Background: Most studies comparing family caregivers’ mental health have focused on stress and depression. No studies to date have examined guilt and loneliness across caregivers of relatives with different conditions. Method: Participants were 182 family caregivers (dementia = 104, cancer = 52, and acute health problems = 26). Sociodemographic variables, frequency, and distress associated with behavioral and psychological symptoms of the care recipient (BPSD), loneliness, guilt, and anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed. Results: Loneliness was more frequent among dementia caregivers and least common in cancer caregivers; guilt was highest in acute conditions, followed by cancer caregivers. Caregivers of cancer patients reported fewer BPSD. Anxiety, depression, and BPSD-related distress were most frequent in caregivers of acute conditions, followed by dementia caregivers. Conclusions: Although all groups experienced high levels of distress, distinct profiles were observed. Interventions could be tailored to the specific characteristics and needs of each caregiver group.
Background: The study aimed to examine how emotional symptoms, sexual behaviors, and antiretroviral treatment adherence relate to clinical indicators among men living with HIV in Mexico. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 656 men living with HIV recruited from five specialized clinics. Standardized instruments (DASS-21, CEAT-HIV, and a validated sexual behavior inventory) were applied, and data were analyzed using multiple and logistic regression models. Results: Higher depression and anxiety were associated with lower antiretroviral therapy adherence, while condom use with casual partners slightly improved adherence. Stress predicted lifetime STI prevalence and mental-health service use. Consistent condom use and adherence were linked to maintaining an undetectable viral load. Longer time since diagnosis correlated with greater condom use and lower depression. Conclusions: Mental health significantly shapes adherence and preventive behaviors. Integrating systematic psychological screening and mental-health interventions into HIV care is essential to strengthen treatment outcomes and long-term well-being.
Background: People with intellectual disability (ID) are at increased risk of tobacco use, yet their perspectives and those of their families and professionals are understudied. Method: This qualitative study explored experiences and views on smoking among 12 adults with ID who smoke, 9 family members, and 11 support professionals from day services. Semi-structured interviews were analysed using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four themes emerged: initiation of smoking, reasons for smoking, addressing tobacco use, and facilitators and barriers to cessation. Smoking typically began in adolescence through social influence, became part of daily routines, was managed through permissive support practices, and was hindered by limited cessation awareness. Results: Tensions arose between autonomy, smoking behaviours, and cessation approaches. Despite awareness of health risks, participants showed limited knowledge of psychological cessation aids and lacked sufficient support to quit. Conclusions: Effective cessation interventions should be evidence-based, rights-oriented, and person-centred, addressing both individual motivations and contextual influences.
This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the RS-14 Resilience Scale in Colombian victims of armed conflict and forced displacement. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using diagonally weighted least squares estimation was conducted on a sample of 613 victims of violence aged 18 to 65 years. The results indicated high levels of resilience (M = 78.40) and showed that, after removing items 5, 7, and 10, the unidimensional model (Model 5), controlling for age and sex, demonstrated a significantly better fit compared to the other models (CFI = .89, IFI = .89, GFI = .98, AGFI = .98, RNI = .89, RMSEA = .08, SRMR = .04). The refined model also showed high internal consistency (alpha = .87, omega = .87). These findings suggest that the RS-14, under an adjusted unidimensional structure, is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing resilience in populations exposed to prolonged violence and extreme trauma. Este estudio evalu & oacute; las propiedades psicom & eacute;tricas de la Escala de Resiliencia RS-14 en v & iacute;ctimas colombianas del conflicto armado y desplazamiento forzado. Se realiz & oacute; un an & aacute;lisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) mediante estimaci & oacute;n de m & iacute;nimos cuadrados ponderados diagonalmente en una muestra de 613 v & iacute;ctimas de violencia de 18 a 65 a & ntilde;os. Los resultados muestran un nivel elevado de resiliencia (M = 78.40) y que despu & eacute;s de eliminar los & iacute;tems 5, 7 y 10 el modelo unidimensional (Modelo 5), controlado por edad y sexo, ten & iacute;a un ajuste significativamente mejor en comparaci & oacute;n con los otros modelos (CFI = .89, IFI = .89, GFI = .98, AGFI = .98, RNI = .89, RMSEA = .08, SRMR = .04). El modelo refinado tambi & eacute;n mostr & oacute; una gran consistencia interna (alpha = .87; omega = .87). Estos resultados indican que la RS-14, con una estructura unidimensional ajustada, es un instrumento v & aacute;lido y fiable para evaluar la resiliencia en poblaciones expuestas a violencia prolongada y trauma extremo.
