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Yessica Cusquisibán-Alcantara,1,&ast; Cesia Toledo-Garrido,1,&ast; Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,1 Sandra P Carranza-Cubas,2 Jacksaint Saintila2 1Research Group for Nutrition and Lifestyle, School of Human Nutrition, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 2School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, Perú&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla, Research Group for Nutrition and Lifestyle, School of Human Nutrition, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Chosica, 15, Perú, Email yaquelincalizaya@upeu.edu.pe Jacksaint Saintila, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Perú, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comBackground: Non-communicable diseases in adults and anemia in children represent a major global public health problem, with multiple causes including poor dietary quality. However, nutrition education interventions can empower individuals to make appropriate dietary changes.Objective: To evaluate the impact of a nutritional education intervention on nutrition knowledge (NK), healthy eating index (HEI), and biochemical profile in families in the community in Peru.Methods: A pre-experimental study was conducted in the community of Sinchicuy, located on the banks of the Amazon River, Iquitos, Peru. Nutrition education was provided over a 16-week period to a total of 61 heads of household (23 children under 5 years of age and 23 older adults). Fasting glucose and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration analyses were also carried out before and after the intervention.Results: After the intervention, a significant improvement in the NK score was observed, increasing by 90% (p < 0.001). Additionally, the average HEI scores experienced a significant increase, rising by approximately 11.4% (p < 0.001). In children under 5 years of age, the Hb level showed a significant increase of 5.1% (p = 0.017). However, no statistically significant difference in glucose concentration was observed in older adults after the intervention.Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated a positive impact on NK, HEI, and Hb in heads of households, older adults, and children under five in a rural community where there is limited access to basic services.Keywords: nutrition education, nutritional knowledge, hemoglobin, glucose, children, rural communities

Cristian Ramos-Vera,1 Angel García O’Diana,1 Dennis Calle,1 Miguel Basauri-Delgado,2 Bruno Bonfá-Araujo,3 Ariela Raissa Lima-Costa,4 Mirko Duradoni,5 Shagufta Nasir,6 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,7 Jacksaint Saintila8 1Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad César Vallejo, Lima, Peru; 2Postgraduate School, Universidad Femenina del Sagrado Corazón, Lima, Peru; 3Faculty of Social Science, the University of Western Ontario, London, Canada; 4Graduate Program of Psychology, Universidade São Francisco, Campinas, Brazil; 5Department of Education, Literatures, Intercultural Studies, Languages and Psychology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; 6Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; 7Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Peru; 8Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PeruCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Carretera a Pimentel, Km 5, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Peru, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comBackground: Previous research has suggested that manipulation and callousness are central to Dark Triad traits, but it has not identified which specific manifestations are expressed across various countries.Objective: This study aimed to identify the core and overlapping manifestations of Dark Triad traits across 10 countries.Methods: We used the Short Dark Triad (SD3) scale and assessed a sample of 8093 participants (59.7% women, M(age) = 32.68 years). For graphical representation, the spinglass algorithm was applied to understand the cluster distribution among Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and subclinical narcissism traits. Centrality indices were used to identify the most influential items, and the clique-percolation algorithm was employed to detect shared attributes among multiple Dark Triad items.Results: Straightforward SD3-21 items demonstrated better interpretability as aversive traits within the broader system. Items with higher centrality values were those related to short-term verbal manipulation from the psychopathy domain, clever manipulation, strategic revenge-seeking from Machiavellianism, and narcissistic motivations for connecting with significant individuals. The most predicted items were linked to planned revenge, using information against others from Machiavellianism, short-term psychopathic verbal manipulation, and narcissistic belief of specialness based on external validation. Items like short-term verbal manipulation had overlaps with both psychopathy and narcissism clusters, while clever manipulation overlapped with Machiavellianism and psychopathy.Conclusion: This cross-cultural study highlights the central role of verbal manipulation within the Dark Triad traits, along with identifying overlapping items among traits measured using straightforward SD3 scale items. In line with our findings, future research that incorporates a wide range of cultural contexts is encouraged to establish the consistency of these findings with the SD3 Scale or alternative measures.Keywords: dark triad traits, network analysis, personality, subclinical traits, cross-cultural

Cristian Ramos-Vera,1 Dennis Calle,1 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,2 Jacksaint Saintila3 1Research Area, Universidad Cesar Vallejo (UCV), Lima, Perú; 2Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 3School of Medicine, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PerúCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, School of Medicine, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Carretera a Pimentel, Km 5, Chiclayo, 14001, Perú, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comBackground: The study of Dark Triad traits and emotional variables has been conducted in numerous regions; however, there is a lack of research focusing on Latin American samples and considering variables such as sex and age. Incorporating these variables could enhance our understanding of underlying aversive patterns.Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the associations between Dark Triad traits and emotional intelligence in Peruvian adults.Methods: Data were collected in 2021 and 272 adults (M=31.8 years, 68% female) participated through online surveys via non-probability purposive sampling. Dirty Dozen and Trait Meta-Mood Scales were used. Two partial correlation network models were applied between the study variables with and without controlling for gender and age. Bridge-expected influence and predictability analysis were calculated to find interconnected traits and higher connections, respectively.Results: Subclinical psychopathy primarily showed negative associations with emotional clarity (r=− 0.17), followed by emotional attention (r=− 0.08) and emotional repair in networks with and without age and gender variables. Machiavellianism consistently displayed a negative association with emotional repair (r=− 0.13) in both estimated networks. Conversely, subclinical narcissism exhibited a positive association solely with emotional attention (r=0.15). Furthermore, younger age was linked to higher Machiavellianism (r=− 0.23), females showed higher emotional attention (r=0.11), and narcissism connected intrapersonal emotional domains with Dark Traits (bridge expected influence > 1.25) while Machiavellianism exhibited greater predictability (r2> 0.45) due to reinforcement by other Dark Traits.Conclusion: This study revealed negative connections between the Dark Triad and emotional intelligence traits, except for narcissism, which was positively associated with emotional attention and functioned as a “bridge” between all traits. However, relying solely on this single positive emotional aspect of narcissism may not be adequate to characterize it as possessing fully adaptive emotional traits. Findings suggest that detailed aspects of emotional intelligence and sociodemographic factors can provide valuable insights into the complex nature of aversive patterns and their broader impact on society.Keywords: Machiavellianism, narcissism, subclinical psychopathy, emotional intelligence, network analysis

Anderson Francisco Vilchez-Chavez,1,&ast; Eidi Bernal Altamirano,1,&ast; Wilter C Morales-García,2 Liset Sairitupa-Sanchez,3 Sandra B Morales-García,4 Jacksaint Saintila5 1Public Health Postgraduate Unit, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Peru; 2School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Peru; 3School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Peru; 4Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Cientifica Del Sur University, Lima, Peru; 5School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Señor de Sipan University, Chiclayo, Peru&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wilter C Morales-García, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Peru, Email wiltermorales@upeu.edu.pe Jacksaint Saintila, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Señor de Sipan University, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Peru, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comBackground: Healthy habits contribute to the prevention of diseases and, therefore, improve the health-related quality of life of people. However, stress is one of the main risk factors associated with serious health problems in the individual. Therefore, the literature suggests a relationship between healthy habits, stress, and health-related quality of life.Objective: To assess the factors of healthy habits and stress associated with health-related quality of life in a Peruvian adult population.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 540 Peruvian citizens aged between 18 and 60 years. A questionnaire was applied on the Google Forms platform to be completed online, using the “Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire” and the PSS-4 to assess healthy habits and stress, respectively. Health-related quality of life was evaluated using the EuroQol-5D.Results: In the multivariate analysis, stress was the most associated factor with quality of life. Physical activity, drug consumption, tobacco consumption, rest habits, and a balanced diet were healthy habits associated with quality of life.Conclusion: Physical activity, rest habits, and a balanced diet improve health-related quality of life, while drug or tobacco consumption and stress are associated with a lower health-related quality of life.Keywords: adults, healthy habits, health-related quality of life, stress, Peru

