The MMPI-2 Gender-Masculine and Gender-Feminine scales: Gender roles as predictors of psychological health in clinical patients

Previous research measuring various biosocial factors such as age, sex, and marital status has found them to be essentially unrelated to measures of psychological health. Recent empirical studies have revealed that personality constructs may be more significant than demographic variables in the prediction of psychological well-being. The present study assessed the personality constructs of masculinity and femininity and hypothesized that the Gender-Masculine ( GM) scale of the MMPI-2 would be more effective than the Gender-Feminine (GF) scale in predicting psychological well-being. This hypothesis stems from previous research that has indicated the dominance of the masculinity model. It is suggested that previous research supporting androgyny as a primary indicator of well-being was influenced by the masculinity component of this gender orientation. One hundred and seventy-seven psychiatric patients from Australia (N = 107) and Singapore ( N 5 70) completed the MMPI-2. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed significantly stronger masculinity effects, with significance achieved on measures of ego strength and low self-esteem. No significant relationship between psychological well-being and the GF variable was found. Similarly, androgyny did not add any further variance to the model when masculinity was controlled for. Overall, the results are consistent with an interpretation that GM is a better correlate of psychological well-being as compared to the GF scale.

Parental self-efficacy in managing food allergy and mental health predicts food allergy related quality of life

BACKGROUND: Food allergy has been shown to have a significant impact on quality of life (QoL) and can be difficult to manage in order to avoid potentially life threatening reactions. Parental self-efficacy (confidence) in managing food allergy for their child might explain variations in QoL. This study aimed to examine whether self-efficacy in parents of food allergic children was a good predictor of QoL of the family. METHODS: Parents of children with clinically diagnosed food allergy completed the Food Allergy Self-Efficacy Scale for Parents (FASE-P), the Food Allergy Quality of Life Parental Burden Scale (FAQL-PB), the GHQ-12 (to measure mental health) and the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM), which measures perceived likelihood of a severe allergic reaction. RESULTS: A total of 434 parents took part. Greater parental QoL was significantly related to greater self-efficacy for food allergy management, better mental health, lower perceived likelihood of a severe reaction, older age in parent and child and fewer number of allergies (all p<0.05). Food allergy self-efficacy explained more of the variance in QoL than any other variable and self-efficacy related to management of social activities and precaution and prevention of an allergic reaction appeared to be the most important aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Parental self-efficacy in management of a child's food allergy is important and is associated with better parental QoL. It would be useful to measure self-efficacy at visits to allergy clinic in order to focus support; interventions to improve self-efficacy in parents of food allergic children should be explored. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The effects of American Sign Language on general self-efficacy and anxiety among mothers in a residential rehabilitation facility for drug addiction and substance abuse

Globally, approximately 208 million people aged 15 and older used illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months; 2 billion consumed alcohol and tobacco consumption affected 25% (World Drug Report, 2008). In the United States, 20.1 million (8.0%) people aged 12 and older were illicit drug users, 129 million (51.6%) abused alcohol and 70.9 million (28.4%) used tobacco (SAMHSA/OAS, 2008).Usually considered a problem specific to men (Lynch, 2002), 5.2% of pregnant women aged 15 to 44 are also illicit drug and substance abusers (SAMHSA/OAS, 2007). During pregnancy, illicit drugs and substance abuse (ID/SA) can significantly affect a woman and her infant contributing to developmental and communication delays for the infant and influencing parenting abilities (Budden, 1996; March of Dimes, 2006b; Rossetti, 2000). Feelings of guilt and shame and stressful experiences influence approaches to parenting (Ashley, Marsden, & Brady, 2003; Brazelton, & Greenspan, 2000; Ehrmin, 2000; Johnson, & Rosen, 1990; Kelley, 1998; Rossetti, 2000; Velez et al., 2004; Zickler, 1999). Parenthood is an expanded role that can be a trying time for those lacking a sense of self-efficacy and creates a high vulnerability to stress (Bandura, 1994). Residential treatment programs for ID/SA mothers and their children provide an excellent opportunity for effective interventions (Finkelstein, 1994; Social Care Institute for Excellence, 2005). This experimental study evaluated whether teaching American Sign Language (ASL) to mothers living with their infants/children at an ID/SA residential treatment program increased the mothers’ self-efficacy and decreased their anxiety. Quantitative data were collected using the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory showing there was both a significant increase in self efficacy and decrease in anxiety for the mothers. This research adds to the knowledge base concerning ID/SA mothers’ caring for their infants/children. By providing a simple low cost program, easily incorporated into existing rehabilitation curricula, the study helps educators and healthcare providers better understand the needs of the ID/SA mothers. This study supports Bandura’s theory that parents who are secure in their efficacy can navigate through the various phases of their child’s development and are less vulnerable to stress (Bandura, 1994).

