Browsing by Author "Matos, Margarida Gaspar de"
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- Adolescent’s subjective perceptions of chronic disease and related psychosocial factors: Highlights from an outpatient context studyPublication . Santos, Teresa; Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Marques, Adilson; Simões, Celeste; Leal, Isabel Pereira; Machado, Maria do CéuBackground: Adolescents with chronic disease (CD) can be more vulnerable to adverse psychosocial outcomes. This study aims: 1) to identify differences in psychosocial variables (health-related quality of life, psychosomatic complaints, resilience, self-regulation and social support) among adolescents who feel that CD affects or does not affect school/peers connectedness (measured by self-reported participation in school and social activities); and 2) to assess the extent to which psychosocial variables are associated with connectedness in school and peer domains. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 135 adolescents with CD (51.9% boys), average age of 14 ± 1. 5 years old (SD = 1.5). Socio-demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables were assessed, using a self-reported questionnaire, which included the Chronic Conditions Short Questionnaire, KIDSCREEN-10 Index, Symptoms Check-List, Healthy Kids Resilience Assessment Module Scale, Adolescent Self-Regulatory Inventory, and Satisfaction with Social Support Scale. Descriptive statistics, GLM-Univariate ANCOVA and Logistic Regression were performed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22.0. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Thirteen to eighteen percent of the adolescents felt that CD affected participation at school (PSCH) and participation in leisure time with friends (PLTF). These adolescents presented lower results for all psychosocial study variables, when compared with adolescents who did not feel affected in both areas of participation. From the studied psychosocial variables, the most important ones associated with PSCH (after controlling for age, gender, diagnosis, and education level of father/mother) were self-regulation and psychosomatic health. Concerning the PLTF, social support was the sole variable explaining such association. Conclusions: The present study pointed out the association between psychosocial variables; and living with a CD and school/peers connectedness. The need to focus on the assessment of the effects of a CD on adolescents’ lives and contexts is suggested, as well as on the identification of vulnerable adolescents. Such identification could help to facilitate the maximization of social participation of adolescents with CD, and to plan interventions centered on providing support and opportunities for a healthy youth development. For that purpose, a complex and multifactorial approach that includes clinicians, schools, family, and peers may be proposed.
- Adolescentes estrangeiros em Portugal: Uma questão de saúdePublication . Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Gonçalves, Aldina; Gaspar, TaniaO objectivo principal deste estudo foi a investigação sobre as diferenças e semelhanças entre adolescentes portugueses e africanos de língua portuguesa, que vivem em Portugal, quanto a diversos comportamentos de saúde, em diferentes contextos, tais como, actividades de lazer, imagem do corpo, comunicação com os pais, violência, consumo de substâncias, escola, amizade, par sexual e expectativas de futuro. Este estudo teve como base os dados recolhidos pelo estudo nacional do Health Behaviour School Aged-Children (HBSC) (Matos, Gaspar & Equipa Aventura Social, 2003), e procurou clarificar e aprofundar o conhecimento acerca das diferenças nos comportamentos de saúde destes adolescentes. As diferenças entre os jovens apontam em geral para um agravamento na situação dos jovens estrangeiros. No entanto, uma análise realizada com controlo da variável socio-económica praticamente anula estas diferenças. Num segundo estudo foi utilizada uma metodologia qualitativa de recolha de dados, denominada “focus group” ou grupo de discussão centrada num determinado assunto “foco”, constituída por grupos de adolescentes dos 13 aos 17 anos. Nos grupos de discussão com jovens de outra nacionalidade verificou-se que passam o seu tempo livre com os amigos na rua ou a praticar desporto; a maioria dos jovens refere ter problemas de saúde; o envolvimento escolar é fraco e sentem a escola como um lugar inseguro e no qual são alvo de discriminação. Os jovens relatam actos de vandalismo no seu bairro; a amizade com jovens do mesmo bairro apresenta-se como algo muito importante para estes jovens; referem haver várias alterações no agregado familiar; referem as dificuldades do processo de aculturação; estes jovens apresentam um projecto de futuro bastante concreto e com expectativas elevadas. Algumas temáticas não são desenvolvidas pelos jovens, tais como, percepção do corpo, sexualidade e comunicação com o pai. O presente estudo sublinha a importância da utilização de metodologias qualitativas para clarificar conclusões oriundas de estudos quantitativos, e confirma que os jovens têm alguma noção das diferenças étnicas quanto aos comportamentos de saúde e aos seus contextos. ------ ABSTRACT ------ The aim of this study was to identify the differences between health behaviours in a sample of portuguese adolescents and adolescents from african portuguese speaking adolescents, living in Portugal. Health behaviours and social and physical contexts, such as, free time activities, body image, parent’s communication, violence, substance use, school, peers and future expectations were identified using a questionnaire. This paper was based on data collected during a quantitative national study Health Behaviour School Aged-Children (HBSC) (Matos, Gaspar & Equipa Aventura Social, 2003), trying to clarify this issue health behaviour in adolescence. In general african adolescents presented a worst health related condition. However, when in the analysis, socio-economic status was controlled, those differences disappear. A second study used a qualitative methodology: “focus groups” and included african adolescents from 13 to 17 years old. During the focus group, adolescents said that they spend their free time with friends, and practising sports. Most of the adolescents said that have same health problems. The school involvement is wick, and they feel that school is an insecure and discriminator place. The adolescents refer same violent acts in their neighbourhood. Their friends from the neighbourhood are very important for these adolescents. They said that they have many alterations in their family. The adolescents feel many difficulties in the acculturation process. These adolescents show a clear future project, with high expectations. Same issues were not developed by the adolescents, such as, body image, sexuality and father communication. The present study highlights the importance of using qualitative research in the clarification of special issues raised during qualitative studies, and confirms that adolescents notice ethnic differences on health behaviour and those contexts.
