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- Menopausal symptoms: Do life events predict severity of symptoms in peri- and post-menopause?Publication . Pimenta, Filipa; Leal, I.; Marôco, J. P.; Ramos, CatarinaObjective: Hormonal changes during menopausal transition are linked to physical and psychological symptoms’ emergence. This study aims to explore if life events predict menopausal symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional research encompasses a community sample of 992 women who answered to socio-demographic, health, menopause-related and lifestyle questionnaires; menopausal symptoms and life events were assessed with validated instruments. Structural equation modeling was used to build a causal model. Results: Menopausal status predicted only three symptoms: skin/facial hair changes (B = .136; p = .020), sexual (B = .157; p = .004) and, marginally, vasomotor symptoms (B = .094; p = .054). Life events predicted depressive mood (B = −.391; p = .002), anxiety (B = −.271; p = .003), perceived cognitive impairment (B = −.295; p = .003), body shape changes (B = −.136; p = .031), aches/pain (B = −.212; p = .007), skin/facial hair changes (B = −.171; p = .021), numbness (B = −.169; p = .015), perceived loss of control (B = −.234; p = .008), mouth, nails and hair changes (B = −.290; p = .004), vasomotor (B = −.113; p = .044) and sexual symptoms (B = −.208; p = .009). Conclusions: Although women in peri- and post-menopausal manifested higher symptoms’ severity than their pre-menopausal counterparts, only three of the menopausal symptoms assessed were predicted by menopausal status. Since the vast majority of menopausal symptoms’ severity was significantly influenced by the way women perceived their recent life events, it is concluded that the symptomatology exacerbation, in peri- and post-menopausal women, might be due to life conditions and events, rather than hormonal changes (nonetheless, the inverse influence should be investigated in future studies). Therefore, these should be accounted for in menopause-related clinical and research settings.
- A nursing care intervention model for elderly people to ascertain general profiles of functionality and self care needsPublication . Goes, Margarida; Lopes, Manuel José; Oliveira, Henrique; Fonseca, César; Maroco, J. P.A core set of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health codes was used to ascertain general profiles of functionality as a function of biological and sociodemographic characteristics and to develop structured nursing interventions in accordance with self care deficits identified by studying self care behavior for elderly people living in both extensively and sparsely populated rural areas. Data were collected by health professionals in the participants' houses. An exploratory factor analysis enabled reduced data dimensions, and factorial validity was assessed by a confirmatory factor analysis. An ordinal regression model was built to identify general profiles of functionality as a function of age. A bar graph was used as a measurement tool for nursing care needs as a function of self care behavior and functional profile level. No functional problems were expected among people under the age of 74 years, while mild functionality problems were expected among people older than 74 years. Regarding nursing care needs, the results of the constructed model suggested that the functional concept "Support and Relationships" is associated with higher levels of functional problems and thus a greater need for self care interventions and that people aged 85 years and older always show therapeutic self care deficits.
- Memory awareness in patients with major depressive disorderPublication . Mendes, Tiago; Cardoso, Sandra; Guerreiro, Manuela; Marôco, João Paulo.; Silva, Dina; Alves, Luísa; Schmand, Ben; Couto, Frederico Simões Do; Figueira, Maria Luísa; De Mendonça, AlexandreSubjective Memory Complaints (SMC) along with cognitive deficits are frequently observed in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The relationship between SMC and objective memory performance in patients with MDD was evaluated, in comparison with patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer's Disease (MCI-AD) and healthy controls (HC).
- The Quality of Work Life Scale: Validity Evidence from Brazil and PortugalPublication . Sinval, J.; Sirgy, M. Joseph; Lee, Dong-Jin; Maroco, J. P.Quality of work life (QWL) is an important construct, based on satisfaction of worker’s needs. It is strongly related to higher work engagement and lower burnout. To properly establish comparisons between countries’ QWL with a psychometric instrument, the measure must show validity evidence, namely in terms of measurement invariance. This study aims to assess the validity evidence of the Quality of Work Life Scale (QWLS) by examining the internal structure of the measure (i.e., dimensionality, reliability, and measurement invariance) and its relations with other variables such as burnout and work engagement. The measure was tested using a total sample of 1163 workers, 566 workers from Portugal, and 597 from Brazil. The data had a good fit to the QWLS second-order model and good reliability estimates for the two countries. Full-uniqueness measurement invariance was achieved for data for Portugal and Brazil and for gender too. The measure also demonstrated good nomological validity evidence by successfully predicting burnout and work engagement.
