Browsing by Author "Santos, Teresa Cristina"
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- Contextual factors related to chronic condition in portuguese adolescents: Highlights from the HBSC/WHO studyPublication . Santos, Teresa Cristina; Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Simões, Celeste; Machado, Maria do CéuAdolescence’s changes may become more pronounced when living with a chronic condition (CC). This study aims to examined the differences in satisfaction with family life, perception of school competence and “pressure with homework” of Portuguese adolescents’ 1) living with CC; 2) how living with CC affects school participation; taking into account age, gender and family socioeconomic status (SES). Five thousand fifty Portuguese adolescents (mean age 14 ± 1.85) of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC/WHO) were included. Results showed increased vulnerability in adolescents living with CC, presenting a lower satisfaction with family life and poor school outcomes. Younger boys, having a higher SES and not having CC are significantly associated with satisfaction with family life. Older girls, having a lower SES and living with CC were associated with more stress related to school work. Future interventions should include these features combined with ‘listening’ to adolescents and their needs, allowing their participation in the promotion of personal health.
- Dream teens: Adolescents-led participatory project in Portugal in the context of the economic recessionPublication . Frasquilho, Diana; Ozer, Emily J.; Ozer, Elizabeth M.; Branquinho, Cátia; Camacho, Inês; Reis, Marta; Tomé, Gina; Santos, Teresa Cristina; Gomes, Paulo; Cruz, Jaqueline; Ramiro, Lúcia; Gaspar, Tania; Simões, Celeste; Piatt, Amber Akemi; Holsen, Ingrid; Matos, Margarida Gaspar deThis article describes the implementation process of a nationwide project to enhance young people's participation and active citizenship in the context of Portugal's economic recession. This project used an innovative Positive Youth Development approach that engaged Portuguese youth (aged 11-18 years) through social media tools to facilitate their civic engagement and development. Participants from all over the country were empowered (1) to design and conduct research activities on topics of their choice and about their life contexts and (2) to create ways to improve youth civic participation in their communities, while developing supportive interactions with adults and peers. Overall, youth were engaged in their activities, felt their voices were heard, and felt that they were viewed as experts of their own well-being and living contexts. Youth research actions and preliminary findings were then compiled in a set of recommendations that was formally received by a high commissioner of the Ministry of Health. The article concludes with a discussion of the next steps for the project and its limitations so far.
- Qualidade de vida, percepção de saúde, resiliência, auto-regulação e suporte social nos adolescentes portugueses com a doencça crónicaPublication . Santos, Teresa Cristina; Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Simões, Maria Celeste; Machado, Maria do CéuThe impact of chronic disease on Quality of Life(QoL)/Health-related Quality of Life(HRQoL) and psychosocial functioning in adolescence is a complex phenomenon. This research work aimed to: 1) characterize QoL/HRQoL and psychosocial functioning in chronically ill adolescents at a national-representative level; 2) explore associations between chronic disease, QoL/HRQoL and psychosocial factors; and 3) characterize QoL/HRQoL and psychosocial functioning in chronically ill adolescents in a clinical context. This work comprised three phases. Phase I used cross-sectional data from the national study Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (2010), conducted in 5050 adolescents (52.3% girls, 14±1.85 years old). Comparisons between adolescents having/not having chronic disease were performed; afterwards within the chronically ill subgroup, adolescents feeling affected/not affected in school participation were compared. Individual-psychological variables (wellness perception, life satisfaction, psychological well-being) and also socio-contextual variables (satisfaction with family environment, perceived school performance, pressure with schoolwork and risk behaviours) were assessed. Phase II was a systematic review on the association between chronic disease, HRQoL and psychosocial factors. Phase III used crosssectional data collected in a clinical context in 135 adolescents (51.9% boys, 14±1.5 years old), with diabetes mellitus, allergic, or neurological diseases. Comparisons by type of chronic diseases were conducted, and then, between adolescents feeling affected/not affected in their school/social participation. HRQoL, psychosomatic health, resilience, self-regulation and social support were measured in this Phase. The main findings (set of nine scientific articles) suggested that: 1) at a national-representative level, adolescents with chronic diseases reported high risk on individual-psychological and socio-contextual outcomes, vs. healthy peers. The most vulnerable chronically ill adolescents were the older, girls, those with lower socioeconomic status and feeling affected in their school participation; 2) literature showed an association between having chronic disease in adolescence and negative HRQoL outcomes and psychosocial functioning, as well as lack of specific studies on adolescence as an independent age group; 3) in the clinical context, girls and adolescents who felt affected in their school/social participation, reported worse HRQoL outcomes and psychosocial functioning; no differences were observed by type of diseases. Considering the whole group, adolescents who felt affected in participation in school/social activities reported worse HRQoL, psychosomatic health, resilience, self-regulation and social support; girls had worse HRQoL and psychosomatic health, vs. boys. Psychosomatic health, resilience and self-regulation had a higher impact in some HRQoL’s dimensions for boys, whereas social support for girls. Overall, psychosomatic health, resilience, self-regulation and social support were positively associated with HRQoL, even when combined with clinical variables. These findings in Portuguese adolescents enhance the understanding of the impact of chronic disease on QoL/HRQoL and psychosocial functioning, underlining the role of protective factors on positive outcomes. It stressed as a current challenge for research and clinical practice, to include a routine assessment of these variables in adolescents, also suggesting a multidimensional and individualized approach, including self-reports to “give voice” to young people’s needs. Identifying impaired domains optimizes allocation of available resources and helps healthcare professionals to implement multidisciplinary and cost-effective interventions for psychosocial support. Ultimately, a wider framework with clinicians, schools, family, and peers is strongly suggested, particularly relevant for the Portuguese reality, since this assessment is not common and psychosocial interventions are still scarce.
