The relationships among character strengths (forgiveness and gratitude), happiness, and prosocial bystander behavior in bullying were analyzed. The sample includes 500 (early adolescents) and 500 (middle adolescents) of both genders, between 12 and 18 years old (M age = 14.70, SD = 1.58). Two structural equation models were calculated. Results of the first model indicated that forgiveness, gratitude, and happiness had a direct positive relation with prosocial bystander behavior. Furthermore, human strengths were indirectly related to prosocial behavior in bullying for this effect in happiness. The second model showed that prosocial bystander behavior had a positive effect on human strengths and happiness. Multigroup analyses indicated that gender and stage of adolescence did not moderate the relations found in the model. Overall findings suggest a reciprocal relationship between character strengths, happiness, and prosocial bystander behavior.

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The social cognitive approach to moral development posits that moral self-schemas encourage character strengths and reduce adolescents’ aggression. However, limited research has examined the influence of positive personal characteristics on proactive behaviors and reactive aggression in bullying. This study examined direct and mediational relationships between forgiveness, gratitude, self-control, and both proactive and reactive aggression in bullying. The extent to which the structural relations of this model were invariant by gender and stage of adolescence were also evaluated. Participants in this study were 1000 Mexican students, 500 early adolescents (M age = 12.36, SD = 0.77 years) and 500 middle adolescents (M age = 16.64, SD = 0.89 years), between 12 and 17 years old. Structural equation and multi-group invariance analysis were performed. Results indicate that gratitude and forgiveness are positively related to self-control. Gratitude, forgiveness, and self-control are also negatively related to reactive and proactive aggression. Forgiveness and gratitude had an indirect relationship by decreasing both proactive and reactive aggression through their positive effects on self-control. Additionally, gender moderated the relationships between variables proposed in the model, whereas stage of adolescence did not. Overall findings suggest that moral self-schemas and strengths explained both types of aggression in bullying.

Living in rural areas has been described a driver for behaving in a pro-environmental way, mainly due to the more frequent contact with nature that people from rural areas have. However, the processes that link living in a rural area and behaving in a more ecological manner have not been systematically studied. Moreover, most studies have focused on adults living in developed countries. Given the importance that the actions conducted by people in developing countries have for the future of the environment, as well as the relevance of children's pro-environmentalism for nature conservation, we present a brief research report examining the relationship between Mexican children's place of residence and self-reported pro-environmental behavior (PEB). Participants were 200 children from Mexican rural areas (<1,000 inhabitants) and 200 from a Mexican urban city (>150,000 inhabitants). Children were between 9 and 12 years old. Children's connection to nature was considered as a mediator in the relationship between children's place of residence and PEB. Our findings revealed that rural children hold a stronger sense of connection to nature and behave in a more pro-environmental way than urban children. In addition, place of residence was directly and positively linked to their PEBs, and this relationship was mediated by children's connection to nature. The relationship between connection to nature and PEB was stronger for girls than for boys. The model explained 45% of the variance of children's self-reported PEBs.

Purpose Currently, higher education institutions are in charge of the complex task of connecting the knowledge that students acquire in the classroom to the requirements of the working world, preparing the students to face complex situations inherent in professional life. For this reason, the Tecnológico de Monterrey has included as part of the training of its students the modality, Semestre i, sustained through the teaching methodology of challenge-based learning. Recognizing this new way of learning, the purpose of this paper is to address the study of four basic constructs: student engagement, teacher–student relationship, teamwork and time management. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory factor analysis was performed on the factors associated with the Semestre i, as well as a correlational analysis between these and the academic achievement of the students in the 2017 August–December period. Findings The results indicate that the four constructs analyzed were potentialized under the modality, Semestre i – time management showing the least difference of the four when compared with the educational experience of students being traditionally taught throughout their semesters. Originality/value Semestre i is an innovative educational proposal where the undergraduate students learn in immersive, real-world contexts by experiencing semester challenges planned for them by the teaching body of the institution. Recognizing this new way of learning, this research addresses the study of four basic constructs: student engagement, teacher–student relationship, teamwork and time management.

El estudio se propuso analizar las propiedades psicométricas del Participant Role Appoach (PRA) para medir roles de espectadores en el acoso escolar en niños mexicanos. Participaron Participaron 787 estudiantes, 415 (52.7 %) niños (M edad = 10.59, DE = .66 años) y 372 (47.3 %) niñas (M edad = 10.51, DE = .64 años). Los resultados del análisis factorial confirmatorio sugieren que el modelo de tres roles (pro-acoso, pro-social y no comprometido) se ajusta mejor que el de cuatro roles (alentador, asistente, defensor y no comprometido). La PRA presenta invariancia de medición en ambos sexos, y evidencias de validez concurrente. Se concluyó que la escala posee propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para la medición de roles de espectadores.

Al tomar como base la idea de que la Conectividad con la Naturaleza (CN) es esencial para afrontar los problemas ambientales, el objetivo del presente estudio fue demostrar la hipótesis de que las personas con una mayor conexión con la naturaleza realizan más Conductas Sustentables (CS). Estudios previos han reportado que este sentido de conexión podría aumentar la práctica de comportamientos pro-ambientales; sin embargo, hasta el momento, no existen investigaciones que consideren la relación entre los cuatro componentes de la CS (Altruismo, equidad, austeridad y conducta pro-ambiental) y la CN. En este estudio participaron 207 residentes de la ciudad de Hermosillo, México, quienes contestaron un instrumento que mide las cuatro instancias de CS y una escala de CN. Para analizar las relaciones entre estas variables se especificó y probó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales que reveló una relación significativa entre la conectividad con la naturaleza y las CS, lo cual sugiere que las personas con un fuerte sentido de conectividad hacia lo natural llevan a cabo un mayor número de comportamientos pro-ambientales, pero también pro-sociales. Estudios subsecuentes, donde se estudie de manera más profunda este principio y sus implicaciones, son necesarios para profundizar en las repercusiones de la CS.

La desconexión moral tiene como consecuencia efectos negativos para el desarrollo psicosocial en la niñez, por lo cual se hace necesario contar con escalas para evaluarla. En el presente estudio se analizaron las propiedades psicométricas de la escala Desconexión Moral en Situaciones de Acoso en niños (DMAE). Participaron 661 estudiantes mexicanos de 5.º (51 %) y 6.º grado (49 %), 48 % niñas (M edad = 10.51, DE = .64 años) y 52 % niños (M edad = 10.59, DE = .68 años). Se analizó la validez (estructura interna y concurrente), invarianza de medida para ambos sexos y fiabilidad de la escala. De los resultados del análisis factorial confirmatorio se infirió que el modelo de medición multidimensional que mide la justificación moral, la difusión de la responsabilidad y la atribución de la culpa presenta mejor ajuste a los datos que el unidimensional. Además, se encontró que la DMAE presenta invariancia de medición en ambos sexos y evidencias de validez concurrente. Se concluye que la escala cuenta con propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para la medición de la desconexión moral en niños mexicanos. Palabras claves: medición, validez, desconexión moral, emociones morales, acoso escolar.