Browsing by Author "Sousa, Marta"
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- Cognitive behavioural “third wave” therapies in the treatment of justice-involved individuals: A systematic reviewPublication . Cunha, Olga; Pereira, Bárbara; Sousa, Marta; Castro Rodrigues, Andreia dePsychological treatments have been increasingly used with justice-involved individuals; however, evidence regarding their effectiveness remains unclear. Thus, new approaches, such as Cognitive-Behavioural (CB) “third wave” therapies, have been implemented with justice-involved individuals. This systematic review describes and assesses the effectiveness of different CB “third wave” therapies, such as Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Mindfulness-based Approaches (MBA), Metacognitive Therapy (MCT), and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) with justiceinvolved individuals. The research was conducted in four databases (i.e., B-on, PubMed, Science Direct, and PsycINFO) up to November 2023. Fifty studies were included in the review. DBT was the most assessed, followed by ACT. No studies using FAP and MCT were included. Preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of ACT, DBT, CFT, and MBA with justice-involved populations regarding aggression and violent behaviour reductions was found. However, the studies revealed some methodological shortcomings preventing us from reaching firmer conclusions. More research is needed to understand the impact of CB “third wave” therapies in forensic settings further.
- Employer branding and psychological contract in family and non-family firmsPublication . Pimentel, Duarte Nuno Gonçalves; Almeida, Pedro Henrique Garcia Lopes de; Marques-Quinteiro, Pedro; Sousa, MartaABSTRACT: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess differences between employees of family and non-family firms regarding their perceptions of employer branding and psychological contract levels. Moreover, focusing on family firms, the authors assess the relation between the employees’ perceptions of employer branding and the psychological contract levels. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical evidence is provided by a sample of 165 Portuguese employees, 76 employees of family firms and 89 non-family firms’ employees, who responded to a questionnaire that included employer branding and psychological contract measures. All respondents study in small and medium-sized private companies. Findings – The results confirmed the research hypotheses, suggesting that employees of family companies show higher perceptions of employer branding and psychological contract levels than employees of nonfamily companies. Results also reveal that the perceptions of employer branding are positively related to the psychological contract levels of the family firm’s employees. Originality/value – This paper aims to contribute to the literature by addressing two contemporary organizational aspects yet under-addressed in the comparison between family and non-family firms while pursuing to offer insights on the relationship between the perceptions s of employer branding and levels of the psychological contract of employees working in family firms.
- Initial Validation of Hanson Sex Attitude Questionnaire (HSAQ) in Portuguese perpetrators of child sexual abuse and perpetrators of non-sexual crimesPublication . Sousa, Marta; Gouveia, Cláudia; Cunha, Olga; Basto-Pereira, Miguel; Gonçalves, Rui Abrunhosa; Castro Rodrigues, Andreia deCognitive distortions (CDs) are a crucial element in the etiology of child sexual offending, with most of the intervention programs targeting them to reduce the risk of sexual recidivism in perpetrators of child sexual abuse (CSA). Researchers have developed the Hanson Sex Attitude Questionnaire (HSAQ) to assess CDs. With a total sample of 256 participants, the Portuguese version of the HSAQ revealed a two- factor structure. The HSAQ subscales demonstrated good to acceptable psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency, as well as discriminant validity. One of the subscales also demonstrated conver-gent validity. Additionally, the two subscales exhibited differences between perpetrators of CSA with and without previous interventions, indicating known-groups validity. Overall, our findings partially support the use of the HSAQ in the forensic Portuguese population, underscor-ing its significance for clinical and research purposes. Nevertheless, particular caution is advised, especially regarding factor two
- INSIGHT intervention for individuals who sexually offended against children: Preliminary results of a randomized pilot studyPublication . Sousa, Marta; Gonçalves, Rui Abrunhosa; De Castro Rodrigues, AndreiaThis study examined the preliminary results of a 25-session individual intervention program designed for individuals who sexually offended against children (ISOCs) in Portugal, whether in prison or the community setting. A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted, where eighteen ISOCs were randomly assigned to receive the INSIGHT intervention plus treatment as usual (TAU) or only TAU. ISOCs in the treatment condition demonstrated significant reductions in cognitive distortions related to child sexual abuse, some early maladaptive schemas, psychopathology, interpersonal problems, and risk of sexual violence, along with increases in self-esteem, empathy, and empathy towards victims, all with larger effect sizes. Most of these improvements were sustained at the 3-month follow-up. The intervention shows a potential promise in reducing the risk of sexual violence by addressing risk-relevant factors. Further evaluation with a larger sample is needed for more robust conclusions.