- Ansiedade e coping em crianças e adolescentes: Diferenças relacionadas com a idade e géneroPublication . Borges, Ana Inês; Manso, Dina Susana; Tomé, Gina; Matos, Margarida Gaspar deAs relações entre a ansiedade e as estratégias de coping e as diferenças destes constructos em função do género e da idade foram estudadas numa amostra de 916 crianças e adolescentes, estudantes de escolas de diversos concelhos do país, com uma média de idades de 14,4 anos (DP=2,62), dos quais 45,7% pertenciam ao género masculino e 54,3% ao género feminino. As medidas de avaliação utilizadas para operacionalizar as variáveis foram a Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children – MASC (March, 1997) e o Coping Responses Inventory – Youth Form – CRI-Y (Moos, 1993). Os resultados obtidos indicaram que os jovens mais velhos e os indivíduos do género feminino apresentaram níveis de ansiedade mais elevados e utilizam mais estratégias de coping, quando comparados com os jovens mais novos e com os indivíduos do género masculino. De igual modo foi encontrada uma correlação positiva entre a ansiedade e o coping e uma correlação positiva entre idade e coping, no sentido em que a utilização das estratégias de coping aumentam com a idade. Os resultados encontrados foram discutidos à luz da literatura e das suas implicações para a prática clínica.
- Anxiety, depression, and peer relationships during adolescence: Results from the portuguese national health behaviour in school-aged children surveyPublication . Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Barrett, Paula; Dadds, Mark; Shortt, AlisonUsed data from the Portuguese HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children) survey, which was conducted by one of the authors who is the national representative of the European Study HBSC, a World Health Organisation collaborative study (Currie, Hurrelmann, Setterbulte, Smith, Todd, 2000; Matos, Simoes, Carvalhosa, Reis & Canha 2000), to examine correlates of depression and anxiety in a large, representative sample of adolescents. The study had four aims: (1) to examine the relationship between feelings of anxiety and depression; (2) to examine the association of positive peer relationships, and anxiety and depression in school-age adolescents; (3) to examine the relationship between health, peer relationships, depression and anxiety; and finally, (4) to assess age and gender differences with regard to the above issues. Measures were constructed of depression, anxiety, peer relationships, and health. Consistent with previous studies, anxiety and depression were found to be significantly correlated. A MANOVA revealed that females and adolescents in grades 8 and 10 were more likely to report high anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. High anxiety and depression in adolescence was associated with poor peer relationships and poorer health. Implications of these results and directions for further research are discussed.
