Browsing by Author "Verges, Alvaro"
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- ItemA Multivariate Behavior Genetic Investigation of Dual-Systems Models of Alcohol Involvement(2018) Ellingson, Jarrod M.; Slutske, Wendy S.; Verges, Alvaro; Littlefield, Andrew K.; Statham, Dixie J.; Martin, Nicholas G.Objective: Dual-systems models hypothesize that individuals who tend to be drawn to risky behavior and are low in self-control are at greatest risk for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Importantly, these models assume that behavioral approach tendencies and self-control are distinct. This study investigated hypotheses and assumptions central to dual-systems models. Method: Participants were 3,509 members of a national twin registry (58% female). Structured interviews assessed alcohol use and AUD symptoms. Self-report questionnaires assessed individual differences in approach tendencies, namely for general risky behavior (sensation seeking) and substance use (positive expectancies). and behavioral control. Regression models tested nonadditive. interaction effects on alcohol involvement, as proposed by the dual-systems model. Multivariate behavior genetic models investigated the incremental validity of these interaction effects and whether approach tendencies and behavioral control explain distinct variance in alcohol involvement. Results: In regression models, we found interaction effects consistent with the dual-systems model for women but in the opposite direction for men. Aber accounting for additive main effects in behavior genetic models, however, these interaction effects played a negligible tole phenotypically and genetically. Further, sensation seeking and positive expectancies explained phenotypic and genetic variance in alcohol involvement that was distinct from behavioral control. Behavioral control, however, did not explain distinct variance in alcohol involvement. Conclusions: Contrary to dual-systems models, this study suggests that all of the variance in alcohol involvement explained by behavioral control is also shared with the tendency to engage in risky behavior (sensation seeking) and substance use (positive expectancies). Further, interaction effects central to dual-systems models failed to explain additional variance beyond basic main effects. Thus, more parsimonious models may better explain AUD.
- ItemAdaptation and psychometric characteristics of a scale to evaluate ageist stereotypes(ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD, 2020) Rosell Cisternas, Javiera; Verges, Alvaro; Torres Irribarra, David; Flores, Karina; Gomez, MacarenaObjectives: Negative ageism impacts on the well-being of older persons; therefore, its identification is important to generate interventions that allow its decrease. CENVE is a widely used instrument to evaluate stereotypes towards old age in Spanish. However, its factor structure in older population and its invariance between those over and under 60 years old have not been confirmed. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instrument and its invariance by age and gender. Methods: The total sample was 439 people with 54 % of people over 60. This was divided into two random subsamples. With the first subsample, a confirmatory factor analysis of the different models proposed was carried out until an adequate fit was achieved, which was confirmed with the second subsample. Then, the invariance of the instrument was evaluated with the total sample by age and gender. Results: The revised CENVE consists of 15 items with a unifactorial structure that showed good psychometric properties. It presented good reliability, including a .92 Omega. In addition, it proved to be an invariant instrument according to age and gender, which allows comparison between groups. Discussion and Implications: The use of CENVE will allow the identification of ageist stereotypes, with which interventions can be carried out to reduce them, both in groups older and younger than 60. In addition, it can be useful to generate a discussion about ageism in different fields, such as professional training.
- ItemHow Should Alcohol Problems Be Conceptualized? Causal Indicators Within the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index(2016) Arterberry, Brooke J.; Chen, Ting-Huei; Verges, Alvaro; Bollen, Kenneth A.; Martens, Matthew P.Alcohol-related problems have traditionally been conceptualized and measured by an effect indicator model. That is, it is generally assumed that observed indicators of alcohol problems are caused by a latent variable. However, there are reasons to think that this construct is more accurately conceptualized as including at least some causal indicators, in which observed indicators cause the latent variable. The present study examined the measurement model of a well-known alcohol consequences questionnaire, the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index. Participants were 703 students from a large public university in the Northeast mandated to an alcohol intervention. We conducted a zero tetrad test to examine a measurement model consisting solely of effect indicators and a model with both causal and effect indicators. Overall, the results suggested the hybrid model fit the data better than a model with only effect indicators. These findings have implications regarding the theoretical underpinnings of alcohol-related consequences.