- Validation of the 10-item Cervantes Scale in middle-aged Portuguese womenPublication . Pimenta, Filipa; Albergaria, Rita; Maroco, João Paulo; Leal, Isabel Pereira; Chedraui, Peter; Pérez-López, Faustino R.The aim of the study was to validate the Portuguese language version of the 10-item Cervantes Scale (CS-10), a self-reporting instrument that assesses menopausal symptoms, and to compare the results (both symptom severity and multigroup invariance) of middle-aged women who completed the questionnaire in paper-and-pencil format (PPF) or in the online format (OF).
- Subjective wellbeing of preschool childrenPublication . Silva, Bianca Núbia Souza; Martins, Bianca Gonzalez; Campos, Lucas Arrais; Maroco, J. P.; Alvares Duarte Bonini Campos, JulianaObjective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Autoquestionnaire Qualité de Vie Enfant Imagé (AUQEI) in pre-school children and estimate the influence of demographic characteristics on their subjective wellbeing. Methods: Construct validity was estimated using confirmatory analysis and the chi-square per degrees of freedom ratio (χ 2 /df), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA). Reliability was assessed by the ordinal alpha (α) and omega (ω) coe cients and the factorial invariance by the dierence in CFI (1CFI). Mean scores for each AUQEI item and the general score were calculated. Results: A total of 443 Preschool children enrolled in public education institutions participated. The original 4-factor AUQEI model showed collinearity between factors and a high correlation between two items. A single factor model was tested, presenting adequate fit to the data (χ 2 /df = 4.47; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.98; RMSEA = 0.08; α = 0.98; ω = 0.93; UniCo > 0.95, EVC > 0.85, and MIREAL < 0.30) and strict model invariance (1CFI < 0.01). The AUQEI model proved to be valid in relation to the external variables. Most children (76.7%) had positive subjective wellbeing. Higher scores were observed for items concerning recreation, holidays, and birthdays, and lower scores for those referring to hospitalization, medication, medical consultation, and being away from the family. The relationship between the demographic characteristics of the child or his/her mother and subjective wellbeing was not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The assessment of subjective wellbeing with the single-factor AUQEI model provided valid, reliable, and invariant. Thus, being a relevant and interesting instrument to assess wellbeing in young children.
- Understanding climate change adaptation: the role of citizens’ perceptions and appraisals about extreme weather eventsPublication . Domingos, Samuel; Gaspar, Rui; Maroco, J. P.; Beja, RitaClimate change is driving dramatic environmental changes and posing new demands to citizens, health authorities, and policy makers worldwide. This is due to an increased frequency, intensity, and duration of associated extreme weather events. Recent calls for better understanding of how citizens adapt to such demands and the role that psychological processes’ play in that adaptation, have been put forward. We contributed in this regard by (1) applying the Biopsychosocial Model of Challenge and Threat (e.g. Blascovich 2008) to the study of human responses (psychological, physiological, and behavioural) to extreme weather events; (2) using it as the conceptual basis for a mixed methods study aimed at exploring citizens’ perceptions, beliefs, and appraisals of the demands posed by such events and available resources to cope with them. Preliminary qualitative results are presented and potential implications for stakeholders and policy makers in the climate change domain are discussed. An example of how such conceptual and methodological approaches may contribute to developing evidence-based strategies for incrementing citizens’ resilience and adaptation to climate change, will be provided. This allow a better understanding of citizen appraisals and perceptions’ role in shaping adaptive behaviour, in order to provide them with the necessary personal and social resources to cope with extreme weather events and increment future resilience.
- Burnout e intenção de desistir do curso: o efeito moderador do envolvimento académicoPublication . Maroco, J. P.; Assunção, Hugo
- Estadios e sintomas de menopausa, e idade : associação com função sexual femininaPublication . Leal, Ana Borgas; Pimenta, Filipa; Albergaria, Rita; Maroco, João; Leal, Isabel Pereira
- Do Self-Reported Psychopathic Traits Moderate the Relations Between Delinquent History Predictors and Recidivism Outcomes in Juvenile Delinquents?Publication . Pechorro, Pedro; DeLisi, Matt; Maroco, J. P.; Simões, Mário R.The present study investigates whether self-reported psychopathic traits moderate the relationships between delinquent career features (i.e., age of first detention in a juvenile detention center, crime frequency, crime diversity, crime charges, and Conduct Disorder) and 1-year general delinquency and violent delinquency recidivism outcomes. The sample was composed of male youth (N = 214, M = 16.4 years, SD = 1.3 years) originating from the juvenile detention centers managed by the Ministry of Justice of Portugal. Results mostly suggest that neither the Antisocial Process Screening Device––Self-Report total score nor its Callous-Unemotional, Impulsivity, and Narcissism factor scores moderate the relationships between the delinquent career variables and general and violent delinquency recidivism outcomes. The notable exception was the interaction between crime frequency and callous-unemotional traits in predicting general recidivism. The current findings question the relevance of self-reported psychopathic traits as moderators of recidivism among juveniles despite the general association between psychopathy and conduct problems among youth