Attachment patterns and suicidal behaviours on higher education students

Introduction: Every individual has a necessity to establish affective relationships throughout life in order to feel comfort and support. This need is called attachment and allows the human being to explore the world, acquiring knowledge about himself and everyone else(1) There are several changes that occur on students’ lives when enrolling and attending university, a period that is known to include a set of situational and academic transitions which might lead to mental health problems, and thus making students more vulnerable and more prone to develop suicidal behaviours. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation on higher education students and to assess its relationship with attachment patterns. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive and correlational study, applied on a sample of 1074 students from a Portuguese higher education institution. Data collection was possible through an online platform that included a survey with questions regarding sociodemographical and academic profiling, the Portuguese version of the Adult Attachment Scale (EVA)(2) and the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire(3) Results: Students’ age varies between the 17 and 49 ( = 23,9 years old ± 6,107 Sd), the vast majority (64.7%) are females. Results show that the presence/severity of suicidal thoughts is low ( = 13.84; ± 20.29 Sd) on a scale from 0 to 180 and cut-off point > 41 for values that suggest potential suicidal risk, and based on that, 84 students were identified (7,8%). We verified significant relationships between suicidal ideation and anxiety and attachment (r=0.314 p=0.000). Conclusions: Although there is not a high prevalence of suicidal ideation on students, we found 84 students in our sample (7,8%) that reveal a potential risk for suicide. The results also show that young students with safe attachment patterns display less suicidal ideation. Safe attachment patterns are essential on interpersonal and social relationships and play an important role during the academic period. We cannot be indifferent towards this issue due to its individual, familiar and social repercussions. Every higher education institution should then establish student support offices and develop mental health promotion programs as well as suicide prevention campaigns.

Determinantes do bem-estar subjetivo na pessoa idosa

Introdução: O Bem-Estar Subjetivo, enquadrado no âmbito da intervenção da Psicologia positiva, refere-se à experiência individual e subjetiva da avaliação da vida, e inclui variáveis como a satisfação com a vida e a vivência de afetos positivos em detrimento dos afetos negativos. Considerando que o bem-estar subjetivo está associado à saúde e longevidade, o objetivo central deste estudo consiste em analisar o modo como determinadas variáveis de contexto sociodemográfico, familiar, clínico e psicossocial se revelam preditoras do bem-estar subjectivo em idosos institucionalizados versus não institucionalizados. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo de natureza quantitativa, descritivo-correlacional e transversal, com recurso a uma amostra não probabilística, acidental e por conveniência, composta por 116 idosos, 58 não institucionalizados e 58 institucionalizados, maioritariamente do género feminino (60,3%), viúvos (42,3%), com uma média de idades de 77,73 anos (Dp=9,276). O instrumento de colheita de dados incorporou uma ficha de caraterização sociodemográfica, situacional, familiar (Escala de Apgar Familiar), clínico – funcional (Índice de Barthel) e a avaliação do Bem-Estar Subjetivo (Escala de Satisfação com a vida e a Escala de Afetos Positivos e Negativos). Resultados: Constatamos que, os idosos não institucionalizados apresentam níveis de BES mais elevados face aos idosos institucionalizados (p=0,023), com maior significância estatística na dimensão afetiva. Em relação aos determinantes do BES objetivou-se que, são os idosos “mais jovens” (p=0,015), do género masculino (p=0,000), com nível de escolaridade mais elevado (p=0,032), inseridos em famílias funcionais (p=0,010), que percecionam melhor estado de saúde (p=0,000) e que são mais autónomos na realização das suas ABVD’s (p=0,000) a apresentar níveis de bem-estar subjetivo mais elevado. Conclusão: As evidências encontradas neste estudo revelaram a existência de fatores determinantes na perceção do BES pela pessoa idosa daí a importância de planeamento e implementação de projetos direcionados à manutenção da autonomia, à diminuição das limitações, à maximização de potencialidades individuais, à promoção de relações interpessoais. Neste sentido, atendendo às competências do enfermeiro especialista de enfermagem de reabilitação, seria de extrema importância a incorporação deste profissional especializado nas Instituições e em equipas multidisciplinares de apoio a idosos na Comunidade. Palavras-chave: idoso, Bem – Estar Subjetivo, satisfação com a vida, afetos, determinantes.