Cristian Ramos-Vera,1 Andy R Sánchez-Villena,2 Dennis Calle,1 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,3 Jacksaint Saintila4 1Área de Investigación, Universidad Cesar Vallejo (UCV), Lima, Perú; 2Facultad de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Privada del Norte, Cajamarca, Perú; 3Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 4Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PerúCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Perú, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comBackground: Although the importance of the therapeutic alliance in the treatment process and health outcomes is recognized, so far, there has been no evaluation in the Peruvian context that considers possible individual differences that could influence this assessment.Purpose: This study assessed the psychometric properties of the WAI-S-P in a sample of individuals from Peru who are receiving psychological therapy. Furthermore, a network analysis was conducted to investigate the direct relationships between the therapeutic alliance and several relevant sociodemographic variables.Methods: The short version of the Working Alliance Inventory was used in a sample of 241 participants (Mage=32.58, SD=12.67) that had attended less than 6 sessions. Three models were considered, including a three-factor and a two-factor correlated model, as well as a bifactor model. In addition, a network of partial associations was created including the overall therapeutic alliance, sex, age, and number of psychotherapeutic sessions.Results: The bifactor model, with an overall therapeutic alliance factor and two specific factors (“contact” and “contract”), better fit the data. Invariance of the structure by sex and age showed equitable measurement. On the other hand, network analysis revealed a positive correlation between total session attendance and therapeutic alliance. Men reported higher therapeutic alliance, while women had higher total session attendance.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the therapeutic alliance is better represented by a bifactor model and demonstrates invariance across sex and age in Peruvian adults. Additionally, findings indicate that differences in life experiences and the sex of patients may need to be verified in future studies to better understand nuanced needs in forming therapeutic alliances at least in the early stages of session attendance.Keywords: Working Alliance Inventory, patients, psychotherapy, psychometric properties, network analysis

Cristian Ramos-Vera,1 Dennis Calle,1 Helen Collacso Fiesta,1 Lorena Lisbett Lamilla,1 Antonio Serpa-Barrientos,2 Jacksaint Saintila3 1Research Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad César Vallejo, Lima, Perú; 2Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú; 3Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PerúCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, Escuela de Medicina Humana, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Perú, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comIntroduction: One of the key psychosocial factors that impact mental and emotional health is social support. While much research has been conducted on the role of social support in the lives of cancer patients, there is a lack of studies that consider populations who need specific tools to assess this concept.Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the MOS Social Support Scale (1991) in 499 Peruvian cancer patients between the ages of 18 and 87 (M= 46.30, SD = 15.747).Methods: In this study, three models of the MOS were analyzed based on 19-item versions (four factor, second order and bifactor model).Results: The results showed a better psychometric fit in the 19-item bifactor model with optimal fit indices through the structural equation method (SB-χ 2/df = 1.94, CFI = 0.966, TLI= 0.955, SRMR = 0.038 and RMSEA = 0.058). Additionally, there was evidence of configural, metric and scalar invariance with this instrument according to the gender of the surveyed cancer patients. Convergent validity using a network analysis approach revealed positive associations between social support dimensions and quality of life.Conclusion: Emotional support and positive interactions dimensions were found to be important interconnections in the overall network, as indicated by their greater centralities. Therefore, this instrument could be suggested as a reliable way to evaluate cancer patients and their perceived support.Keywords: social support, factor invariance, oncology, cancer, network analysis

Jhoes Naylin R Plaza-Ccuno,1 Cristabel Vasquez Puri,1 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,1 Wilter C Morales-García,2 Salomon Huancahuire-Vega,2 Anderson N Soriano-Moreno,2,&ast; Jacksaint Saintila3,&ast; 1School of Human Nutrition, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 2Clinical and Epidemiological Research Unit, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 3School of Medicine, Señor de Sipán University, Chiclayo, Perú&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Anderson N Soriano-Moreno, Clinical and Epidemiological Research Unit, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Union, Lima, Peru, Email andsor19@gmail.com Jacksaint Saintila, School of Medicine, Señor de Sipán University, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Perú, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comBackground: The pandemic has drastically impacted lifestyles, including the frequency, duration, and intensity of physical activity, which, in turn, leads to negative effects on job burnout among healthcare workers.Objective: This study evaluated the association between the level of physical activity and job burnout in a sample of health professionals during health emergency.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 300 workers working in a public hospital, located in the city of Rioja, Department of San Martin, Peru, were considered. Data were collected through an online and face-to-face survey. Job burnout was assessed using a validated questionnaire adapted to the Peruvian population and physical activity was assessed based on a single item. Crude and adjusted linear regression models were created to assess the association between the frequency of physical activity performed weekly and the level of job burnout.Results: In the crude models, it was observed that participants who performed physical activity 1– 2 times, 3– 4 times, or more than 4 times per week had, respectively, 6.29 (95% CI, 11.00– 1.59), 14.28 (95% CI, 21.70– 6.85), and 14.95 (95% CI, 25.17– 4.72) lower job burnout points compared to those who never performed physical activity. In the model adjusted for confounding variables, the association of this result was maintained, showing a dose-response effect.Conclusion: These findings suggest the need for the implementation of health education programs that include physical activity to minimize the negative effects of job burnout and ensure better medical care by health professionals for the benefit of patients.Keywords: health care workers, physical activity, COVID-19, occupational stress, job burnout, Peru

Antonio Serpa-Barrientos,1 Enrique Giovanni Pérez-Flores,2 Jacksaint Saintila3 1Department of Psychology, National University of San Marcos, Lima, Peru; 2Department of Psychology, César Vallejo University, Lima, Peru; 3School of Medicine, Señor de Sipán University, Chiclayo, PeruCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, School of Medicine, Señor de Sipán University, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Peru, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comObjective: The aim of this research was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPUS).Methods: A sample of 704 Peruvian youth and adults aged 18 to 62 years (M = 26, SD = 6.0) was considered, of which 56% were female and 43% male. The participants were from various cities in Peru: Lima (84%), Trujillo (2.6%), Arequipa (1.8%), and Huancayo (1.6%). The validity of the theoretical structure of the PPUS was carried out by means of two techniques: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Graphical Analysis (EGA), a new effective and efficient dimension evaluation technique, whose measure consists of verifying the fit of the dimension structure.Results: Using the bifactor model, the hypothesis that PPUS has a unifactorial behavior was corroborated. These approximations of unidimensionality are also corroborated by the EGA method, where the centrality parameters and network loadings are found to have acceptable estimates.Conclusion: The results demonstrate the validity of the PPUS, contrasting with the factor model and verifying the unidimensionality of the construct, which provide useful directions for future studies on the instrumentalization of problematic pornography use scale.Keywords: pornography, pornography scale, problematic pornography use, psychometrics, Peru

Neil A Rodas-Vargas,1,2 Danitza Z Huayta-Quispe,1 Percy G Ruiz Mamani,3 David J Javier-Aliaga,4 Wilter C Morales-García,5 Jacksaint Saintila6 1Unit of Public Health, Postgraduate School, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Perú; 2Hospital II Pasco, EsSalud, Pasco, Perú; 3School of Nursing, San Juan Bautista Private University, Lima, Perú; 4School of Human Nutrition, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Peru; 5School of Medicine, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Perú; 6School of Medicine, Señor de Sipán University, Chiclayo, PerúCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, School of Medicine, Señor de Sipán University, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, Lambayeque, 14001, Perú, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.comBackground: Dietary intake constitutes a fundamental support in hospitalized patients to reduce morbimortality, risk of complications, and hospital stay.Objective: We compared dietary intake, stress, anxiety, and satisfaction with the nutrition service in patients with and without COVID-19; we also analyzed the correlation between the variables mentioned.Methods: A cross-sectional, comparative, and correlational study was carried out. A total of 215 patients were selected by non-probability convenience sampling (97 with COVID-19 and 118 without COVID-19).Results: Patients with COVID-19 presented a higher percentage of “all the dish served” consumption (63.9%), as well as a higher percentage of “high” anxiety (18.6%) and “very high” satisfaction (28.9%) compared to their counterparts without COVID-19. The stress variable was predominantly moderate in both groups (57.7% vs 55.9%). Statistically significant and indirect correlation was found between satisfaction and stress level (rho = − 0.289; p< 0.01) in patients without COVID-19; similarly, between intake and stress level (rho =− .254; p< 0.05) in patients with COVID-19. Both groups presented a statistically significant and direct correlation between anxiety and stress level (rho =0.432 without COVID-19, rho = 0.525 with COVID-19; p< 0.01).Conclusion: The findings suggest a multidisciplinary intervention, in which the improvement of mental health in the study population is contemplated and to coadunate the negative effects on the perception of the quality of care of the nutrition service and on dietary intake.Keywords: COVID-19, dietary intake, stress, anxiety, degree of satisfaction, patients

