Homeless girls suffer labour and sexual exploitation, abuse, discrimination and social exclusion at a higher rate than the rest of the population. However, worldwide information on homeless girls and intervention programmes for this group are scarce. This study examined the preliminary efficacy of a brief cognitive behavioural group therapy tailored to Mexican homeless girls. The intervention targeted subjective well-being and these determinants: symptoms of anxiety, symptoms of depression, assertive behaviours and functional emotion regulation skills. Results revealed statistically significant differences in symptoms of anxiety and depression, assertiveness, emotion regulation strategies and subjective well-being with treatment effects that ranged from moderate to large. Symptoms of anxiety and depression, and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies decreased. Assertive skills, functional emotion regulation strategies, and subjective well-being increased. Outcomes were clinically relevant. At 2-month follow-up, participants showed improvement from pre-treatment on all measures. The current study provides unique findings in terms of a promising preliminary intervention that helps restore homeless girls to a healthier social/emotional developmental path especially in the context of Latin American cities. As a result, the clinical implications of this research highlight the urgent need to design effective interventions based on the observed characteristics and identified needs among homeless girls.

El bienestar subjetivo constituye un factor esencial para la preservación de la salud; sin embargo, no hay instrumentos de medición de dicho bienestar en población sin hogar, por lo que se sabe poco al respecto. Por ello, el objetivo de esta investigación fue adaptar y validar una escala de medición del bienestar subjetivo para niñas y jóvenes mexicanas sin hogar. La escala fue aplicada a 266 mujeres en tal situación y con edades comprendidas entre 6 y 23 años. Los resultados principales muestran índices de confiabilidad, validez discriminante y validez convergente que pueden ser considerados como indicadores veraces de las propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario. La utilidad del estudio estriba en que se tiene por primera vez en México un instrumento eficaz de medición del bienestar subjetivo en población femenil sin hogar.

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Título: Hacia una construcción de una concepción psico-sociocultural de niñas y jóvenes mexicanas en situación de calle: una aproximación cualitativa. Resumen: Las niñas y jóvenes en situación de calle padecen explotación laboral y sexual, violencia, discriminación y censura en una proporción mayor que el resto de la población. Empero, actualmente, al menos en Méxi-co, todavía no hay una definición de dicho colectivo social y tanto sus características como la magnitud y dimensiones del fenómeno son conocidas parcial y superficialmente. Se realizó esta investigación para elaborar y validar una tipología que permita definir y caracterizar a niñas y jóvenes en situación de calle de la Ciudad de México. Se llevaron a cabo 300 entrevistas a profundidad, con las cuales se efectuó un análisis de contenido. Los resultados principales muestran que las menores y jóvenes en situación de calle son un grupo social inmerso en condiciones de marginación, exclusión social, pobreza y violencia predominantemente. A su vez, dicho colectivo incluye a dos subgrupos: aquéllas en riesgo de calle o en desventaja social y aquéllas de calle o sin hogar. Con tales resultados se tiene una tipología que permite definir, caracterizar y delimitar a la población bajo estudio, y a partir de la cual se puede conocer con mayor certeza y precisión la problemá-tica y elaborar e implementar estrategias efectivas de atención. Palabras clave: conceptuación; niñas y jóvenes en situación de calle; niñas y jóvenes en riesgo de calle; niñas y jóvenes de calle. Abstract:Homeless women are one of the most vulnerable groups worldwide since they are victims of labor and sexual exploitation, abuse, discrimination and marginalization at a higher rate than the rest of the population. However, currently, Mexico lacks of an accurate definition of such social group, and their characteristics as well as the magnitude and dimensions of the phenomenon are only partially and superficially known. The purpose of this research was to develop and validate a typology of homeless women living in Mexico City. To fulfill this purpose, 300 indepth interviews were conducted and examined thoroughly with a systematic analysis of the content. The main results indicate that homeless women constitute a social group immersed predominantly in circumstances of violence, marginalization, poverty and social exclusion. Also, this collective includes two subgroups: women at risk of homelessness and women emergency sheltered, unsheltered or absolutely homeless and living in places not intended for human habitation. With this typology it is possible to define, characterize and distinguish homeless women. In addition, the phenomenon can be known with more certainty and accuracy enabling, thus, the design of effective treatment strategies. Key words: conceptualization; homeless women; women at risk of homelessness; emergency sheltered or unsheltered women.

Background: Depression is a mental health disorder present in medical students that foster cumulative disadvantages throughout life and that may compromise patient care. Yet, in Mexico there is a dearth of research concerning prediction models for depression in this population. Methods: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to develop and test a path model analysis of depression in 103 freshmen Mexican medical students ages 18-23 years old selected non-randomly. Anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and coping skills were used as factors influencing depression. Mexican self-report scales were used as assessment measures.Results: Main results showed that anxiety and emotion dysregulation had a significant direct influence on depression. Emotion dysregulation had a significant direct effect on coping skills and anxiety, while anxiety had a significant direct effect on problem drinking and alcohol problems. Fit indexes obtained indicate an excellent adjustment to data. R square indicates that 53.7% of the variance in depression can be explained by this model. Limitations: The results are exploratory rather than confirmatory. The sample size was not large enough and the research focused on only Mexican freshmen medical students. Other factors associated to depression in medical students were not considered. Conclusions:The current research provides unique findings in terms of a model of depression in Mexican medical students through which it is possible to design and implement interventions that decrease depression, thus positively affecting their well-being, their future careers as medical doctors and their abilities to serve the society adequately, especially in the context of Latin American cities.

Social Anxiety (SA) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in childhood that negatively impacts well-being and fosters cumulative disadvantages throughout life. The aim of this study was to predict SA for the first time in Mexico using these explanatory factors: assertiveness, specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, self-concept, depression, and coping skills. 649 children aged 6-13 years old (M=8.87, SD=1.889) were randomly selected from public elementary schools in Mexico City. The main results obtained with multiple regression analyses showed that specific phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, indirect assertiveness, and separation anxiety disorder significantly predicted SA in both genders. Concerning boys, assertiveness was also a relevant explanatory variable. Regarding girls, actual self-concept was also a significant predictor. The regression model explained 56.3% of the variance for boys, and 43.5% of the variance for girls. The findings of our study-comorbidity of SA with anxiety disorders-underline the importance of early intervention strategies to prevent the development of other disorders. Also, since assertiveness was a significant predictor, assertiveness training should be promoted in schools, with parents, and included in intervention programs in order for them to be efficient and sustainable, and to prevent and diminish social anxiety.

Homeless girls are victims of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse more frequently than the rest of the population. Consequently, their well-being is severely affected. Nonetheless, there is little information about this social group which leads to lack of proper care that, in turn, reduces their quality of life. This research was conducted to develop and test a path model of well-being in a group of 240 Mexican homeless girls aged 6-23 years. Anxiety, depression, assertiveness, and emotion regulation strategies were used as predictors of well-being. Findings reveal significant direct effects of depression and functional emotion regulation strategies on well-being. Results also show significant indirect effects of anxiety, assertiveness, and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies through depression. The fit indices achieved, x 2 (3)=1.116, p=.773; NFI=.997, RFI=.985, IFI=1.005, TLI=1.026, CFI=1.000, p=.000; RMSEA(90% CI)=.000(.000-.073), p=.889, demonstrate that the model reliably predicts well-being. Thus, the model fit is acceptable. The current study provides unique findings in terms of a path model that highlights anxiety, depression, emotion regulation strategies, and assertiveness as critical indicators for well-being in homeless girls. Hence, it is essential to consider such factors in order to promote well-being in this group, thereby improving their health and quality of life.