Actualidades en Psicología (AP) is an official publication of the University of Costa Rica sponsored by the Psychological Research Institute (IIP, for its initials in Spanish), an entity belonging to the same university. Its objective is to promote scientific production in all fields of psychological science and associated fields, which is achieved via the publication of original and unpublished articles that present results of empirical research, mixed studies, methodological contributions, narrative states of the art, meta-analyses and literature reviews. This freely accessible journal is aimed primarily at students and professionals in the area of psychology and related sciences. The journal publishes in Spanish, English and Portuguese. The journal has been published continuously since 2018; i.e., article are published one at the time until the complete issue is compiled (issue closings are held in June and December). The journal’s call for papers is likewise open and permanent; thus, authors are welcome to submit their manuscripts throughout the year. The submissions should reflect the guidance provided under “Authors Guidelines.” Submission, revision and processing of manuscripts is free of charge. The journal is interested in original research contributions to the psychological sciences, which must respect and adhere to the highest ethical and scientific rules. Current Trends in Psychology seeks to encourage scientific investigation, to promote the discussion of relevant ideas for psychological sciences, and to disseminate professional and academic information relevant to the discipline. The journal currently ranks high in the UCRIndex. Furthermore, it is indexed in: PsycINFO , la base de datos de la Asociación Americana de Psicología SCIELO , Biblioteca Científica Electrónica en Línea-Brasil REDALYC , red de revistas para América Latina, el Caribe, Portugal y España PEPSIC , Revistas Electrónicas de Psicología – Brasil DIALNET , base de datos de revistas españolas y latinoamericanas DOAJ , Directorio de revistas de acceso abierto; Universidad de Lund, Suecia LATINDEX , Sistema regional de información en línea para revistas científicas de América Latina, el Caribe, España y Portugal REDBIB , Red Iberoamericana de Innovación y Conocimiento Científico CLASE , Citas Latinoamericanas en Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades Google Académico ESCI (Índice de citas de fuentes emergentes) SCOPUS
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Positions and Changes on Science and Religion in Humanities Students
Objective. To analyze the influence of religious beliefs in students’ lives and to document changes from the beginning to the end of their first year. Method. 364 new students were surveyed to know how their beliefs changed during their first year at the university. Both ethical aspects as well as integrity or coherence of their beliefs were examined. Results. This group was found to give greater importance to religion (spirituality) than expected. A tendency towards spirituality without religion was also verified. The data suggests that the group did not improve their ethical clarity; instead, they got confused or became more pragmatic. Lastly, an important degree of fragmentation was apparent: a lack of coherence between religious beliefs and actual behavior or opinions in their daily lives.
Copyright (c) 2026 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Work-Family Balance, Labor Satisfaction and Wellbeing in workers of a Production Company in Chile
Objetive. This study focuses on the relationships that maintain the variables work-family (TF), job satisfaction and well-being in workers to know the effect of the variables labor satisfaction and work-family balance on the welfare of the study participants. Method. It was carried out with a sample of 100 workers from the production factory. The following instruments were applied to determine the relationship between variables: Survey Work Home Interaction-Nijmegen, S10 / 12 work satisfaction scale and subjective happiness scale with life satisfaction. Results. The results indicate a high relationship between the exposed variables; however, only the sub-dimensions of negative TF / FT were more significant along with job satisfaction to assess well-being. The need to carry out interventions in work-family reconciliation policies to develop work environments that favor the quality of work life at work is concluded.