The effectiveness of a conceptually-based health and wellness course in developing health related factors, exercise self-efficacy and knowledge of health issues and exercise performance among diverse college students

The purpose of the study was to investigate the physiological and psychological benefits provided by a self-selected health and wellness course on a racially and ethnically diverse student population. It was designed to determine if students from a 2-year Hispanic serving institution (HIS) from a large metropolitan area would enhance their capacity to perform physical activities, increase their knowledge of health topics and raise their exercise self-efficacy after completing a course that included educational and activity components for a period of 16 weeks. A total of 185 students voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. An experimental group was selected from six sections of a health and wellness course, and a comparison group from students in a student life skills course. All participants were given anthropometric tests of physical fitness, a knowledge test, and an exercise self-efficacy scale was given at the beginning and at the conclusion of the semester. An ANCOVA analyses with the pretest scores being the covariate and the dependent variable being the difference score, indicated a significant improvement of the experimental group in five of the seven anthropometric tests over the comparison group. In addition, the experimental group increased in two of the three sections of the exercise self-efficacy scale indicating greater confidence to participate in physical activities in spite of barriers over the comparison group. The experimental group also increased in knowledge of health related topics over the comparison group at the .05 significance level. Results indicated beneficial outcomes gained by students enrolled in a 16-week health and wellness course. The study has several implications for practitioners, faculty members, educational policy makers and researchers in terms of implementation of strategies to promote healthy behaviors in college students and, to encourage them to engage in regular physical activities throughout their college years.

Differential effects of single -sex versus coed education on the mathematical reasoning ability, verbal reasoning ability, and self-concept of high school girls

This study explored the differential effects of single-sex versus coed education on the cognitive and affective development of young women in senior year of high school. The basic research question was: What are the differential effects of single-sex versus coed education on the development of mathematical reasoning ability, verbal reasoning ability, or self-concept of high school girls?^ This study was composed of two parts. In the first part, the SAT verbal and mathematical ability scores were recorded for those subjects in the two schools from which the sample populations were drawn. The second part of the study required the application of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale to subjects in each of the two sample populations. The sample schools were deliberately selected to minimize between group differences in the populations. One was an all girls school, the other coeducational.^ The research design employed in this study was the causal-comparative method, used to explore causal relationships between variables that already exist. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the data produced by this research, no significant difference was found to exist between the mean scores of the senior girls in the single-sex school and the coed school on the SAT 1 verbal reasoning section. Nor was any significant difference found to exist between the mean scores of the senior girls in the single-sex school and the coed school on the SAT 1 mathematical reasoning section. Finally, no significant difference between the mean total scores of the senior girls in the single-sex school and the coed school on the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale was found to exist.^ Contrary to what many other studies have found in the past about single-sex schools and their advantages for girls, this study found no support for such advantages in the cognitive areas of verbal and mathematical reasoning as measured by the SAT or in the affective area of self-concept as measured by the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. ^

The effects of cross -age peer tutoring on writing and reading comprehension skills and attitudes and self -perceptions as writers of third and fourth grade students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cross-age peer writing response groups on the writing and reading achievement of third and fourth grade students. Students' attitudes about writing and their perceptions of themselves as writers were also measured at the end of the study. ^ One hundred and twenty-two third and fourth grade students enrolled in a public school in a middle-class, multi-cultural neighborhood participated in the study. Four existing classes of students were randomly assigned to either the experimental condition (EC) or the control condition (CC). Both groups were pretested and posttested for writing and reading achievement. The intervention, cross-age peer writing groups, met for eleven weeks. ^ Three hypotheses were examined in this study: (a) writing improvement score, (b) reading comprehension improvement score, and (c) students' attitudes toward writing and their perception of themselves as writers based on the five scales measured on the Writer Self-Perception Scale. ^ ANOVAs were done on the pretests and posttests for writing and the Stanford Achievement Test reading comprehension subtest scores for the year of the study and the previous year. ANOVAs were also done for the five areas of the Writer Self-Perception Scale. Cross-tabulations were also used to compare improvement level verses treatment group, and grade level. ^ Analysis of the data revealed that there was no evidence that the tutoring (EC) groups made more progress than the non-tutoring (CC) groups in writing and reading. There was evidence of growth in writing, especially by the fourth graders. Most importantly, the fourth grade tutors, the experimental group, had the most positive feelings about writing and themselves as writers. ^

