Alejandra Caqueo-Urizar

• PhD.
• Professor (Full) at University of Tarapacá

Background: Quality of life (QoL) in patients with Schizophrenia has become one of the most important outcome measures in long-term treatment; however, in the Latin American context, longitudinal research that analyzes its trajectories over time and its relationship with clinical and sociodemographic aspects is still scarce. The aim of this study w...

This study analyzes the influence of social determinants (SD) and positive youth development (PYD) on the mental health (MH) of Chilean adolescents. A non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational-explanatory design was used to analyze data from 612 adolescents (43.46% male and 56.54% female), aged between 11 and 19 years (M = 14.92, SD = 1.50)....

Background Despite the evidence of the sense of coherence (SOC) as a key factor in stress management and health promotion, there is little information about its connection with healthy lifestyles in migrant population. Objective To investigate the relationship between the variables SOC and Healthy Lifestyles in a south-south migrant population. S...

The resilience portfolio model could provide an integrative perspective on resilience. To date, there is no review of the literature resilience, and the other concepts included in the resilience portfolio model, in the Chilean context. Thus, the aim of this paper is to map the available literature on resilience and other concepts associated with th...

This study investigates the impact of various socioeconomic position (SEP) indicators on positive mental health (PMH) and negative mental health (NMH) among Chilean adolescents, using the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) models and the dual-factor model of mental health. The research adopted a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and correlational...

Migration generates changes in the quality of life (QoL) of immigrants. One of the difficulties that the process of migrating can entail is discrimination, which is the set of negative attitudes towards a person, in this case, because of their nationality. Objective: To analyze the effect that the sense of coherence (SOC) has on the relationship th...

La Serie de publicaciones del Centro Justicia Educacional (CJE) “Prácticas para Justicia Educacional” está dirigida al público general y a las comunidades educativas, especialmente a los padres, educadores, profesionales de inclusión y directivos escolares. Su propósito es orientar y apoyar su labor en los ámbitos de la inclusión pedagógica, social...

This study analyzes the in uence of social determinants (SD) and positive youth development (PYD) on the mental health (MH) of Chilean adolescents. A nonexperimental, cross-sectional, correlational-explanatory design was adopted to analyze data from 612 adolescents (43.46% males and 56.54% females) aged between 11 and 19 years (M = 14.92, SD = 1.50...

Antecedentes La comprensión sobre las mejoras en la Esquizofrenia ha experimentado un cambio de mirada hacia integración de mediciones clínicas y subjetivas, sin embargo, conciliar la riqueza de la experiencia subjetiva con los criterios operativos representa un desafío pendiente. Objetivo Conceptualizar una medida global de recuperación en la Esq...

Resumen. Este estudio tuvo por objetivo adaptar y analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Desarrollo Positivo Juvenil-Versión Breve (DPJ-VB) en una muestra de adolescentes del Norte de Chile. Participaron 369 adolescentes (193 hombres y 176 mujeres) con una edad media de 15 años (DE=1.7). Los resultados muestran: 1) una estructura de...

Effective approaches to addressing mental health challenges faced by adolescents require a deep understanding of the factors contributing to optimal development, well-being, and prosperity. From the perspective of Positive Youth Development (PYD), this study proposes to examine the relationship between the 5Cs of PYD (Competence, Confidence, Connec...

This study aimed to report the indirect effect of self-efficacy on the relationship between discrimination and life satisfaction in migrant children and adolescents in Chile. Two studies were conducted with 494 migrant children and adolescents in Chile (Study 1, n=292; Study 2, n=202), ranging in age from 9 to 18 years (Study 1, ME=12.30, SD=2.57;...

El objetivo de este estudio fue describir las vías de atención para pacientes con una aparición reciente de psicosis y determinar si éstas se ven afectadas significativamente por el origen étnico y las creencias causales del trastorno. Participaron 252 pacientes con esquizofrenia en tratamiento ambulatorio (116 Aymara y 136 No Aymara) con un promed...