Copyright (c) 2026 Andr´és Jiménez-Figueroa, Sofía Ríos Leal (Author) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Effective Personality and Emotional Intelligence as Predictors of Emotion Regulation in Undergraduates
Objective. This study aimed to determine at which measure factors of effective personality (self-esteem, academic self-achievement, social self-achievement and problem-solving self-efficacy), and those of perceived emotional intelligence (emotional attention, clarity and repair) predict dimensions of emotion regulation (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression). Method. Participants were 202 undergraduates from Lima, Peru (female = 79.7%), aged 18-35, who completed the Effective Personality Questionnaire, the Trait Meta-Mood Scale 24 and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Results. The models of regression for each factor of emotion regulation were statistically significant, and their effect sizes were moderate and low for cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, respectively. Emotional repair positively predicted cognitive reappraisal (β = .53, p < .001) and expressive suppression (β = .28, p < .001); whereas self-esteem (β = -.19, p < .01), social self-achievement (β = -.29, p < .001) and emotion attention (β = -.30, p < .001) negatively predicted expressive suppression. Results indicate that expressive suppression could be working for, among other, purposes such as avoiding emotional experience and social rejection situations, and that emotion repair comprises facets both of cognitive reappraisal and of expressive suppression.
Copyright (c) 2026 Roberto Bueno-Cuadra, Edmundo Hervias-Guerra, Dennis López-Odar , Elizabeth Dany Araujo-Robles (Autor/a) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Psychometric properties of the Cuestionario de Sucesos Vitales (CSV) on a Sample of Ecuadorian Adults
Objective. The objective of this study was to adapt and validate the Cuestionario de Sucesos Vitales (CSV) in the Ecuadorian context. Method. The study design was instrumental, and 417 adults participated (M = 37.1; SD = 8.67). Results. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the CSV has a seven-factor structure, reduced to 33 items, with optimal goodness-of-fit indices and adequate reliability. Convergent validity, using a structural model of relationship with other variables, revealed that life events are positively related to depression and anxiety. The CSV-33 demonstrates adequate validity and reliability for assessing life events in Ecuadorian adults.
Phonological Processing, Reading Speed, Accuracy, and Reading Comprehension in Children with ASD, Epilepsy, and Comorbidity
Objective. This study compared performance in phonological processing, reading speed, reading accuracy, and reading comprehension in 170 children aged 7 to 9 years with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), epilepsy, or comorbid ASD and epilepsy. Method. The PROLEXIA and PROLEC-R batteries were used as assessment instruments. Data were analyzed using MANOVA to examine differences between groups. Results. The results showed that children with comorbid ASD and epilepsy exhibited lower performance in all assessed areas compared to children with ASD only or epilepsy only, indicating poorer reading-related skills in participants with a comorbid diagnosis of ASD and epilepsy.
Metacognitive Awareness in Colombian Engineering Students: A Comparative Analysis
Objetive. This study investigates metacognitive awareness among food engineering and systems engineering students using the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) to identify their strengths and areas for improvement. It also compares these results with findings from other academic disciplines reported in previous research. Method. The MAI was administered to 194 engineering students across different specializations. Statistical analysis included mean, standard deviation, and MANOVA to examine differences in metacognitive skills. Results. The results indicate significant variances in metacognitive skills between engineering subfields, and they suggest that engineering students may show different profiles compared to other disciplines such as psychology and education.
Dossier Metacognoción, autorregulación y aprendizaje
Influence of Computational Thinking Development on Metamemory Skills in Fifth-Grade Primary School Children
Objective. This study aimed to examin the relationship between computational thinking skills and metacognitive abilities in primary school children. Method. Seventy-three students aged from 9 to 10 years participated. They were divided and assigned either to a computational-thinking training group (n = 43) or to a traditional-instruction group (n = 30). Computational thinking and metamemory were assessed using standardized tests. Both mediation analyses and multivariate regression models were conducted. Results. The experimental group obtained significantly higher computational-thinking scores (M = 16.42) compared to the control group (M = 10.63). Furthermore, the first group committed fewer total metamemory errors (M = 4.67) in compariason to the second (M = 7.70). The correlation between computational thinking and metamemory was significant (r = -.579, p < .001), and the model accounted 52.3% of the variance. In addition, the gender of participants influenced the computational-thinking performance, whereas maternal education predicted metamemory outcomes. To conclude, the findings provide empirical evidence of the interaction between computational thinking and metacognitive processes in childhood.
Does reading fluency mediate the effect of executive functions on reading comprehension?
