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Introduction: Research on the effects of COVID-19 has shown that a favorable attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine would help reduce the pandemic's sequelae and avoid lethal variants. Objective: A theoretical model was tested through the strategy of path analysis and structural equation modeling, seeking to evaluate the direct effect of neuroticism and the indirect effects of risk-avoidance and rule-following behaviors, mediated by attitudes toward science. Methods: A total of 459 adults, mostly women (61%), mean age 28.51 (SD = 10.36), living in Lima (Peru), participated. The scales of neuroticism, risk avoidance behavior (RAB), norm following (NF), attitudes toward science, and attitudes toward vaccination were administered. Results: The path analysis explained 36% of the variance in vaccine attitude, whereas the latent structural regression model achieved a 54% explanation; according to this model attitude toward science (ß=.70, p < .01) and neuroticism (ß=-.16, p < .01) are significant predictors of vaccine attitude. Likewise, risk avoidance behavior and rule-following have indirect effects on attitudes toward vaccination. Conclusion: Low neuroticism and a positive attitude toward the science that mediates the effects of RAB and NF directly condition the possibility of vaccination against COVID-19 in the adult population.

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Objetivo Determinar en internos de ciencias de la salud si el autocuidado es un factor cuyo efecto directo sobre el bienestar mental es mediado por las actitudes y facilidades durante el internado, durante la segunda ola de pandemia COVID-19. Método Investigación transversal, correlacional multivariante. Participaron 174 internos en actividad asistencial, seleccionados con muestreo por conveniencia; se aplicaron tres escalas tipo autoinforme. Resultados Entre los internos de ciencias de la salud, ser mujer, tener familiar en casa contagiado de COVID-19 y presentar una percepción del estado de salud general desfavorable son factores de riesgo que incrementan la probabilidad de estado negativo de bienestar mental (1,9>OR<3,9); en tanto que el autocuidado junto a las actitudes y facilidades durante el internado se constituyen en factores protectores para contrarrestar la existencia de estado negativo de bienestar mental (OR<1; p<0,05). El modelo de regresión estructural evidencia que las variables autocuidado como las actitudes adoptadas y facilidades experimentadas por los estudiantes tienen efectos directos en el bienestar mental; asimismo, las actitudes y facilidades cumplen un rol de mediador entre autocuidado y bienestar mental (CFI=0,96; TLI=0,95; RMSEA y SRMR<0,08). El modelo en conjunto explica en 50,7% la variabilidad de bienestar mental. Conclusión El autocuidado es un factor cuyo efecto directo sobre el bienestar mental es mediado por las actitudes y facilidades en el internado durante la segunda ola de la pandemia COVID-19 en el año 2021.

Objective To determine in health sciences interns if self-care is a factor whose direct effect on mental wellness is mediated by attitudes and facilities during internship, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method Cross-sectional, multivariate correlational research. 174 interns participated during the COVID-19 pandemic, selected by convenience sampling; three self-report scales were applied. Results Among the health sciences interns, being a woman, having a family member at home infected with COVID-19, and having an unfavorable general health status perception are risk factors that are likely to have a negative state of mental wellness (1.9>OR<3.9); while self-care together with attitudes and facilities during the internship are protective factors to counteract the existence of a negative state of mental wellness (OR<1; p<0.05). The structural regression model shows that self-care variables such as attitudes adopted, and facilities experienced by students in the internship have direct effects on mental wellness; likewise, attitudes and facilities play a mediating role between self-care and mental wellness (CFI=0.96; TLI=0.95; RMSEA and SRMR<0.08). The model as a whole explains 50.7% of the variability of mental wellness. Conclusion Self-care is a factor whose direct effect on mental wellness is mediated by attitudes and facilities in internship during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.