Massage therapy reduces pain in pregnant women, alleviates prenatal depression in both parents and improves their relationships

Prenatally depressed women (N=47) were randomly assigned to a group that received massage twice weekly from their partners from 20 weeks gestation until the end of pregnancy or a control group. Self-reported leg pain, back pain, depression, anxiety and anger decreased more for the massaged pregnant women than for the control group women. In addition, the partners who massaged the pregnant women versus the control group partners reported less depressed mood, anxiety and anger across the course of the massage therapy period. Finally, scores on a relationship questionnaire improved more for both the women and the partners in the massage group. These data suggest that not only mood states but also relationships improve mutually when depressed pregnant women are massaged by their partners.

Partner relationships during pregnancy in anxious and depressed women and men

To assess anxiety, depression and relationship satisfaction in both women and men during pregnancy, the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and The Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) were administered during the second trimester to a sample of 59 pregnant women and their partners. Anxious pregnant women rated their relationships as less positive. Depressed pregnant women also rated their relationships as less positive. The women’s anxiety scores were predictive of their positive and negative relationship scores. The women and their partners’ negative relationship scores were also predictive of each others’ negative relationship scores. These results highlight the importance of targeting anxiety as well as depression, and pregnant women as well as their partners in prenatal intervention programs.

Factores de risco de abuso no relacionamento íntimo: Estudo de validação da versão portuguesa do questionário “Personal and Relationships Profile”

O presente artigo trata do estudo das características psicométricas da versão portuguesa do questionário “Personal and Relationships Profile" (PRP, Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, & Sugarman, 1999). Este instrumento destina-se a avaliar os principais factores relacionados com a ocorrência de abuso no relacionamento com o companheiro; integra 21 sub-escalas substantivas e uma sub-escala de desejabilidade social. Foram participantes 551 estudantes universitários (60.3% do sexo feminino), na sua maioria com idades compreendidas entre os 19 e os 25 anos e com uma relação do tipo namoro. O questionário apresenta elevada consistência interna (α=.90), e as sub-escalas têm valores de alpha de Cronbach compreendidos entre .50 e .84. Confirma-se também a validade externa dado que um elevado número de sub-escalas do PRP, se encontra significativamente correlacionado com a escala de abuso físico sem sequelas (CT52). Os resultados obtidos confirmam a validade da versão portuguesa do questionário PRP, possibilitando a investigadores e práticos no âmbito das relações maritais um instrumento de screening para sinalização, aprofundamento e orientação das linhas de acção específicas no tratamento e/ou investigação dos principais factores associados à violência conjugal.

Cultural circuits of climate change in U.K. broadsheet newspapers, 1985–2003

This article argues for a cultural perspective to be brought to bear on studies of climate change risk perception. Developing the “circuit of culture” model, the article maintains that the producers and consumers of media texts are jointly engaged in dynamic, meaning-making activities that are context-specific and that change over time. A critical discourse analysis of climate change based on a database of newspaper reports from three U.K. broadsheet papers over the period 1985–2003 is presented. This empirical study identifies three distinct circuits of climate change—1985–1990, 1991–1996, 1997–2003—which are characterized by different framings of risks associated with climate change. The article concludes that there is evidence of social learning as actors build on their experiences in relation to climate change science and policy making. Two important factors in shaping the U.K.’s broadsheet newspapers’ discourse on “dangerous” climate change emerge as the agency of top political figures and the dominant ideological standpoints in different newspapers.

From perfect strangers to research partners: a study of relationships, resource sharing and perceived benefits within R&D cooperation networks

Doctoral thesis in Marketing and Strategy.