- Relationship between subjective wellbeing and weight perception in children and adolescents: Gender and age differencesPublication . Gaspar, Tania; Santos, Teresa Cristina; Matos, Margarida Gaspar deThe relation between weight status (Body Mass Index - BMI), weight perception and subjective wellbeing remains unclear. Several studies conclude that discrepancies can be found between weight status and weight perception, among children and adolescents. The present study aims at investigating the associations between subjective wellbeing and individual characteristics, among children and adolescents. The sample included 1200 children and adolescents (51.7 % girls, aged 9 to 17). Their mean age was 12.55 years (SD = 1.61). The questionnaire was completed in school context, asking about the subjective wellbeing, use of self-regulation, eating behavior awareness/care, weight perception and sociodemographic questions such as age, gender and BMI. The study found a strong association between BMI and weight perception, although subjective wellbeing was better explained by weight perception than by BMI. Eating awareness and self-regulation also played an important role in subjective controlling for age and gender. Age and gender interfere in the relation between subjective wellbeing and other variables. The multiple regression model is more robust and explicative for girls and older children. Psychological factors related to weight, such as weight perception, self-regulation and eating awareness have a stronger explicative impact in subjective wellbeing compared to physical aspects, such as Body Mass Index. The relation between subjective wellbeing and weight is influence by age and gender.
- Semantics bias in cross-national comparative analyses : Is it good or bad to have "fair" health?Publication . Schnohr, Christina W.; Gobina, Inese; Santos, Teresa Cristina; Mazur, Joanna; Alikasifuglu, Mujgan; Välimaa, Raili; Corell, Maria; Hagquist, Curt; Dalmasso, Paola; Movseyan, Yeva; Cavallo, Franco; Van Dorsselaer, Saskia; Torsheim, TorbjørnThe Health Behavior in School-aged Children is a cross-national study collecting data on social and health indicators on adolescents in 43 countries. The study provides comparable data on health behaviors and health outcomes through the use of a common protocol, which have been a back bone of the study sine its initiation in 1983. Recent years, researchers within the study have noticed a questionable comparability on the widely used item on self-rated health. One of the four response categories to the item "Would you say your health is….?" showed particular variation, as the response category "Fair" varied from 20 % in Latvia and Moldova to 3-4 % in Bulgaria and Macedonia. A qualitative mini-survey of the back-translations showed that the response category "Fair" had a negative slant in 25 countries, a positive slant in 10 countries and was considered neutral in 9 countries. This finding indicates that there are what may be called semantic issues affecting comparability in international studies, since the same original word (in an English original) is interpreted differently across countries and cultures. The paper test and discuss a few possible explanations to this, however, only leaving to future studies to hold a cautious approach to international comparisons if working with the self-rated health item with four response categories.
- The effect of flaxseed in breast cancer: A Literature ReviewPublication . Calado, Ana; Neves, Pedro Miguel; Santos, Teresa Cristina; Ravasco, PaulaBreast cancer is one of the most common cancers and the second most responsible for cancer mortality worldwide. In 2014, in Portugal approximately 27,200 people died of cancer, of which 1,791 were women with breast cancer. Flaxseed has been one of the most studied foods, regarding possible relations to breast cancer, though mainly in experimental studies in animals, yet in few clinical trials. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, α-linolenic acid, lignan, and fibers. One of the main components of flaxseed is the lignans, of which 95% are made of the predominant secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). SDG is converted into enterolactone and enterodiol, both with antiestrogen activity and structurally similar to estrogen; they can bind to cell receptors, decreasing cell growth. Some studies have shown that the intake of omega-3 fatty acids is related to the reduction of breast cancer risk. In animal studies, α-linolenic acids have been shown to be able to suppress growth, size, and proliferation of cancer cells and also to promote breast cancer cell death. Other animal studies found that the intake of flaxseed combined with tamoxifen can reduce tumor size to a greater extent than taking tamoxifen alone. Additionally, some clinical trials showed that flaxseed can have an important role in decreasing breast cancer risk, mainly in postmenopausal women. Further studies are needed, specifically clinical trials that may demonstrate the potential benefits of flaxseed in breast cancer.
- Unemployment as a source of mental distress to individuals and their family: Unemployed parents perceptions during the economic recessionPublication . Frasquilho, Diana; Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Santos, Teresa Cristina; Gaspar, Tania; Almeida, José Miguel Caldas deBackground: Due to the economic recession, several people in Europe became unemployed. This situation may risk their mental health. Aim: This study explored parents’ perceptions about their unemployment’s effects in daily life during the recession. Methods: A total of 59 unemployed parents (40.7% fathers and 59.3% mothers), ageing 44.4 years (±6.2), answer a question on how the unemployment affected their family lives. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Results: The findings suggest that unemployment is a source of adult and youth mental distress and of economic hardship and changes in family relations. Conclusion: Support to unemployed individuals and their families could benefit from these insights when granting the needed financial and socioemotional assistance.