Diana Beatriz Ramirez Luque,1 Neirru L Rocha Huaman,1 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,1,&ast; Sergio E Calizaya-Milla,1 Cristian Ramos-Vera,2 Jacksaint Saintila3,&ast; 1Escuela de Nutrición Humana, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 2Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Lima, Perú; 3Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, Perú&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, 14001, Lambayeque, Perú, Email saintilajack@crece.uss.edu.peBackground: Body self-perception and dietary self-efficacy may represent an important factor in the prevention of excess body weight.Purpose: This study evaluated body self-perception, dietary self-efficacy, and body mass index (BMI) in the Peruvian population.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 190 men and 210 women. Each participant was shown 9 Stunkard anatomical silhouettes corresponding to BMI values. The results obtained were classified as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. The Dieting Self-Efficacy Scale (DIET-SE) was also applied. Chi-square statistic, Kruskal–Wallis, Student t-test, and ANOVA were used to explore differences in means and proportions.Results: Age was significantly higher in those who underestimated their weight and who were dissatisfied with their body (p = 0.000). BMI was higher in men, most were dissatisfied with their body (p< 0.05), and were more likely to underestimate their weight compared to women (p = 0.000). Those participants who were dissatisfied with their body and who underestimated their weight were more likely to have an elevated BMI compared to those who were satisfied and who did not underestimate their weight. All participants had low dietary self-efficacy (LDSE), with a little higher proportion in men compared to women (62.6% vs 61.4%). The majority (45.9%) reported little confidence to resist high-calorie food temptations. More than half of the participants reported body dissatisfaction and LDSE, this was more frequent in men compared to women.Conclusion: It is necessary to develop and implement preventive measures to improve self-perception of the body, taking into account factors such as gender, age, and eating habits.Keywords: dietary self-efficacy, BMI, body self-perception, obesity, Peru

Delker Dilas,1 Rosarias Flores,1 Wilter C Morales-García,1,&ast; Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,2 Mardel Morales-García,3 Liset Sairitupa-Sanchez,4 Jacksaint Saintila5,&ast; 1Unit of Public Health, Postgraduate School, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Perú; 2Research Group for Nutrition and Lifestyle Research, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Perú; 3Faculty of Education, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Perú; 4School of Psychology, Peruvian Union University, Lima, Perú; 5School of Medicine, Señor de Sipán University, Chiclayo, Perú&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wilter C Morales-García, Unit of Public Health, Postgraduate School, Peruvian Union University, Km 19, Carretera Central, Lima, 15033, Perú, Email wiltermorales@upeu.edu.pe Jacksaint Saintila, School of Medicine, Señor de Sipán University, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, 14001, Lambayeque, Perú, Email saintilajack@crece.uss.edu.peBackground: Peru is one of the countries with the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the Latin American region and globally. Health education provided by nurses reinforces social support and the quality of patient care allows a greater impact on adherence to TB treatment.Purpose: This study evaluated the mediating effect of treatment education between social support, quality of care, and treatment adherence in TB patients.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out considering 162 adult TB patients from four health centers of the public sector located in the center of the city of Lima, Peru. Data were collected on variables, such as social support, quality of care, health education, and adherence to TB treatment. SmartPLS was used for data analysis.Results: The results showed that social support and quality of care significantly influence health education. Likewise, health education mediates social support and quality of care for better adherence to treatment.Conclusion: It is recommended that hospitals take initiatives to provide better health education on TB treatment to ensure better adherence to treatment.Keywords: social support, quality of care, education, adherence to treatment, tuberculosis

Jacksaint Saintila,1 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,2 Sergio E Calizaya-Milla,2 Ashly A Elejabo-Pacheco,2 Genesis A Sandoval-Valentin,2 Shirley G Rodriguez-Panta2 1Medical School, Señor De Sipán University, Chiclayo, Peru; 2Research Group for Nutrition and Lifestyle, Human Nutrition School, Peruvian Union University, Lima, PeruCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, Medical School, Señor De Sipán University, Km 5, Carretera a Pimentel, Chiclayo, 14001, Peru, Email jacksaintsaintila@gmail.com Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla, Research Group for Nutrition and Lifestyle, Human Nutrition School, Peruvian Union University, Km 19, Carretera Central, Lima, 15033, Peru, Email yaquelincalizaya@upeu.edu.peIntroduction: Peru is one of the developing countries with the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in Latin America and Caribbean region. Primary school teachers are identified as a high-risk group for overweight and obesity. However, studies conducted in this population group are limited. This study evaluated the association between nutritional knowledge, dietary regimen, and excess body weight in primary school teachers.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that included 151 teachers from two state schools in the eastern region of Lima, Peru. The level of nutritional knowledge was assessed using a validated questionnaire. Dietary regimen was also determined. The body mass index (BMI) was determined through self-reported weight and height. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between possible risk factors with excess body weight among teachers.Results: Inadequate nutritional knowledge level (AOR = 5.21, 95% CI: 1.31– 20.93), being male teachers (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.13– 4.45), and being married (AOR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.17– 5.30) were the significant predictors of excess body weight. In contrast, vegetarian teachers were less likely to have excess body weight (AOR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.47– 0.97).Conclusion: Future intervention programs should include improving nutritional knowledge with greater attention to male and married teachers to decrease the risk of excess body weight.Keywords: body mass index, dietary regimen, nutrition knowledge, obesity, overweight, vegetarians

Jacksaint Saintila,1 Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla,1 Digna E Brañes-Ruiz,2 Pedro R Nunura-Figueroa,2 Treisy C Chávez-Hernández,1 Vasthy A Bautista-Mayuri,1 Luz NR Santisteban-Murga,1 Sergio E Calizaya-Milla,1 Laura E Baquedano-Santana3 1Grupo de Investigación en Nutrición y Estilos de Vida, Escuela de Nutrición Humana, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 2Departamento de capellanía, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú; 3Escuela de Posgrado, Facultad de Medicina Humana, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, PerúCorrespondence: Jacksaint Saintila, Escuela de Nutrición Humana, Universidad Peruana Unión, Chosica, Lima, 15, Perú, Tel +51 991 354 542, Email jacksaintsaintila@upeu.edu.peBackground: Most of the studies involving members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (SDA) have been conducted in the United States and Canada.Aim: The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between dietary self-efficacy and religiosity among SDA members in Peru.Methods: In this online cross-sectional study, 403 participants aged 18 to 59 years selected by convenience were included. The data collected included sociodemographic information. In addition, the Dietary Self-Efficacy Scale (DIET-SE) and the Duke University Index of Religion (DUREL) were administered. A correlation analysis was performed and multiple linear regression was used to examine the association between religiosity, dietary self-efficacy, and sociodemographic variables.Results: Dietary self-efficacy was significantly negatively correlated with all dimensions of religiosity, ie, organized religious activities (ORA), non-organized religious activities (NORA), and intrinsic religiosity (IR). In addition, participants had high dietary self-efficacy and religiosity.Conclusion: Although religiosity dimensions did not significantly predict dietary self-efficacy, however, the non-organized religious activities dimension was the strongest predictor of dietary self-efficacy among Adventists in Peru. The present study will serve as a basis for future research to further investigate the potential positive effect of religiosity on the improvement a healthy diet and possible changes in the physical and mental health of the population.Keywords: Adventists, diet, religion, religiosity, self-efficacy, Peru

