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Implementation of an extended SNP Panel for the genetic monitoring of honeybees and its application to A. mellifera mellifera and A. mellifera carnica samples across Europe
No full textA number of methods have been established for the routine genetic monitoring of honeybees. These mainly focus on the estimation of hybridization between subspecies, as introgression is a major threat to the genetic integrity of native subspecies, leading to the replacement of locally adapted forms and the loss of species’ genetic diversity through homogenization. Given this focus, intra-subspecies diversity of markers is limited, making them less suitable for the estimation of other measures relevant in a conservation monitoring scheme, such as genetic diversity, inbreeding and effective population size.
In this project, we evaluate a new tool for the genetic monitoring of honeybees, a 70K SNP-chip based on Jones et al. (2021). This has the advantage of including markers identified in previous studies that reflect phenotypic differences, such as variation in immune response or associations with traits such as hygienic behaviour, honey production and varroa tolerance. It also includes previously published marker sets for the estimation of introgression. The inclusion of markers that show intra-subspecies variation of functional relevance, as well as the higher marker density compared to previous honeybee SNP-chips, makes this a promising tool including a wide range of applications. These are the estimation of genetic diversity, inbreeding and effective population size, parentage analysis and possible genomic selection in breeding
programs. Further, the analysis of introgression was optimized to distinguish between six clusters comprising of the A-, O- and Y-Lineages, A. mellifera mellifera, A. mellifera carnica and A. mellifera ligustica, using a comprehensive database of 1270 reference samples, built considering a total of 20 subspecies and ~4600 samples across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Here, we report on the optimization and validation of these applications on the basis of the 70K SNP-chip and present results on ~4200 samples targeting A. m. mellifera and A. m. carnica across 20 European countries
Proposta de requalificação fluvial de zonas degradadas do Rio Angueira (NE de Portugal)
No full textSão muitas as ameaças e pressões a que estão sujeitos os cursos de água, maioritariamente pela ação humana. A poluição e eutrofização da água, a fragmentação e degradação de habitats aquáticos e ribeirinhos, a dispersão de espécies invasoras, a sobrepesca e pesca ilegal e as alterações climáticas estão na origem, à escala mundial, da degradação de muitos ecossistemas fluviais. Neste enquadramento, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar zonas alteradas por ação do homem, no Rio Angueira (NE de Portugal), pela presença de açudes e por cortes excessivos/degradação da galeria ripícola e contribuir para a sua requalificação através da elaboração de propostas de reabilitação fluvial. Assim, foram selecionados 4 locais de amostragem em cada uma de 3 zonas identificadas com sinais de degradação, , i.e., A1 e A2 - situados a jusante da barreira/açude, A3 - sob influência da albufeira e A4 - localizado numa zona lótica a montante (referência). A amostragem foi realizada em 2 estações do ano, inverno de 2024 e primavera de 2025. Para avaliação da qualidade ecológica recorreu-se aos protocolos da Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente, baseados na Diretiva-Quadro da Água, para caracterização de elementos físico-químicos gerais (água), hidromorfológicos (habitats) e biológicos (peixes) das águas superficiais. Os resultados obtidos revelaram uma boa qualidade da água, embora para um número exíguo de parâmetros, sendo essencial expandir a análise ao período estival, onde as condições ambientais costumam ser mais stressantes. Na qualidade hidromorfológica, a metodologia do River Habitat Survey permitiu classificar os habitats como significativamente modificados (e.g. baseado no índice HMS) associados, entre outras pressões, às albufeiras de açudes, ambientes tipicamente limnófilos, onde se verificou predominarem espécies exóticas invasoras. Nestas zonas lênticas do Rio Angueira observou-se um domínio de Lepomis gibbosus, cujo reflexo negativo no F-IBIP, índice piscícola oficial de Portugal, é evidente pela atribuição da classificação de MAU a todos os locais A3 das 3 zonas modificadas.