- ItemInternet Addiction of Older Women and Its Relationship With Social Influence and Social Networks Use as a Mediator(2022) Rosell Cisternas, Javiera; Leeson, George W.; Verges, AlvaroThe aim is to analyse the relationship between social influence for Internet use and Internet addiction (IA) in older women, considering the use of Internet-based social networks as a mediator. The participants were 480 older women Internet users. Social influence, frequency of use of social networks and IA (including loss of control and emotional dysregulation) were evaluated. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was conducted to analyse the proposed model. The use of social networks was a significant mediator in the relationship between social influence for Internet use and the dimension of loss of control of IA. On the contrary, social network use was not a significant mediator. Older women with more social influence reported more frequency of social networking and, in turn, more loss of control in Internet use. Public policy and clinicians should address addictive behaviours about Internet use in older women, preventing the negative consequences.
- ItemPsychometric properties of the UPPS-P in Chilean adolescents and adults in treatment(2023) Bussio, Milagros; Arriaza, Tomas; Alvarado, Maria Elena; Verges, AlvaroThe UPPS-P impulsivity scale has been used extensively to examine the association of impulsivity facets with psychiatric disorders, including substance use and related problems. However, it is still unclear if the original five-factor conceptualization of impulsivity constitutes the best model of its factor structure. The current study developed an adaptation of the original 59-item version of the UPPS-P for use with Chilean population and examined its factor structure in general-population adolescents (N = 838) and adults in substance use treatment (N = 316). Results indicated that all models had poor fit to the data, but Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling yielded 3-factor and hierarchical models that were adequate in capturing the underlying structure of the UPPS-P. Both the unidimensional and bifactor models were discarded, indicating that a general impulsivity factor is not supported, reinforcing the heterogenous nature of impulsivity as a construct. In addition, associations of UPPS-P facets with substance use-related problems suggest that it might be useful in clinical populations.
- ItemThe ABCDE psychological first aid intervention decreases early PTSD symptoms but does not prevent it: results of a randomized-controlled trial(TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2022) Figueroa, Rodrigo Andres; Cortes, Paula Francisca; Marin, Humberto; Verges, Alvaro; Gillibrand, Rodrigo; Repetto, PaulaBackground Early Psychological First Aid (PFA) has been widely recommended for preventing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, its lack of empirical evidence of safety and effectiveness has been criticized. Objectives To assess the effectiveness of PFA-ABCDE, an original PFA protocol, for preventing PTSD one month after the intervention and decreasing PTSD symptoms at one and six months of follow up. Methods We assessed the eligibility of 1,140 adult survivors of recent trauma (<= 72 hours) consulting five emergency departments in Chile. Two hundred twenty-one were randomized to receive either PFA-ABCDE (active listening, breathing retraining, categorization of needs, referral to ancillary services, and psychoeducation) or only psychoeducation. We used the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to assess PTSD diagnosis. The Posttraumatic Checklist (PCL), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and a 0-10 points analogue visual scale were used to assess PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and immediate distress relief after the intervention. Results We found no difference between the experimental and control groups in the frequency of PTSD one month after the intervention (PFA-ABCDE = 23/76 [30.3%], psychoeducation = 18/75 [24.0%], adjusted odds ratio = 1.39, 95% confidence interval = 0.63-3.07, p = .408). Immediately after the intervention, participants who received PFA-ABCDE reported greater distress relief (PFA-ABCDE mean = 9.06, psychoeducation mean = 8.55, Cohen's d = 0.30, p = .038). Fewer PTSD symptoms were reported by those who received PFA-ABCDE one month after the intervention (PFA-ABCDE mean = 36.26, psychoeducation mean = 43.62, Cohen's d = 0.42, p = .033). We found no difference in depressive symptoms at one-month follow up (p = .713) nor in PTSD symptoms six months after the intervention (p = .986). Conclusions PFA-ABCDE does not prevent PTSD diagnosis, but it provides immediate distress relief and decreases PTSD symptoms in the short term.