Casamento e recasamento: Uma questão de amor e resolução de conflitos

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica.

Predictors of stress and depressive mood in portuguese middle-aged women

This cross-sectional study investigates the predictors of psychological symptoms-stress and depressive mood-in a sample of middle-aged women. A community sample of 1,003 women filled in the questionnaires and instruments, which included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales and the Life Events Survey; sociodemographic, health, and menopause-related and lifestyle information was also collected. Structural equation modeling was used to build the model that had stress and depressive mood as dependent variables. Health status (both physical and psychological), recent life events, income and menopausal phase were significantly associated with the frequency of stress and depressive symptoms. Additionally, educational level and parity were also significant predictors of depressive mood. This study emphasizes that psychological symptoms occurrence in midlife depends not only on personal variables (such as health and menopausal status) but also on contextual ones (including recent stressful events) that can be a strong influence on how middle-aged women feel.

IVG: Um indutor de alterações psicológicas? Estudo dos níveis de depressão, ansiedade e stress em mulheres no pré e pós I.V.G.

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica.

Relationship between subjective wellbeing and weight perception in children and adolescents: Gender and age differences

The relation between weight status (Body Mass Index - BMI), weight perception and subjective wellbeing remains unclear. Several studies conclude that discrepancies can be found between weight status and weight perception, among children and adolescents. The present study aims at investigating the associations between subjective wellbeing and individual characteristics, among children and adolescents. The sample included 1200 children and adolescents (51.7 % girls, aged 9 to 17). Their mean age was 12.55 years (SD = 1.61). The questionnaire was completed in school context, asking about the subjective wellbeing, use of self-regulation, eating behavior awareness/care, weight perception and sociodemographic questions such as age, gender and BMI. The study found a strong association between BMI and weight perception, although subjective wellbeing was better explained by weight perception than by BMI. Eating awareness and self-regulation also played an important role in subjective controlling for age and gender. Age and gender interfere in the relation between subjective wellbeing and other variables. The multiple regression model is more robust and explicative for girls and older children. Psychological factors related to weight, such as weight perception, self-regulation and eating awareness have a stronger explicative impact in subjective wellbeing compared to physical aspects, such as Body Mass Index. The relation between subjective wellbeing and weight is influence by age and gender.

Burnout syndrome and alcohol consumption in prison employees

Objective: The aims of this study were to estimate the association between an at‑risk drinking pattern and sociodemographic variables, and to compare the mean scores of the factors associated with the Burnout Syndrome, according to the alcohol consumption pattern in staff members from two Brazilian prisons. Methods: A cross‑sectional study was developed with 339 participants (response rate = 63.8%). The instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory – General Survey (MBI‑GS). Results: The participants’ average age was 40.2 (SD = 8.8) years, and 81.0% were male. Among 78.5% of participants (95%CI 74.1 – 82.8) reported consuming alcoholic beverages. The prevalence of at‑risk drinking behavior in the sample was 22.4% (95%CI 18.0 – 26.9), and of the Burnout Syndrome was 14.6% (95%CI 10.8 – 18.4). We observed a significant association between at‑risk drinking behavior with gender, higher risk for men (OR = 7.32, p < 0.001), smoking, increased risk for smokers (OR = 2.77, p < 0.001), and religious practice, showing lower risks for religion practitioners (OR = 0.364, p < 0.001). We noticed significantly higher mean scores (p < 0.001) of emotional exhaustion and cynicism, and lower scores of professional achievement among individuals who reported consuming alcoholic beverages. Conclusion: Men who smoke were more likely to develop an at‑risk drinking pattern, while religion is presented as a protective factor. Individuals who consume alcohol were more affected by the different factors of the Burnout Syndrome.

Pais gays/ bissexuais e mães lésbicas/ bissexuais: Experiências de discriminação e enquadramento social das famílias

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica

Memórias autobiográficas voluntárias e involuntárias: Relações com a vinculação, as relações interpessoais e a ansiedade

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica

Aceitação e eficácia de um programa de intervenção psicoeducativa para pais de crianças com asma: Estudo exploratório

Considerando a importância que a educação sobre a asma deve assumir no plano de gestão familiar da doença, e a falta de programas deste tipo em Portugal, construímos uma intervenção psicoeducativa breve para pais de crianças com asma entre os 7 e os 13 anos, visando a aquisição de atitudes mais positivas na gestão da doença. O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a aceitação, eficácia e a satisfação relativa ao programa intervenção. Completaram a intervenção 10 mães, tendo participado nas 3 sessões de grupo e nos 3 momentos de avaliação (linha de base, final da intervenção e follow-up a 9 meses). Para além da recolha de informação sociodemográfica e clínica, aplicaram-se dois questionários, um de conhecimentos sobre a asma e outro de qualidade de vida da criança (DISABKIDS-37, versões pais e criança). Utilizou-se também uma entrevista sobre a gestão da asma pela família (FAMSS) na avaliação inicial e no follow-up. Os resultados evidenciaram uma melhoria moderada no conhecimento dos pais e nas práticas de gestão da asma, confirmando a utilidade de incluir a intervenção psicoeducativa nos cuidados às crianças com asma.