Complementarmente, a análise PERMANOVA (2way, P< 0,05), identificou diferenças significativas entre locais de amostragem e entre zonas de estudo e os testes emparelhados de análise de similaridades (ANOSIM 1way, P<0,05) confirmaram que essas diferenças ocorrem apenas entre os locais regularizados (A3) versus locais sob influência lótica, situados a montante (A4) e jusante (A1 e A2) das respetivas albufeiras. Tal facto, configura a importância da manutenção de zonas lóticas de elevada integridade ecológica como uma estratégia vital para a conservação de espécies ameaçadas. De facto, no rio Angueira subsiste Achondrostoma asturicense uma espécie endémica ameaçada “Em Perigo” (EN), de distribuição restrita em Portugal, cujas populações estão em declínio, face às pressões identificadas na bacia hidrográfica. É uma espécie de pequeno porte, cujo comprimento máximo (Lmáx) não ultrapassou 13,5 cm, um crescimento que oscilou entre isométrico, na zona de montante (Z1, b = 3,01) e alométrico negativo nas 2 restantes zonas (Z2, Z3; b < 3) e ainda diferenças significativas na condição corporal (0,75 < K < 0,84) e na estrutura populacional (detetadas todas as classes de tamanho/idade), baseada na distribuição de frequências de comprimento. Ficou ainda explícita a preferência de A. asturicense por habitats tipicamente reófilos, com sucessão de riffles e pequenos pools naturais, substratos compostos por gravilha, pedras pequenas e grandes, diversidade de velocidades da corrente e cobertura proporcionada, maioritariamente, pelas margens e raízes salientes, pedras e especialmente por macrófitos aquáticos submersos, dominados por Ranunculus sp.
No presente estudo, foi ainda considerada a propagação seminal de espécies lenhosas, arbóreas e arbustivas, nomeadamente de Alnus lusitanica, Fraxinus angustifolia, Prunus spinosa, Crataegus monogyna, Jasminum fruticans. Os testes de germinação mostraram taxas de germinação assinaláveis (> 50%), encorajadoras da criação ex situ de pools génicos. Para cada uma das 3 zonas degradadas foram apresentadas propostas de requalificação ao nível do canal e da zona ribeirinha. Na permeabilidade dos obstáculos físicos (açudes), atualmente intransponíveis pela fauna aquática, foram feitas propostas diferenciadas que incluíram a construção de escadas de peixes (bacias sucessivas) (Z1 - Angueira), uma rampa lateral naturalizada (Z2 - Serapicos) e uma rampa no canal fluvial principal, de declive suave, com melhoramento do canal de irrigação anexo (Z3 - São Joanico). Na zona ribeirinha as propostas incidiram no reforço dos estratos arbóreo, responsável pelo incremento do ensombramento da massa hídrica, mas também do estrato arbustivo, de modo a incrementar a diversidade da flora. Face à quebra de conectividade fluvial e degradação de zonas ripárias em todo o Rio Angueira, assume carácter estratégico a elaboração de projetos de requalificação fluvial e sua posterior implementação, tendo em conta os valores naturais e necessidade da sua preservação.There are many threats and pressures affecting freshwater ecosystems, mostly due to human action. Water pollution and eutrophication, fragmentation and degradation of aquatic and riparian habitats, the spread of invasive species, overfishing and illegal fishing, and climate change are the causes of the degradation of many river ecosystems on a global scale. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate modified zones by human action in the Angueira River (NE Portugal), due to the presence of weirs and excessive cutting/degradation of the riparian gallery, and to contribute to their requalification through the development of river rehabilitation proposals. Thus, 4 sampling sites were selected in each of the 3 areas identified with signs of degradation, i.e. A1 and A2 - located downstream of the barrier/weirs, A3 - under the influence of the reservoir, and A4 - located in the lotic zone upstream (reference sites). Sampling was carried out in two different seasons, winter 2024 and spring 2025. To assess ecological quality, protocols from the Portuguese Environment Agency, based on the Water Framework Directive, were used to characterize general physical-chemical (water), hydromorphological (habitats) and biological (fish) elements of surface waters. The results revealed good water quality, although based on a small number of parameters. For these reasons it is essential to expand the analysis to the summer period, when environmental conditions tend to be more stressful. In terms of hydromorphological quality, the River Habitat Survey methodology allowed the classification of habitats as significantly modified (e.g. based on the HMS index), associated, among other pressures, with weir reservoirs, typically limnophilic environments, where exotic species predominate. In these lentic areas of the Angueira River, a dominance of Lepomis gibbosus was observed, whose negative impact on the F-IBIP, the Portuguese official fish index, is evident by the attribution of the BAD classification to all A3 sites (e.g., artificial reservoirs) in the 3 modified zones by human action. In addition, the PERMANOVA analysis (2-way, P < 0.05) identified significant differences between sampling sites and between study zones, and the paired similarity analysis tests (ANOSIM 1-way, P < 0.05) confirmed that these differences occur only between regulated sites (A3) versus lotic sites, located upstream (A4) and downstream (A1 and A2) of
the respective weirs. This fact demonstrates the importance of maintaining lotic zones with high ecological integrity as a vital strategy for the conservation of endangered species. In fact, Achondrostoma asturicense, an endemic threatened species with “Endangered” (EN) status, survives in the Angueira River, whose populations are in decline, given the pressures identified in the river basin. This is a small species, with a maximum length (Lmax) not exceeding 13.5 cm, and with a growth that oscillated between isometric, in the upstream zone (Z1, b=3.01) and negative allometric in the remaining 2 zones (Z2, Z3; b < 3) and also with significant differences in body condition (0.75 < K < 0.84) and in the population structure (all size/age classes detected), based on the length frequency distribution. The preference of A. asturicense for typically rheophilic habitats was also explicit, with a succession of riffles and natural pools, substrates dominated by gravel, small and large cobbles, diversity of current velocities and the presence of cover, provided mainly by the banks and protruding roots, cobbles and especially by aquatic macrophytes, dominated by Ranunculus sp.