Objective. This study aims to examine the mediating role of reading fluency in executive functions and reading comprehension. Method. To this end, 85 Spanish-speaking children in upper elementary grades were assessed on reading comprehension, reading fluency, fluid intelligence, and executive functions (working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility). Predictors of reading fluency and reading comprehension were examined, along with the mediating role of reading fluency in executive functions and reading comprehension. Results. Fluid intelligence emerged as relevant in both reading processes. Reading fluency was not found to mediate the relationship between executive functions and reading comprehension. The results are discussed within the framework of the cognitive complexity inherent in reading comprehension.
Character Strengths that Prevent Substance Use in Mexican University Students
Objective. Identify character strengths that predict non-substance use. Method. Quantitative study with a cross-sectional research design. For data collection, the Spanish version of the VIA-120 Inventory of Strengths Questionnaire was used. To measure substance use, a six-question questionnaire was used regarding the use of alcohol, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, marijuana, non-prescription medication to stay focused or alert, and any illegal drugs. The application was electronical. The sample was non-probabilistic of 569 participants, with an average age of 21.2 years (SD = 2.30). 35.3% were men and 64.7% women. The participants gave their informed consent. A robust regression was performed with the RStudio program. Results. Two character strengths were predictors of non-consumption of substances: Self-regulation and Spirituality.
Copyright (c) 2025 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Psychometric Evaluation of Two Procrastination Measures in University Students: Irrational Procrastination Scale and Academic Procrastination Scale Short Form
Objective. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of two procrastination scales: the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS) and the Academic Procrastination Scale-Short Form (APS-SF). Method. A total of 397 undergraduate students from Peru completed virtual questionnaires that included the IPS and APS-SF scales as well as assessments of academic burnout and mindfulness. Results. The IPS and the APS-SF have strong psychometric properties and unidimensional structures, indicating their effectiveness in assessing academic procrastination. Additionally, the instruments exhibited reliable internal consistency, as evidenced by consistent alpha and omega coefficients. Significant associations were identified between academic procrastination, burnout, and mindfulness. These findings significantly contribute to the comprehension and management of academic procrastination in the university context, establishing a solid foundation for future research and intervention strategies. Objective. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of two procrastination scales: the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS) and the Academic Procrastination Scale-Short Form (APS-SF). Method. A total of 397 undergraduate students from Peru completed virtual questionnaires that included the IPS and APS-SF scales as well as assessments of academic burnout and mindfulness. Results. The IPS and the APS-SF have strong psychometric properties and unidimensional structures, indicating their effectiveness in assessing academic procrastination. Additionally, the instruments exhibited reliable internal consistency, as evidenced by consistent alpha and omega coefficients. Significant associations were identified between academic procrastination, burnout, and mindfulness. These findings significantly contribute to the comprehension and management of academic procrastination in the university context, establishing a solid foundation for future research and intervention strategies.
Severe Depression in Healthcare Workers: Sociodemographic and psychosocial factors during the COVID-19 pandemic
Objective. The study investigated the association between severe depression prevalence in healthcare workers and various factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. 610 participants completed an online questionnaire, including the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD). Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated using Poisson regression. Results. Severe depression prevalence was 62.8%. In the adjusted model, women, and those with a family income of up to 4 minimum wages had a higher outcome prevalence. Factors such as poor working conditions, high stigma perception, elevated concern levels, low professional recognition, and increased medication/psychiatric treatment usage were associated with higher severe depression prevalence during the pandemic. Strengthening public policies for healthcare personnel during public-health disasters is essential.
Psychometric properties of a scale of tolerance to corruption using moral dilemmas
Objective. Understanding the extent of citizen participation in corrupt practices presents a challenge given that the illicit and socially reprehensible nature of corrupt acts generates a social desirability bias into measures of corruption. The objective was to design a measurement to assess individuals’ propensity to either tolerate or resist corruption, employing eight moral dilemmas. Method. The instrument was administered to 173 participants for the exploratory factor analysis, followed by 282 participants for the confirmatory factor analysis. Results. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed a single factor structure that grouped seven out of the eight dilemmas obtaining optimal goodness-of-fit indices and acceptable reliability. The measurement is useful for future research analyzing corruption.
