RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Couple relationship distress is common and associated with poor physical, psychological, and relational outcomes for both partners. Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples (EFT) is a short-term structured approach based on attachment theory that integrates a humanistic, experiential approach to restructuring emotional experience and a systemic structural approach to restructuring interactions. This model has been shown to be an effective treatment for couple distress. The supporting research, however, has only been conducted with English-speaking couples. Despite Spanish being the second-most spoken language and meaningful cultural differences between English- and Spanish-speaking countries, the efficacy of EFT has not been examined in this cultural context. This study will examine the efficacy of EFT in this particular context and advance the understanding of potential mechanisms of change. METHODS: We will use a multicenter randomized wait-list controlled design to examine the efficacy of EFT in a Spanish-speaking sample of moderately distressed couples. One hundred forty individuals in 70 couples in Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Spain will be randomly assigned to receive 19-21 sessions of EFT or be placed on a waitlist. Outcomes on a range of relational and individual mental health variables will be assessed prior to random assignment, throughout treatment, and at the conclusion of treatment. Primary outcomes will include dyadic adjustment, couple satisfaction, and attachment. Secondary variables, such as loneliness, parenting, affective communication, and sexual satisfaction, will be included as potential mediators of the treatment effect. Couples in the treatment group will also be assessed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow-ups. Process variables such as the therapeutic alliance will also be assessed routinely in couples assigned to the treatment group. Couples in the waitlist will receive a psycho-educational program based on EFT after completing the study. DISCUSSION: This study will be the first RCT of Emotionally Focused Therapy in a Spanish-speaking context. The results of the study will inform researchers interested in whether treatments developed and tested in the USA and Canada can be effective in differing cultural contexts. It may also point researchers and clinicians to areas where cultural adaptation is needed to improve efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04277325. Registered on February 20, 2020.
Assuntos
Terapia de Casal , Terapia Focada em Emoções , Humanos , Terapia de Casal/métodos , Idioma , México , Espanha , Argentina , Costa Rica , Guatemala , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto , Estudos Multicêntricos como AssuntoRESUMO
This study validates the Mood Questionnaire for adults in three Spanish-speaking countries: Argentina, Ecuador, and Spain. It then analyzes the influence of gender and cultural differences on mood, and whether there is a relationship between mood, emotional intelligence, and the Avoidance of Responsibility. A convenience sample of 1048 adults, with a middle-class socioeconomic background, was selected from three Spanish-speaking countries (Spain, Argentina, and Ecuador). The psychometric properties of the Mood Questionnaire are adequate, which is particularly interesting given the need for transcultural tools to evaluate moods. Moreover, the mood was associated with avoidance of responsibility and emotional intelligence. In addition, differences in mood were observed according to country and gender. These findings are interesting because the Spanish version of the Mood Questionnaire has been validated for children but not for adults, and it compares three Spanish-speaking countries. The use of this diagnostic tool with Spanish adults can be justified according to these results.
Assuntos
Comparação Transcultural , Psicometria/normas , Inquéritos e Questionários/normas , Adolescente , Adulto , Argentina , Equador , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Espanha , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Information and communication technologies provide a new context for interpersonal relationships, learning and professional activities. Nevertheless, there are several risks related to technology use, including compulsive Internet use. Even though compulsive Internet use has been identified as an important problem behavior in young people, there are still gaps in knowledge regarding its measurement in Spanish-speaking countries. Thus, the objective of this study was to validate the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) in Spain, Colombia, and Mexico using a sample of 2,090 15-30 year olds. Results showed that the questionnaire has excellent psychometric properties and confirmed its original unidimensional factor structure. Inter-item polychoric correlations showed optimum values that indicated consistency and high quality of the construct. A confirmatory factor analysis showed an excellent model fit for all the subsamples, including Spain, Colombia, and Mexico. A multigroup analysis showed measurement invariance across the studied countries. Given that the CIUS is one of the most popular instruments used to measure excessive Internet use around the world, it can now be used in crossnational comparative studies, including Spain, Colombia, and Mexico, together with other countries. It can also be used to evaluate intervention programs in the studied countries.