In this study, the seed propagation of woody plants, arboreal and shrub species, namely Alnus lusitanica, Fraxinus angustifolia, Prunus spinosa, Crataegus monogyna, Jasminum fruticans, was also considered. Thus, the germination tests carried out showed remarkable germination rates (> 50%), encouraging the ex-situ creation of gene pools for further restocking.
Proposals for requalification of the canal and riparian zones were presented for each of the 3 degraded areas. In the permeability of the physical obstacles (weirs) currently insurmountable by aquatic fauna, different proposals were made, including the construction of fish ladders (successive basins) (Z1 - Angueira), a lateral naturalized ramp (Z2 - Serapicos) and a ramp in the main river channel, with a gentle slope, with improvement of the adjacent channel, i.e., for irrigation purposes (Z3 - São Joanico). In the riparian zone, the proposals are focused on strengthening the tree strata, responsible for increasing the shading of the watercourse, but also the shrub strata, to increase the diversity of the riparian ecosystem.Esta tese de dissertação de mestrado foi suportada pelo Protocolo de Colaboração estabelecido entre a Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Bragança e a AEPGA, no âmbito Projeto CONTROL I Vison FA vison (Bacia hidrográfica do Rio Angueira). Projetos de erradicação e controlo de espécies invasoras prioritárias. Beneficiário: AEPGA. Financiamento: Fundo Ambiental (Aviso n.º 11545/2023). Outras Entidades participantes (consórcio externo): Instituto Politécnico de Bragança e Palomba
O fundo de maneio como determinante da performance das empresas do comércio a retalho em supermercados e hipermercados
No full textO presente estudo analisa o impacto da gestão do fundo de maneio no desempenho financeiro das empresas do setor do comércio a retalho alimentar em Portugal. O objetivo principal consistiu em avaliar de que forma os componentes do capital circulante influenciam a criação de valor económico e a rentabilidade empresarial. A investigação abrangeu 9 549 empresas portuguesas entre 2010 e 2023, com dados extraídos da base de dados SABI (Sistema de Análise de Balanços Ibéricos), que reúne informação financeira e contabilística detalhada de empresas portuguesas e espanholas. A metodologia adotada combinou estatística descritiva, análise de correlação, regressão linear múltipla e análise de variância (ANOVA – one way), considerando como variáveis dependentes os indicadores EVA, ROA e EBIT. As variáveis independentes representaram a gestão do fundo de maneio, resultados antes de impostos, idade, dimensão, região (NUTS II) e estrutura jurídica das empresas. Os resultados empíricos evidenciam que o fundo de maneio exerce um efeito estatisticamente significativo sobre o desempenho financeiro, sendo o resultado antes de impostos (RAI) o fator mais determinante do EVA. Observou-se ainda que níveis excessivos de liquidez reduzem a criação de valor económico, enquanto a eficiência operacional e a otimização do ciclo de conversão de caixa contribuem positivamente para a rentabilidade e a estabilidade financeira. Conclui-se que uma gestão equilibrada do capital circulante é fundamental para reforçar a solidez financeira e a competitividade das empresas do retalho alimentar. Recomenda-se a implementação de políticas financeiras orientadas para a eficiência operacional, negociação estratégica com fornecedores e planeamento rigoroso de tesouraria, promovendo uma criação de valor sustentável a longo prazo.This study examines the impact of working capital management on the financial performance of companies operating in the Portuguese food retail sector. The main objective was to assess how the components of working capital influence economic value creation and business profitability. The research covered 9,549 Portuguese companies between 2010 and 2023, using data from the SABI (Iberian Balance Sheet Analysis System), which provides comprehensive financial and accounting information on Portuguese and Spanish firms. The methodology adopted combined descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, and analysis of variance (ANOVA – one-way), considering EVA, ROA, and EBIT as dependent variables. The independent variables represented working capital management, pre-tax results, and age, complemented by control variables relating to company size, region (NUTS II), and legal structure. The empirical results show that working capital has a statistically significant effect on financial performance, with pre-tax results (RAI) being the most decisive factor in EVA. It was also observed that excessive levels of liquidity reduce economic value creation, while operational efficiency and optimisation of the cash conversion cycle contribute positively to profitability and financial stability. It is concluded that balanced working capital management is essential to strengthen the financial soundness and competitiveness of food retail companies. The implementation of financial policies geared towards operational efficiency, strategic negotiation with suppliers and rigorous cash flow planning is recommended, promoting sustainable long-term value creation