Ante la creciente crisis de salud mental que afecta a los jóvenes, especialmente después de la pandemia, es imprescindible contar con estrategias efectivas para la promoción y prevención del bienestar en contextos educativos. Las intervenciones autoafirmativas son estrategias capaces de mitigar este impacto negativo y promover el bienestar en los e...

School and university can be stressful contexts that can become an important source of identity threats when social prejudices or stereotypes come into play. Self-affirmation interventions are key strategies for mitigating the negative consequences of identity threat. This meta-analysis aims to provide an overview of the effectiveness of self-affir...

Introduction: Discrimination affects the health and well-being of those who experience it. The relationship between discrimination and mental health in migrant communities and in the Chilean child and youth population has been previously studied, however, there is little evidence regarding the effects of discrimination on the general population. O...

The adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientific work and outputs have been a growing global concern after significant and varied effects have been reported in the United States and Europe. Looking to gain insight into the impact of the pandemic in Latin America, we designed and administered an anonymous online survey to researchers based...

Severe mental illness (SMI) patients often have complex health needs, which makes it difficult to access and coordinate their care. This study aimed to develop a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) tool, PREMIUM CAT-ACC, to measure SMI patients' experience with access and care coordination. This multicenter and cross-sectional study included 496 ad...

Objetivo: analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Discriminación en la Vida Cotidiana (Everyday Discrimination Scale [EDS]) en niños y adolescentes del norte de Chile entre 8 y 18 años. Método: se recogió una muestra no probabilística compuesta por 4.955 participantes entre 8 y 18 años, con una edad media de 12,8. El 50,9% fueron de...

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of social determinants (i.e., gender, educational vulnerability, and socioeconomic status) and resilience on the mental health of Chilean adolescents in pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 pandemic contexts. The study included a group of 684 students, ranging in age from 12 to 18 years, who were atte...

Background The care environment significantly influences the experiences of patients with severe mental illness and the quality of their care. While a welcoming and stimulating environment enhances patient satisfaction and health outcomes, psychiatric facilities often prioritize staff workflow over patient needs. Addressing these challenges is cruc...

BACKGROUND The care environment significantly influences the experiences of patients with severe mental illness and the quality of their care. While a welcoming and stimulating environment enhances patient satisfaction and health outcomes, psychiatric facilities often prioritize staff workflow over patient needs. Addressing these challenges is cruc...

In their article “Black people and White people respond differently to social capital: what racial differential item functioning reveals for racial health equity”, Villalonga-Olives E. et al. (1) examined the psychometric properties of social capital indicators, comparing Black and White people to identify whether there is Differential Item Functio...

Unlabelled: The psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still represent a focus of concern, especially in children and adolescents who are a group particularly vulnerable to the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly due to the loss of socialization and leisure spaces. The aim of the study is to determine the variation...

(1) Background: Migration causes effects on the people who migrate and on the societies that receive them, which can be positive or negative, depending on the characteristics of the interaction. One negative effect is the emergence of mental health disorders associated with the presence of discrimination, a relationship for which there is abundant...

Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder with a heterogenous course and different ways in which recovery is measured or perceived. Recovery in schizophrenia is a complex process that it can be defined either from a clinical perspective focused on sustained symptom and functional remission, or from a patient-focused one, as a self-broadening process aime...

Objetivo Comparar las características socio-demográficas, la calidad de vida, el malestar psicológico y los niveles de estigma internalizado en una muestra de pacientes con Esquizofrenia pertenecientes a la región de Arica y Parinacota que reciben tratamiento en el mismo sistema de salud mental. Método Participaron 209 pacientes con un diagnóstico...

The impact of the pandemic on teachers’ mental health has also been an important issue. The aim of the study was to analyze the vital impact of COVID-19, spirituality, and the use of social-emotional strategies on teacher well-being, mediated by mental health. The sample was non-random, inviting all teachers in a city North of Chile to participate...