- Intra and extra-familial child sexual abuse: The role of psychopathyPublication . Sousa, Marta; Cunha, Olga; Gonçalves, Rui Abrunhosa; De Castro Rodrigues, AndreiaThe present study analyses the relationship between psychopathic traits, the four facets of psychopathy (i.e., interpersonal, affective, lifestyle, and antisocial), and the type of crime committed (i.e., intrafamilial and extrafamilial child sexual abuse; and nonsexual crimes). The Self-Report Psychopathy Scale – Short Form (SRP-SF) and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale – Short Form were completed by 110 male individuals who sexually offended minors (ISOMs) and 146 individuals convicted for nonsexual crimes. Four binary logistic regression analyses were conducted, controlling for sociodemographic, criminal, and individual variables. ISOMs are less likely to score high in the SRP-SF total score and the interpersonal facet and more likely to score high in the affective facet than individuals with nonsexual crimes. Besides, ISOMs are less likely to have a prior history of alcohol and drug abuse and to have previous contact with the justice system but are more likely to have a history of psychological problems. Therefore, only the prior alcohol and drug abuse history emerged as predictors for ISOMs subtypes. According to our results, psychopathic traits should not be considered in the assessment and intervention of ISOMs, and the focus of the intervention should be on the affective dimension and the level of psychopathology
- Investigative interviews with individuals who perpetrated sex crimes: A scoping reviewPublication . Sousa, Marta; Cláudia, Gouveia; Castro-Rodrigues, Andreia de; Caridade, Sónia; Cunha, OlgaSex crimes (CS) are a global public health problem with profound negative consequences for victims, their families, and society. The perpetrator's testimony is crucial for case outcomes because sexual offenses are frequently underreported, often due to limited evidence and lack of victim testimonies. Therefore, perpetrator investigative interviews play a decisive role in criminal investigations. The aim of this scoping review is to identify and describe evidence-based investigative interview techniques for gathering testimony from SC perpetrators using a structured methodology. Studies were identified through manual reference checking and in five electronic databases: Scopus, B-On, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and PubMed. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies focused on rape and child sexual abuse. Five studies presented interview protocols, while three focused on interview techniques that interviewers should employ to elicit more information. It was possible to conclude that both the presented interviews and the techniques share a similar general structure. Clinical, forensic, and criminal implications are elaborated.
- Male perpetrators of child sexual abuse: A comparison between individuals serving custodial and non-custodial sentencesPublication . Sousa, Marta; Cunha, Olga; Abrunhosa Gonçalves, Rui; Rodrigues, Andreia de CastroThe literature considers individuals who sexually offended children (ISOCs) as a heterogeneous group. In Portugal, ISOCs may be subject to two types of sentences: custodial and non-custodial measures. In the present study, we performed a comparative analysis between 66 male individuals sentenced to prison and 47 male individuals sentenced to community measures for sexual crimes against children, using a set of sociodemographic, penal, and psychological measures. The results showed that the incarcerated ISOCs’ had more static risk factors for sexual and nonsexual recidivism. Only two variables increased the probability of belonging to the incarceration group: having other convictions beyond child sexual abuse and having committed serious sexual offenses. Based on these results, implications for ISOCs’ treatment and sentencing are discussed.
- Positive childhood experiences and adult outcomes: A systematic reviewPublication . Cunha, Olga; Sousa, Marta; Pereira, Bárbara; Pinheiro, Marina; Machado, Ana Beatriz; Caridade, S.; Almeida, TelmaAlthough positive childhood experiences (PCEs) may serve as protective factors against the negative consequences of childhood adversity, they have been less extensively studied. However, more recently, there has been a growing interest in understanding the role of these experiences. This systematic review aims to address this research gap by systematizing the existing literature on PCEs and examining their relationship with both positive and negative outcomes. A comprehensive search of databases such as B-On, PsycINFO, PubMed, SCOPUS, and Scielo identified 87 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Different studies have employed various designs and samples to investigate the relationship between PCEs and adult outcomes. The findings suggest that higher levels of PCEs are consistently associated with better mental health outcomes, such as decreased depressive symptoms, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors, as well as improved psychosocial well-being, including reduced perceived stress and increased life satisfaction. Conflicting results were found for behavioral outcomes, physical health, stressful life events, and parenting and family functioning. In addition, the interaction effect of PCEs on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in adulthood is inconsistent. PCEs and ACEs appear to be independent sets of experiences that often coexist, with PCEs frequently not moderating the consequences of adversity on outcomes. More research with diverse samples is needed to better understand the role of PCEs.
- Remand prisoners’ specific needs: A systematic reviewPublication . Andrade, Joana; Sousa, Marta; Abrunhosa Gonçalves, Rui; Castro Rodrigues, Andreia deRemand prisoners (RP) are non-sentenced individuals who must be held in prison awaiting sentencing. The international data reported that up to a third of the detainees worldwide are in a pre-trial situation. The present systematic review aims to review the studies that assessed the remand prisoners’ mental problems during detention. Following the PICO strategy, the search identifed a total of 5427 studies, of which, 79 studies were included in the fnal analysis. Substance use disorders were the most reported problem, followed by mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and personality and behavior disorders. A smaller number of studies reported anxiety and neurotic disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder and adjustment disorders, intellectual disorders, paraphilias and sexual disorders, attention-defcit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and somatoform disorders. Our fndings contribute to the scientifc knowledge about this group of inmates’ needs, emphasizing the prevalence of mental problems within this population and supporting both professionals and academics to reform policies and practices.
- The effectiveness of psychological treatment in adult male convicted for sexual offenses against children: A systematic reviewPublication . Sousa, Marta; Andrade, Joana; De Castro Rodrigues, Andreia; Gonçalves, Rui AbrunhosaChild sexual abuse is a public health problem of global magnitude with profound and negative consequences for the victims and society. Thus, psychological intervention with individuals who sexually offended against children is crucial for reducing recidivism. Numerous reviews and meta-analyses have shown the effectiveness of psychological interventions in individuals who sexually offended, but few reviews have been done on this subtype of offenders. This article reviews evaluation studies of intervention programs designed to treat individuals who sexually offended against children, providing a more detailed account of treatment procedures. Articles were identified from peer-reviewed databases, bibliographies, and experts. Following full-text review, 12 studies were selected for inclusion by meeting the following criteria: quantitative or qualitative research studies published in English from 2000 to 2020 with titles or abstracts that indicated a focus on treatment effectiveness, detailing the psychological treatment procedures on adult, male individuals convicted for child sexual abuse. Cognitive-behavioral therapy with a relapse prevention approach was the most frequent modality found in child sexual offending treatment. Besides, different criminogenic and non-criminogenic factors emerge as targets for intervention. Study design, study quality, and intervention procedures shortened the accumulation of evidence in treatment effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Trauma, Violence & Abuse is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)