Previsão da potência média produzida por turbinas eólicas utilizando redes neurais
No full textThis thesis presents the development and evaluation of artificial neural network models applied to short-term wind power generation forecasting in a wind farm. The main objective of the study was to explore the performance of Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architectures, using real data from wind turbines collected by SCADA systems between 2016 and 2017 in Portugal. Data preprocessing included normalization techniques, seasonal decomposition, and the construction of sliding windows for temporal modeling. Several configurations of MLP and LSTM were implemented, varying in the number of neurons, hidden layers, and training strategies, including early stopping and different data partitioning approaches. The evaluation employed statistical metrics to assess forecasting accuracy, including RMSE, NRMSE, and R2. Early stopping and randomized data splits were analyzed to enhance model performance and robustness. The models achieved results above 83% for the coefficient of determination (R2). The main objective of this work was to develop MLP and LSTM models capable of accurately predicting the average power output of a wind turbine in a short-term horizon. To achieve this, different layer configurations, neuron counts, and validation techniques were tested for both approaches. Additionally, both single-variable and multivariable inputs were considered for the LSTM models. Finally, the three best-performing models were selected based on the evaluation metrics and compared with existing studies in the literature.Esta dissertação apresenta o desenvolvimento e a avaliação de modelos de redes neurais artificiais aplicados à previsão de curto prazo da geração de energia em um parque eólico. O objetivo principal do estudo foi explorar o desempenho das arquiteturas Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) e Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) para a previsão da potência média produzida por uma turbina eólica em um horizonte de curto prazo, utilizando dados reais de turbinas eólicas coletados por sistemas SCADA no período de 2016 a 2017, em Portugal. O pré-processamento dos dados incluiu técnicas de normalização, decomposição sazonal e construção de janelas deslizantes para modelagem temporal. Diversas configurações de MLP e LSTM foram implementadas, com variações no número de neuróneos, camadas ocultas e estratégias de treinamento, incluindo parada antecipada e diferentes formas de divisão dos dados. A avaliação utiliza métricas estatísticas para avaliar a precisão da previsão, incluindo RMSE, NRMSE e R2. Paradas antecipadas e divisões aleatórias do conjunto de dados foram avaliadas para aumentar o desempenho e a robustez do modelo. Os modelos obtiveram resultados acima de 85% para o coeficiente de determinação (R2). Por fim, foram selecionados os três modelos com melhor desempenho de acordo com as métricas de avaliação e comparou-se com os trabalhos disponíveis na literatura
Fatty acids profile in the honeybee: metabolic pathways, stressor interactions, and analytical approaches
No full textFatty acids play a crucial role in the metabolic activities, health, cognitive development, and behaviors of honeybees. The primary source of fatty acids for honeybees is the pollen consumed, though they can also produce specific fatty acids through de novo synthesis. Among the saturated fatty acids in honeybees, palmitic and stearic acids are the most abundant, while common unsaturated fatty acids include oleic, eicosenoic, palmitoleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids, which are present in various body parts and tissues. The composition and concentration of these fatty acids can be influenced by multiple biotic and abiotic factors such as developmental stage, nutrition, pathogens, season, temperature, sanitation conditions, industrial pollution, pesticides, and radiation. Therefore, monitoring the fatty acid profile of honeybees can be used as a bioindicator for monitoring the environmental conditions and the health status, enabling management actions that could improve honeybee sustainability. This study aims to provide foundational knowledge on the fatty acids identified in honeybees, examining their physiological roles, the impact of environmental stressors, and the analytical techniques used to determine their composition.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021). Thanks to the program Promove from Fundação “La Caixa” in collaboration with BPI and FCT, Portugal, within the scope of the project BeeSustain, PD23-00019
