Food cravings refer to an intense desire to eat specific foods. The Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait (FCQ-T) is the most commonly used instrument to assess food cravings as a multidimensional construct. Its 39 items have an underlying nine-factor structure for both the original English and Spanish version; but subsequent studies yielded fewer factors. As a result, a 15-item version of the FCQ-T with one-factor structure has been proposed (FCQ-T-reduced; see this Research Topic). The current study aimed to explore the factor structure of the Spanish version for both the FCQ-T and FCQ-T-reduced in a sample of 1241 Cuban adults. Results showed a four-factor structure for the FCQ-T, which explained 55% of the variance. Factors were highly correlated. Using the items of the FCQ-T-reduced only showed a one-factor structure, which explained 52% of the variance. Both versions of the FCQ-T were positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), scores on the Food Thoughts Suppression Inventory and weight cycling. In addition, women had higher scores than men and restrained eaters had higher scores than unrestrained eaters. To summarize, results showed that (1) the FCQ-T factor structure was significantly reduced in Cuban adults and (2) the FCQ-T-reduced may represent a good alternative to efficiently assess food craving on a trait level.

No abstract

Background:Association Splitting (AS) is a novel cognitive technique, which has shown some promise for the reduction of obsessive thoughts in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Its effect on unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) in the general population is yet unknown.Method:Our experimental study tested the effect of AS in 49 participants who reported UITs as a regular problem. Participants were randomly allocated either to an AS versus waitlist control (WL) condition. The White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) was used for measuring changes over time.Results:Significant group differences were found across time. Relative to WL, AS exerted a positive effect on the reduction of UITs yielding a large effect size. According to self-report AS exerted a positive effect 6 days after the participants had initiated the exercises. All subjects in the AS condition judged the technique as effectiveConclusion:Results suggest that AS could be a suitable intervention to help people with a potential vulnerability to a clinical problem to control their UITs.

Validez y confiabilidad del cuestionario para evaluar factores protectores de la salud mental en estudiantes universitariosResumen. Objetivo: Analizar la validez y confiabilidad de un cuestionario para la exploración de factores protectores de la salud mental en estudiantes universitarios cubanos. Método: La muestra quedó conformada por 1377 estudiantes. Se utilizó el análisis categórico de componentes principales, el análisis de conglomerados en dos etapas y los árboles de decisión. Resultados: Se identificaron dos factores. La primera dimensión incluyó ítems que tienen un sentido positivo y expresan un desarrollo de estos factores protectores. Esta dimensión mostró un mayor coeficiente de confiabilidad y fue capaz de explicar una mayor proporción de la varianza en los clúster identificados. La segunda dimensión agrupó aquellos ítems relacionados con un pobre desarrollo de estos factores de protección que pudieran constituir en factores de riesgo. Los ítems que mejor predicen la agrupación de los tres clúster están relacionados con la resiliencia, toma de decisiones, la autoeficacia y la autoestima. Conclusión: El instrumento desarrollado mostró su exactitud y precisión en el proceso de obtención de la información necesaria para evaluar los factores de protección de la salud mental en estudiantes universitarios cubanos. Palabras clave. Factores de protección, salud mental, estudiantes universitarios.Abstract. Objective: To analyze the validity and reliability of a questionnaire in exploring the protective factors of mental health in Cuban university students. Method: The sample was composed of 1377 students. A categorical principal components analysis, a two-step cluster analysis and decision trees were used. Results: Results revealed two components. The first dimension included items that have a positive meaning and express a development of these protective factors. This dimension showed a higher coefficient of reliability and was able to explain a higher proportion of the variance in the clusters identified. The second dimension grouped those items that were related to poor development of these protection factors, which could constitute to risk factors. Items associated with resilience, decision making ability, self-efficacy and self-esteem were the best predictors in the grouping process. Conclusion: The instrument developed showed its accuracy and precision in the process of obtaining the necessary information to evaluate the factors of protection of mental health in Cuban university students.

El estudio se orientó al desarrollo y análisis de la confiabilidad del Cuestionario para la evaluación de percepción de riesgo sobre el consumo de alcohol en estudiantes universitarios. La muestra quedó compuesta por 1377 estudiantes universitarios cubanos. Se utilizó el análisis categórico de componentes principales, el análisis de conglomerados en dos etapas y los árboles de decisión. Se identificaron dos dimensiones, la primera se relacionó con el componente motivacional-conductual de la percepción de riesgo y la segunda con la información sobre los riesgos del consumo. Ambas dimensiones mostraron elevados índices de confiabilidad y se relacionaron con los tres clúster identificados de acuerdo con la adecuación de la percepción de riesgo respecto al consumo de alcohol. El árbol de clasificación logró un 84.4% de buena clasificación, destacándose como predictores los ítems de la dimensión motivacional-conductual. El instrumento diseñado para la evaluaciónde la percepción de riesgo sobre el consumo de alcohol en estudiantes universitarios mostró adecuados niveles de confiabilidad que favorece su aplicación en este contexto.