Psychology, Community & Health (E-Journal - PsychOpen)
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Terapia de Grupo Cognitivo-Comportamental Para Sobreviventes de Cancro da Mama: Descrição de um Programa e Avaliação Preliminar da sua Eficácia
Full text linkAim: Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has already been shown to be highly effective, namely in psycho-oncology field. There are few descriptions of how a CBT programme for cancer patients groups can be structured and delivered, as well as, there are few efficacy studies of this programs, especially in Portugal. We present a description of an 8-session CBT programme that has been developed by our team, for delivery to breast cancer survivors groups, as well as, the preliminary results of its efficacy. Method: It was used a sample of 20 participants selected from Reach to Recovery of Centre Delegation of Portuguese Cancer League (16 was submitted to the intervention program described and four performed the control group). Evaluation procedures consisted on voluntary fill-out of the following instruments: Courtauld Emotion Control Scale (CEC), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Clinical Inventory of Self-concept (ICAC), Life Orientation Test - Revised version (LOT-R) and the Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ C-30 and supplement BR-23). Description of components and contents of the sessions are presented. Results: Preliminary results of the programme application are presented. Until now, it was not possible to verify significant results from pre- to post-test. Conclusion: It is important to take in consideration the group therapy programme presented and replicate it with cancer patients in order to obtain clear results of its efficacy. The relevance of this conclusion is emphasized by the cost-effectiveness associated with the group therapy format.Objetivo: A terapia de grupo cognitivo-comportamental (TCC) tem-se mostrado altamente eficaz, nomeadamente no âmbito da psico-oncologia. Existem poucas descrições de como os programas para grupos de doentes de cancro podem ser estruturados e aplicados, bem como não têm sido publicados estudos de eficácia destes programas, especialmente em Portugal. Assim, descreve-se um programa de TCC de oito sessões, desenvolvido pela equipa, para aplicação a grupos de sobreviventes de cancro da mama, bem como os resultados preliminares da sua eficácia. Método: Foi utilizada uma amostra de 20 participantes selecionadas no Movimento Vencer e Viver da Delegação Centro da Liga Portuguesa contra o Cancro (16 foram submetidas ao programa de intervenção descrito e quatro fizeram parte de um grupo de controlo). Os procedimentos de avaliação consistiram no preenchimento voluntário dos seguintes instrumentos: Escala de Controlo Emocional (CEC), Escala de Ansiedade e Depressão Hospitalar (HADS), Inventário Clínico de Autoconceito (ICAC), Teste de Orientação de Vida (TOV-R) e o Questionário de Qualidade de Vida da Organização Europeia para a Investigação e Tratamento do Cancro (EORTC QLQ C-30 e suplemento BR-23). É apresentada a descrição dos procedimentos de intervenção. Resultados: Os resultados preliminares obtidos com a aplicação do programa são apresentados. Não foi possível verificar resultados significativos do pré para o pós-teste até este momento. Conclusão: É importante ter em consideração o programa de terapia de grupo apresentado para replicação em doentes de cancro para obter resultados mais claros acerca da sua eficácia. A relevância desta conclusão é enfatizada pelas vantagens da terapia de grupo como uma característica de custo-eficácia
Latent constructs of adjustment to aging and subjective age in Portugal and Romania: a comparative multiple correspondence analysis
Full text linkObjective: To analyze the determinants of adjustment to aging (AtA) and subjective age (SA) identified by older adults and to investigate the differences of latent constructs that can work as major determinants in AtA and SA in an older Portuguese and Romanian population. Method: Measures were completed, including demographics and interviews. Complete data were available for 38 older adults aged between 74-90 years (M=80.6; SD = 5.4), from Portugal and Romenia. Data was subjected to content analysis. Representation of the associations and latent constructs were analyzed by a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA). Results: The most prevalent response of the interviewed participants for determinants to AtA was ‘health status, physical and intellectual functioning’ (18.1%). ‘With apprehension’ and ‘good enough’ (both 27.0%) were identified as the most frequent SA responses. Findings showed a model for each nationality. AtA and SA for Portuguese elderly were explained by a three-factor model: ‘regardful’, ‘engaged’ and ‘conciliated’. A three-dimension model formed by ‘perseverant’, ‘congruent’ and ‘enjoyers’ was indicated as a best-fit solution for Romanian elderly. Conclusion: AtA and SA are strongly explained by increased likelihood of specific constructs in its definition. AtA is related to SA in older adults in both countries, although in different degree
The Portuguese Version of the Perceived Control over Hot Flushes Index: Evaluation of its Psychometric Properties
