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- How children with autism reason about other’s intentions: False-belief and counterfactual inferencesPublication . Rasga, Célia; Quelhas, Ana Cristina; Byrne, Ruth M. J.; Maria Rasga, CéliaWe examine false belief and counterfactual reasoning in children with autism with a new change-of-intentions task. Children listened to stories, for example, Anne is picking up toys and John hears her say she wants to find her ball. John goes away and the reason for Anne’s action changes—Anne’s mother tells her to tidy her bedroom. We asked, ‘What will John believe is the reason that Anne is picking up toys?’ which requires a false-belief inference, and ‘If Anne’s mother hadn’t asked Anne to tidy her room, what would have been the reason she was picking up toys?’ which requires a counterfactual inference. We tested children aged 6, 8 and 10 years. Children with autism made fewer correct inferences than typically developing children at 8 years, but by 10 years there was no difference. Children with autism made fewer correct false-belief than counterfactual inferences, just like typically developing children.
- Assessing autism knowledge in portugal: validation of the autism spectrum knowledge scale (ASKS-PT)Publication . Dias-Almeida, Beatriz; Gonçalves, Patrícia de Oliveira; Marôco, João; Almeida, Telma SousaPublic understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) influences societal attitudes, healthcare policies, and support systems. However, no validated instrument exists to assess autism knowledge in the Portuguese population. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Autism Spectrum Knowledge Scale – General Population version (ASKSG) for Portugal, ensuring its linguistic, cultural, and psychometric robustness. A sample of 353 Portuguese adults, aged between 18 and 76 years (M=34.24, SD=13.49), completed the scales’ Portuguese adaptation (ASKS-PT) via an online survey. The scale’s psychometric properties were examined using Item Response Theory (2PL model), internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), and test-retest reliability. The ASKS-PT demonstrated strong internal consistency and good test-retest reliability. The 2PL model outperformed the Rasch model, confirming that item difficulty and discrimination effectively differentiated knowledge levels. While participants displayed high accuracy on common misconceptions, gaps persisted in areas such as autism prevalence, genetic risk factors, and diagnostic methods. Participants with prior autism contact scored significantly higher, and women outperformed men, while a family history of mental illness did not predict higher knowledge. The ASKS-PT is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing autism knowledge in Portugal. It offers a valuable tool for researchers, educators, and policymakers to evaluate autism awareness, identify misinformation, and inform public health initiatives
- Stereotyping when it fits: How perceived face—Label match shapes mental illness judgmentsPublication . Silva, Diogo C. da; Garcia-Marques, Teresa; Garcia-Marques, TeresaThis paper extends research on how mental illness (MI) labels affect personality inference byintroducing a target face. We hypothesized that the influence of label/stereotypes is limitedby how individuals perceive facial cues as fitting the label. In three experiments, participantsrated targets on competence, warmth, dominance, and trustworthiness based on face photospaired with either a healthy or MI label (Experiment 1), or with labels of depression andschizophrenia (Experiments 2 and 3). As predicted, labels influenced perceptions only whenfacial features were seen as fitting the label. In these cases, MI and schizophrenia labelsincreased perceived dominance and reduced other traits. When perceived to match the face,the depression label produced a distinct stereotype profile from MI, aligning with previousfindings. These findings highlight the interplay between top-down and bottom-up processesin person perception, corroborating that subtle mismatches with stereotypes can reduce thebiasing effects of MI labels
- Early parenting and infant–parent attachment: Developmental origins of psychotic experiencesPublication . Hidalgo, Andrea P. Cortes; Bolhuis, Koen; Tiemeier, Henning; Bakermans‐Kranenburg, Marian J.; IJzendoorn, Marinus H. vanIntroduction: The infant–parent relationship is theorized to be related to the origins of psychotic experiences, given the key role of infant–parent attachment and early-life caregiving in children’s neurodevelopmental trajectories. Yet, the magnitude of this association is not well understood, and research is often based on self-reports. We examined the relationship of disconnected and extremely insensitive parenting and disorganized infant attachment with the occurrence of psychotic experiences in childhood and adolescence. We additionally examined the role of maternal experiences of loss, a hypothesized antecedent of disconnected parenting, disorganized attachment, and psychotic experiences. Methods: This prospective study ( N = 627) is embedded in the Generation R Study. Maternal experiences of loss within 2 years of the child’s birth were self-reported. Parenting behaviors (based on continuous scores) and the infant–parent attachment were observed when infants were 14 months old. Psychotic experiences were self-reported via questionnaires at ages 10 and 14 years. We used a structural equation model adjusted for covariates to assess the association between maternal loss experiences, parenting behaviors, infant disorganized attachment, and psychotic experiences. Results: Extreme insensitive parenting was associated with more hallucinations and delusions at age 14 years (hallucinations OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.07–1.66; delusions OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.02–1.68). Disorganized infant attachment and disconnected parenting were not related to psychotic experiences. Maternal experiences of loss were not associated with psychotic experiences, and we found no evidence for a pathway between maternal experiences of loss, parenting behaviors, or disorganized attachment, and subsequent psychotic experiences. Conclusion: This study suggests that the role of disorganized infant–parent attachment in the risk of psychotic experiences of children from the general population might be smaller than expected. Instead, our results suggest that adverse caregiving behaviors related to harsh and maltreating parenting very early in development may predict psychotic experiences in adolescence.