Background: Moral outrage (MO) is an emotional experience that arises in situations where a moral standard is violated. Despite its relevance, there are few psychometric studies in the Latin American context, characterized by inequality and social problems. This highlights the need for specific assessment instruments for this construct. The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of an MO scale in the Peruvian population., Methods: The sample consisted of 881 Peruvians (57.2% women, M age = 24.5 years, SD = 9.07 years). The moral outrage scale was administered to participants. To analyze the data, two models were tested: a structural equation model (SEM) and an exploratory structural equation model (ESEM)., Results: The CFA confirmed a two-factor model (emotional and cognitive), with satisfactory fit indices and standardized factor loadings greater than 0.70. The ESEM model also showed improved fit indices. Measurement invariance across sex was established, and convergent validity was demonstrated between the dimensions of MO and authoritarianism, as well as other sociodemographic variables such as sex, age, and socioeconomic level., Conclusions: The MO scale tested in this study is a reliable, valid, and invariant instrument, suitable for assessing moral outrage in both men and women within the Peruvian context., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethical guidelines and standards of conduct in psychological research were respected, and the corresponding instruments and procedures were appropriately followed. Additionally, the research protocol was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Señor de Sipán University (Ref.: 0083-12022023-CIEI). Furthermore, electronic informed consent was obtained from the participants. It is worth mentioning that in relation to the participants included in the study who have no educational background, their informed consents were obtained from their legally authorized representative. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical precepts stipulated in article 81 of the Code of Ethics of the College of Psychologists of Peru and the amendments included in the Helsinki Declaration. Consent for publication: Not Applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: There is limited information on how healthy behaviors and individual health perceptions mediate the relationship between eating behaviors and noncommunicable diseases in adults. This study aimed to evaluate the mediating role of these factors in the relationship between eating behaviors and comorbidity in U.S. adults., Methods: A cross-sectional predictive study using data from 5,247 adults from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5, cycle 3 (2019) was conducted. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the mediating effect., Results: The model showed good fit (χ2/df = 1.22, CFI = 971, TLI = 959, RMSEA = 0.050, SRMR = 0.036). It was found that self-perceived health totally mediated the relationship between eating behaviors and comorbidities (β = - 0.026, p < .001). Additionally, healthy behaviors and self-perceived health together mediated the relationship between eating behaviors and comorbidities (β = - 0.025, p < .001). A direct relationship was also observed between healthy behaviors and comorbidities, mediated by self-perceived health (β = - 0.103, p < .001)., Conclusion: The study concludes that eating behaviors are significantly related to comorbidities through the mediation of healthy behaviors and self-perceived health., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Maladaptive eating behaviors are becoming increasingly prevalent among adolescents, and their relationship to exposure to media messages has been extensively examined. However, more specifically, the influence of social networks on emotional eating (EmE) has received relatively less attention in the Peruvian context., Objective: To determine the association between social network addiction (SNA) and EmE among Peruvian adolescents, considering sex differences., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 878 adolescents were considered. The Social Network Addiction Questionnaire and the Emotional Eating Questionnaire were administered. Similarly, sociodemographic data were collected. To explore the association between SNA and EmE, we performed Poisson regression analyses with robust variance. We considered a p-value of equal to or less than 0.05 as statistically significant., Results: Adolescents with an EmE score greater than 5 had significantly higher SNA scores, averaging 24.7 (± 12.3), compared to 15.5 (± 10.3) in those with an EmE score between 0 and 5 (p < 0.001). In multiple regression analyses, men with moderate/severe SNA were 1.77 times more likely to have EmE compared to those without SNA (95% CI 1.45-2.15; p < 0.001), while in women, moderate/severe SNA was associated with a 1.98 times higher likelihood of EmE (95% CI 1.61-2.45; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for public health interventions to educate adolescents about the use of social networks to minimize the negative effects of prolonged exposure on eating habits., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Beliefs and practices related to healthy lifestyles and religiosity can play an important role in overall well-being. However, few studies have explored the association between these factors and life satisfaction in the university context. This study examined the association between sociodemographic aspects, lifestyle beliefs, and religiosity with life satisfaction in university students., Methods: A cross-sectional predictive study was conducted during the months of March and May 2024 at a private university located in the northern region of Peru. Validated instruments were distributed that included a lifestyle beliefs scale, the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire-Short Form (SCSRFQ-SF), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and a sociodemographic data section. A total of 1,258 students participated in the study. Multiple linear regression models were used for predictive analysis., Results: Being a student of foreign origin, compared to being Peruvian, is negatively and significantly associated with life satisfaction ( β  = -0.066, p  = 0.003). In contrast, a positive association is observed between belonging to the Faculty of Health Sciences ( β  = 0.119, p  = 0.048) and life satisfaction, compared to students from other faculties. Furthermore, lifestyle beliefs ( β  = 0.579; p  < 0.001) and religiosity ( β  = 0.182; p  < 0.001) are positively and significantly associated with life satisfaction., Conclusion: These findings suggest that universities and health professionals should consider promoting healthy lifestyles and supporting religious practices as important strategies to improve student life satisfaction, considering relevant sociodemographic aspects., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Saintila, Javier-Aliaga, Valle-Chafloque, Casas-Gálvez, Barreto-Espinoza and Calizaya-Milla.)

Mental well-being is conditioned by several factors, including religious involvement and diet. However, this evidence does not exist among members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in Latin America, particularly Peru. This study evaluated the association between religious involvement and vegetarian diet with mental well-being in members of the SDA Church in Peru. In this cross-sectional study, the sample included 767 participants, aged 18 to 59 years. A face-to-face and online survey was administered that included information on the dietary regimen and sociodemographic characteristics. Religious involvement and mental well-being were measured using the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Duke University Religion Index (DUREL), respectively. A multivariate analysis was conducted to investigate the factors associated with mental well-being. Being female (β = 1.80, p < 0.001), coming from the highland region (β = 1.98, p < 0.001), having a basic educational degree (β = 1.85, p < 0.001), a higher level of religious involvement (β = 0.34, p < 0.001), and being vegetarian (β = 1.21, p < 0.001) were associated with greater mental well-being. This evidence highlights the implication of religious participation and a vegetarian diet in mental health, not only among SDA church members but also in a broader context. However, it should be recognized that direct transfer of church-based health promotion interventions and strategies to the general population can present challenges; therefore, it is suggested that these strategies should be adapted and adjusted to consider differences in the community context., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Despite evidence suggesting a relationship between religiosity and health habits, there is a paucity of studies specifically examining this association in the context of Peruvian university students. This study compared body mass index (BMI), adherence to a healthy lifestyle, and breakfast consumption in Peruvian university students of four religious denominations: Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), Catholics, Baptists, and Evangelicals., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted online among 4557 students from a Peruvian university. The BMI and the frequency of breakfast consumption were evaluated, and the Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS) was applied. The variables studied were associated using simple and multiple linear regression and Poisson models with robust variance., Results: Baptist (B = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.10-0.78; p = 0.011), Catholic (B = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.12-0.47; p = 0.001), and Evangelical (B = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.64; p = 0.014) students had a significantly higher BMI compared to SDA. Baptist (B = -0.2, 95% CI: -0.37--0.05; p = 0.017) and Evangelical (B = -0.13, 95% CI: -0.28--0.03; p = 0.012) students exhibited a lower mean score on the measure of healthy lifestyles compared to SDA students. Additionally, Baptist (PR = -0.32, 95% CI: -0.92--0.12; p = 0.035) and Catholic (PR = -0.3, 95% CI: -0.99--0.19; p = 0.016) students exhibited a lower probability of eating breakfast regularly compared to SDA students., Conclusions: Health professionals should consider these findings when designing and implementing health promotion programs that are culturally sensitive and respectful of the beliefs and practices of all religious groups in university settings.

