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- Are prayer-based Interventions effective pain management options? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPublication . Jarego, Margarida; Ferreira-Valente, Maria Alexandra; Queiroz-Garcia, Inês; Day, Melissa A.; Pais-Ribeiro, José; Costa, Rui M.; Pimenta, Filipa; Jensen, MarkThis review examined the efects of private and communal participatory prayer on pain. Nine databases were searched. Six randomized controlled trials were included. For private prayer, medium to large efects emerged for 67% to 69% of betweengroup comparisons; participants in the prayer condition reported lower pain intensity (0.59
- A biopsychosocial perspective of mental health risk in Italy during phase two of the COVID-19 lockdownPublication . Rossi, Martina; Jarego, Margarida; Ferreira-Valente, Maria Alexandra; Miró, Jordi; Sánchez-Rodríguez, Elisabet; Ciaramella, AntonellaAbstract: Introduction: Research into the first phase of the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy showed an association with an increased susceptibility to adverse mental health (MH) in the general population. We investigated in the same population the correlations between the various demographic, socioeconomic, biological/clinical history and psychological dimensions and MH in the second, “opening-up”, phase of the lockdown. Methods: An anonymous online survey collected data from 26 May to 4 July 2020 on demographic, socioeconomic, perceived risk, general health and quality of life appraisals, worry, interference in life, life satisfaction, perceived happiness and MH by using Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5). Results: Of the 300 participants, only 195 responded to MH questions. Older age was positively associated with better MH (r=.15), as was education (r=.19). A negative correlation with MH, with medium-high effect size, was found with quality of life (r=.40) and health (r=.34) appraisals, and the factors “worry about sustenance” (r=.23) and “interference with life” (r=.32). A positive correlation, with strong effect size, was found between MH and life satisfaction (r=.53) and perception of happiness (r=.64). Discussion: During phase two of the lockdown, rather the real impact of COVID-19 restrictions on employment or economic resources, it was worry about finances that was associated with worse MH. Mental distress was associated with the loss of some positive psychological factors. From a homeostatic and biopsychosocial perspective of MH, life satisfaction and perceived happiness represent important mental resources for counteracting the effects of lockdown on MH.
- Prayer as a pain intervention: protocol of a systematic review of randomised controlled trialsPublication . Ferreira-Valente, Maria Alexandra; Jarego, Margarida; Queiroz-Garcia, Inês; Pimenta, Filipa; Costa, Rui Miguel; Day, Melissa A; Pais Brito, José Luis; Jensen, MarkBackground Pain is a universal experience and the most common reason for seeking healthcare. Inadequate pain management negatively impacts numerous aspects of patient health. Multidisciplinary treatment programmes, including psychosocial interventions, are more useful for pain management than purely biomedical treatment alone. Recently, researchers showed increasing interest in understanding the role of spirituality/religiosity and spiritual/religious practices on pain experience, with engagement in religious practices, such as prayer, showing to positively impact pain experience in religious individuals. This systematic review will seek to summarise and integrate the existing findings from randomised controlled trials assessing the effects of prayer and prayerbased interventions on pain experience. Methods The systematic review procedures and its report will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Electronic searches in nine databases (Web of Science Core Collection, MEDLINE, SCIELO Citation Index, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trial, PsycINFO, Scopus, LILACS and Open-SIGLE) will be performed to identify randomised controlled trials of prayer-based interventions. Two independent researchers will assess studies for inclusion and extract data from each paper. Risk of bias assessment will be assessed independently by two reviewers based on the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement. Qualitative synthesis of the body of research will be conducted using a narrative summary synthesis method. Meta-analysis will be limited to studies reporting on the same primary outcome. Formal searches are planned to start in June 2021. The final report is anticipated to be completed by September 2021. Discussion Findings will be useful to (1) understand the condition of our knowledge in this field and (2) provide evidence for prayer effectiveness in reducing pain intensity and pain-related stress and increasing pain tolerance in adults experiencing acute or chronic pain.
- How we survived: older adults’ adjustment to the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemicPublication . Jarego, Margarida; Tasker, Fiona; Costa, Pedro Alexandre; Pais-Ribeiro, José; Ferreira-Valente, AlexandraOlder adults were found to be the most susceptible group to suffer the physical health consequences of a COVID-19 infection and were considered vulnerable to the negative effects of the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet unlike many young adults did not generally experience an increased rate of mental health problems. Our study explored the strategies older adults in Portugal deployed during the mandatory lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. Qualitative interview data were collected with 22 older adults in relatively good health (aged between 66 and 92 years old; 36% women). Three main themes were identified via thematic analysis: (1) Finding things to do and activities that can protect me; (2) Identifying how my thoughts can protect me; and (3) Counting myself lucky – me and my home advantages. Some of the thematic strategies identified by older adults to manage pandemic and lockdown-related stresses related to meaning-centered coping could be further developed via cognitive behavioral therapies of the third wave.
