Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz

BackgroundThe widespread use of digital technologies has raised growing concerns about their impact on mental health. While self-regulation has been proposed as a protective factor, little is known about how distinct psychological profiles based on self-regulatory and technology use patterns relate to psychological distress. Person-centered approaches, such as latent profile analysis, may offer deeper insights, particularly in underrepresented populations.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify latent psychological profiles based on self-regulation, nomophobia (fear of being without a phone), and problematic use of the internet and social media (defined by behavioral symptoms), to examine their associations with general psychological distress and the presence of emotional symptoms in a Colombian sample. Additionally, the predictive roles of age and gender in class membership were explored.MethodsParticipants were recruited through a convenience sampling strategy aimed at ensuring heterogeneity of the sample in terms of age and gender. A total of 453 participants aged 12 to 57 years (mean 21.03, SD 8.41 years; 257/453, 56.7% female) completed validated measures of self-regulation (Abbreviated Self-Regulation Questionnaire), nomophobia (Nomophobia Questionnaire), internet and social media use (MULTICAGE-TIC, a multidomain screening questionnaire based on the CAGE framework), and psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire-12). Latent profile analysis was conducted using standardized scores of continuous variables. Model fit was assessed using the Bayesian information criterion, entropy, and bootstrapped likelihood ratio test. Differences in psychological distress scores across latent classes were examined through variance analysis (ANOVA) and regression models. A multinomial logistic regression tested the predictive value of age and gender for class membership.ResultsThe optimal solution revealed 4 distinct latent profiles (entropy=0.85). Class 1 showed high self-regulation and low problematic technology use, displaying the lowest psychological distress scores. Class 2 presented moderate levels across all indicators but the highest level of psychological distress. Classes 3 and 4 showed mixed patterns. Class 3 (higher information and communication technology [ICT] use and lower self-regulation) exhibited lower distress than class 2, whereas class 4 (younger individuals with low self-regulation and moderately high ICT use) showed higher distress than class 3. Psychological distress differed significantly across profiles (ANOVA, P<.001). Age and gender predicted class membership. Older males were more likely to belong to class 1, and younger females were more likely to be classified into classes 3 and 4.ConclusionsLatent profile analysis identified distinct configurations of digital behavior, self-regulation, and psychological distress. Self-regulation consistently differentiated profiles with lower distress scores, suggesting its relevance for understanding how individuals manage ICT use. These findings support the value of person-centered approaches to characterize heterogeneous patterns of technology-related behaviors. The study provides evidence from a Spanish-speaking sample, offering a novel perspective on psychological distress and problematic technology use in contexts that remain underrepresented in the literature.

Let k be a field of any characteristic and let Λ be a finite dimensional k -algebra. We prove that if V is a finite dimensional right Λ -module that lies in the mouth of a stable homogeneous tube T of the Auslander-Reiten quiver Λ with End ¯ Λ ( V ) a division ring, then V has a versal deformation ring R ( Λ , V ) isomorphic to k [ [ t ] ] . As a consequence we obtain that if k is algebraically closed, Λ is a symmetric special biserial k -algebra and V is a band Λ -module with End ¯ Λ ( V ) ≅ k that lies in the mouth of its homogeneous tube, then R ( Λ , V ) is universal and isomorphic to k [ [ t ] ] .

Objective. Understanding the extent of citizen participation in corrupt practices presents a challenge given that the illicit and socially reprehensible nature of corrupt acts generates a social desirability bias into measures of corruption. The objective was to design a measurement to assess individuals’ propensity to either tolerate or resist corruption, employing eight moral dilemmas. Method. The instrument was administered to 173 participants for the exploratory factor analysis, followed by 282 participants for the confirmatory factor analysis. Results. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed a single factor structure that grouped seven out of the eight dilemmas obtaining optimal goodness-of-fit indices and acceptable reliability. The measurement is useful for future research analyzing corruption.

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the development of complex thinking among Filipino university students and to validate a hierarchical measurement model for this competency, which is essential for navigating the country's digital, economic, and sustainability challenges. Design/methodology/approach The eComplexity instrument was applied to a sample of 205 students from diverse disciplines. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with Diagonally Weighted Least Squares (DWLS) estimation was used, suitable for ordinal data. The model included four subdimensions: systemic, scientific, critical, and innovative thinking. Findings Results showed excellent model fit (CFI = 0.992, TLI = 0.991, SRMR = 0.066), high reliability (CR = 0.837–0.912), and strong explained variance. Scientific thinking emerged as the most solid subdimension, while critical and innovative thinking revealed lower item consistency, indicating areas for pedagogical improvement. Research limitations/implications The study's scope is limited by its sample size and institutional context, restricting the generalizability of results. Future research should include longitudinal studies and expanded samples to explore disciplinary and institutional variations in complex thinking development. Practical implications The findings underscore the need to reinforce critical and innovative thinking through pedagogical strategies that promote metacognition and real-world problem-solving. This can guide curriculum reforms in Philippine higher education aimed at building transversal competencies. Originality/value This study offers empirical validation of a hierarchical model for complex thinking and provides actionable insights for integrating this competency into higher education. It contributes to educational transformation by aligning curriculum development with national and global demands.