Changes in dietary patterns and body weight have become a focus of research in undergraduate students. This study compared breakfast consumption, intake of foods high in saturated fat, and BMI between medical and non-medical students. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in 4,561 Peruvian university students, of whom 1,464 (32.1%) were from the medical field and 3,097 (67.9%) from the non-medical field. We compared the frequency of breakfast consumption (categorized as regular: 6 to 7 days/week; occasional: 3 to 5 days/week; and rarely or never: 0 to 2 days/week) and the frequency of consumption of foods high in saturated fat. We created simple and multiple linear and Poisson regression models with robust variance to evaluate the association of the mentioned variables with academic fields. Non-medical students (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [PR] = 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.99; p = 0.008) were less likely to eat breakfast regularly compared to medical students. Likewise, consumption of foods high in saturated fats was higher in non-medical students (B = 1.47, 95% CI 0.91-2.04; p < 0.001) compared to medical students. Similarly, the mean BMI of these students was significantly higher than that of medical students (B = 0.33, 95% CI 0.12-0.53; p = 0.002). Although medical students reported relatively healthy eating habits and a lower BMI, there is a widespread need to promote improved diet and lifestyle among the entire university population to reduce the risks of communicable diseases and improve quality of life., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background : Vegetarianism is commonly associated with various health benefits. However, the association between this dietary regimen and aspects of mental health remains ambiguous. This study compared the symptoms of depression and anxiety, emotional eating (EmE), and body mass index (BMI) in Peruvian vegetarian and non-vegetarian adults. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted on 768 Peruvian adults, of whom 284 (37%) were vegetarians and 484 (63%) were non-vegetarians. The Depression Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2 (GAD-2), and an EmE questionnaire were applied; additionally, the BMI was calculated. Simple and multiple linear regression and Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to evaluate the association between depression, anxiety, EmE, and BMI with dietary patterns. Results : The vegetarians (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [PR] = 0.24, 95% CI 0.16-0.31; p < 0.001) reported more depressive symptoms than the non-vegetarians. This trend persisted for anxiety, with an adjusted PR of 0.17 (95% CI: 0.01-0.29; p = 0.012). However, the vegetarians (adjusted PR = -0.38, 95% CI: -0.61--0.14; p < 0.001) reported lower EmE scores compared to the non-vegetarians. Likewise, the vegetarians had a lower mean BMI than the non-vegetarians (B = -0.16, 95% CI: -0.21--0.08; p < 0.001). Conclusions : Vegetarian diets are associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as lower EmE and BMI scores. Further longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate these associations and determine causality and the underlying mechanisms involved.

Background: The concept of entrapment has been highlighted as a transdiagnostic element that manifests itself in disorders such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Although research has been conducted in different contexts independently, a comprehensive multi-country study to assess gender differences in entrapment through network analysis has not yet been carried out. The objective of this study was to evaluate the entrapment network in men and women at the multinational level., Methods: A sample of 2,949 participants, ranging in age from 18 to 73 years from six countries (Germany, Iran, Spain, Slovakia, El Salvador, and Peru), was considered. They completed the entrapment scale. A network analysis was performed for both men and women to identify the connectivity between indicators and the formation of clusters and domains, in addition to the centrality assessment in both sex groups., Results: The study findings revealed the presence of a third domain focused on external interpersonal entrapment in the network of men and women. However, in relation to the interconnectivity between domains, variations were evidenced in both networks, as well as in centrality, it was reported that men present a greater generalized entrapment in various aspects of life, while women tend to experience a more focused entrapment in expressions of intense emotional charge., Conclusion: The multinational study identified variations in the structure of entrapment between genders, with three domains (internal, external, and external-interpersonal) and differences in the interaction of indicators and groupings, as well as discrepancies in centrality., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ramos-Vera, Calle, Quispe-Callo, Höller, Forkmann, Ordoñez-Carrasco, Čopková, Lichner, Lobos-Rivera, Calizaya-Milla and Saintila.)

Background: The link between physical and mental health and screen time in adolescents has been the subject of scientific scrutiny in recent years. However, there are few studies that have evaluated the association between social network addiction (SNA) and metabolic risk in this population., Objective: This study determined the association between SNA and anxiety symptoms with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescents., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Peruvian adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, who completed a Social Network Addiction Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item scale (GAD-2), between September and November 2022. A total of 903 participants were included in the study using a non-probability convenience sample. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were also collected. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the association between SNA and anxiety symptoms with MetS in a cross-sectional analysis., Results: Males were more likely to have MetS than females (OR = 1.133, p = 0.028). Participants who were 16 years of age or older and those with excess body weight were 2.166, p = 0.013 and 19.414, p < 0.001 times more likely to have MetS, respectively. Additionally, SNA (OR = 1.517, p = 0.016) and the presence of anxiety symptoms (OR = 2.596, p < 0.001) were associated with MetS., Conclusion: Our findings suggest associations between SNA, anxiety symptoms, and MetS among youth. However, more studies are needed to better understand this association and to deepen the possible clinical and public health implications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Saintila, Oblitas-Guerrero, Larrain-Tavara, Lizarraga-De-Maguiña, Bernal-Corrales, López-López, Calizaya-Milla, Serpa-Barrientos and Ramos-Vera.)

The health crisis caused by COVID-19 in the United Kingdom and the confinement measures that were subsequently implemented had unprecedented effects on the mental health of older adults, leading to the emergence and exacerbation of different comorbid symptoms including depression and anxiety. This study examined and compared depression and anxiety symptom networks in two specific quarantine periods (June-July and November-December) in the older adult population in the United Kingdom. We used the database of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging COVID-19 Substudy, consisting of 5797 participants in the first stage (54% women) and 6512 participants in the second stage (56% women), all over 50 years of age. The symptoms with the highest centrality in both times were: "Nervousness (A1)" and "Inability to relax (A4)" in expected influence and predictability, and "depressed mood (D1"; bridging expected influence). The latter measure along with "Irritability (A6)" overlapped in both depression and anxiety clusters in both networks. In addition, a the cross-lagged panel network model was examined in which a more significant influence on the direction of the symptom "Nervousness (A1)" by the depressive symptoms of "Anhedonia (D6)", "Hopelessness (D7)", and "Sleep problems (D3)" was observed; the latter measure has the highest predictive capability of the network. The results report which symptoms had a higher degree of centrality and transdiagnostic overlap in the cross-sectional networks (invariants) and the cross-lagged panel network model of anxious and depressive symptomatology., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The prevalence of obesity continues to increase among university students and the general population. Consumption of a diet high in saturated fats could be one of the risk factors., Objective: The consumption of foods high in saturated fats, the vegetarian diet pattern, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with excess body weight (overweight/obesity) were evaluated in Peruvian university students., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out selecting 5,608 Peruvian university students through no probabilistic convenience sampling. The survey was carried out during the months of February and April 2022. The Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between diet (saturated fats intake and dietary pattern) and sociodemographic factors with excess body weight in a cross-sectional analysis., Results: It was observed that students who reported high consumption of foods high in saturated fats (OR B  = 1.14) and those who had a non-vegetarian dietary pattern (OR B  = 2.76) were found to be more likely to have excess body weight. On the contrary, students who reported adherence to the vegetarian diet pattern for more than 5 years were less likely to be overweight or obese (OR B  = 0.84). Being ≥26 years of age (OR B  = 3.28), living in urban areas (OR B  = 1.68) and coastal areas of the country (OR B  = 1.17), and enrolled in the engineering faculty (OR B  = 1.19), were significantly associated with excess body weight., Conclusion: The findings of the current study evidenced several factors associated with excess body weight in university students. Therefore, it is necessary to promote and implement healthy lifestyle programs, considering sociodemographic and dietary aspects such as age and dietary intake to control and prevent obesity in university students., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Saintila, Ruiz Mamani, Ramos-Vera, Serpa-Barrientos, Oblitas-Guerrero, Lizarraga-De-Maguiña and Calizaya-Milla.)

