Browsing by Author "Barbosa, Fernando"
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- Executive dysfunction, violence and aggressionPublication . Cruz, Ana Rita; de Castro-Rodrigues, Andreia; Barbosa, FernandoExecutive Functions (EFs) is an umbrella expression used for several processes and subprocesses encompassing goal-oriented behavior and decision-making strategies. However, the extent to which impaired EFs relate to and characterize different types of criminal behavior and aggressiveness is not clear. Similarly, research on the association between EFs and psychopathy has also produced mixed findings. The failure to disaggregate between different types of crime and antisocial individuals can impede the identification of specific neurocognitive mechanisms associated with crime. We reviewed the extent to which EFs (according to Miyake latent variable analysis) are associated with violent and non-violent crime, impulsive and premeditated aggression as well as psychopathic traits. Findings, although nonconsensual, suggest a more nuanced view on the association between EFs and crime, suggesting that different executive domains might be more compromised in violent and impulsive individuals, and specific psychopathy facets are more associated with executive dysfunction and criminality. Studies in line with this approach will allow offenders to benefit from intervention strategies that will address their specific deficits, optimizing their EFs and contributing to better cognitive management in demanding and complex situations, such as criminal and violent deterrence.
- Psychologic adjustment to irreversible vision loss in adultsPublication . Senra, Hugo Renato Carreira Gomes; Barbosa, Fernando; Ferreira, Patrícia; Vieira, Cristina; Perrin, Paul B.; Rogers, Heather; Rivera, Diego; Leal, Isabel PereiraPurpose: To summarize relevant evidence investigating the psychologic adjustment to irreversible vision loss (IVL) in adults. Design: Irreversible vision loss entails a challenging medical condition in which rehabilitation outcomes are strongly dependent on the patient’s psychologic adjustment to illness and impairment. So far, no study has systematically reviewed the psychologic adjustment to IVL in adults. Methods: We reviewed all articles examining the psychologic adjustment to IVL in adults. We included articles published in English in peer-reviewed journals. We performed a keyword literature search using 4 databases (PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct) for all years through July 2014. We assessed risk of bias of selected studies using the RTI Item Bank for Assessing Risk of Bias and Confounding for Observational Studies of Interventions or Exposures and the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized controlled trials. Results: Of a total of 3948 citations retrieved, we selected 52 eligible studies published between 1946 and 2014. The majority of studies were observational and cross-sectional in nature. Our review suggests that high levels of depression occur during the adjustment to IVL. Better adjustment to IVL was associated with greater acceptance of vision loss and use of instrumental coping, good social support, positivity, and use of assistive aids. Conclusions: The overall findings indicate that IVL often has negative effects on patients’ quality of life and mental health and that such effects tend to remain over time. Specific factors and variables associated with the adjustment to IVL need to be clarified through further in-depth and longitudinal research.
- Psychometric properties of the Portuguese teacher-version of the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits in PreschoolersPublication . Figueiredo, Patrícia; Ramião, Eduarda; Moreira, Diana; Barroso, Ricardo; Barbosa, FernandoAbstract: Several authors suggest that Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits may be useful in identifying adolescents who exhibit initial, severe, chronic, and aggressive conduct problems. The Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) was developed to assess these traits, later associated with psychopathy, in children and adolescents. This study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the teacher-report ICU for preschool-age children. The sample was collected in public schools and comprised the responses of 46 preschool teachers concerning 131 children (62 girls) between 3 and 6 years of age. Results indicate that a two-factor model revealed the best fit to our data, including a Callous and an Uncaring factor, resorting to 12 of the original 24 items. Additionally, the results of this study also provide evidence of measurement invariance across sex for the ICU, allowing us to compare mean levels of CU traits between boys and girls. The results of the present study showed that the Portuguese version of the ICU scale (teacher’s version) seems reliable and valid for evaluating CU traits in preschool children.
- Stresse ocupacional em forças de segurança: Um estudo comparativoPublication . Gonçalo, Helena; Gomes, A. Rui; Barbosa, Fernando; Afonso, JorgeEste trabalho compara a experiência de stresse ocupacional em dois grupos de segurança portugueses, um a exercer em contexto público (n=95) e outro em contexto prisional (n=237). Para tal, utilizámos um protocolo de avaliação com medidas do stresse global, “burnout”, comprometimento organizacional, satisfação com a vida, satisfação profissional e desejo de abandonar a profissão. Os indicadores de fidelidade e validade dos instrumentos foram muito aceitáveis. Os resultados de “burnout” por dimensão apontaram níveis apreciáveis de exaustão emocional (valores a oscilar entre os 12% e os 26%), seguidos do cinismo (valores entre 8% e 21%) e do baixo sentimento de eficácia profissional (valores entre 3% e 8%) (apenas um participante registou valores de “burnout” nas três dimensões, em simultâneo). A análise comparativa entre os grupos demonstrou que os profissionais de segurança prisional evidenciaram experiências profissionais mais negativas (e.g., maiores níveis de “burnout” e desejo de abandonar a profissão e menores níveis de comprometimento organizacional, satisfação com a vida e satisfação profissional). No final, os autores discutem os factores que podem ajudar a perceber estas diferenças e possíveis implicações para a investigação futura.