Dernière bataille des enfants maudits franco-allemands
No full textCe titre fait écho aux témoignages et récits d’enfants nés de liaisons clandestines franco-allemandes pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale qui revendiquent désormais leur histoire. Notre propos est de revenir sur l’histoire, les difficultés de leur enfance et la longue recherche identitaire qui a marqué leur existence. Nous partirons du livre de Fabrice Virgili Naître ennemi, qui nous plonge d’emblée dans l’univers de ces enfants nommés « Gretchen » (p. 258) par leur grands-parents ou stigmatisés comme « tête de boche » (p. 251) pour découvrir une histoire qui est « digne d’être racontée » (p. 283). Le cas de Daniel Rouxel, né d’une relation franco-allemande et Président d’honneur au sein de l’association Coeurs sans frontières, premier enfant à obtenir la nationalité allemande en 2009, retiendra notre attention
Monitorização do comportamento ergonómico de operadores na indústria 5.0 através de visão computacional baseada em Inteligência Artificial
No full textMestrado de dupla diplomação com a UTFPR - Universidade Tecnológica Federal do ParanáA presente dissertação propõe o desenvolvimento de um sistema não invasivo para monitorização do comportamento de operadores dentro do contexto da ergonomia, alinhado aos princípios da Indústria 5.0, que coloca o bem-estar humano no centro dos processos produtivos. O sistema visa identificar posturas inadequadas e prevenir Lesões Músculo-Esqueléticas Relacionadas com o Trabalho (LMERT), utilizando técnicas de Inteligência Artificial e Visão Computacional. Para tal, foi implementado um módulo de deteção de pose baseado no modelo MediaPipe Pose e uma câmara de profundidade Intel RealSense D415, que permite calcular ângulos posturais tridimensionais em tempo real. O software foi desenvolvido em Python, integrando módulos de filtragem temporal, persistência de eventos e uma base de dados SQLite, além de uma interface web interativa criada com Flask e WebSocket. O sistema foi validado experimentalmente por comparação com uma avaliação ergonómica conduzida por uma especialista, obtendo acurácia global de 94,6% e sensibilidade de 93,1%. Os resultados confirmam a eficácia da solução proposta na deteção automática de posturas inadequadas. O sistema contribui para o avanço da ergonomia digital e para a promoção da saúde ocupacional na Indústria 5.0, oferecendo uma ferramenta acessível, portátil e capaz de apoiar a prevenção de LMERT de forma contínua e em tempo real.This dissertation proposes the development of a non-invasive system for monitoring operator behavior within the context of ergonomics, aligned with the principles of Industry 5.0, which places human well-being at the center of production processes. The system aims to identify inadequate postures and preventWork-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs), using Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision techniques. To this end, a pose detection module based on the MediaPipe Pose model and an Intel RealSense D415 depth camera were implemented, which allows for the calculation of three-dimensional
postural angles in real-time. The software was developed in Python, integrating modules for temporal filtering, event persistence, and an SQLite database, in addition to an interactive web interface created with Flask and WebSocket. The system was experimentally validated by comparison with an ergonomic assessment conducted by a specialist, achieving an overall accuracy of 94.6% and a sensitivity of 93.1%. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed solution in the automatic detection of inadequate postures. The system contributes to the advancement of digital ergonomics and the promotion
of occupational health in Industry 5.0, offering an accessible, portable tool capable of supporting WMSD prevention continuously and in real-time
Conservation status of the honey bee subspecies native to the Mediterranean islands
No full textThe Mediterranean islands have been a stage for honey bee diversification, hosting four of the 31 recognized subspecies: Apis mellifera siciliana in Sicily, A. m. ruttneri in Malta, A. m. cypria in Cyprus, and A. m. adami in Crete. However, owing to small population sizes, island subspecies are particularly vulnerable to introgressive hybridization when exotic queens or colonies are introduced into their geographically isolated territories. While previous genetic surveys—typically based on mitochondrial and/or microsatellite markers—have provided valuable insights, the current conservation status of these subspecies remains uncertain.