- A biopsychosocial perspective of mental health risk in Italy during phase two of the COVID-19 lockdownPublication . Rossi, Martina; Jarego, Margarida; Ferreira-Valente, Maria Alexandra; Miró, Jordi; Sánchez-Rodríguez, Elisabet; Ciaramella, Antonella.: Introduction: Research into the first phase of the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy showed an association with an increased susceptibility to adverse mental health (MH) in the general population. We investigated in the same population the correlations between the various demographic, socioeconomic, biological/clinical history and psychological dimensions and MH in the second, “opening-up”, phase of the lockdown. Methods: An anonymous online survey collected data from 26 May to 4 July 2020 on demographic, socioeconomic, perceived risk, general health and quality of life appraisals, worry, interference in life, life satisfaction, perceived happiness and MH by using Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5). Results: Of the 300 participants, only 195 responded to MH questions. Older age was positively associated with better MH (r=.15), as was education (r=.19). A negative correlation with MH, with medium-high effect size, was found with quality of life (r=.40) and health (r=.34) appraisals, and the factors “worry about sustenance” (r=.23) and “interference with life” (r=.32). A positive correlation, with strong effect size, was found between MH and life satisfaction (r=.53) and perception of happiness (r=.64). Discussion: During phase two of the lockdown, rather the real impact of COVID-19 restrictions on employment or economic resources, it was worry about finances that was associated with worse MH. Mental distress was associated with the loss of some positive psychological factors. From a homeostatic and biopsychosocial perspective of MH, life satisfaction and perceived happiness represent important mental resources for counteracting the effects of lockdown on MH.
- Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of a European Portuguese version of the fear of COVID-19 scalePublication . Jarego, Margarida; Ferreira-Valente, Alexandra; Costa, Rui Miguel; Tavares, Mafalda; Pais-Ribeiro, JoséThe prevalence of burnout among university students is increasing with consequences for their academic performance. Attachment theory, as a theory of affect regulation and interpersonal relationships, may be an important framework that helps to explain why some students experience academic burnout while others do not. This study aims to examine the links between attachment orientations and levels of academic burnout and to explore the mediating role of emotion regulation strategies in this relationship. This cross-sectional study included 205 students from different Portuguese universities. Multiple mediation models conducted in PROCESS showed that both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were associated with higher levels of personal and academic-related burnout. Additionally, rumination and suppression mediated the association between attachment anxiety and burnout while putting into perspective and suppression mediated the association between attachment avoidance and burnout. Results are discussed in the light of attachment theory and clinical implications are provided to prevent academic-related burnout. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
- Socioeconomic status, social support, coping, and fear predict mental health status during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: a 1-year longitudinal studyPublication . Jarego, Margarida; Ferreira-Valente, Maria Alexandra; Sánchez-Rodríguez, Elisabet; Miró, Jordi; Costa, Patrício; Pais-Ribeiro, JoséResearch has shown that both the COVID-19 pandemic and the governmental measures implemented to tackle it severely impacted people’s mental health worldwide. This study aimed at monitoring adults’ mental health status during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and assessing demographic, socioeconomic, and psychosocial variables as mental health status development's potential predictors. A total of 105 adults (79% women; age: 18–72) completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and measures of mental health status, social support, coping, and fear of COVID-19 at T0 (Apr-May 2020), T1 (Nov 2020-Jan 2021) and T2 (May 2021). A Hierarchical Linear Model was used to assess the mental health status development trajectory and its predictors. Overall, no statistically significant differences in mental health status emerged. At the pandemic’s beginning, social support, and positive/active coping predicted better mental health status. Higher socioeconomic status, supportive coping, and the use of substances predicted poorer mental health status. Individuals who were more afraid of COVID-19 continued to improve their self-reported mental health status over time, although at a slower rate than individuals who were less afraid of COVID-19. These findings suggest that, in the context of an epidemiological crisis, such as COVID-19, fear of infectious disease should be assessed as a routine care measure, while cognitive behavioral interventions discouraging the use of supportive coping and the use of substances should be implemented.