Resumen La calidad de la comunicación entre padres e hijos es un factor de riesgo o protección para el desarrollo de dificultades en los adolescentes; por ello, es fundamental que los profesionales de la prevención e intervención psicológica dispongan de instrumentos válidos y fiables para evaluar este indicador de la calidad del funcionamiento familiar. El objetivo fue obtener evidencia de validez de la escala de comunicación entre padres e hijos de Barnes y Olson (1982). Se obtuvieron dos muestras, una de 661 participantes (media = 15 años, DE = 1.6) para el análisis factorial exploratorio. Y otra de 240 participantes (media = 14.8 años, DE = 1.6 años) para el análisis factorial confirmatorio. Ambos análisis mostraron que el instrumento se constituye por dos factores que explican el 47% (madre) y 49% (padre) de la varianza. Los coeficientes de fiabilidad de la escala final para madres y padres oscilaron entre 0.64 y 0.78. Los hallazgos evidencian que esta escala presenta propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para utilizarla en población mexicana.

Abstract The quality of communication between parents and children can be a risk or protective factor for the development of challenges in adolescents. Therefore, it is fundamental for the professionals in prevention and intervention to have valid and reliable instruments to evaluate this indicator of the quality of family functioning. The objective of this study was to obtain evidence of the validity of the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale by Barnes & Olson (1982). Two samples were obtained, one with 661 participants (mean=15 years old, SD= 1.6) for the exploratory factor analysis; and another with 240 participants (mean= 14.8 years old, SD=1.6) for the confirmatory factor analysis. Both analyses showed that the instrument is made up of two factors that explain 47% (mother) and 49% (father) of the variance. Reliability coefficients from the final scale for mothers and fathers oscillated between 0.64 and 0.78. The findings indicate that this scale has adequate psychometric properties to be used in the Mexican population.

Triatoma guasayana and two putative cryptic species pertaining to T. sordida complex (named groups 1 and 2) occur in sympatry in the Bolivian Chaco. Using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and subsequent genetic analysis, our work assesses their population distribution and dispersal capacity in domestic, peridomestic, and silvatic environments. Our collections by light trap in the silvatic environment indicated a predominance of T. guasayana and T. sordida group 2 and a lesser abundance of T. sordida group 1 (£ 10% of the total of captures). Their similar distribution in two silvatic areas 80 km apart supports the hypothesis of their homogeneous dispersal through the Bolivian Chaco. The distribution of T. guasayana and T. sordida groups 1 and 2 was similar between silvatic environment and peridomestic ecotopes where 25% of positive places was occupied by two or three species. Bromeliads were confirmed as favorable shelter for T. guasayana but were free of T. sordida. T. sordida group 1 and to a lesser extent T. guasayana would be more invasive vectors for houses than T. sordida group 2. The spatial partition in the three species sampled in two distant sites suggested a reduced dispersive capacity.

The genetic population of Triatoma sordida group 1, a secondary vector of Chagas disease in Bolivia, was studied by multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis. A total of 253 nymphal and adult specimens collected from seven neighbouring localities in the Velasco Province, Department of Santa Cruz, were processed. The relatively low genetic variability was confirmed for this species (rate of polymorphism: 0.20). The absence of genetic disequilibrium detected within the seven localities was demonstrated. A geographical structuration appears between localities with distances greater than 20 km apart. Although T. sordida presents a relatively reduced dispersive capacity, its panmictic unit is wider than compared with T. infestans. Genetic distances between T. sordida populations were correlated with geographic distance. Gene flow between geographic populations of T. sordida provides an efficient framework for effective vigilance and control protocols.