Psychological Distress, family functioning and use of psychoactive

substances in administrative workers of a Higher Education Institution

in Nicaragua May-August 2015
Introduction

Professionals in the field of mental health and addictions try to identify situations that cause
psychoactive substances use in the population, especially the working population, due to this
affects all areas of human well-being.

One of the variables studied to explain this situation has been psychological distress (commonly called
stress).

Most people associate stress with unpleasant and uncomfortable experiences. However this is an
adaptive condition of humans, any change generates stress. But when people present a disproportionate
or incorrect response, it activates cognitive and emotional mechanisms, causing distress or negative
stress

Another variable that has begun to be studied is the family, recognizing the association between family
functioning and the consumption of psychoactive substances by some of its members (father or
children).

Because of this, many people when they suffer psychological distress and problems in family
functioning, they used psychoactive substances as a way of coping with the emotional burden
of the day.

In countries like Nicaragua, interest in mental health and psychosocial well-being of the
working population, has little concern among health authorities, the labor unions and even the
workers themselves. The purpose of this research was to answer the question: What level of
psychological distress and family functioning presented administrative workers of an Institution
of Higher Education in Nicaragua, according to their use of psychoactive substances between
May to August 2015?

Methodological design

The study was an analytical cross-sectional using stratified random sampling, carried out in an
Institution of HigherEducation in Nicaragua between May and August 2015

The objectives were the sociodemographic characterization of the participants, identify the
level of psychological distress and family functioning and finally, establish the level of
consumption of psychoactive substances at some time in life, the substances most consumed
and the level of risk consumption of the Participants, as well as the relationships between
variables.

A dossier consisting of 4 Sections was used: Socio-demographic data, Psychological distress

Questionnaire, Kessler; Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening
Test(ASSIST) and the Family APGAR, Smilkstein.
We obtained the approval of the authorities to collect the data, participation was voluntary and
the results of the tests were sent to the workers who requested them.

The data were analyzed in SPSS 21 using frequency and contingency tables, for relationship
between variables it was used the chi square (independence test).

Results and Discussion

Sociodemographic data:

61.7% of the respondents were women, 47.9% of the total were between 36 and 49 years old, married
(48.3%) predominated,In terms of provenance majority (94.6%) were urban; predominated the
Catholic religion (78.3%) and University education level (42.5%).

Respect to family composition the 47.9% lived with their husbands and children, and 17.5% of
the sample were secretaries

Sociodemographic characteristics No. %

Female 148 61.7

Gender

Male 92 38.3
Total 240 100
From 21 to 35 years 72 30.0
From 36 to 49 years 115 47.9
Age

from 50 to 64 yars 52 21.7

from 65 + 1 0.4
Total 240 100
Married 116 48.3
Civil status

Single 69 28.8
Free Union 38 15.8
Divorced / separated 13 5.4
Widow 4 1.7
Total 240 100
Urban 227 94.6
Origin

Rural 13 5.4
Total 240 100
Catholic 188 78.3
Evangelical 38 15.8
Religion

Jehovah Witness 5 2.1

Atheist 7 2.9
Otther 2 0.8
Total 240 100
College 102 42.5
Education level

High school 56 23.6

Technical 42 17.5
Postgraduate 28 11.7
Elemtary school 10 4.2
Literate 1 0.4
Doctorate 1 0.4
 Total 240 100
Wife/ husband and children 115 47.9
Family composition My parents and my family 35 14.6
My parents 22 9.2
Husband/Wife 22 9.2
Children 20 8.3
Alone 13 5.4
My family and my in-laws 7 2.9
Brothers 3 1.3
Others. 3 1.3
Total 240 100
Secretary 42 17.5
Assistant 25 10.4
Area Manager 22 9.2
Cleaner 22 9.2
Janitor 20 8.3
Internal security 14 5.8
Accountant 12 5.0
Activity they perform

Driver 12 5.0
Administration 11 4.6
Computing 11 4.6
Analyst 10 4.2
Public attention 8 3.3
Librarian 7 2.9
Head of dispatch 6 2.5
Cashier 5 2.1
Accounting assistant 4 1.7
Gardener 3 1.3
Several 3 1.3
Grocer 3 1.3
Total 240 100
*Fuente: Datos sociodemográficos

Psychological Distress

It was found that 39.9% of the Participants presented some level ofpsychological distress
ranging from light to the extreme (Chart No.1). Levels Of psychological distress was
associated with sex, finding in the women (cleaners) Levels of extreme psychological distress,
While men presented Lower levels of this. Similar results showed the study of Cortes, Artacoz,
Rodríguez and Borrell in Barcelona, confirming that working women present worse levels of
well-being psychological.
 Level of psychological distress of
administrative workers UNAN-León, May-
August 2015. (n = 240)
144