The effect of cross -age tutoring routines on the tutor's perception of self as reader

Perception of self as a non-reader has been identified as one of the factors why poor readers disengage from the reading process (Strang, 1967; Rosow, 1992), thus impeding progress. Perception and informational processes influence judgments of personal efficacy (Bandura, 1997). The student's sense of reading efficacy that influence effort expenditure and ultimately achievement, is often overlooked (Athey, 1985; Pajares, 1996). Academic routines within educational programs are implemented without adequate information on whether routines promote or impede efficacy growth. Cross-age tutoring, a process known to improve participants' academic achievement, motivation, and provide opportunities for authentic reading practice, has been successfully incorporated into reading instruction designs (Allen, 1976; Cohen, Kulik & Kulik, 1982; Labbo & Teale, 1990; Riessman, 1993). This study investigated the impact teacher-designed routines within a cross-age tutoring model, have on the tutor's sense of reading self-efficacy. ^ The Reader Self-Perception Scale (Henk & Melnick, 1992) was administered, pre- and post-treatment, to 118 fifth grade students. Preceding the initial survey administration intact classes were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 commonly utilized cross-age tutoring routines or designated as the non-treatment population. The data derived from the Reader Self-Perception Scale was analyzed using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results indicated that participation as a cross-age tutor does not significantly increase the tutor's perception of self as reader in 1 or more of the 4 modes of information influencing self-efficacy as compared to the non-treatment group. ^ The results of this study suggests that although a weekly tutoring session that delivers educationally credible routines impacts achievement and motivation, efficacy effect was not evident. Possible explanation and recommendations for future studies are proposed. ^

Diet Self-efficacy and Physical Self-concept of College Students at Risk for Eating Disorders

Background: Both eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction affect a high proportion of college students. Self-esteem and self-efficacy may be protective factors for eating disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate diet self-efficacy, the confidence to maintain or lose weight, and its association with physical selfconcept using data from an online survey of health literacy, body image, and eating disorders. Study Population and Methods: This cross-sectional study collected online survey data from college students within the United States. The inclusion criteria allowed for 1612 college students, ages 17-35 years (597 males, 1015 females) belonging to the following racial/ethnic categories: Black (187); White, non-Hispanic (244), Hispanic (1035), and other (146). Specifically, the study aimed to examine (a) whether and to what degree diet self-efficacy and physical self-concept were associated with risk of eating disorders; (b) the interaction of gender by ethnicity on diet self-efficacy, physical self-concept and risk of eating disorders; and, (c) the relationship of diet self-efficacy with physical self-description and body mass index (BMI) in college students. Results:Low diet self-efficacy was associated with a lower score on physical self-concept (B = −0.52 [−0.90, −0.15], P = 0.007). Males had a higher physical self-concept as compared to females (B = 14.0 [8.2, 19.8], P Conclusion: College students in this study who had a poor body image were less confident with diet control. Poorer body image and low diet selfefficacy were associated with higher BMI. These findings suggest lifestyle management interventions may be of value to improve physical self-concept and lower risk of eating disorders for college students.

The Effects of American Sign Language on General Self- Efficacy and Anxiety Among Mothers in a Residential Rehabilitation Facility for Drug Addiction and Substance Abuse