Full text linkAim: This research aims at validating an instrument to assess the perception of control over hot flushes, frequent symptoms during menopause. Method: A sample of 243 symptomatic women completed the Perceived Control over Hot Flushes Index, PCoHFI (Reynolds, 1997), two subscales from the Menopause Symptoms’ Severity Inventory, MSSI-38 (Pimenta et al., 2011) to assess perceived loss of control and vasomotor symptoms, as well as a socio-demographic questionnaire. The construct, criterion and external validity, reliability and sensitivity were explored. Results: The exclusion of item 15 is suggested since it presents a negative factorial weight (λ = -.105; p = .134) and only 1.1% of its variance is explained by the construct. The PCoHFI manifested two factors: internal and external control attribution. It does not present convergent validity, but it has discriminant validity. Criterion validity is confirmed by a significant correlation with other similar constructs. Moreover, the PCoHFI evidences a good reliability and sensitivity. Conclusion: The PCoHFI manifests good psychometric properties and is an adequate instrument to assess this variable, which has been identified as a strong predictor of vasomotor symptoms’ severity. Research and interventions with women who evidence severe hot flushes can benefit from the assessment of such construct
Images of Aging in Institutionalized and Non-Institutionalized Elderly People
Full text linkAim: The aim of this study was to assess and compare images and stereotypes of aging in institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly people. This is a descriptive study using a survey. Method: The instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire and the ImAges scale. A total of 120 elderly people, aged between 65 and 99 years, participated in this study. Results: Statistically significant differences were found, for the scale’s three factors, between institutionalized and non-institutionalized older adults. In the factor “dependence, sadness and old-fashioned”, the institutionalized participants presented a higher number of negative images and stereotypes (M = 51.8; DP = 6.01) than the non-institutionalized participants (M = 49.0; DP = 7.85), these differences were significant (t(118) = -2.16; p < 0.05). In the “maturity, activity and affectivity” factor, there were also significant differences (t(118) = 2.04; p < 0.05), the non-institutionalized participants present higher rates of positive images and stereotypes (M = 20.2; DP = 3.28), when compared to institutionalized participants (M = 19.0; DP = 3.310). Conclusion: The results suggested that institutionalized older adults presented more negative aging images than non-institutionalized
The Consumption of Pornography on the Internet in a Sample of Portuguese Women
Full text linkObjetivo: Analisar e identificar alguns comportamentos sexuais relacionados com o consumo de pornografia online numa amostra de mulheres portuguesas. Método: Neste websurvey participaram 216 mulheres (Média de idade = 27,89; DP = 6,40; máx. = 58; mín. = 18) respondendo a um questionário online acerca do seu consumo de pornografia online e comportamentos sexuais associados. O estudo foi divulgado através do método snowball via e-mail e em diversos chatrooms em diferentes horas do dia e da noite. Resultados: 56,9% das mulheres já visitou sites pornográficos e 7% gasta mais de 6 horas por semana nesta atividade. Entretenimento, curiosidade e obtenção de excitação sexual são as principais motivações para este comportamento. Os resultados revelam ainda uma enorme diversidade de conteúdos pornográficos procurados. Conclusão: Este estudo mostra que a Internet pode ser uma ferramenta usada por algumas mulheres para o consumo de pornografia, com uma diversidade de objetivos e de conteúdos, e permite a identificação de alguns tópicos para futura investigação.Aim: The main goal was to analyze the use of online pornography and identify some related sexual behaviours in Portuguese women. Method: 216 Portuguese (Mean age = 27.89; SD = 6.40; max. = 58; min. = 18) women answered an online questionnaire about their use of online pornography and other associated sexual behaviours. The questionnaire was announced through snowball method via e-mail and trough several chatrooms at different hours of day and night. Results: 56.9% of women, in this sample, have already used pornographic websites and 7% spends more than 6 hours per week in this activity. Entertainment, curiosity, and feeling sexual arousal, are the primary motivations for the use of these websites. Results also revealed a high diversity of preferred pornographic contents. Conclusion: The present study shows that the Internet can be a useful tool to search for pornography for some women, with a great diversity of objectives and contents, and allowed the identification of topics for future research
Aspetos da Vida Universitária e a Síndrome de Burnout