Background: Evidence shows that a healthy lifestyle can promote physical and mental well-being in the general population. However, there are few studies that assess the adherence to a healthy lifestyle in vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in adherence to a healthy lifestyle between vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students in Peru., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out considering data from 6,846 students selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS), the Peruvian validation of the Vegetarian Lifestyle Index (VLI), was used. In addition, sociodemographic and anthropometric data such as weight and height were collected. Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated., Results: Semi-vegetarian and vegetarian students had a high healthy lifestyle score compared to non-vegetarians. In addition, vegetarian diets showed a significantly higher proportion among students with a lower BMI (normal and underweight). Students with excess body weight (overweight and obesity) were less likely to report healthy lifestyle. In the overall population analyzed, it was observed that the levels of health and lifestyle behaviors, such as daily exercise and sunlight exposure, were mostly moderate and low. Additionally, sweets intake was high, while healthy food consumption such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains was low., Conclusion: The current findings show that although vegetarians had better adherence to a healthy lifestyle, interventions in the university setting are needed to improve healthy lifestyle in university students., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Saintila et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: Excess body weight and an unhealthy lifestyle are a risk factor for noncommunicable diseases. University students are susceptible to unhealthy habits and obesity. This study compared body mass index (BMI) and healthy lifestyle practices among university students from four academic disciplines: Health Sciences, Business Sciences, Human Sciences and Education, and Engineering/Architecture., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a sample of 6,642 university students selected by non-probability convenience sampling. The Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS), the Peruvian validation of the Vegetarian Lifestyle Index (VLI), was used to assess healthy lifestyle practices., Results: Students in the areas of Business Sciences and Engineering/Architecture had a higher BMI than their peers in Health Sciences (B = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.15-0.56 and 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13-0.52; p = 0.001). Additionally, these students tended to adopt less healthy lifestyle (B = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.20 to -0.01 and -0.09, 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.00; p < 0.05) compared to those in Health Sciences., Conclusion: Although students of Health Sciences and Human Sciences and Education exhibited healthy lifestyle patterns, there is a clear need to improve eating and living habits in general among the university population to mitigate the risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Saintila, Calizaya-Milla, Carranza-Cubas, Serpa-Barrientos, Oblitas-Guerrero and Ramos-Vera.)

Background: Short sleep duration in healthcare professionals is a recurring concern among researchers. On the other hand, the prevalence of burnout in this population group is experiencing exponential growth. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between sleep duration and burnout in healthcare professionals., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected by applying a non-probabilistic convenience sampling, considering a sample of 300 healthcare professionals from the public sector in Peru. The association between variables was explored using multivariate logistic regression. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: The results of the analysis in the crude models revealed that both men and women who slept < 7 h during workdays and days off were 8.33 (95% CI = 2.68-13.99, p = 0.004) and 17.18 (95% CI = 10.50-23.87, p < 0.001) times more likely to have burnout compared to those who reported ≥7 h, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, the association remained statistically significant., Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the critical importance of sleep duration in the incidence of burnout among healthcare professionals. In the context of the global challenges to the mental and physical health of these professionals, our results highlight the urgent need to implement strategies at the organizational and individual level. This includes promoting a better work-life balance, and effective stress management and improved sleep quality., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Saintila, Soriano-Moreno, Ramos-Vera, Oblitas-Guerrero and Calizaya-Milla.)

Background: University students often experience significant changes in their eating habits, which can increase the risk of developing eating disorders (ED). This situation calls for the creation of brief assessment tools to identify college students who may be most at risk. The aim of the study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Eating Attitudes Test-8 (EAT-8) in a Peruvian university population; additionally, the possible differences in the scores of the instrument according to sociodemographic variables, such as gender and age, were examined., Methods: A psychometric study was conducted on 610 participants ( M = 24.3, SD = 2.16, and 61.5% female), aged 19 to 31 years, belonging to four universities of different professional careers., Results: The unidimensional eight-item model was found to have fit indices that confirm acceptable factorial validity ( X 2 /df = 3.23, CFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.977, RMSEA = 0.061, SRMR = 0.049) and an internal consistency of 0.833 for the Cronbach's alpha coefficient and 0.838 for the McDonald's omega coefficient. In addition, the EAT-8 was reported to be invariant according to gender and age; likewise, there were no significant differences in the age and gender categories., Conclusion: The EAT-8 has solid psychometric properties, including validity, reliability, and invariance, in the Peruvian university population, which supports its ability to assess the risk of developing ED in this specific group., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Ramos-Vera, Basauri-Delgado, Obregón and Saintila.)

Background: The environmental action scale is used to measure the degree of participation in collective environmental actions and has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties in developed countries. However, there are still no studies that have evaluated its performance in the Peruvian population., Methods: In this instrumental study, the environmental action scale (EAS) was translated, adapted, and validated. The EAS was administered to 352 university students between 18 and 35 years of age ( M age  = 23.37, SD  = 2.57) from different cities in Peru. A validity analysis was performed using two sources of evidence: content validity and internal structure, carrying out an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)., Results: The structure of the scale has been organized into three oblique factors. The findings confirmed the reliability and validity of the three dimensions of the EAS., Conclusion: Therefore, this scale is considered a valid option for assessing environmental action., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Serpa-Barrientos, Pérez-Flores, Bellido-Figueroa and Saintila.)

Background: Life satisfaction is essential for teachers' work performance and student learning. Additionally, servant leadership has been shown to be one of the best leadership practices as it promotes employee well-being and satisfaction. Moreover, satisfaction with job resources acts as a mediator in the relationship between servant leadership and life satisfaction by influencing individual and collective performance in the organization., Objective: This research aimed to evaluate the mediating role of satisfaction with job resources in the relationship between servant leadership and life satisfaction., Methods: The study was cross-sectional and explanatory. 620 teachers aged between 20 and 62 years ( M  = 35 and SD = 9.49) participated in the study. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to measure life satisfaction, service leadership, and job resource satisfaction through the use of questionnaires., Results: The results indicated that the model obtained an adequate fit, χ 2  = 2,658, df = 551, p  < 0.001, CFI = 0.941, TLI = 0.936, RMSEA = 0.079, SRMR = 0.070. The results confirm the positive influence of leadership on satisfaction with resources and life satisfaction. Additionally, a positive influence of satisfaction with job resources on life satisfaction was observed. Moreover, the mediation of job resources in servant leadership and life satisfaction was confirmed., Conclusion: Servant leadership, supported by satisfaction with job resources, can reduce effort and associated costs, stimulate personal growth and learning, and improve the well-being of teachers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Quinteros-Durand, Almanza-Cabe, Morales-García, Mamani-Benito, Sairitupa-Sanchez, Puño-Quispe, Saintila, Saavedra-Sandoval, Paredes and Ramírez-Coronel.)

Background: Information on understanding the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and positive and negative stress among students is limited. The objective of this research was to evaluate the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between positive and negative stress and PTG in university students., Methods: The research was carried out using an associative strategy with an empirical approach and explanatory design, with a sample of 507 participants whose average age was 22.38 years ([Formula: see text]= 3.758), the sample was mostly composed of women (70.4%)., Results: The results allow us to describe that resilience plays a complete mediating role in the relationship between negative stress and PTG. On the other hand, mediation was partial when resilience mediated the relationship between positive stress and PTG. In addition, multigroup invariance analyses according to gender and geographic context show that there is no difference in males, females, and the region where they reside., Conclusion: In conclusion, the hypothesis that resilience fulfills the mediating function is ratified., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Background: network assessment of eating disorder (ED)-related symptomatology from a gender perspective is an important topic of study; however, there is limited research in the Latin American context. Objective: this study aimed to explore the patterns of association of the components of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q7) according to gender, using two simultaneous network models in 890 Peruvian adults (63.51 % were women; mean age: 26.40). Methods: two graphs considering the gender factor were made using the R package qgrap and the merged LASSO graph. Results: higher network centrality measures were obtained for items related to body image dissatisfaction and overvaluation in women; while in the men's network, the items of food restriction and overestimation of weight were the most central symptoms. Conclusion: both network models were invariant and showed no significant differences in both structure and connections.