- Associations between self-reported fitness and self-rated health, lifesatisfaction and health-related quality of life among adolescentsPublication . Marques, Adilson; Mota, Jorge; Gaspar, Tania; Matos, Margarida Gaspar deBackground/objective: In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the associations between physical fitness (PF) and psychosocial aspects of health. This study aimed to analyse the associations between self-reported PF and self-rated health (SRH), life-satisfaction (LS), and quality of life (QoL). Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 3554 adolescents (1652 boys), aged 13e18, from the HBSC Portuguese survey. PF, health, LS and OoL were self-rated. Results: SRH, LS, and health-related OoL (HRQoL) were significantly and positively correlated with all PF components. From regression model, overall fitness was significantly related with SRH (boys: b ¼ 0.18, p < 0.001; girls: b ¼ 0.16, p < 0.001), LS (boys: b ¼ 0.36, p < 0.001; girls: b ¼ 0.43, p < 0.001), and HRQoL (boys: b ¼ 2.26, p < 0.001; girls: b ¼ 2.54, p < 0.001). Cardiorespiratory fitness was also positively and significantly related with SRH (boys: b ¼ 0.17, p < 0.001; girls: b ¼ 0.11, p < 0.001), LS (boys: b ¼ 0.13, p < 0.05; girls: b ¼ 0.31, p < 0.001), and HRQoL (boys: b ¼ 1.74, p < 0.001; girls: b ¼ 1.57, p < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that perceived PF is associated with a better SRH, LS, and perceived HRQoL. A few implications regarding public policies were highlighted.
- Associations between self-reported fitness and self-rated health, lifesatisfaction and health-related quality of life among adolescentsPublication . Marques, Adilson; Mota, Jorge; Gaspar, Tania; Matos, Margarida Gaspar deBackground/objective: In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the associations between physical fitness (PF) and psychosocial aspects of health. This study aimed to analyse the associations between self-reported PF and self-rated health (SRH), life-satisfaction (LS), and quality of life (QoL). Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 3554 adolescents (1652 boys), aged 13e18, from the HBSC Portuguese survey. PF, health, LS and OoL were self-rated. Results: SRH, LS, and health-related OoL (HRQoL) were significantly and positively correlated with all PF components. From regression model, overall fitness was significantly related with SRH (boys: b ¼ 0.18, p < 0.001; girls: b ¼ 0.16, p < 0.001), LS (boys: b ¼ 0.36, p < 0.001; girls: b ¼ 0.43, p < 0.001), and HRQoL (boys: b ¼ 2.26, p < 0.001; girls: b ¼ 2.54, p < 0.001). Cardiorespiratory fitness was also positively and significantly related with SRH (boys: b ¼ 0.17, p < 0.001; girls: b ¼ 0.11, p < 0.001), LS (boys: b ¼ 0.13, p < 0.05; girls: b ¼ 0.31, p < 0.001), and HRQoL (boys: b ¼ 1.74, p < 0.001; girls: b ¼ 1.57, p < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that perceived PF is associated with a better SRH, LS, and perceived HRQoL. A few implications regarding public policies were highlighted.
- «Aventura social» na multiculturaPublication . Matos, Margarida Gaspar deEste trabalho descreve a aplicação de um programa de promoção de competências sociais, a um grupo de 60 jovens, alunos do I.', 2.", 3." ciclo, com idades compreendidas entre os 6 e os 13 anos, sendo 35% de ascendência portuguesa e 65% filhos de imigrantes de países Africanos de expressão Portuguesa, maioritariamente Caboverdianos. Estes jovens frequentam três Escolas do Concelho da Amadora duas do I." ciclo e uma B2+3. Estes jovens, incluidos no projecto ((Aventura social)), frequentaram um programa de promoção de competências de relacionamento interpessoal (Matos 1993, 1994), que incluiu três componentes: I ) comunicação interpessoal verbal e não verbal; 2) resolução de problemas e gestão de conflitos; 3) promoção de competências sociais básicas e da assertividade. Como avaliação pre-pós utilizou-se um sociograma de classificação. De acordo com esta medida os jovens foram significativamente avaliados de maneira mais positiva pelos colegas na pós avaliação. Os jovens com estatuto socio-económico médio obtiveram significativamente melhores resultados sociométricos. «Per si)), 430 a sua ascendência (português ou imigrante) não pareceu determinante na obtenção de bons resultados.
- Bridging the gap: Environmental health literacy as key to adolescent well-being and sustainable behaviorsPublication . Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Branquinho, Cátia; Domingos, Leonor; Guedes, Fábio Botelho; Cerqueira, Ana; Gaspar, TaniaAdolescents who possess environmental health literacy are more equipped to handle the effects of the environment on their health. This study uses data from Portugal’s 2022 HBSC survey to investigate the environmental health literacy (EHL) of teenagers. The Environmental Health Literacy Scale (EHLS) was verified by confirmatory component analysis. Within the framework of an ecosystem, this study investigates factors related to health and well-being. There are 7355 adolescents in the sample. EHLS_Social Norms and participation in volunteering activities were found to be significant predictors of EHL_Knowledge, which explained 25.2% of the variance in the final model. EHLS_Social Norms and EHLS_Knowledge accounted for 42.9% of the variance in EHL_Behaviors, while school grade was adversely connected with pro-environmental behavior. While actions and knowledge were major positive predictors, gender and school grades showed negative relationships, and EHL_Social Norms accounted for 46% of the variance. This study establishes a valid measure of environmental health literacy in adolescents, informing science education strategies and public health interventions.