- Pain perceptions, body image, and quality of life in women with endometriosisPublication . Correia, Mariana; Brandão, Tânia; Pais Brandão, Tânia RaquelIntroduction: Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological condition characterized by significant pain leading to a diminished quality of life (QoL). This study investigated the extent to which body image mediates the relationship between pain perception and QoL. Methods: A total of 106 women (mean age=33.54 years, SD=7.43) participated in this cross-sectional study. Results: The results indicated that both pain perception and body image significantly influenced QoL. Mediation analysis revealed that higher pain perception was associated with increased body dissatisfaction, which, in turn, contributed to poorer QoL. Discussion: These findings highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to endometriosis management.
- Interdependency between oxytocin and dopamine in trust-based learning in micePublication . Budniok, Samuel; Callaerts-Vegh, Zsuzsanna; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian; Bosmans, Guy; D’Hooge, RudiOxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide implicated in complex social behaviors such as trust and attachment, yet the neural mechanisms underlying its effects remain unclear. OT is thought to modulate behavior by enhancing salience of social cues and attenuating prediction error (PE) processing, the discrepancy between expected and actual outcomes that drives learning. Since both salience coding and PE processing involve dopamine (DA), we investigated OT and DA interdependency in social safety learning using the social transmission of food preference (STFP) paradigm. In STFP, mice overcome neophobia towards novel food after a conspecific demonstrator signals its safety. We interpreted STFP acquisition as a functional parallel to human trust-based learning and found that OT enhanced demonstrated food preference in a trust acquisition condition, but only when DA signaling was intact. In a trust violation condition, the expectation of food safety was violated by pairing demonstrated food with lithium chloride (LiCl)-induced aversion. Updating was blocked after OT administration and non significantly reduced after DA depletion, resulting in a continued preference for demonstrated food. However, this effect was absent when OT was administered under DA depletion. These findings reveal a functional interaction between the OT and DA systems in social safety learning, which may have important implications for OT’s potential in treating disorders involving DA dysfunction.
- Collaborative development of a scoping review protocol to map instruments assessing the parent–infant relationship: An International Initiative from COST Action TREASUREPublication . Brandão, Sónia; Talmon, Anat; Gieysztor, Ewa; Souto, Patrícia; Soares, Andreia; Silva, Rosa; Gonçalves, Patrícia; Prata, Paula; Şensoy, Özlem; Akgül, Esra Ardahan; Pinar, Semra; Uriko, Kristiina; Sevgili, Seda Ardahan; Bulut, Elif; Shigdel, Rajesh; Gülaldı, Demet; Freitas, Otília; Onel, Aycin Ezgi; Dikmen-Yildiz, Pelin; Power, Carmen; Lochmannová, Alena; d'Orsi, Dora; Koç, Özlem; Sönmez, Tuğçe; Brandão, Tânia; Azevedo, Diana; Miloseva, Lence; Bolacali, Edanur Tar; Aksoy, Bahar; Markaj, Mirlinda; Sousa, Gilberta; Akik, Burcu Kömürcü; Carone, Nicola; Gencpinar, Pinar; Yıldırım, Ayça Demir; Koyu, Hazal Özdemir; Abreu, Wilson; Esencan, Tuğba Yılmaz; Santos, Margarida Reis; Santos, Mario; Can, Remziye; Zietlow, Anna-Lena; Caparros-Gonzalez, RafaelEarly relational health during the first 24 months of life is a key determinant of child development and wellbeing. During this postnatal period, the parent–infant relationship plays a central role in emotional regulation, bonding, and developmental trajectories. Although the broader early relational health framework encompasses the first 1,000 days of life, this scoping review focuses specifically on the postnatal phase, where parent–infant interactions are directly observable and measurable. However, existing assessment instruments vary widely in their conceptual focus, scope, and characteristics, and no comprehensive review has systematically mapped tools used to assess the parent–infant relationship during early infancy. In response to this gap, a transdisciplinary working group within the COST Action CA22114 – TREASURE collaboratively developed a scoping review protocol to systematically map instruments assessing the parent–infant relationship from birth to 24 months of age. This Brief Report describes the collaborative methodological process underpinning the protocol’s development. The process followed an iterative, consensus-driven approach involving multidisciplinary experts from multiple COST member countries. Through structured online meetings, the group clarified core constructs and established the age range using the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework. The JBI methodology for scoping reviews was adopted and aligned with PRISMA-ScR standards to ensure transparency and reproducibility. Progressive drafting, internal peer review, and iterative refinement led to the final protocol, which was registered on the Open Science Framework .The resulting protocol provides a replicable methodological framework for mapping instruments that assess the parent–infant relationship in the first two years of life. This Brief Report presents a framework for collaborative protocol development in international research networks, promoting shared knowledge generation in early relational health research and offering potential applicability to other COST initiatives.
