Previous research recently revealed the presence of positive aspects in caregiving. This study had a double objective: first, to identify positive aspects of family caregiving; second, to analyze the relationship between these caregiving rewards and different variables. A total of 140 family caregivers of dependent elderly participated in the study. Out of these, 79 of the elderly suffered dementia and 63 were institutionalized. Caregivers' satisfaction and quality of life was above average. Those caregivers who perceived a good quality of relationship with their elder presented more satisfaction than the others. Problems in quality of life showed a positive relationship with the level of dependence of the elder. On the other hand, the more level of dependence of the elder, the greater the level of satisfaction of the caregiver. Those caregivers with a good relationship showed less provisional meaning than those with a normal or a bad relationship. We confirm the relevance of the caregiver-elder relationship, which can be improved and modified through specific preventive interventions. Our findings indicate that interventions for caregivers of people with dementia should explore ways to find meaning in caregiving.

White rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum) are the most social and gregarious species of all rhinoceroses known worldwide. One of the most critical effects of elevated glucocorticoid concentrations, especially in threatened species, is its relation to chronic stress, which could potentially lead to immunosuppression and reduced reproductive activity. Our aim is to determine how different social environments and management systems might be influencing the secretion of fecal glucocorticoids in white rhinoceroses. We have analyzed the concentration of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in 658 fecal samples from 14 white rhinoceroses, seven free-ranging rhinos, and seven rhinos from two different managed captive populations. HPLC techniques were used to determine the main glucocorticoid metabolite found in this species, and a competitive EIA was used to establish fecal 5α-pregnan-3 3β, 11β, 21-triol-20-oneglucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels. Our results reveal that management systems and social interactions had an influence on fGCM levels, suggesting that the more restrictive the management and social conditions are, the higher the glucocorticoid concentrations that are found. Additionally, sex was also found to influence fGCM levels, as in females, fGCM concentrations were higher than in males. We conclude that the analysis of glucocorticoids in relation to other factors is a powerful tool to assess adrenocortical response in white rhinoceros in order to broaden the knowledge of their reproductive biology and improve the management of the species.

Objective Impaired self-awareness (SA) is a common symptom after suffering acquired brain injury (ABI) which interferes with patient’s rehabilitation and their functional independence. SA is associated with executive function and declarative memory, two cognitive functions that are related to participants’ daily living functionality. Through this observational study, we aim to explore whether SA may play a moderator role in the relation between these two cognitive processes and functional independence. Method A sample of 69 participants with ABI completed a neuropsychological assessment focused on executive function and declarative memory which also included a measure of SA and functional independence. Two separated linear models were performed including functional independence, SA, and two neuropsychological factors (declarative memory and executive function) derived from a previous principal component analysis. Results Moderation analysis show a significant interaction between SA and executive function, reflecting an association between lower executive functioning and poorer functional outcome, only in participants with low levels of SA. Notwithstanding, declarative memory do not show a significant interaction with SA, even though higher declarative memory scores were associated with better functional independence. Conclusions SA seems to play a moderator effect between executive function, but not declarative memory, and functional independence. Accordingly, participants with executive deficits and low levels of SA might benefit from receiving specific SA interventions in the first instance, which would in turn positively impact on their functional independence.

This study explored the relationship between religion, religiosity and alcohol consumption in a sample of 2.890 adolescents (ages 12-18) in Madrid, Spain. Results showed that non-believers were the group that consume and abuse alcohol the most, as opposed to Catholics. Besides, religiosity was related to a lower alcohol use. Therefore, religion and religiosity in Spanish adolescents appear to be related to a low alcohol use. This contribution may help to clarify the risk and protection factors for alcohol consumption by adolescents and contribute to strengthening the preventive actions.

No abstract

Several studies show that primates exhibit coping strategies to buffer the effect of increased social tension under crowded conditions. This is the first study to assess the effect of crowding on the social behavior of a cooperative breeding primate. We studied the effect of repeated short-term crowding on the social behavior of 20 cotton-top tamarins (10 breeders, 10 adult-subadult offspring) belonging to 2 large and 3 small groups. We compared scratching and rates of social behavior between 2 conditions: large-outdoor (42.0 m 2 ×3.3 m) and small-indoor (3.5 m 2 × 2.2 m) enclosures. Our results indicate that scratching increases in breeders and offspring during crowding. However, whereas the social behavior of breeders in small groups was not affected by crowding, breeders in large groups (n=4) showed increased rates of severe aggression with their offspring during crowding. Offspring of large groups showed a nonsignificant trend to increase mild aggression, and an increased percentage of time in contact and grooming during crowding. This augmentation of grooming occurred in offspring-breeder dyads and also between offspring. These results suggest that helpers from large groups use coping strategies when social tension increases.

Forgiveness seeking after a relational transgression is an important aspect of relational repair from an interpersonal perspective, although it has received much less attention than the process of granting forgiveness. This research focuses on the victim's perspective of the transgressor's behaviors and how they are related to forgiveness and offense characteristics. This paper proposes a multidimensional concept of seeking forgiveness that includes four dimensions: apologies, restorative action, relational caring behaviors, and diverting behaviors. A questionnaire for assessing these dimensions was developed and tested with a general population sample of 450 subjects. Participants recalled a specific offense and then answered a questionnaire about the perceived usefulness of different forgiveness-seeking behaviors, a forgiveness inventory, and several questions regarding the characteristics of the offense (severity, intentionality, and frequency). Our results support the four-factor structure of the questionnaire. As the perceived intentionality of the offense increases, behaviors that are directly related to the transgression, such as apologies and restorative actions, are experienced as less useful for forgiveness. The more hurtful the offense, the less useful the diverting behaviors are. Behavior such as apologies and restorative action are related to a lower (less) motivation for revenge, while all forgiveness-seeking behaviors are related to an increase in feelings of benevolence toward the offender.

Infant carrying is common in primates and may be the second most costly activity related to reproduction, after lactation. In cooperative breeding groups of callitrichids, all group members carry and care for twin infants. Previous studies have described the costs of infant carrying in terms of body mass loss and reduced locomotor capability. However, infant carrying may also influence travel speed, an important potential cost because slower speed may handicap foraging, energetic budgets, and predator avoidance. We evaluated the impact of infant carrying on the travel speed of 27 adult and 9 subadult cottontop tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) of both sexes in large outdoor enclosures. We compared carrier speed to speed when not carrying during the 10 weeks after nine births. Subadult tamarins, which have a lower body mass than adults do, moved faster than adults when not carrying. We found no difference between the mean speeds of subadults and adults while carrying. However, the speed of carriers decreased as infant mass increased, and the slope of this negative relationship was more pronounced in subadult carriers. For every 80 g of extra mass load (the body mass of newborn twins), adults reduced their speed by 6% and subadults by 19% relative to noncarrying speed. We also observed a reduction in speed while carrying two infants in adult tamarins as carrying time increased. Our results contribute to an understanding of the costs of infant carrying, and serve to emphasize the importance of cooperative breeding systems in coping with these costs.