Globally, approximately 208 million people aged 15 and older used illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months; 2 billion consumed alcohol and tobacco consumption affected 25% (World Drug Report, 2008). In the United States, 20.1 million (8.0%) people aged 12 and older were illicit drug users, 129 million (51.6%) abused alcohol and 70.9 million (28.4%) used tobacco (SAMHSA/OAS, 2008).Usually considered a problem specific to men (Lynch, 2002), 5.2% of pregnant women aged 15 to 44 are also illicit drug and substance abusers (SAMHSA/OAS, 2007). During pregnancy, illicit drugs and substance abuse (ID/SA) can significantly affect a woman and her infant contributing to developmental and communication delays for the infant and influencing parenting abilities (Budden, 1996; March of Dimes, 2006b; Rossetti, 2000). Feelings of guilt and shame and stressful experiences influence approaches to parenting (Ashley, Marsden, & Brady, 2003; Brazelton, & Greenspan, 2000; Ehrmin, 2000; Johnson, & Rosen, 1990; Kelley, 1998; Rossetti, 2000; Velez et al., 2004; Zickler, 1999). Parenthood is an expanded role that can be a trying time for those lacking a sense of self-efficacy and creates a high vulnerability to stress (Bandura, 1994). Residential treatment programs for ID/SA mothers and their children provide an excellent opportunity for effective interventions (Finkelstein, 1994; Social Care Institute for Excellence, 2005). This experimental study evaluated whether teaching American Sign Language (ASL) to mothers living with their infants/children at an ID/SA residential treatment program increased the mothers’ self-efficacy and decreased their anxiety. Quantitative data were collected using the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory showing there was both a significant increase in self efficacy and decrease in anxiety for the mothers. This research adds to the knowledge base concerning ID/SA mothers’ caring for their infants/children. By providing a simple low cost program, easily incorporated into existing rehabilitation curricula, the study helps educators and healthcare providers better understand the needs of the ID/SA mothers. This study supports Bandura’s theory that parents who are secure in their efficacy can navigate through the various phases of their child’s development and are less vulnerable to stress (Bandura, 1994).

Diagnóstico del rendimiento académico de estudiantes de una escuela de educación superior en México

El objetivo del artículo es realizar un diagnóstico sobre la percepción de los factores que intervienen en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes de cinco carreras universitarias en una escuela de educación superior en México, para así reconocer las áreas de oportunidad que permitan sugerir políticas y estrategias para elevar su rendimiento. Se utilizó una muestra de 1651 estudiantes, se obtuvieron los datos a partir de un cuestionario con treinta preguntas que estudian la percepción del rendimiento académico en escala tipo Likert. Se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio que permitiera reducir los datos, facilitar la interpretación y validar el instrumento. Se identificaron tres factores: a) el rol de los profesores, b) la evaluación y c) la motivación de los estudiantes. Se llevó a cabo un análisis comparativo por carrera. Se encontró que los estudiantes perciben que la mayoría de los maestros no se preocupan por la condición de los jóvenes en situación de reprobación. Además, casi no motivan y carecen de expresiones de sentimientos de orgullo por los logros académicos de los estudiantes. La mitad de los participantes piensa que los docentes no cubren el temario en su totalidad. Se detectó que los estudiantes poseen una alta motivación siendo esto positivo porque son alumnos dedicados y responsables. Se concluye realizando una serie de sugerencias y explicando las implicaciones que tiene este trabajo para las instituciones de educación superior.

De Relatie tussen Angst- en Stemmingsklachten en Self-disclosure: het Effect van Emotie-inhibitie en Mindfulness

Angst- en stemmingsklachten worden geassocieerd met verminderde self-disclosure. Met self-disclosure wordt zelfonthulling van ervaren emoties bedoeld. Dit speelt een rol bij zelfacceptatie en zelfinzicht, en is belangrijk bij gesprekstherapie. Deze studie onderzocht of emotie-inhibitie de negatieve relatie tussen angst- en stemmingsklachten en self-diclosure verklaart, en of de relatie gunstig te beïnvloeden is door mindfulness. Het effect van mindfulness op deze relatie was nog niet eerder onderzocht. Deelnemers waren 99 vrouwen van 24 t/m 74 jaar (M = 44.60, SD = 10.55) en 26 mannen van 26 t/m 77 jaar (M = 48.27, SD = 12.68), afkomstig uit de normale Nederlands populatie. Het onderzoeksontwerp betrof een cross-sectioneel online vragenlijstonderzoek, waarbij gebruik gemaakt werd van de Symptom Checklist (Arrindel & Ettema, 1986), Emotional Self-Disclosure Scale (Snell, Miller, & Belk, 1988), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John, 2003) en Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire – Short Form (Bohlmeijer, Ten Klooster, Fledderus, Veehof, & Baer, 2011). Resultaten tonen, conform bestaande literatuur, dat angst- en stemmingsklachten negatief samenhangen met self-disclosure. Emotie-inhibitie heeft echter géén mediatie-effect en mindfulness heeft géén moderatie-effect op de negatieve relatie tussen angst- en stemmingsklachten en self-disclosure. Mindfulness heeft wel mediatie-effect op deze relatie. Mindfulness hangt hierbij positief samen met self-disclosure. De relevantie van de bevindingen is vooral praktisch: om mensen met angst- en stemmingsklachten te stimuleren over hun emoties te praten zou mindfulness aangewend kunnen worden.