- Living with a veteran with trauma: Impact on family functioning using the genogram as a research toolPublication . Brites, Rute; Nunes, Odete; Hipólito, João; Brandão, Tânia; Correia, António; Nunes, CristinaIntroduction: Although the psychological impact of war on veterans, particularly the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been well documented, the long-term effects on their families have been less widely studied. Research suggests that veterans’ trauma can disrupt relationships and contribute to secondary/intergenerational trauma within the family. Objective: This study uses genograms to explore how PTSD symptoms experienced by veterans have influenced family rela tionships over time, and to uncover patterns of intergenerational and systemic impact in families of Portuguese Overseas War veterans. Method: A qualitative approach involving semi-structured interviews with 32 families (each comprising a veteran, their spouse, and at least one adult child) was used (n=100). The data were synthesized into genograms to visually map family structure, relationship quality, and patterns of psychological distress. Cross-family analysis was then conducted to identify common relational themes. Results: Families were clustered into four main impact groups: maximum negative impact, limited negative impact, no impact, and protective impact. These classifications reflect variations in family functioning, mental health symptoms, and relational patterns. In some families, the veteran’s trauma appeared to affect multiple subsystems, while in others, spouses played a buffering/protective role. A fifth group was identified, with no consistent pattern. Conclusion: Findings emphasize the complexity and variability of trauma transmission within families, highlighting both vul nerability and resilience. Using genograms proved effective in capturing systemic dynamics. These results emphasize the importance of adopting a family-systems approach in the clinical treatment of veterans affected by PTSD and suggest avenues for future research.
- Stability and changes in loneliness profiles across adolescence: The effects of intraindividual characteristics on the transitions across timePublication . Ribeiro, Olívia; Rubin, Kenneth H.; Santos, AntónioAdopting a person-centered approach with longitudinal data, our study examined the stability and transitions of loneliness profiles across three consecutive years, during adolescence. We also explored the lasting effects of loneliness and the role of intraindividual characteristics—sex, self-worth, social acceptance, friendships competence, and social withdrawal—in predicting transitions between profiles. Data were collected from an initial sample of Portuguese adolescents. Our findings also suggest lasting effects, as adolescents with a history of loneliness were more likely to report feeling lonely again later. Intraindividual characteristics also impacted on the transitions among profiles. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of recognizing loneliness as a multidimensional experience with a potentially discontinuous developmental trajectory.
- Promoting socioemotional development in early childhood: Implementation and evaluation of the VIPP-SD parenting intervention in PortugalPublication . Verissimo, Manuela; Guedes, Maryse; Fernandes, Marilia; Fernandes, Carla; Santos, Carolina; Diniz, Eva; Oliveira, Paula; Negrão, Mariana; Sampaio, Filipa; Bakermans-Kranenburg, MarianThe prevention of internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems in children is a critical scientific and public health priority. Research highlights maternal sensitivity—defined as a caregiver’s ability to perceive, interpret, and respond appropriately to their child’s cues—and consistent but non-coercive discipline as key factors in reducing these behavioral issues. The Video-feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting and Sensitive Discipline (VIPP-SD) aims to enhance maternal sensitivity and promote non-coercive discipline strategies. Meta-analyses have demonstrated its effectiveness in improving parental sensitivity, limit-setting practices, and child attachment security, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged families. However, evidence on its impact on externalizing behaviors remains mixed, with some studies suggesting delayed or context-specific effects. This project aims to evaluate VIPP-SD’s impact on parental sensitivity, discipline, child behavioral problems, and parental mental health in Portugal. Additionally, it seeks to assess the intervention’s cost-effectiveness by analyzing health outcomes, resource utilization, and associated costs. The program consists of a baseline visit, four intervention sessions, and optional booster sessions, focusing on themes such as sensitive responsiveness, positive reinforcement, and empathetic boundary-setting. 120 families from vulnerable populations in Portugal will be recruited and randomly assigned to the VIPP-SD intervention or the same number of contacts without feedback on parenting. Trained interveners will deliver the intervention. Pre- and posttest assessments include observed and self-reported parenting behaviors, parental mental health, quality of life, and resource use. Follow-up assessments include questionnaires on parent and child variables. Discussion The study aims to provide robust evidence to inform health policy decisions and prioritize cost-effective early interventions that improve developmental outcomes, reduce societal costs, and support family well-being.