- Bullying – A provocação/vitimação entre pares no contexto escolar portuguêsPublication . Carvalhosa, Susana Fonseca de; Lima, Luísa Nobre; Matos, Margarida Gaspar deO presente estudo pretende caracterizar e diferenciar os jovens provocadores e vítimas nas escolas portuguesas. Numa amostra representativa da população escolar nacional do 6.º, 8.º e 10.º ano de escolaridade (n=6903), analisaram-se os comportamentos de bullying/provocação em contexto escolar, através do questionário «Comportamento e Saúde em Jovens em Idade Escolar» – versão portuguesa do questionário internacional de 1998, da rede Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC), apoiada pela Organização Mundial de Saúde. Os resultados são consistentes com os de outros estudos sobre a diferença entre sexos, idades e anos de escolaridade – os rapazes, os mais novos e os de anos de escolaridade mais baixos estão mais envolvidos no bullying. Confirmam-se as características, referidas também na literatura existente, dos provocadores (afastamento em relação à família e à escola, bom relacionamento com os pares, consumo de substâncias e exibição de sintomas físicos e psicológicos e depressão), das vítimas (afastamento em relação à escola, problemas no relacionamento com
- Bullying nas escolas: comportamentos e percepçõesPublication . Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Gonçalves, Sónia M. PedrosoO propósito do presente estudo foi o de investigar os comportamentos de bullying entre estudantes de escolas públicas em Portugal.Anível específico procurouse analisar a associação entre uma série de diferentes tipos de comportamentos de bullying (enquanto provocado e provocador) e algumas variáveis preditoras, variáveis comportamentais (consumo de álcool, drogas e porte de armas) e cognitivas/percepções (percepção de satisfação com a vida e percepção de segurança na escola). Foram utilizados os dados provenientes da Base de Dados Portuguesa da HBSC, Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children de 2002. A amostra (representativa) é constituída por 6131 adolescentes do 6.º, 8.º e 10.º ano (M = 14 anos, DP = 1.85) que responderam a um questionário relativo a uma série de comportamentos, crenças e atitudes no âmbito da saúde. Os alunos sentem-se provocados e dizem provocar de diferentes formas. É de salientar que quanto mais os alunos percepcionam a escola como sendo insegura, quanto mais insatisfeitos estão com a vida mais relatam serem vítimas de bullying e agressores; o mesmo padrão é verificado com o porte de armas e para os consumos de álcool e droga. É importante realçar que os diferentes tipos de bullying partilham alguns dos mesmos preditores, contudo, há especificidades e singularidades que devem ser tidas em consideração nos programas de intervenção. O bullying é um problema grave nas escolas por todo o mundo e é um assunto com o qual nos devemos preocupar. Espera-se que os resultados deste estudo alertem estudantes, professores e encarregados de educação para este problema. Espera-se com este trabalho que o fenómeno bullying passe a ser encarado numa complexa dinâmica de causalidades que urge abordar de modo integrado. ------ ABSTRACT ------ The present study was intended to investigate bullying behaviours among public school students in Portugal. It specifically aimed to analyse the connection between different types of bullying behaviour (as simultaneously provoked and provoking) and some behavioural predictor variables (alcohol/drug use and weapon carrying) and cognitive/perception variables (perceived life satisfaction and perception of school security). The data was collected from the Portuguese HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children) Database as regards 2002. The (representative) sample is composed of 6131 adolescents in primary and secondary education, namely in 6th, 8th and 10th grades (M = 14 years, SD = 1.85). Each had to answer a questionnaire on a series of behaviours, beliefs and attitudes as far as health is concerned. The pupils feel themselves provoked and say that they provoke others by different forms. The results point out that the more pupils perceive school to be unsafe and the more unsatisfied they are with their lives, the more they claim to be victims of bullying and aggressors. The same pattern holds true for weapon carrying and alcohol and drug use. It is important to underline that different types of bullying share the same predictors; however, their specificity and singularity should be carefully considered for intervention purposes. Bullying in school is a worldwide problem; therefore, it is a serious issue one must be concerned about. The findings of this study are expected to raise the awareness of students, school teachers, parents and carers about this problem. Moreover, with this work we expect the bullying phenomenon to start being considered within a complex dynamics of causality that urges to be addressed in an integrated way.