The study aim was to longitudinally assess internalized stigma in a sample of patients from Northern Chile with a diagnosis of schizophrenia along with indicators of patient recovery, including quality of life, psychotic symptomatology, social cognition, premorbid adjustment, and years of untreated psychosis. The 10-year follow-up of stigma measure...

Little is known about mental health during early childhood and differences in mental health problems between migrant and local preschool children in Chile. This research aimed to study the early mental health of children and disparities in mental health indicators between immigrant and local children in the context of a middle-income country. Paren...

(1) Background: Discrepancies between children’s self-reports and their parents’ reports on mental health indicators are associated with measurement errors or informant bias. However, they are a valuable tool in understanding the course of child psychopathology. This study aims to determine the level of discrepancies between parents’ perceptions an...

The purpose of this study was to validate the GEOPTE scale of social cognition for its use in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in Latin American countries. The participants were 253 patients with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia and 253 main caregivers from mental health services in Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. The psychometric properties of the GEOP...

El propósito de este estudio fue validar la escala GEOPTE de cognición social para su uso en pacientes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia en países Latinoamericanos. Participaron 253 pacientes con un diagnóstico de esquizofrenia y 253 cuidadores principales provenientes de los servicios públicos de salud mental de Bolivia, Chile y Perú. Las propiedad...

Resumen Los primeros años de vida son cruciales para el desarrollo del potencial de los niños y niñas. Los programas que promueven el desarrollo temprano son fundamentales para mejorar los resultados de salud física y mental en el futuro adulto, y el costo de no hacer algo al respecto es muy alto. El gasto público dirigido a la niñez, como indicado...

In many countries, Indigenous populations have reported lower levels of subjective well-being (SWB) compared to non-Indigenous groups. However, research on this topic is still scarce in Latin America, particularly Chile, where Indigenous people from nine recognized ethnic minority groups represent 9.5% of the population. This study analyzes the SWB...

The purpose of this study is to describe and compare the prevalence of mental health problems in Aymara and non-Aymara children and adolescent. The study sample comprised 1839 students from 8 to 19 years, from educational institutions of Northern Chile. Forty-nine percent of students identified with the Aymara ethnic group. The Child and Adolescent...

Premorbid adjustment (PA) has classically been defined as psychosocial functioning in the areas of education, occupation, social and interpersonal relationships prior to evidence of characteristic positive symptomatology. It is a concept which possesses ample evidence regarding its predictive nature for the course of Schizophrenia. The study aimed...

La presente investigación correspondió a un estudio no experimental, de tipo analítico transversal, en la que se analizaron los efectos de las variables ansiedad rasgo-estado sobre afectividad positiva y satisfacción con la vida. Por medio de una muestra por conveniencia, participaron 742 estudiantes universitarios. Los instrumentos utilizados fuer...

The research aimed to establish important predictors for addressing internalized stigma from a series of clinical measures relevant to recovery such as symptomatology, functionality, and psychological recovery of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This cross-sectional study analyzed the information obtained through interviews and surveys of 165...

(1) Background: Religious involvement and spirituality have proven to be sources of well-being for individuals at different moments in life and are also associated with a decrease in depression, anxiety, and substance use. Therefore, these could be protective factors against stressful conditions and contribute to mental health. The aim of the prese...

The association between life satisfaction, resilience, self-esteem, and social competence has been scarcely studied in developing countries, despite the existing literature regarding its effects on youth mental health. This study aimed to analyze the mediating role of self-esteem and resilience in the relationship between social competence and life...

Cognitive impairment is a central feature of psychotic disorders from the premorbid stages and worsens throughout the development of the disorder, with cognitive deficits being more severe in schizophrenia. Using data from 227 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, the present study examines the implications of a group of clinical variables on cogn...

Background: The processes involved in this study were 2-fold. First, we analyzed the levels of resilience and internalized problems (defined as group of emotional symptoms) in children aged 9 to 12 years. Second, we examined whether the relationship between them varies according to the low or high vulnerability of school communities. Methods: Ab...