Background: The concept of Grit refers to a person's ability to maintain perseverance and passion in the pursuit of long-term objectives. However, research on the applicability of the Grit-Original scale (Grit-O) in the Latin American context is limited., Objective: This instrumental design study aimed to analyze the structure of this scale and its factorial invariance in relation to gender, as well as to examine its convergent validity with job satisfaction and happiness., Methods: A sample of 364 Peruvian workers that were selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling in 2021., Results: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the two-dimensional structure of 12 items presented adequate goodness-of-fit indices. Additionally, the instrument is invariant between men and women. Likewise, the convergent relationship between the Grit scale, job satisfaction, and happiness variables was confirmed, which supports the validity of the instrument in the study context., Conclusion: The findings of the study confirm that the GRIT-O is a measure with adequate psychometric properties in the Peruvian context., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Ramos-Vera, Soza-Herrera, Quispe-Callo, Serpa-Barrientos, Calizaya-Milla and Saintila.)

Background: Although the relationship between health status and dietary intake has been extensively studied in the general population, there is a lack of research that has specifically examined the association between frequency of breakfast consumption and cardiometabolic risk in university teachers., Objective: To determine the association between the frequency of breakfast consumption and cardiometabolic risk in university teachers., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 176 teachers from a private university located in the eastern region of Lima, Peru ( M age : 37.0 years; SD: 0.8, range: 24-59 years). The study was conducted during the period from December 2019 to February 2020. Information was collected on anthropometric and biochemical parameters and frequency of breakfast consumption. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to explore the association between frequency of breakfast with sociodemographic, anthropometric, and biochemical variables., Results: The highest prevalence of excess body weight (44.4%) was observed in those who consumed breakfast 0 to 2 days/week, but without statistical differences. Those who reported Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) < 160 mg/dL were 77% less likely to fall into the 3-5 day/week breakfast frequency category than those who reported a regular frequency of breakfast (6 to 7 days/week) (Adjusted OR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.73; p < 0.05). In addition, teachers who reported a breakfast frequency of 3 to 5 days/week were 83% more likely to have a glucose concentration < 110 mg/dL compared to those who consumed breakfast of 6 to 7 days/week (Adjusted OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.75; p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Skipping breakfast for an extended period of time can have detrimental effects on cardiometabolic health. Promoting the benefits of breakfast could be a health message of great public health interest., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Saintila, Baquedano-Santana, Calizaya-Milla, Ramos-Vera, Barrientos and Carranza-Esteban.)

Background: Life satisfaction as well as job satisfaction of teachers has a significant impact on educational outcomes., Objective: To evaluate a model of factors predicting life satisfaction through the mediating role of job satisfaction., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, with a sample of 300 primary school teachers of both sexes (68% female, 32% male) and with a mean age of 42.52 years (SD = 10.04). They were administered the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Workload Scale (ECT), the Generic Job Satisfaction Scale, and the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for data analysis., Results: The SEM analysis found significant goodness-of-fit indices: (χ2 = 13.739; df = 5; p  = <0.001; CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.05, SRMR = 0.04). Specifically, self-efficacy and organizational commitment were positive predictors of job satisfaction, while workload was a negative predictor of job satisfaction. The mediating effect of job satisfaction between self-efficacy, life satisfaction, workload, and overall life satisfaction was confirmed., Conclusion: The results confirm the importance of self-efficacy, organizational commitment, and workload in job satisfaction and overall life satisfaction of elementary education teachers. Job satisfaction acts as a mediator in this relationship. It is important to reduce workload and promote self-efficacy and organizational commitment to improve the well-being and satisfaction of teachers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Cayupe, Bernedo-Moreira, Morales-García, Alcaraz, Peña, Saintila and Flores-Paredes.)

Depression in young people is considered a public health problem, given that it affects their personal, social, and academic lives; therefore, early detection of depressive symptoms is of importance for a favorable prognosis. This study aimed to estimate the psychometric properties of the second edition of the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS-2) in Peruvian adolescents. The sample was composed of 917 Peruvian adolescents, aged 13 to 18 years (M = 15,241, SD = 1,020), who were selected from two public educational institutions in Metropolitan Lima. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 25-item model with the four-dimensional structure and its overall and interdimensional reliability. This structure was found to be gender invariant. Finally, network analysis was performed to assess the relationships and centralities of the depressive symptoms of the validated version of the RADS-2. The results show that the RADS-2 measure is a consistent and reliable test that yields valid results in the Peruvian adolescent context., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Ramos-Vera et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: People with depression are at increased risk for comorbidities; however, the clustering of comorbidity patterns in these patients is still unclear., Objective: The aim of the study was to identify latent comorbidity patterns and explore the comorbidity network structure that included 12 chronic conditions in adults diagnosed with depressive disorder., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on secondary data from the 2017 behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS) covering all 50 American states. A sample of 89,209 U.S. participants, 29,079 men and 60,063 women aged 18 years or older, was considered using exploratory graphical analysis (EGA), a statistical graphical model that includes algorithms for grouping and factoring variables in a multivariate system of network relationships., Results: The EGA findings show that the network presents 3 latent comorbidity patterns, i.e., that comorbidities are grouped into 3 factors. The first group was composed of 7 comorbidities (obesity, cancer, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, arthritis, kidney disease, and diabetes). The second pattern of latent comorbidity included the diagnosis of asthma and respiratory diseases. The last factor grouped 3 conditions (heart attack, coronary heart disease, and stroke). Hypertension reported higher measures of network centrality., Conclusion: Associations between chronic conditions were reported; furthermore, they were grouped into 3 latent dimensions of comorbidity and reported network factor loadings. The implementation of care and treatment guidelines and protocols for patients with depressive symptomatology and multimorbidity is suggested., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2023 Cristian Ramos-Vera et al.)

