refering to their mental health, physical health, and social integration. Age, sex, educational level, and household income of participants were also coded. After six months, almost 75% (N = 740) of the respondents completed the same questionnaires in the second panel. Attrition analyses between respondents and drop-outs showed nonsignificant differences in socio-demographic variables. A 54% of the respondents were women. The mean age was 39 years. Average educational level was high school (full-time education until 18 years) and average household income was 21500 euros (26000 US dollars, approximately). Instruments Original version of the CESD (CESD-20). The original Spanish version of the CESD-20 used in this paper was adapted by the authors in previous works. Previous research with the CESD-20 scores of the translated version showed a high degree of internal consistency and construct validity. Brief version of the CESD (CESD-7). Based on the available literature, we selected seven items that showed the highest validity to classify cases of depression. Items for the revised measure included dysphoric mood (items 3, 6, and 18), motivation (item 7), concentration (item 5), loss of pleasure (item 16), and poor sleep (item 11). As indicated above, we also measured health perceptions and social integration to further analyze the construct validity of this brief scale. Two instruments were selected: Health Perception. We used the General Health Perception Questionaire developed by Davies and Ware to obtain information about the health status as appraised by the individual. The GHPQ includes 29 items with five category responses ranging from totally disagree to totally agree (e. g., "My health condition is excellent") that provides a global score with higher scores indicating better health perceptions. Social Integration. To measure social integration we used the Social Integration in the Community Scale. This is a five-item scale that measures the sense of belonging and/or identification to a community or neighbourhood (e.g., "I feel identified with my community"). A higher score represents a higher level of social integration. Results Results showed that the CESD-7 can be described as undidimensional and that this one-factor structure remains mostly invariant after six months. Internal consistency was adequate (alpha's >= .82) in both panels. As for the validity of the brief version, we estimated several regression models for both the CESD-20 and CESD-7 as dependent variables. Predictors in these equations were: previous levels of depression, socio-demographic variables, physical health and social integration. Results showed a moderate relationship between measures of depression across time (CESD-20, beta = 0.12, p < .001; CESD-7, beta = 0.13, p < .001), and also that the CESD-20 and CESD-7 scores in panel two were significantly associated with sex, social integration, and physical health almost with the same strength for both versions. Also, non-significant associations were found for age, educational level, and household income for both versions. These results suggested that using the CESD-7 instead of the CESD-20 did not substantially change the results of linear regression models. Discussion The results of this study indicate that the brief version of the CESD (CESD-7) has an adequate reliability and validity and that this brief measure is virtually equivalent to the original version (CESD-20) when used as a dependent variable in several linear regression models. Thus, both the original and brief versions scores were negatively and significantly associated with previous levels of good health conditions (perceived health) and social integration even after controlling for previous levels of depression in panel 1. There is extensive research showing that women report more depressive symptomatology than men. Also, physical health has been related with depression. Regarding social integration, there is also a vast array of empirical evidence relating it to the mental health of the individual. In our study, we found these expected associations both for the original CESD-20 and the brief version (CESD-7). According to the results obtained in this study, we encourage researchers to use this brief measure of depression when survey space is limited or a fast and reliable measure of depression is needed.
Abstract: Drawing from attitude-behavior research tradition, this study used a national probabilistic sample of the Spanish adult population (N = 2,432) to test hypotheses regarding correlates of public attitudes toward reporting partner violence against women, and the relationship between attitudes toward reporting and actual reporting behavior. Results show the importance of several correlates of public attitudes toward reporting. Also, our results have suggested a potential disconnect between attitudes and behavior because failure to intervene appears to be a common response of those aware of incidents of partner violence against women.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the relationship between perceived neighborhood social disorder and attitudes toward reporting child physical abuse. METHOD: Data from a national probabilistic sample (N=9,759) were used. Responses about the perception of neighborhood social disorder, perceived frequency of child physical abuse in Spanish families, and willingness to report a case of child physical abuse to the police were collected through face-to-face interviews in respondents' homes. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that perceived neighborhood social disorder was negatively related to residents' attitudes toward reporting child physical abuse. These results take into account the potential confounding effects of gender, age, socio-economic status, educational level, size of city, and perceived frequency of child physical abuse on reporting attitudes. CONCLUSION: Results illustrate the important role that community characteristics may play in processes relevant to the prevention of child maltreatment such as residents' attitudes towards reporting child physical abuse, and suggest that especially disadvantaged communities characterized by high levels of social disorder need to be specifically targeted if the aim is to increase the capacity to prevent child maltreatment in the community.
Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVE: The acceptability of domestic violence against women (DVAW) plays an important part in shaping the social environment in which the victims are embedded, which in turn may contribute either to perpetuate or to reduce the levels of DVAW in our societies. This study analyses correlates of the acceptability of DVAW in the European Union (EU). DESIGN: Three level ordinal logistic regression of 13 457 people nested within 212 localities (cities), nested within 15 countries of the EU. Sampling is multistage with random probability. All interviews were face to face in people's homes. The outcome variable was acceptability of DVAW. Multiple correlates at the individual, locality, and country level were analysed. SETTING: European Union, 1999. PARTICIPANTS: National data were used of residents 15 years old and above of all member states in 1999 (n = 13 457). Average response rate was 47%, although it varied across countries (23%-73%). MAIN RESULTS: Higher levels of acceptability were reported by those who perceived DVAW as less severe and less frequent. Acceptability is higher among men who know a perpetrator and lower among men who know a victim. Victim blaming attitude is associated with higher levels of acceptability. In countries with higher gender empowerment measure the difference in acceptability among those who blame and those who do not blame the victim is greater. CONCLUSIONS: There are still widespread attitudes in the EU such as victim blaming that condone DVAW, contributing to a climate of social acceptability of DVAW. Further efforts to reduce the acceptability of DVAW are still needed.
Abstract: This paper presents results from three studies. In Study 1, we analyze the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Community Support Questionnaire. In Study 2, we examine the relations among community support and several indicators of psychological adjustment. In Study 3, we compare levels of community support across two types of residential areas: low and high risk residential areas. Results confirm both that perception of community support is associated with psychological adjustment and that community support also varies across different types of residential areas. We discuss the results implications for the analysis of community support both at individual and community level.
Abstract: Regression analyses from a nationally representative sample of 10,235 adult Spaniards, provided in 1995 from the Spanish Demands of Security and Victimization Survey, showed a small and positive relationship between high neighbourhood social disorder and perceived frequency of domestic violence against women in Spanish families, after controlling for sociodemographic variables and size of city. Among sociodemographic variables, sex had the strongest association with neighbourhood social disorder, being more than twice as large as neighbourhood social disorder.
Abstract: This article aims to explore the effects of personal, interpersonal, and situational variables on social integration in the community. Structural equation analyses from two-wave panel data (N = 536) of adult participants living in an urban area showed that personal determinants (perceived stress and depressive mood), and situational determinants (undesirable life events) were statistically related to a decrease in social integration in the community. Interpersonal determinants (emotional, guidance, and instrumental support) were positively associated with an increase in social integration in the community. Implications of these and other findings are discussed. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.
Abstract: This article aims to examine determinants of social integration in the community among college students. Two-wave panel data from an undergraduate student sample (N = 310) was used to explore the effects of multiple sets of variables (personal, interpersonal, and situational) on social integration in the community. Structural equation analysis showed that personal (self-esteem and perceived stress) and situational (undesirablee life events) variables made significant contributions to changes to social integration in the community. Implications of these and other findings are discussed. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine: (1) the differences between Spanish and Colombian cultures in relation to community social support variables, and (2) the relationships between community social support variables and child maltreatment in both cultures. METHOD: The study was based on 670 nonabusive families and 166 abusive families. The parents were asked to complete the Community Social Support Questionnaire. This instrument measures community social support in terms of Community Integration and Satisfaction, membership in voluntary organizations and community participation, and use of Community Resources of Social Support. RESULTS: Differences between both cultures were found in the pattern of community social support for the nonabusive groups. However, the relationships between community social support and child maltreatment were similar cross-culturally. Our results indicate that in both cultures abusive parents show lower levels of community integration, participation in community social activities and use of formal and informal organizations than the parents that provide adequate care. CONCLUSIONS: The results largely support the literature that has repeatedly reported the link between social isolation and child maltreatment and they confirm this relation within two cultural contexts, Colombian and Spanish, quite different from the Anglo-Saxon context, where most of the previous studies have been carried out.
Abstract: This study examined the psychosocial characteristics of cases of child maltreatment labelled as "not serious enough." The sample consisted of cases of suspected physical abuse (N = 48), neglect (N = 13), and psychological maltreatment (N = 8) identified by teachers, and a nonabused comparison group (N = 283). Characteristics of children and their parents were evaluated at three ecological levels: individual, family, and social. Results indicated a poor personal and social adjustment of the children in the maltreatment groups, and suggest that the definition of cases of maltreatment as not serious enough does not represent the psychological reality of these children. Discriminant analysis indicated that the most important variables for discriminating between all maltreatment groups and the nonabuse group were parents and children's perceptions of parental behavior, children's behavioral problems and personal adjustment, parents integration and satisfaction in the community, and the importance and direction of personal growth emphasized in the family. The importance of other variables such as socioeconomic status, stress, psychological symptoms or number of children appeared to be a function of the different types of child maltreatment. The importance of prevention and intervention efforts before the maltreatment reaches a serious stage is discussed.