Relatie van Eigenwaarde en Motivatie met Employability bij Werklozen

Dit onderzoek gaat over de relatie tussen zelfwaardering en employability en het mediërende effect van motivatie bij werklozen. Employability wordt gedefinieerd als loopbaanonderzoek en -planning, loopbaanidentiteit, sociaal en menselijk kapitaal (Koen, 2013). Verondersteld wordt dat eigenwaarde een positieve relatie met deze dimensies van employability laat zien. Als mediator wordt motivatie voor werkhervatting genomen. Deze wordt onderscheiden in autonome en gecontroleerde motivatie, gebaseerd op de Zelf Determinatie Theorie (ZDT) van Deci en Ryan (2002). Dit model geeft aan dat autonome motivatie, waarbij werklozen zelf graag weer willen werken, duidt op een sterke zelfdeterminatie en gecontroleerde motivatie, waarbij werklozen zich gedwongen voelen tot werkhervatting, op een zwakke zelfdeterminatie duidt. De onderzoeksgroep bestaat uit 90 werklozen die een re-integratietraject volgden. De deelnemers hebben, gedurende activiteiten van het re-integratiebedrijf, de vragenlijsten ingevuld. Zelfwaardering is gemeten met de Nederlandstalige Rosenberg Self-EsteemScale. Employability is gemeten met de schalen van Koen, Klehe en Van Vianen (2013) gebaseerd op het model van Fugate, Kinicki en Ashforth (2004). De kwaliteit van motivatie (autonoom en gecontroleerd) voor werkhervatting zijn gemeten met schalen die samengesteld zijn door Koen (2013) gebaseerd op de JS-SRQ. Er zijn significant positieve verbanden gevonden tussen eigenwaarde en loopbaanplanning, sociaal en menselijk kapitaal. Verder zijn er significante mediërende effecten gevonden van autonome motivatie voor werkhervatting op de verbanden tussen eigenwaarde enerzijds en loopbaanonderzoek, loopbaanplanning, loopbaanidentiteit en menselijk kapitaal anderzijds. Er zijn geen significant mediërende effecten van gecontroleerde motivatie voor werkhervatting op de hoofdeffecten gevonden.

Autocriticismo, Estima Corporal e Sintomas de Perturbação do Comportamento Alimentar em Adolescentes do Sexo Feminino, Praticantes de Ballet e Andebol