56

26
14

60.1% 23.3% 10.8% 5.8%

No Distress Mild Distress Moderate Distress Extreme Distress

*Source: psychological distress scale, Kessler

Family functioning

Regarding the level of Family functioning, worker satisfactionin his family the family,
predominated the moderately functional family (secretaries) with 42.9%, as reflected in Chart
No.2:

The majority of administrative workers between 36 and 49 years presented families with severe
dysfunction, wich confirming the publication of Retamales and Behn, who stated that the
family satisfaction of workers in general was good but not optimal and that age influences the
functionality of it.
 Level of family functioning of administrative
workers UNAN-León, May-August 201. (n = 240)
Moderately functional family Very functional family Family with severe dysfunction

18.3%

42.9%

38.8%

*Source: APGAR FAMILIAR questionnaire, Smilkstein

Use of psychoactive substances

Sometime in lifetimeand in the last 12 months

As table No.1 revealed, 84.6% of the staff that participated reported having used psychoactive
substances at some point in their lives, of which 86.7% reported having consumed in the last 12
months.

Table No.1: Psychoactive Substance use at sometime in lifetime and in the last 12 months.

YES NO Total
SOMETIME IN LIFE
203 (84.6*) 37 (15.4) 240 (100)
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
176 (86.7) 27 (13.3) 203 (100)

In this research women (Secretaries) had consumed more substances sometime in life than men,
this differs from documents such as Report of the National Equity Center Gender and
Reproductive HealthMexico, who stated that consumption of substances at some point in life
was Greater in men.
On the contrary, men (drivers) consumed more in the last 12 months, which coincided with the
publication of Pérez-Franco and Fresno, who emphasized that sex is an important
sociodemographic variable at the moment of knowing the gender differences in the Use of
psychoactive substances, finding that men often consumed psychoactive substances more than
women in recent periods of studies.

Type of substances consumed

Table No.2: Substances consumed sometime in life by administrative workers.

No. %
Type of substances consumed

Alcoholic drinks (beers, wines, liqueurs) 190 93.6

Tobacco (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipe) 83 40.9
Sedatives / sleeping pills (valium, diazepam, alprazolam, 74 36.5
xanax, etc.)
Cannabis (marijuana, herb, hashish) 17 8.4
Cocaine (coca, crack) 9 4.4
Coffee 8 3.9
Non-Prescription Medications 4 2.0
Amphetamines (speed, ecstasy) 2 1.0
Inhalants (glues, glue, gasoline) 2 1.0
Opiates (heroin, methadone, codeine, morphine) 2 1.0

Women (secretaries) had consumed sometime in life mainly alcoholic drinks and sedatives /
sleeping pills, while men had consumed tobacco, cannabis and cocaine.

The tobacco in the administrative staff was the substance of greater daily consumption and
showed an association between living alone and cocaine and inhalants consumption.

Risk Level

Levels of risk consumption

Low Moderate High Total
Alcoholic drinks
132 (65*) 55 (27.1) 16 (7.9) 203 (100)
Tobacco
144 (70.9) 46 (22.7) 13 (6.4) 203 (100)
Sedatives / sleeping pills
159 (78.3) 39 (19.2) 5 (2.5) 203 (100)
Coffe
197 (97) 4 (2.0) 2 (1.0) 203 (100)
Over-the-counter medications
200 (98.5) 3 (1.5) 0 (0.0) 203 (100)
 Cannabis
201 (99) 1 (0.5) 1 (0.5) 203 (100)
Cocaine
202 (99.5) 1(0.5) 0 (0.0) 203 (100)
Amphetamines
202 (99.5) 1 (0.5) 0 (0.0) 203 (100)
Inhalants
202 (99.5) 1 (0.5) 0 (0.0) 203 (100)
Opiates
203 (100) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 203 (100)

As regards the level of risk (hazard in the last 3 months of suffering Medical, social and
occupational problems due to consumption of substances) for the Administrative workers staff
that had consumed sometime in life (203), it was found that the alcohol had the highest level of
consumption of high and moderate risk (7.9% and 27.1% respectively), followed by tobacco
with a high risk consumption of 6.4% and moderate risk 22.7%, coinciding with Mangado and
Gúrpide that mentioned that these are the two substances most consumed among workers

In this research, the sex of the participants was associated with the level of consumption of high
risk of tobacco and alcoholic beverages; found that for alcoholic beverages, women presented
low risk levels, whereas men (drivers) had high and moderate risk levels. Vargas, Moreno and
Alonso confirmed that alcohol consumption was often more risky in men than in women.