Copyright (c) 2025 Christian Enrique Cruz Torres, Tonatiuh Garcia-Campos, Alejandra del Carmen Domínguez-Espinosa, Carlos Alberto Montesinos-González, Pablo Domínguez-Perera, Irene Salas-Menotti (Autor/a) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Recognizing the Need to Seek Help: Signals that Trigger Academic Help-Seeking among University Students
Objective. The present study examines the signals that students consider clear indicators for seeking help at university, as well as the variables associated with those students who realize they need assistance only after failing a course. Method. In the study, 753 students from different fields and universities responded to a questionnaire on motivational variables related to seeking academic help. Results. The results indicate that poor grades are the most important signal for seeking help. On the other hand, it was found that 10% of the sample who needed to fail the course to realize they required help were characterized by greater shame, less social and academic integration, and less vocational strength. They also had a lower appreciation of academic support.
Authoritarianism dimensions, religion centrality and religious orientation: Differences in linear and nonlinear analysis of their relationships
The centrality of religion and the religious orientations have been studied in its relations to authoritarianism because such expressions of religiosity offer a stable conventional social framework. Such framework includes a set of guidelines that govern the behavior of authoritarian subjects. However, previous studies examining these relationships did not take into account the specific contribution of each of the dimensions of authoritarianism. The main objective of the study was to analyze the relationship between the dimensions of authoritarianism, the centrality of religion and religious orientations. 431 college students participated, aged between 20 and 35 years, 72.38% of them were women. It was observed that the two dimensions of authoritarianism are related to centrality of religion, intrinsic and extrinsic religious orientation. Relationships between dimensions are discussed as well as their linear and nonlinear analysis.
Copyright (c) 2015 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Verification of the Factorial Structure the Scale of Professional Self-Concept in the Employees of Different Brazilian Companies
The studies on the professional self-concept are increasingly expression and importance, since their understanding may contribute to the explanation of important variables within and outside the organizational context. In the present study, the objective was to investigate the factor structure of professional self-concept scale in employees of public and private Brazilian companies. 490 workers participated in the study, with 16-68 years, of which 169 belonged to public enterprises and 321 private companies. The results show that the original scale of three-factor model showed statistical indicators that justify the reliability and structural consistency. There was a confirmation of the proposed model by the authors of the scale, not only in the general sample of workers, but also separately in workers of public and private, and can therefore be observed that, in the three samples, the indicators were in agreement with the requirements in the statistical literature.
Copyright (c) 2015 Actualidades en Psicología http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Cultural conceptions about mental health of people on psychological therapeutic process
The objective was to analyze mental health cultural conceptions’ of adult people with experiences on psychological therapeutic process from Guadalajara, Mexico. Method: 77 persons selected by purposive sampling were interviewed. It was applied free listing and pile sort technics. The analysis was by consensus, hierarchical cluster and multidimensional scaling. The participants’ conceptualized mental health like the well-being, health and sanity obtained by the professional and institutions health support. For them, mental health is the balance, tranquility, pace, harmony, love, happiness, plenitude, enthusiasm, confidence and agreement. In other hand, lack of mental health would be generating some mental illness (neurosis, psychosis, depression). The results showed genre differences and high woman consensus than the men, that allowed suggest differential basis for design promoting programs of mental health.
Levels of reading comprehension in high school students. A comparison by topic
Under the theoretical basis of the interbehavioral psychology, were developed and validated two tests to assess reading comprehension of texts related with two topics: one literary and one of biology, in three functional levels. The aim was to analyze the performance of junior high school students, in reading comprehension. Participants were 90 students enrolled in the first grade of three school groups from a public school. The results show that students achieved low percentages of correct answers in both tests, in particular, their worst performance was related with the topic of biology. The results of the students were classified in three ranges of performance. The advantages of evaluating reading comprehension considering the functional levels of behavior and topic, are discussed.