Substance use is a risk behavior that has been associated with adverse mental health outcomes in adolescence. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between behavioral problems, emotional problems, and substance use as well as the mediating role of contextual problems and sensation seeking in this relation. A cross-sectional study of 2...

Background It is essential to understand the factors that affect the academic achievement of schoolchildren, both in general and in terms of the major subsectors of each grade. Although symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Negative Defiant Disorder (NDD—which are commonly recognized as externalizing problems in childhood...

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar la capacidad predictiva de variables demográficas y psicosociales en el autorreporte de la salud física de migrantes colombianos y peruanos en Chile. Material y Método: Diseño no experimental de tipo transversal, correlacional, con muestreo intencional. Participaron 853 inmigrantes (51,7% colombianos y 48,3% peruanos;...

Migration processes can often trigger negative interactions with the context, generating problems in both the physical and mental health of migrants, which have an impact on both their well-being and their quality of life. In this framework, the research aimed to assess the mediating effect of ethnic identity and collective self-esteem on the inver...

Background Acculturation stress is associated with poorer physical and mental health and a lower level of psychological well-being. The causes of acculturation stress are diverse, but most are similar in the migrant population. Despite the importance of evaluating this variable, few studies have reported culturally adapted and validated instruments...

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION In Chile, the migrant population generally reports lower rates of cigarette and alcohol consumption. However, the migratory process and assimilation of behaviors after extended exposure to the host country could increase the consumption of these substances. The aim of this study was to compare cigarette and alcohol consumption...

A substantial body of research shows that teacher-student interactions have a significant impact on student outcomes. However, to our knowledge, less is known about the association between teachers’ and students’ well-being and the implications for teacher–child interactions, particularly in the preschool context. Research Findings. Using ordinary...

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on 120 patients with schizophrenia, and their caregivers (control group), in the city of Arica, northern Chile. The hypotheses of this study hold that (1) self-reports of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among patients and caregivers would be positively correl...

Objectives: This paper reviews the mental health policies that have been implemented in Chile in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the international context of countries' responses. Even before the start of the pandemic, there were significant barriers to access mental health services in Chile, coupled with a scenario of nationwide social unres...

Background Eating disorders (ED) are associated with internalized problems (INTP), such as depression and anxiety. Evidence shows that ED and INTP are associated with comorbidities. The relationship between these variables has not been the focus of studies on young people from Northern Chile. Children and adolescents are considered as an at-risk gr...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adherence to antipsychotic treatment on the recovery of patients with schizophrenia in northern Chile. One hundred and fifty-one patients diagnosed with schizophrenia completed the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS), Recovery Assessmen...

Racism in the Andes was built in colonial times, but they do not directly point to colonial religion as one of the means of racial construction. This study aims to determine the influence of beliefs in colonial Catholic religious images of “white race” in the construction of racism in the young people of the Aymara people of Peru. Qualitative resea...

It is relevant to specifically understand which are the mental health variables that most affect the satisfaction with life in the child and youth population for the optimal design of programs to promote their well-being. The relationship between mental health and life satisfaction is analyzed in a sample of students from 9 to 18 years old in the N...

This study aimed to evaluate the association between learning difficulties and self‐esteem in adolescents in northern Chile. The study sample comprised 116 students aged 13–17 years from government‐subsidized schools. The Child and Adolescent Assessment System (SENA) was used to measure the variables considered in this study. The results showed tha...

Substance use is a public health problem that affects the normal physical, neurological, and psychological development of adolescents. Apparently, discrimination is an important variable for explaining the initiation and continued use of alcohol and marijuana. Since most research focused on discrimination based on factors, such as race, ethnicity,...

There is not much evidence on the effects of south–south migration and its consequences on physical and mental health. Our objective was to examine the mediating role of Acculturative Stress in the association between ethnic discrimination and racial discrimination with physical and mental health. This research is a non-experimental, analytical, cr...

Approximately 1.251.225 foreign-born migrants reside in Chile, including 183.315 children. This study compares mental health indicators in immigrant and non-immigrant children to understand the mental health effects of migration. A cross-sectional study of 634 students from Chilean schools was conducted. Fifty percent of the students were immigrant...

The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error in article title.

There is abundant evidence about the negative impact of discrimination on well-being, but less research on factors that can reduce this negative effect, mainly focused on North American samples and with incipient development on South-South migration. The objective of this research was to analyze the effect of ethnic identity on the relationship bet...

Migration in Chile has increased exponentially in recent years, with education being one of the main focuses of attention in this cultural transformation. Integration and social competence in the migrant population are determined by several factors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of resilience and acculturation stress on...

Discriminatory behaviors among inter-ethnic relations in schools have long been noted and studied, but there are several correlations between discriminatory behaviors and other constructs that need further investigation. As an example, the relation between perceived discrimination and contextual problems—which include family, school and peer proble...

CAPÍTULO II. PSICOLOGÍA Y COVID-19. EL CASO DE CHILE.

Objectives The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Schizophrenia Caregiver's Quality of Life Questionnaire (S-CGQoL) for use in the Hispanic-American population from the caregiver's perspective. Methods A cross-sectional instrumental model was used, with a sample of 253 caregivers of patients suffering of Schizophrenia in Bolivia, Peru...

On 3 March 2020, the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the country, approximately five months after 18 October 2019, one of Chile’s biggest episodes of civil unrest since its return to democracy in the 90s [1]. This social unrest was triggered by deep social inequalities and resulted in massive protests throughout the country. The citizens...

There is abundant empirical evidence on the negative effects of discrimination on psychological well-being. However, little research has focused on exploring the factors that can mitigate this effect. Within this framework, the present study examined the mediating role of positive and negative affects in the relationship between ethnic and racial d...

Background Research assessing the association between Life Satisfaction and Resilience has increased considerably because it is recognized as an important variable in enhancing adolescent well-being. However, they have focused on non-indigenous youth and have scarcely addressed the needs of those belonging to ethnic minorities, particularly in Lati...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219485.].

Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe the association between adherence to antipsychotic medication and quality of life (QoL) in a sample of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods Two hundred fifty-three patients were included from three public mental health services from Bolivia, Peru, and Chile. Data were collected using t...

Background: Migratory processes may affect mental health. Data on the health status of migrants are necessary for an adequate public health approach. Aim: To describe the prevalence of anxious and depressive symptoms in Colombian migrants living in Chile and to compare it with the Chilean population. Material and Methods: Beck and BDI scales for...

Background Both the control that people attribute to themselves over a situation (locus of control) and the control they attribute to themselves (self-control) have been proposed as aspects that can have an effect on internalizing problems in young people. There is little evidence of this relationship in the infantile-juvenile population in Latin A...

The relationships between stigma and quality of life in schizophrenia (QoL) have been extensively explored but have mostly focused on self-stigma and self-esteem and have never been explored in Latin-America. The objective of this study was to determine which stigma dimensions were associated with QoL in a sample of community-dwelling SZ subjects o...

Background: COVID-19 has effects on the mental health of health care workers. Aim: To explore the presence of symptoms associated with mental health problems and associated risk factors in health workers. Material and Methods: The questionnaires PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, ISI-7 for insomnia and IES-R-22 for psychological distress we...

El propósito de este estudio fue evaluar la asociación entre los problemas de regulación emocional e indicadores de salud mental en adolescentes de la ciudad Arica al Norte de Chile, además de describir y comparar los niveles de problemas interiorizados y exteriorizados entre hombres y mujeres. Participaron 2331 estudiantes de 11 a 20 años provenie...

With one of the highest testing rates of COVID-19 in Latin America, Chile continues to record low mortality rates from the disease. Several measures such as curfews, cancellation of large gatherings, and closure of schools and businesses have been implemented. Against the backdrop of high levels of alcohol/substance abuse, mental health disorders,...