Introdução: As Perturbações do Comportamento Alimentar (PCA) constituem um grave problema de saúde pública. Poucos estudos em Portugal ligam esta temática a áreas como o autocriticismo e a estima corporal. Assim, são nossos objetivos principais: explorar, numa amostra de adolescentes do sexo feminino, as diferenças entre praticantes de ballet e praticantes de andebol, nos sintomas de PCA, índice de massa corporal (IMC), dimensões avaliativas da aparência e níveis de autocriticismo; analisar se níveis maiores de autocriticismo e uma visão mais depreciativa em termos de aparência se associam a níveis mais elevados de sintomas de PCA (nas duas modalidades desportivas). Em virtude das associações encontradas, pretendemos realizar análises preditivas, controlando a influência de sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e stress. Metodologia: A amostra é constituída por 105 adolescentes do sexo feminino (n = 52; 49,5% do ballet e n = 53; 50,5% do andebol) com idades compreendidas entre os 12 e 18 anos (M = 14,5; DP = 1,80). As participantes preencheram um protocolo composto por um questionário sociodemográfico, pela Escala de Autocriticismo e Autotranquilização (FSCRS), pelo Teste de Atitudes Alimentares-25 (TAA-25/EAT-25), pela Escala Estima Corporal (BES) e pela Escala Depressão Ansiedade e Stress (DASS-21). Resultados: Verificaram-se percentagens preocupantes de eventual PCA (ponto de corte de 19) nas praticantes de Ballet (7,7%) e de Andebol (9,4%). Quanto ao IMC, na amostra de praticantes de ballet, encontrou-se uma percentagem relevante de jovens com magreza (34,6%). As praticantes de Ballet e de Andebol apenas se diferenciaram no IMC e na dimensão FSCRS_eu inadequado (valores superiores nas praticantes de Andebol). Verificaram-se, na subamostra Ballet, associações significativas entre a Motivação para a Magreza e as formas de autocriticismo FSCRS_eu inadequado, FSCRS_eu detestado, FSCRS_eu tranquilizador e FSCRS_total e entre os Comportamentos Bulímicos e as formas de autocriticismo FSCRS_eu detestado e FSCRS_total. Na subamostra Andebol constataram-se associações significativas entre a Motivação para a Magreza e a forma de autocriticismo FSCRS_eu inadequado e FSCRS_total. A dimensão FSCRS_eu detestado mostrou predizer, na subamostra Ballet, a Motivação para a Magreza e os Comportamentos Bulímicos. Na subamostra Andebol o BES_Peso foi o preditor significativo da Motivação para a Magreza. Discussão: É preocupante a percentagem de eventual PCA (em ambas em subamostras) bem como a percentagem de jovens que praticam Ballet com um IMC indicador de magreza, principalmente por serem jovens atletas e estarem mais focadas no seu corpo e forma física, estando mais vulneráveis ao desenvolvimento da patologia. É um contributo fundamental deste trabalho verificar associações (bem como o papel preditivo) nestas duas modalidades desportivas, separadamente, entre as formas de autocriticismo e as dimensões do TAA-25 Motivação para a Magreza e Comportamentos Bulímicos. Parece essencial o desenvolvimento de ações de sensibilização junto dos professores/treinadores, com o intuito de despertar uma maior atenção para a visão crítica das suas bailarinas/atletas em relação ao seu corpo, que parece influenciar as suas atitudes alimentares. Será importante iniciar estas ações/intervenções precocemente (antes mesmo da adolescência) não esquecendo a inclusão das figuras paternas, com vista a melhorar o seu sucesso, tendo consciência que particularmente no “nicho” desportivo do ballet a imagem/aparência e o peso continuam e continuarão, muito provavelmente, a ser valorizados e reforçados. / Introduction: Eating Disorders are a major public health problem. Few studies in Portugal associate this theme with areas such as self-criticism and body esteem. Thus, our main objectives are: to explore, in a sample of female adolescents, the differences between ballet and handball practitioners as to symptoms of eating disorders, body mass index (BMI) and evaluative dimensions of appearance and self-criticism levels; to analyze whether higher levels of self-criticism and a more derogatory vision in terms of appearance are associated with higher levels of PCA symptoms (in both sports). Having these associations into account, we intend to perform predictive analysis, controlling the influence of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Methodology: Our sample is composed by 105 female adolescents (n = 52; 49.5% from ballet and n = 53; 50.5% from handball) with ages between 12 and 18 years (M = 14.5; DP = 1.80). The participants filled in a protocol composed by a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Forms of Self-Criticizing and Reassuring Scale (FSCRS), the Eating Attitudes Test-25 (TAA-25/EAT-25), the Body Esteem Scale (BES) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: There were worrying percentages of eventual PCA (cutoff of 19) in Ballet practitioners (7.7%) and Handball (9.4%). As to the BMI, in the sample of practitioners of ballet we found a significant percentage of young people with malnutrition (34.6%). Ballet and Handball practitioners only differed in BMI and in the inadequate self form (higher values in Handball practitioners). In the Ballet subsample there were significant associations between Motivation for thinness and forms of self-criticism, inadequate self form, hated self form, reassure self form and total self criticism and between Bulimic behaviors and inadequate self form and total self criticism. In the Handball subsample, significant associations were found between Motivation for thinness, the inadequate self form and total self criticism. The hated self form predicted, in the Ballet subsample, Motivation for thinness and Bulimic behaviors. In the subsample Handball BES_Weight was the significant predictor of Motivation for thinness. Discussion: The percentage of any Eating Disorders (in both subsamples) and the percentage of young people who practice ballet with a IMC indicating thinness is worrying, especially in young athletes who are more focused on their body and physical form, being more vulnerable to develop these disorders/symptoms. A major contribution of this work is to have shown the associations (as well as the predictive role), in these two sports, separately, between self-criticism forms and the TAA-25 dimensions Motivation for thinness and Bulimic behaviors. It seems essential to develop awareness-raising among teachers/trainers, in order to raise greater attention to the critical view of their dancers / athletes in relation to their body, which seems to influence their eating attitudes. It will be important to start these actions/interventions earlier (even before adolescence) not forgetting the inclusion of parents in order to improve their success, particularly in the ballet “niche”, where image/appearance and weight will most likely continue to be valued and reinforced.

Resolução de problemas de dedução lógica na promoção da comunicação matemática na oralidade

Relatório de Estágio apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico.

“Crescer só… entre muitos” : Autopercepções e emoções em crianças institucionalizadas

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica