Psychology in Latin America

Background. Emerging adulthood is a newly known developmental stage in humans, between late adolescence and fully-achieved adulthood. This stage is characterized by continued indecision and postponement of individuation; it also corresponds with a delay in identity actualization. Personal identity is related to the development of the individual across various aspects of life including the identification of long-term goals, career selection, friendship, and sexuality. Therefore, identity is understood to be an individual's perception of themselves and the conceptualization of their place within a social context. Identity development is expected to reach this critical stage between late adolescence and emerging adulthood, where specific factors may arise to hinder the realization of identity, potentially resulting in identity problems or identity distress. The latter considered a disorder within the DSM-III, and based on its diagnostic criteria, the Identity Distress Scale was created to measure the presence of identity distress.

Objective. First, to report evidence of validity and reliability of the IDS using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, and invariance testing according to the Identity Distress Scale across a sample of Ecuadorian emerging adults. Second, to report the scores of the Identity Distress Scale among the participants.

Design. The study employed a quantitative approach with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design, and an instrumental scope.

Results. The results reveal that the scale operates with a first-order two-factor model, demonstrating a good fit and internal consistency (χ² (df) = (34) 125.03, CFI= .97, TLI= .95, SRMR=.07, RMSEA=.07, ɑ = from .72 to .76, ⍵ = from .66 to .73). Evidence of measurement invariance was found between males and females.

Conclusion. The IDS has adequate psychometric properties for its use in the Ecuadorian context.  

Background. Bibliometric studies are essential for understanding the development of a discipline and thus establishing policies to promote evidence-based science. In the case of Colombian psychology, no studies have yet considered the productivity, collaboration, and internationalization of this discipline jointly. In this context, the role of Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (Minciencias) research groups in promoting collaboration within Colombia is particularly significant.

Objective. To analyze the scientific productivity, degree of internationalization, and collaboration in Colombian psychology from 2014 to 2023.

Design. A bibliometric study was conducted using data from Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO, employing bibliometric indicators. A total of 4,196 Colombian psychology articles from 2014 to 2023 were analyzed, employing various indicators to assess productivity, internationalization, and collaboration.

Results. The period was characterized by a sustained increase in productivity. An increase in internationalization was evident, as shown by a greater number of articles written in English and published in foreign journals, along with growing international collaboration, primarily with Spain and the United States. While Colombian-led research has increased, publications with foreign leading authors receive a substantially higher number of citations.

Conclusion. This is the first study to incorporate Minciencias groups into the evaluation of research productivity within Colombian psychology. The study suggests that researchers are adapting to Minciencias’s evaluation criteria, with a focus on collaboration and high-impact publications. Strengths include using multiple databases and rigorous data cleaning. Future research can explore international comparisons and the impact of internationalization on research focus.

Background. Well-being is distinguished by its complex and multifaceted characteristics, integrating both objective and subjective components, so each person's point of view is relevant. In conducting research concerning well-being, it is important account for both age considerations and cultural variability. Additionally, the influence the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered given how it impacted the public including corresponding effects on peoples’ perceptions of well-being.

Objective. The study’s purpose was to analyze the meaning of psychological well-being from the perspective of late adolescents presiding in Colima, Mexico during the post-pandemic era.

Design. A non-experimental, cross-sectional and exploratory research design was used. The Natural Semantic Networks technique was used as the instrument of measurement, employing psychological well-being as the stimulus concept to study a sample of 112 high school students in late adolescence (92 women, 20 men, ages 17 to 21; average = 17.3). The Natural Semantic Networks research technique enabled the exploration of participants' subjective meanings associated with well-being.

Results. The analysis identified a set of primary categories of well-being defined by participants including: health, both physical and mental; low-arousal emotions, such as peace and serenity; positive affect like happiness; positive relationships, mainly with family; security; self-control; and self-acceptance. 

Conclusion. This research highlights that no single theory fully captures adolescents' understanding of well-being. Crucial elements considered by the most important theories are missing from participants conceptual frameworks. Additionally, COVID-19 pandemic has affected adolescent perceptions of well-being, especially it its impact on mental health. Peace is also valued as relevant by participants, especially desirable in the midst of emotional turbulence. Results show the need for a more comprehensive perspective on well-being that incorporates specific dimensions of each age group within a cultural and temporal context.

Background. Developmental studies have shown that the home environment has a significantly influences subsequent academic performance by supporting the development of skills essential for the acquisition of competencies necessary for school life, including literacy skills. Children with limited early literacy proficiency often experience challenges in acquiring literacy skills. Family literacy promotes the development of skills necessary for their acquisition.