Here, we sequenced the whole genomes of 327 samples collected from Sicily (n=97), Malta (n=79), Cyprus (n=37), and Crete (n=36), along with probable source populations (A. m. intermissa, A. m. sahariensis, A. m. media, A. m. anatoliaca, A. m. macedonica, A. m. cecropia, A. m. ligustica, A. m. carnica, A. m. caucasia), to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the ancestry and diversity patterns of these insular subspecies. Whole-genome data were analysed using the software Admixture and additional analytical tools to explore ancestry and introgression patterns.
For A. m. siciliana, 32 out of 97 samples (32.99%) exhibited high purity levels based on a threshold of 0.9. The situation in Malta was more concerning, with only 11 out of 79 samples (13.92%) classified as pure A. m. ruttneri. The most severe admixture was observed in Crete, where just 2 out of 36 samples (5.56%) were identified as pure A. m. adami, highlighting extensive hybridization with mainland subspecies. Meanwhile, A. m. cypria appears to be the best-preserved Mediterranean subspecies, with genetic integrity largely maintained except in the northwestern population, which exhibited shared ancestry with mainland A. m. anatoliaca. Overall, our findings highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts across these islands. While the native subspecies remain threatened by hybridization, their preservation might still be possible, provided that further importations of non-native colonies are effectively prevented
Educational policies in Brazil: historical reflections and contemporary challenges
No full textEste estudo propõe-se a compreender e analisar as principais políticas educacionais, seus impactos, desafios e contribuições para o desenvolvimento do sistema educacional. Para embasar a investigação, optou-se pela pesquisa exploratória qualitativa como metodologia, desenvolvida por meio da pesquisa documental e bibliográfica. Os resultados proporcionam um panorama linear das políticas educacionais implementadas no Brasil desde a promulgação da Constituição Federal de 1988 até o ano de 2021. Ao destacar os pontos críticos da história educacional, pretende-se fomentar a reflexão sobre os desafios contemporâneos à luz das experiências passadas, além de estimular a implementação de novas políticas educacionais. Assim, enfatiza-se que a história da Educação brasileira não é apenas um registro do passado, mas também um guia para as ações do presente e do futuro, um convite à reflexão e à ação em prol de uma Educação transformadora.This study aims to understand and analyze the main educational policies, their impacts, challenges, and contributions to the development of the education system. To support
the investigation, we opted for qualitative exploratory research as a methodology developed through documentary and bibliographical research. The results provide a linear overview of the educational policies implemented in Brazil from the promulgation of the 1988 Federal Constitution until 2021. By highlighting the critical points of educational history, the aim is to encourage reflection on contemporary challenges considering past experiences and stimulate the implementation of new educational policies. Thus, it is emphasized that the history of Brazilian education is not only a record of the past but also a guide to the present and future actions, an invitation to reflection and action in favor of transformative education
Oral Contraceptive pill and psychoaffective effects
No full textBackground: Oral contraceptive pills (OCP’s) are widely used for fertility control, yet their potential psychoaffective impact is increasingly debated in clinical research (1). Studies show that users may experience increased negative effects and reduced emotional well-being compared to non-users (2). Experimental data further suggest that hormonal contraception can significantly lower general well-being in healthy women (3). Objective: To assess how the use of OCPs and age are associated with the expression of positive and negative psychoaffective effects. Methodology: A cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive-correlational study with a quantitative approach. The non-probabilistic convenience sample included 291 women (aged 18-44) residing in Northern Portugal. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, which included the scale Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-SF). Considering the type of variables, statistical analyses included the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, t-student, and ANOVA tests (p ⩽ 0.05). Results: OCP users reported lower levels of positive affect (M=28.40; SD=8.83) compared to non-users (M=34.51; SD=9.07; p⩽ 0.001). Regarding negative affect, users showed higher levels (M=25.31; SD=10.42) than non-users (M=19.96; SD=7.55; p⩽ 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the age groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest an association between OCP use and a less favourable emotional profile, regardless of age. This raises critical ethical and clinical concerns about the underestimation of the psycho-subjective effects of oral contraception. In this context, it would be pertinent to consider measures such as periodic psychological follow-up, regular emotional screening, and informative sessions involving mental health professionals