En diciembre de 2019, se informaron casos de neumonía potencialmente mortal en Wuhan, provincia de Hubei, China (COVID-19). Esta enfermedad se ha extendido rápidamente por todo el mundo con miles de casos confirmados y muertes, transformándose en pandemia y desafiado los sistemas de salud pública. No existe aún vacuna ni tratamiento científicamente...

Background: Child and adolescent mental health has scarcely been studied in developing countries, though it is an important aspect of health. Mental health problems in youth often continue into adulthood if not diagnosed or treated in time. Methods: The Sistema de Evaluación de Niños y Adolescentes (SENA) [Child and Adolescent Evaluation System]...

Background: The Universal Age scale has been widely used as part of versions derived from the original Allport and Ros (1967) scale of religious involvement in adolescent and adult populations. However, it has not been validated exhaustively and in Latin America it does not have any type of validation in child-youth population. It is relevant to ha...

Background: Child and adolescent mental health has scarcely been studied in developing countries, though it is an important aspect of health. Mental health problems in youth often continue into adulthood if not diagnosed or treated in time. Methods: The Sistema de Evaluación de Niños y Adolescentes (SENA) [Child and Adolescent Evaluation System] wa...

Background Child and adolescent mental health has scarcely been studied in developing countries, though it is an important aspect of health. Mental health problems in youth often continue into adulthood if not diagnosed or treated in time. Methods The Sistema de Evaluación de Niños y Adolescentes (SENA) [Child and Adolescent Evaluation System] was...

La psicología en tanto práctica profesional y de investigación científica no puede ni debe permanecer aislada de los contextos en los que se desarrolla. Frente a los profundos sentimientos de malestar expresados por el pueblo chileno en movilizaciones sociales desde el 18 de octubre de 2019, que responden directamente a la implementación de un mode...

Psychology as a professional and scientific practice should and must not remain isolated from the contexts in which it develops. Considering the deep feelings of discomfort expressed by the Chilean people during social mobilizations since October 18th, 2019, in response to the implementation for decades of a neoliberal model devoid of social justic...

The goal of the current study was to evaluate life satisfaction in a sample of 300 immigrant children aged between 8 and 13 years old. Satisfaction in different domains and overall life, was evaluated using the General Domain Satisfaction Index and the Overall Life Satisfaction index, respectively. These instruments were also applied to a sample of...

El objetivo del estudio fue diseñar y validar un instrumento específico para medir bienestar en el pueblo lickan-antay (atacameño) de Chile. En la fase cualitativa participaron 16 personas pertenecientes a dicha etnia; en la fase de validación por juicio de expertos, participaron cinco lickan-antay (dirigentes y no dirigentes), dos investigadores d...

Los objetivos de esta presentación son 2. El primero es dar a conocer un Proyecto de Investigación Asociativa (PIA)2 en educación adjudicado por la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile y que implicó la creación del Centro de Justicia Educacional (CJE). Este centro tiene como misión identificar y comprender el fenómeno multidimensional de la exc...

El estrés por aculturación ha sido asociado fuertemente al surgimiento de problemas en la salud de las personas, principalmente en la salud mental. Pese a su importancia como factor de riesgo, su estudio se ha realizado mayoritariamente en población adulta, siendo menor la investigación realizada al respecto en población infantil y adolescente. En...

The immigration of South American people migrating to countries of the same region is a little explored phenomenon, mainly in terms of processes that affect their integration and well-being in the countries that host it. The objective of this research was to analyze the effect of positive social interaction on the psychological well-being of immigr...

Background: To date, no data have been available concerning the psychometric characteristics of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI-29) in Latin American countries. The aim of this study was to validate a Latin American version of the ISMI in people with schizophrenia. Methods: The study included 253 stabilized outpatients with...

Background Child and adolescent mental health has scarcely been studied in developing countries, though it is an important aspect of health. Mental health problems in youth often continue into adulthood if not diagnosed or treated in time. Methods The Sistema de Evaluación de Niños y Adolescentes (SENA) [Child and Adolescent Evaluation System] was...