Gender Invariance of the Screening Scale for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (EDTAG)
The present paper shows how to evaluated invariance using confirmatory factor analysis models for means and covariances (CFA-MACS) for categorical data and models of Item Response Theory (IRT). Invariance analysis in the study of Detection Scale Generalized Anxiety Disorder comparing men and women is exemplified. The scale is widely used in health institutions and by its nature (a brief scale of 12 dichotomous items) any measurement error can have a major impact. Results have shown that the scale has the same configuration, but the item 9 shows differential item functioning, being males more likely to respond affirmatively compared to women in the same trait level. The need for this type of analysis on the scales is discussed.
Reliability Analysis Diagnostic Mathematics Test at the National University of Costa Rica
The goal of this study is to show how the implementation of the theory of item response, particularly the Rasch model has improved the reliability indices math test diagnosis at the National University of Costa Rica, from an alpha of 0.51 in 2010 to one of 0, 78 in 2012. The psychometric analysis allowed providing recommendation regarding the construction of the test which resulted in better indicators and preparation of items to measure the different levels of skill that is the fundamental purpose of a diagnostic test.
Using Bilingual Examinees to Evaluate the Comparability of Test Structure across Different Language Versions of a Mathematics Exam
Malay- and English-language versions of a mathematics exam were analyzed for structural equivalence by administering both versions to a group of Malay-English bilingual students. The analysis and comparison of test structure was determined using both DIMTEST and weighted multidimensional scaling. The assessment was found to be unidimensional and to possess similar structure across the two language versions. Implications of this study suggest bilingual examinees can be used to evaluate the invariance of test structure across translated test forms. Future research should explore situations where bilingual examinees can be used to link different language versions of assessments for monolingual populations.
Effects of a Training Program on the Scores from the Admission Test at the University of Costa Rica: a Bayesian Approximation
A quasi-experimental design with pre and post- test was used to estimate training effects for the University of Costa Rica’s admission test, a standardized exam that measures reasoning abilities in mathematical and verbal contexts. Four secondary public schools from the metropolitan central area of the country participated in the study; two of them were randomly assigned to the intervention group and the other two to the control group, with 61 students in the first group and 80 in the second. The intervention consisted of five three-hour training sessions, using a written guide developed by a pedagogy expert with a constructivist approach. Before and after measures were reduced test forms of the real admission test from the year 2014. The dependent variable was the difference between the two measures. The effect of the training was estimated using a multilevel Bayesian regression model with a significant magnitude of 3.5 percentage points.
Bifactorial structure of Locus of Control cross-culturally invariant across Spain, Chile and United Kingdom
Locus of control (LOC) is an often studied variable owing to the important role it plays in different contexts. Nonetheless, there is no unanimous agreement about how many dimensions make up the factorial structure of the locus of control. The goal of this research was to add new evidence of cross cultural validity in relation to the bifactorial invariance of the LOC. The test was given to a total of 1,781 participants from Spain (697), Chile (890) and The United Kingdom (194). The study of the factorial invariance between the groups was carried out using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis models for ordered-categorical data. The progressive evaluation of factorial invariance confirms that factor loadings, thresholds and error variances are invariant across groups. Relevant cross-cultural differences in LOC between Spain, Chile, and United Kingdom were not found (PS < .50).
Rasch Models: How (In-)Coherently are they Showed and Used?
Rasch models are widely used for the analysis of educational data. In practice, estimates of difficulties of items and abilities of examinees are reported. However, the meaning of the terms “difficulty” and “abilities” are never made explicit. The meaning of these terms does not depend on the estimations; they should be interpreted with respect to the eventual meaning of both item difficulties and individual abilities. This paper shows that the meaning of the terms “difficulty” and “ability” depends on the way in which the Rasch model is specified. In the psychometric literature, Rasch models are specified in two different ways: one specifies the observable only, whereas the other one specifies both observable and unobservable. The first specification is due to Rasch himself, the second one is due to Lord.