Access to safe drinking water is essential for public health. In Colombia, Resolution 2115 of 2007 mandates the use of the Water Quality Risk Index for Human Consumption (IRCA) to classify risk levels. However, a significant gap exists between objective IRCA measurements and public perception, which unfolds in the context of water injustice. This study examines the factors influencing perceptions of water quality in regions with high levels of water contamination. Based on a sample of 37,028 household heads from the 2022 Quality of Life Survey by DANE, the study applied advanced machine learning techniques, including logistic regressions with Lasso regularization and double machine learning, combining random forests and logit models. The analysis included sociodemographic factors, environmental awareness, and the environmental conditions experienced by respondents. Findings confirm the presence of water injustice in Colombia, highlighting a significant disconnect between IRCA scores and public perceptions. Additionally, perceptions of water quality are strongly influenced by visible environmental problems, such as air pollution, bad odors, and litter, suggesting that people tend to focus on more evident issues while overlooking water contamination. The results of this study highlight the need to implement policies that inform Colombians about the quality of the water they consume, in order to promote greater environmental commitment.

The purpose of this study was to test Carrigan and Sidman's (1992) hypothesis that the emergence of equivalence relations from the standard matching‐to‐sample (MTS) procedure is due to the exclusive acquisition of select conditional relations during training. Four groups were compared on tests of the properties of equivalence relations (reflexivity, symmetry, and transitivity/equivalence) and on trials with novel stimuli replacing S+ or S− on these tests: standard MTS training; exclusive‐select‐relations training; exclusive‐reject‐relations training; and detached‐MTS training, which included training on both select and reject relations. Equivalence emergence occurred more frequently in the detached‐MTS group. Those in the standard‐MTS group who showed equivalence emergence had test results with novel stimuli that were more similar to those in the detached‐MTS group than to those in the exclusive‐select group. The results suggest that compliance with the criteria for equivalence relations may mask at least two different processes. The first is pseudoequivalence, which is associated with exclusive select control. The second is the authentic formation of equivalence classes, which depends on joint select and reject control. The standard‐MTS procedure seems to more frequently promote the second process.

Decades of research support the generalization that human males tend to be more aggressive than females. However, most of that research has examined aggression between unrelated individuals. Data drawn from 24 societies around the globe (n = 4,013) indicate that this generalization does not hold in the context of sibling relationships. In retrospective self-reports, females report being at least as aggressive as males toward their siblings, often more so. This holds for direct as well as indirect aggression, and for aggression between adult siblings as well as aggression that occurred during childhood. Consistent with prior research on sex differences, males reported engaging in more direct aggression toward nonkin than did females in the majority of societies. The results suggest that the dynamics of aggression within the family are different from those outside of it, and ultimately that understanding the role of sex in aggressive tendencies depends on context and target.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management programs can help to mitigate the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. However, their success largely depends on the public willingness to engage in the pro-environmental separation and delivery of MSW, particularly for difficult-to-manage items such as electronics, batteries and appliances, which often contain toxic materials. Most existing research tends to focus on infrastructure improvements or behavioral interventions, with little integration of psychosocial and contextual analyses to develop evidence-based strategies for increasing community participation in the sustainable management of MSW. To address this gap, we conducted a study combining quantitative data from surveys with qualitative and geospatial data obtained through social mapping sessions and information obtained from local waste collectors in five municipalities in Norte de Santander, Colombia—a region marked by high socioeconomic vulnerability. Our study presents a novel integration of psychosocial and geospatial data to inform MSW interventions in low-resource settings. We identified that the awareness of the consequences of poor MSW management, the awareness of environmental benefits of delivery and the subjective norm predicts the willingness to separate and deliver MSW. Nonetheless, various psychosocial and contextual barriers hinder these actions. Based on these insights, we propose a low-cost, community-tailored intervention to enhance the separation and delivery of difficult-to-manage MSW and foster civic engagement in similar socio-environmental contexts.

La población trans en Colombia enfrenta graves desafíos de exclusión sociolaboral. Este estudio analiza las experiencias laborales de personas trans en el Valle del Cauca, identificando formas de discriminación en el ámbito laboral y factores que afectan sus trayectorias profesionales y educativas. Se realizaron dieciocho entrevistas en profundidad, revelando que la mayoría de las experiencias son complejas, con discriminación, manifestándose a través de violencia, estigmatización y exclusión. Las causas principales incluyen la salida temprana del hogar y la escasa inversión en capital humano, además del desinterés empresarial por su contratación. Este trabajo aporta una comprensión valiosa sobre la discriminación laboral hacia la población trans, sirviendo como base para investigaciones futuras en el contexto colombiano.