Traditional Toys and Student Motivation and Commitment in Technological Education

Problem Statement: This research aims to understand the contribution of traditional toys as catalysts for motivation and student commitment in the development of Technological Education projects and activities. Research Questions: To what extent do work units related to traditional toys promote student motivation and commitment in the subject of Technological Education. Purpose of Study: Technological Education requires students to gain knowledge and know-how such that motivation and commitment are crucial for the development of classroom projects and activities. It is in this context that traditional toys are assumed to be catalysts for motivation and student interest. Research Methods: In terms of methodology, an exploratory research of a qualitative nature was carried out, based on semi-structured interviews to teachers and students within a 2nd cycle of Basic Education environment, encompassing five state schools in the Viseu municipality, Portugal. Nine teachers and forty-five technological education pupils, aged between 10 and 12, attending the 5th and 6th years of schooling participated. Findings: Content analysis of the answers revealed that the implementation of work units involving the construction of traditional toys are conducive to student motivation and commitment. Starting off with an initial idea, pupils are enabled to experience all the stages of toy building, from conception to completion, contributing to greater student satisfaction in the teaching-learning process. Conclusions: The traditional toys constitute an added value in the subject of Technological Education, promoting student motivation and commitment in the development of projects and activities. Students acquire knowledge and skills, which will enable them to analyze and thus resolve specific situations and prepare them for an increasingly technological world.

Emotional skills and promoting School Success in the 3rd cycle: students perception

Problem Statement: The perceptions about school, play a central role in behavior, performance and results. There is evidence that an improvement in emotional skills is associated with a higher success. Research Questions: What is the relationship between internalizing and externalizing behaviors, emotional skills and academic success in the 3rd cycle of basic education? Purpose of Study: To promote social and emotional skills of students, in the 3rd cycle of basic education. Research Methods: A pilot study with groups of 7th year at a school central Portugal. Made diagnosis of disruptive behavior (ASEBA) was identified 6 children aged 12 0s and 14 and followed by 3 focus groups with students, parents, and teachers respectively. Findings: 6 students mostly male were identified (70 %), with the predominance of externalizing behaviors and academic failure. Not like school (80%) and have no motivation for learning. The relationship between parents and teachers is conflituoso. 100 % of parents have the utmost concern academic success and teachers perceptional good practices, but without success. Conclusions: This program is seen in a perspective of empowerment of the various educational agents to manage various environments and relationships. The results point to the importance of the focus group in the awareness of relational problems in schools. Less adjusted change behaviors imply the involvement of all educators.

Leadership and Pedagogical Interaction as Predictors of Learning Outcomes in Physical Education

Problem Statement: This research aims to understand the relative contribution of leadership styles and teacher-student and student-student pedagogical interaction concerning the learning performance and academic achievement in physical education. Research Questions: Are the teacher leadership style and the teacher-student and student-student pedagogical interaction related to the learning performance and academic achievement in physical education in basic schooling? Purpose of Study: There are several factors that contribute for the explanation of learning outcomes, namely teacher leadership styles in the classroom, as well as teacher-student and student-student pedagogical interactions. These factors are considered to be essential in the teaching-learning process and in the subsequent improvement of educational outcomes. Research Methods: A quantitative methodology was implemented, comprising a sample of 447 students attending a School Grouping located in the Central Region of Portugal. In order to verify the nature, the strength and the direction of the relations among the variables, correlation and multiple regression analyses were used. For this, scales already validated and used in other researches were applied. Findings: The results show that the learning performance and the academic achievement are significantly associated with teacher leadership styles and teacher-student and student-student pedagogical interaction. A stronger association was obtained with leadership styles, especially the democratic one. It should be mentioned that these factors provide a higher relative contribution to the learning performance than to the academic achievement. Conclusions: This study sought to deepen the understanding of the explanatory factors of academic success concerning the teaching-learning process in physical education. The analysis conducted highlights the importance of the democratic teacher leadership style and of the pedagogical interaction established within the classroom towards the improvement of students' ability to understand the gains and the effort made in learning.