The Item Response Theory mixture models and how these can be used to identify unobserved sub-groups of examinees, known as latent classes, are presented. The usefulness of the two-parameter mixture model parameters is exemplified by detecting the presence of items in a depression scale that measure the examinees differently in comparison with the rest of items. Finally, some general recommendations regarding the complementarity that should exist between the substantive theory underlying the development of a scale and the use of these models are given.
Interpretation and Analysis of Educational and Psychological Tests with the Rule Space Method
The integration of cognitive elements with psychometric approaches is a promising field in the design of educational and psychological tests as well as in the interpretation of their results. Likewise, they provide evidences of construct validity since the proposed attributes are compared with the theoretical framework of the knowledge domain of interest. This article highlights the contributions of rule space method in cognitive diagnostic assessments.
Latent Variable Models, Cognitive Modelling, and Working Memory: a Meeting Point
Latent variable models and formal cognitive models share some elements of their object of study, various philosophical aspects, and some parts of their methodology. Nevertheless, little communication exists between their theories and findings. In order to highlight similarities and differences, this study implemented and tested a formal model proposing that interference among representations is a mechanism limiting working memory capacity (i.e., the interference model of Oberauer & Kliegl, 2006). Furthermore, the study incorporated an experimental manipulation to evaluate the role of the inhibition in prepotent responses and task switching in the interference model framework. These findings were used to expose some connections that could facilitate a rapprochement between formal cognitive models and psychometric models based on the latent variable theory.
Do not Be Afraid of Missing Data: Modern Approaches to Handle Missing Information
Most of the social and educational data have missing observations due to either attrition or nonresponse. Missing data methodology has improved dramatically in recent years, and popular computer programs as well as software now offer a variety of sophisticated options. Despite the widespread availability of theoretically justified methods, many researchers still rely on old imputation techniques that can create biased analysis. This article provides conceptual introductions to the patterns of missing data. In line with that, this article introduces how to handle and analyze the missing information based on modern mechanisms of full-information maximum likelihood (FIML) and multiple imputation (MI). An introduction about planned missing designs is also included and new computational tools like Quark function, and semTools package are also mentioned. The authors hope that this paper encourages researchers to implement modern methods for analyzing missing data.
Alternatives to Randomized Control Trials: A Review of Three Quasi-experimental Designs for Causal Inference
Abstract. The Randomized Control Trial (RCT) design is typically seen as the gold standard in psychological research. As it is not always possible to conform to RCT specifications, many studies are conducted in the quasi-experimental framework. Although quasi-experimental designs are considered less preferable to RCTs, with guidance they can produce inferences which are just as valid. In this paper, the authors present 3 quasi-experimental designs which are viable alternatives to RCT designs. These designs are Regression Point Displacement (RPD), Regression Discontinuity (RD), and Propensity Score Matching (PSM). Additionally, the authors outline several notable methodological improvements to use with these designs.
Analysis of a Writing Test with the MFRM Model
This paper describes how a Rasch model (Many-Facet Rasch Measurement) can be applied to performance assessment focusing on analysis of examinee, raters, tasks and variables. The article provides an introduction to MFRM, a description of analysis procedures, and an illustrative example to examine the effects of various sources of variability on students’ performance on a writing test by means of the FACETS program. Results highlight the usefulness of the MFRM to detect raters that have extreme values on the continuum of severity/leniency as well as providing objective measurement of examinee (scores free of rater severity).
The Partial Credit Model applied to the Lie Scale of the Big Five Questionnaire
The Partial Credit Model (PCM) of the Item Response Theory was applied to the Spanish Lie Scale adaptation of the Big Five Questionnaire. The scale measures individuals’ tendency to provide a distorted profile. The sample comprised 1592 adults from the general population (55% females). All analyses were performed by means of Winsteps software. The PCM exhibited satisfactory goodness-of-fit for all items. However, a considerable proportion of respondents had incongruent response patterns which were not in agreement with the model’s expectations. Five items presented inversions in the order expected for the estimated values of threshold parameters. These findings show the scale weaknesses and yield useful information to guide possible changes in future research.
Copyright (c) 2017 Actualidades en Psicología http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0