Objective. The aim of this study is to identify and categorize literacy practices conducted at home, examine the participation of parents and children in reading and writing activities, and explore mothers' beliefs on this subject.

Design. For the present study, interviews were conducted with 102 mothers of preschool children in a city in northwestern Mexico.  The approach for this study is qualitative and constructivist.

Results. The study identified key dimensions: limiting environment, literacy interface, physical environment, interaction frequencies, and beliefs. These dimensions consistently highlight shared time as the main activity to promote reading and writing. However, the strategies deemed most relevant to language stimulation are primarily academic and place special emphasis on remediation and explicit teaching.

Conclusion. Despite expressing interest in developing activities to encourage reading and writing at an early age, these activities often fail to align with skills and developmental period of preschool children. The adult-centered and formal view of literacy practices in the home may be enhanced by educating the parents about their children’s developmental stages and literacy needs.

Background. An understanding of the dynamics of intergroup relations, particularly in relation to migrant populations, is of critical importance in a variety of societal contexts. This study examines the relationship between conservatism (Social Dominance Orientation, SDO), intergroup dynamics (stereotypes and intergroup emotions), and social distance (openness to coexistence and tendencies toward exclusion) within the Venezuelan migrant population residing in Lima Metropolitana.

Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between conservatism, intergroup dynamics, and social distance among Venezuelan migrants in Lima Metropolitana. A sample of 395 residents was utilized for this study.

Design. The study employed a correlational research design to examine the relationships between the variables of interest. Correlation analyses were conducted to assess the associations between variables. Path analysis was utilized to explore the underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, group comparisons were conducted to examine differences in attitudes and perceptions across various demographic groups. 

Results. The findings indicated that there were significant associations across conservatism, intergroup emotions (both negative and positive), stereotypes, and the tendencies toward exclusion and coexistence. Notably, younger participants exhibited more inclusive ideological and intergroup indicators. Moreover, the path analysis demonstrated the pivotal influence of the morality stereotype and ideological dimensions on the integration and exclusion of migrants.

Conclusion. The study highlights the significance of cultivating favorable stereotypical perceptions of migrants and emphasizes the impact of age and ideological factors in creating conducive conditions for migrant integration. A contextual understanding of these results underscores the necessity for inclusive policies and interventions that foster social cohesion and integration within communities that have received migrants.

Background. Screen time has increased, with more frequent use at younger ages during the developmental process. International pediatric associations recommend that its use be minimal before three years of age. However, several studies have shown that in this age range, its use is for at least one hour per day, and in general without the accompaniment of an adult and with no consideration of age-appropriate content. Furthermore, negative associations between screen use in hours and minutes were reported with different cognitive abilities (e.g., language, executive functions, attention, memory) during this period. Many of the studies carried out on associations between these variables used questionnaires or parental reports. This is why it becomes important to study how screen time is associated with early interactions between primary caregiver and toddlers and with early cognitive skills, using measures that observe behavior directly, and in a non-WEIRD sample [a WEIRD population is White, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic – ed.] from low-to-medium SES backgrounds in Latin America. This could generate interventions to promote early cognitive development, and evaluate what type of responsible use can be provided for screen consumption in the early years.

Objective. To describe the use of screens in toddlers of low-to-medium SES, compare caregiver–toddler interactions when engaged in play with digital or physical stimuli (with screens or toys), and examine screen use associations with regulation, early communication skills, and sociodemographic variables.

Design. A mixed quantitative research sample was of 33 dyads of low-to-medium-SES primary caregivers and toddlers from 12 to 36 months (M.age = 27.2 months, SD = 7.04, female = 16) from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sociodemographic and screen use questionnaires, cognitive tasks of regulation and communication, and two free-play sessions of six minutes (i.e., with toys and screens) were used.

Results. Caregivers reported that their toddlers were exposed to TV, background TV, and cell phones for more than one hour per day with different content types. Caregivers generally preferred toys to screens, had a negative view of screens, and reported using them to distract their toddlers. Play sessions with toys promoted more verbal and non-verbal interactions between caregivers and toddlers, and these interactions were positively related to cognition. Also, TV use had differential correlations with toddlers’ interactions depending on whether it involved verbal or non-verbal communication. Finally, negative associations of TV and background TV with cognitive and socioeconomic variables were found.

Conclusion. It would be important to encourage participation in traditional games or other face-to-face interaction activities and develop interventions focused on parent education-related screen use, child development, and tips for engaging in quality interactions with toddlers.