At the same time, the level of consumption of tobacco risk was consistent with a report of
National Institute of Drug Abuse, which stated that the consumption of this substances is
slightly higher in men than in women. In this case the Men (drivers and assistants) smoked
more.

This research showed a significant association between the level of risk of consumption of
tobacco and religion, but in this case, being an atheist was linked to a level of low risk, in
relation to those who practiced a religion such as Jehovah or evangelical witnesses, who
presented moderate and high risk consumption respectively

This contradicts the results of Martínez, Trujillo and Roble, who mentioned that performing
religious activities protects from the use of substances such as tobacco, showing that the social
representations for these administrative workers are different.

In the present investigation, the caffeine presented a level of consumption of high risk (1%) for
those who used it (janitor). On the other hand, non-prescription drugsshowed a moderate level
of risk in women (cleaners) with 1.5%.

Among illegal drugs, cannabis was the only one that presented a certain level of high risk
consumption (0.5%) in the administrative staff (responsible for area), similar results reflected
Cogollo and Gómez-Bustamante who exposed that the consumption of it was greater than
other substances such as cocaine, inhalants, etc.

Psychological Distress and Family Functioning

 Family Functioning
Levels of With severe Moderately Very
psychological distress dysfunction functional functional Total

No distress 22 (15.2*) 59 (41.0) 63 (43.8) 144 (100)

Mild distress 6 (10.7) 27 (48.2) 23 (41.1) 56 (100)
Moderate distress 8 (30.7) 12 (46.2) 6 (23.1) 26 (100)
Extreme distress 8 (57.1) 5 (35.8) 1 (7.1) 14 (100)
Total 44 (18.3) 103 (42.9) 93 (38.8) 240 (100)
X=23.192 DF=6; vp=.001.
*Fuente: Kessler Psychological Distress Scale / Smilkstein Family APGAR Questionnaire.
*%

It was found that 57.1% of workers who had an extreme psychological distress (severe malaise
of hopelessness, impotence, physical symptoms fatigue and chronic exhaustion) had a serious
family dysfunction, those who were mildly distressed a moderately functional family (48.2%)
and those who did not show distress enjoyed a very functional family (43.8%), being this
difference statistically significant (vp = .001) and widely studied by other professionals of
health

Psychological distress and consumption of Psychoactive substances in the last 12 months.

Consumption of psychoactive substances in

Levels of psychological the last 12 months Total
distress Yes No
No distress 97 (67.4*) 47 (32.6) 144 (100)
Mild distress 48 (85.7) 8 (14.3) 56 (100)
Moderate distress 21 (80.8) 5 (19.2) 26 (100)
Extreme distress 10 (71.4) 4 (28.6) 14 (100)
Total 176 (73.3) 64 (26.7) 240 (100)
X=7.777DF=3; vp=.051
* Source: Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.
*%

Regarding the level of psychological distress and consumption of psychoactive substances in

the last 12 months, 85.7% of those with mild psychological distress had consumed, while
32.6% of those without psychological distress did not, revealing a relationship Between
psychological distress and substance use (vp = .051).

Psychological distress and risk level of smoking and sedatives in the last 3 months.

Level of psychological Level of risk consumption

distress Tobacco Total
Low Moderate High
No distress 56 (57.7*) 35 (36.1) 6 (6.2) 97 (100)
Mild distress 38 (79.2) 6 (12.5) 4 (8.3) 48 (100)
Moderate distress 16 (76.2) 2 (9.5) 3(14.3) 21 (100)
Extreme distress 8 (80.0) 2 (20.0) 0 (0.0) 10 (100)
Total 118 (67.0) 45 (25.6) 13 (7.4) 176 (100)
 Sedatives / sleeping pills
No distress 80 (82.5) 16 (16.5) 1 (1.0) 97 (100)
Mild distress 34 (70.8) 10 (20.8) 4 (8.3) 48 (100)
Moderate distress 13 (61.9) 8 (38.1) 0 (0.0) 21 (100)
Extreme distress 6 (60.0) 4 (40.0) 0 (0.0) 10 (100)
Total 133 (75.6) 38(21.6) 5 (2.8) 176 (100)
Tabaco: x=14.794, Df=6, vp=.022
Sedantes/pastillas para dormir: x=14.089, Df=6, vp=.029
*Fuentes: Escala de distrés psicológico de Kessler/ASSIST 3.0
*%