Full text linkAim: To estimate the prevalence of Burnout Syndrome in dental students, from a public university, and compare the mean scores obtained in each dimension of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI-S), according to the sociodemographic variables of interest. A total of 235 students participated in the study. Methods: The psychometric characteristics of OLBI-S were estimated. The comparison of Exhaustion and Disengagement mean scores was performed, using the Student’s t test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results: A total of 72.8% of the participants were women and the mean age was 21.0 ± 1.8 years. After the removal of three items, OLBI showed adequate factorial validity and reliability. Of the surveyed students, 61.7% had Burnout Syndrome, 22.1% Exhaustion and 4.7% Disengagement. A higher Disengagement mean score was observed for students who did not chose the Dentistry course as their first choice, and who consider teachers to be incompetent/reasonable. Those whose initial expectations were frustrated, with poor course performance, who already used medication due to their study load, and who thought about quitting the course, had higher mean scores of both Exhaustion and Disengagement. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of Burnout Syndrome, with a significant relation to sociodemographic variables.Objetivo: Estimar a prevalência da Síndrome de Burnout em estudantes de Odontologia de uma universidade pública e comparar os scores médios obtidos em cada dimensão do Inventário de Burnout de Oldenburg (OLBI-S) segundo as variáveis sociodemográficas de interesse. Participaram 235 estudantes. Métodos: As características psicométricas do OLBI-S foram estimadas. A comparação dos scores médios de Exaustão e Distanciamento foi realizada pelo teste t de Student e Análise de Variância (ANOVA). Resultados: Dos participantes 72,8% eram mulheres e a média de idade foi de 21,0±1,8 anos. Após a remoção de três itens, o OLBI-S apresentou adequada validade fatorial e confiabilidade. Dos estudantes, 61,7% apresentaram a Síndrome de Burnout, 22,1% Exaustão e 4,7% Distanciamento. Observou-se maior score médio de Distanciamento nos estudantes que não escolheram o curso de Odontologia como primeira opção e que consideraram os professores incompetentes/razoáveis. Aqueles cujas expectativas iniciais foram frustradas, com desempenho ruim no curso, que já consumiram medicação devido aos estudos e que já pensaram em desistir do curso apresentaram maiores scores médios tanto de Exaustão quanto de Distanciamento. Conclusão: A prevalência da Síndrome de Burnout é alta com relação significativa com variáveis sociodemográficas
Estudo da invariância fatorial do Questionário de Bem-estar espiritual (SWBQ) em praticantes de Atividades Físicas de Inspiração Oriental
Full text linkAim: Spiritual Well-being (SWB) is a concept influenced by cultural factors. The aim of the present study was to analyze the factorial validity of the Portuguese version of the Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire (SWBQ; Gomez & Fisher, 2003) in physical activities that are inspired by eastern values (e.g. tai-chi). Method: The sample consisted of 342 participants of yoga (31%), tai-chi (32%), shorinji-kempo (30%) and active meditation (7%), of both genders (53% F) and with experience on the respective exercise modality (M = 3.9; DP = 6.1 yrs.). Results: The adjustment indices of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis for both the four-factor structure and the second-order model were less favourable in the present study than the adjustment indices previously obtained with the general population (Gouveia et al., 2009). The refined models fit the data adequately. Internal consistency and composite reliability were good for each of the four SWB factors, and the total SWB mean variance extracted was acceptable. Multi-group analysis supported only factor loadings equivalence between exercise groups. Conclusion: These results contribute substantially to the validation of the Portuguese version of the SWBQ. Moreover, the results obtained confirm the possible effect of cultural norms when the questionnaire is answered, and point out the importance of reformulating some of the translated items in order to increase validity.Objetivo: O bem-estar espiritual (BEE) é um constructo sujeito a influências culturais na sua definição. O propósito deste estudo foi contribuir para a validação da versão portuguesa do Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire (SWBQ; Gomez & Fisher, 2003), através da confirmação da sua estrutura fatorial em praticantes de atividades físicas de inspiração oriental (AFO; e.g. tai-chi). Método: Participaram 342 praticantes de yoga (31%), tai-chi (32%), shorinji-kempo (30%) e meditação ativa (7%), de ambos os sexos (53% F) e com experiência continuada na atividade (M = 3,9; DP = 6,1 anos). Resultados: Análises Fatoriais Confirmatórias (AFC) revelaram índices de ajustamento menos favoráveis que os da amostra da população geral portuguesa (Gouveia et al., 2009) quer para o modelo de quatro fatores relacionados quer para o modelo hierárquico. Os modelos refinados ajustam adequadamente. Obtiveram-se bons índices de consistência interna e fiabilidade compósita para os quatro domínios e variância média extraída aceitável para o total de BEE. A Análise Multi-grupos demonstrou que apenas se verifica equivalência dos pesos fatoriais entre os grupos de exercício. Conclusão: Estes resultados contribuem para a validação da versão portuguesa da escala, confirmam impacto das normas culturais e sugerem vantagem na reformulação linguística de alguns itens