Post-traumatic growth is the psychological capacity to perceive positive changes facing high-stress or potentially traumatic events and may be especially useful in lessening their effects in adolescents' lives. Present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) in 662 Peruvian adolescents who suffered the death of an immediate family member over the last 4 years. Firstly, an exploratory graphical analysis (EGA) was conducted to determine the best parsimonious structure of the instrument and confirmed with its respective factor models. The results report adequate fit indices in the EGA Bifactor model. Furthermore, another structural model is included, which reports significant latent effects of the time elapsed since the relative's death and gender (male) on PTGI general factor. Likewise, gender measure was significantly related to items 3, 7, and 11, which is linked to personal growth., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Introduction: University students constantly face a number of health challenges related to an unhealthy diet, characterized by a high intake of saturated fats., Objective: This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Block Fat Screener (BFS-E) food frequency questionnaire in a university population., Methods: An observational analytical study of instrumental type was carried out in 5608 Peruvian university students. Based on the Block Fat Screener questionnaire, a back-translation and cultural adaptation process was carried out. The validity of the questionnaire was determined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), hypothesizing a unidimensional structure. For the determination of reliability, the alpha coefficients were considered; likewise, the ω and H coefficients were used to evaluate the construct. The model explained 63% of the cumulative variance., Results: The CFA confirmed the unidimensionality of the 16-item questionnaire with appropriate goodness-of-fit indicators; therefore, which model of the Peruvian version adequately fits the observed data. The values of the reliability coefficients were higher than 0.90, with ordinal α = 0.94, ω = 0.94, and H = 0.95., Conclusion: The Spanish version of the Block Fat Screener food frequency questionnaire presents adequate psychometric properties and is therefore a valid scale to quickly measure fat intake in university students in a Latin American context., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Saintila, Morales-García, Calizaya-Milla, Ruiz Mamani, Huancahuire-Vega, Calizaya-Milla and Ramos-Vera.)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent health restrictions had an unprecedented impact on mental health, contributing to the emergence and reinforcement of various psychopathological symptoms. This complex interaction needs to be examined especially in a vulnerable population such as older adults., Objective: In the present study we analyzed network structures of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and loneliness from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging COVID-19 Substudy over two waves (Months of June-July and November-December 2020)., Methods: For this purpose, we use measures of centrality (expected and bridge-expected influence) in addition to the Clique Percolation method to identify overlapping symptoms between communities. We also use directed networks to identify direct effects between variables at the longitudinal level., Results: UK adults aged >50 participated, Wave 1: 5,797 (54% female) and Wave 2: 6,512 (56% female). Cross-sectional findings indicated that difficulty relaxing, anxious mood, and excessive worry symptoms were the strongest and similar measures of centrality (Expected Influence) in both waves, while depressive mood was the one that allowed interconnection between all networks (bridge expected influence). On the other hand, sadness and difficulty sleeping were symptoms that reflected the highest comorbidity among all variables during the first and second waves, respectively. Finally, at the longitudinal level, we found a clear predictive effect in the direction of the nervousness symptom, which was reinforced by depressive symptoms (difficulties in enjoying life) and loneliness (feeling of being excluded or cut off from others)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that depressive, anxious, and loneliness symptoms were dynamically reinforced as a function of pandemic context in older adults in the UK., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Ramos-Vera, García O'Diana, Basauri, Calle and Saintila.)

Background: Dietary practices are acquired in the family context and in turn can affect the health of family members, especially the nutritional status of children. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between nutritional status and feeding practices in children from foster families served by the SOS Children's Villages program in Cartagena, Colombia., Methods: The study had a cross-sectional design. Through a non-probabilistic purposive sampling, 139 children from 0 to 5 years of age from the SOS Children's Villages Cartagena program were involved. The sociodemographic background of the participants was recorded and the nutritional status of the children was evaluated through anthropometric and biochemical measurements. Dietary practices were measured by means of a standardized questionnaire. Analyses were performed with Poisson regression models with robust variance. These regression models provided prevalence ratios (PR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI)., Results: Among dietary practices, it was observed that most families eat together at home (63.3%), watch television when they eat (55.4%), and have dietary norms (80.6%). Consumption of plant foods was predominantly high, especially vegetables (86.3%), fruits (92.1%), cereals (84.9%), root vegetables, and bananas (93.5%). Consumption < 4 times/week of soft drinks and industrialized juices increases 14.3 times the probability of low weight-for-height in the study population compared to the group that does not consume them. On the other hand, watching television while eating (PR: 2.82, 95%CI 1.32-4.69) and consumption of sweet snacks (PR: 2.24, 95%CI 1.03-4.87) increased the probability of low height-for-age; while having eaten norms at home decreased the probability of low height-for-age in the study population by 50%., Conclusion: It is necessary to develop and implement interventions such as preventive measures and early diagnosis of inappropriate feeding behaviors to ensure adequate nutritional status among children under 5 years of age., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Crises negatively affect the economy of a country, increasing financial risk, as they affect work activities and the well-being of the population. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of financial well-being in the relationship between personal well-being and financial threats. A predictive cross-sectional study was conducted. The variables analyzed were personal well-being, financial threats, and financial well-being. A total of 416 Peruvian adults from the three regions of Peru participated. The mean age was M = 35.36, SD = 8.84, with a range of 19-62 years. To represent the statistical mediation model, a structural equation model (SEM) was used. The analysis showed that the variables were significantly related ( p  < 0.001). The theoretical model indicated a perfect mediation, also obtaining a good fit, χ 2 (168) = 394.3, CFI = 0.931, RMSEA = 0.057, SRMR = 0.062. The study showed that personal well-being serves as a basis for promoting financial well-being and this contributes to the reduction of financial threats., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Estela-Delgado, Montenegro, Paan, Morales-García, Castillo-Blanco, Sairitupa-Sanchez and Saintila.)

Burnout can have a negative influence on dietary intake, promoting unhealthy eating behaviors in health care workers. This study determined the association between burnout, saturated fat intake, and body mass index (BMI) in a group of health care workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 300 health professionals residing in Rioja, Department of San Martin, Peru. Data were collected through an online and face-to-face survey. Burnout was assessed using a scale adapted and validated in the Peruvian population. Additionally, a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess habitual fat intake. Both instruments were validated and adapted to the Peruvian population. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and multivariate logistic regression. Values of P < .05 were considered statistically significant. In the adjusted model, it was found that, for each extra point on intake scale, an average of 1.10 (95% CI, 0.57-1.62, P < .001) points increased burnout scale; these results persisted when compared by gender, 1.17 0.49 1.85, and 1.08 0.16 2.00, respectively female male genders. there no association between bmi ( P > .05). Future programs and interventions should be considered to minimize the effects of burnout on unhealthy food intake in health care workers in Peru to ensure better medical care by health care professionals on behalf of patients.

Background: Life satisfaction is a determining factor for the improvement of mental and physical health. Health care workers are a vulnerable population to suffer alterations in the factors that affect life satisfaction. Determining the influence of these factors on quality of life is important for their proper management., Objective: To examine sociodemographic factors and healthy behaviors influencing life satisfaction in Peruvian professionals., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 506 health care workers, who had a mean age of 40.34 years (SD = 10.39). A sociodemographic questionnaire, sleep quality, physical activity, eating habits, and life satisfaction were used. A regression model was fitted with the life satisfaction variable as the dependent variable., Results: In multivariable analysis, age (β = -.938, P  < .01) and perception of poor health status (β = -4.743, P  < .001) were found to be associated with lower life satisfaction. On the other hand, higher university education level (β = 1.667, P  < .001), absence of smoking (β = 3.202, P  < .01), absence of depressive symptoms (β = 3.390, P  < .001), interest in daily activities (β = 3.503, P  < .05), good sleep quality (β = 1.027, P  < .01), a high frequency of physical activity (β = 1.056, P  < .01), and healthy eating are variables associated with higher life satisfaction., Conclusion: Sociodemographic aspects such as age and the perception of poor health are associated with lower life satisfaction. On the other hand, healthy behaviors such as absence of smoking, absence of depressive symptoms, interest in daily activities, good quality of sleep, high frequency of physical activity, and a healthy diet were associated with higher life satisfaction.

Objective: To determine the association between sociodemographic factors, stress, depression and anxiety, emotional eating, and concern about COVID-19 contagion in first and second-line Peruvian nurses., Methodology: The study was cross-sectional and conducted with 500 Peruvian nurses of both sexes, over 18 years of age. Validated questionnaires were used to measure sociodemographic aspects, concern about COVID-19, generalized anxiety, depression, self-perceived stress, and emotional eating. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the factors affecting concern about COVID-19 contagion., Results: The multiple linear regression analysis showed that stress, being between the ages of 18 and 29 years, being male, being from the coastal region or the jungle region, having a bachelor's degree, severe anxiety, and severe depression were associated with higher concern about COVID-19. On the other hand, having more than 5 to 10 years of experience and more than 10 years of experience, low emotional eating, and non-emotional eating were negatively associated with concern. This model explained 44.05% of the variability among the participating nurses., Conclusion: These findings provide resources for future research on the comprehensive well-being of nursing staff by exploring various sociodemographic aspects and mental conditions associated with greater concern about COVID-19. Meanwhile, years of experience and emotional eating behavior were associated with lower concern about COVID-19. Future studies could incorporate this information to preserve the mental and physical health of nurses in the face of potential occupational threats.