Workers with a low level of tobacco consumption risk experienced an extreme disorder (80%),
while those with moderate risk did not present discomfort (36.1%) and those with a high level
of risk presented moderate discomfort (14.3% %) Was significant = .022)

Workers with a low level of risk of tobacco use experienced an extreme disorder (80%), while
those with moderate risk presented no discomfort (36.1%) and those with a high level of risk
showed moderate discomfort (14, 3%) being statistically significant (.022)

Regarding sedatives / sleeping pills, it was found that workers with low consumption risk did
not present psychological distress (82.5%), a moderate level of perceived risk as an extreme
disorder (40%) and those with a level of consumption Of high risk (8.3%), showing a positive
association (vp = 0.029) recognized by other researchers

Family functioning and consumption of Psychoactive substances last 12 months.

A moderately functional family (82.5%) was found in workers who had consumed substances
in the last year and in contrast, a very functional family (39.9%) in which they had not done so,
being statistically significant.

Level of family functioning Consumption of psychoactive

substances in the last 12 months
Total

Yes No
Severe dysfunction 35 (79.5*) 9 (20.5) 44 (100)
Moderately functional 85 (82.5) 18 (17.5) 103 (100)

Very functional 56 (60.2) 37(39.8) 93 (100)

Total 176 (73.3) 64 (26.7) 240 (100)
X=13.502 DF=2; vp=.001

*Fuente: Cuestionario APGAR familiar de Smilkstein

*%
Family functioning and consumption level of risk of alcoholic drinks in the last 3 months.

Although the functioning of the family did not show a statistically significant relationship with
any substance (Vp = 0.85), it is considered interesting to reflect that, in the case of alcohol;
Workers with low-risk consumption had a very functional family (71.4%), those with a
moderate risk consumption, a family with severe dysfunction (40%), and those with a high risk
level, a moderately functional family (12.9%) variables studied in other Latin American
countries

Family functioning Level of risk consumption

Alcoholic drinks Total
low Moderate High

Severe dysfunction 17 (48.6*) 14 (40.0) 4 (11.4) 35 (100)

Moderately functional 49 (57.6) 25 (29.4) 11 (12.9) 85 (100)
Very functional 40 (71.4) 15 (26.8) 1 (1.8) 56 (100)
Total 106 (60.2) 54(30.7) 16 (9.1) 176 (100)

CONCLUSIONS

1- The sociodemographic characteristics of the participants highlighted the following: majority

of women, age group of 36 and 49, married civil status, urban origin, Catholic religion,
university education level, family composition of spouses and children, and Predominant office
of secretary

2. With regard to psychological distress, women presented worse levels of Distress than men.
The level of moderate family functioning is associated with age between 36-49 years.

Women (secretaries) have used more psychoactive substances In life, and men (drivers) have
consumed more in The last 12 months.

The substances most consumed at some time in life are: alcoholic beverages And sedatives /
sleeping pills for women (secretaries) and tobacco in Men (drivers).

There is a high and moderate level of consumption of Alcoholic and tobacco in men (drivers)
and sedatives / sleeping pills in area manager

The level of psychological distress in the participants is associated with the level of

Family functioning, as well as the consumption of psychoactive substances

In the past 12 months and the level of high and moderate risk of consumption of tobacco and
sedatives / sleeping pills in the last 3 months.
The level of family functioning is related to the consumption of psychoactive substances in the
last 12 months and to the level of consumption of high risk of alcoholic beverages in the last 3
months.

RECOMMENDATIONS

To UNAN-León:

 Take into account the main psychoactive substances that the administrative workers are
consuming, as well as the link with the personal and family particularities and the
activity carried out in the university, in order to implement activities directed to the
characteristics of each worker.
 Find a flexible schedule for workers with space during work hours to attend medical
and psychological consultations in the campus.
 To make revisions of the personal and work needs of the workers, which involve
improvements to the activity they perform (computers, lamps, offices) and mental
health (space to relax).

To administrative workers:

 If you consume substances, be aware of your current consumption situation and try to
modify it. If you know someone in your job that you consume, motivate them to attend
medical or psychological consultations for support.
 Resorting to the university's professional resources (University Medical Clinic for
Student Wellness and Clinical Mental Health and CIDS Additions) to improve their
mental health.
 Improve communication in the family or with people close to you, as well as the quality
of time and decision making in the home.
 To carry out activities that favor the enrichment of family relationships and to avoid
those that involve the consumption of psychoactive substances.