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- Assessing the impact of the European resilience curriculum in preschool, early and late primary school childrenPublication . Simões, Celeste; Santos, Anabela; Lebre, Paula; Daniel, João; Branquinho, Cátia; Gaspar, Tania; Matos, Margarida Gaspar DeResilience is an individual’s ability to adapt successfully to and persevere during and after significant challenges. Resilience programmes based on a socioemotional learning approach have been associated with an increase in protective factors (e.g., prosocial competencies), improvements in physical and mental health, and a decrease in internalised and externalised symptoms. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the RESCUR curriculum implemented in Portuguese schools on students’ academic, behavioural, and socioemotional outcomes, based on child and teacher reports. Participants included 1,084 children (53.2% male) aged 3-15 (M¼7.24, SD¼2.31). A quasi-experimental study compared outcomes for an experimental intervention group (AIG) with a waiting list control group (WG). The results showed the RESCUR programme decreased mental health difficulties while increasing both prosocial behaviours and well-being. In addition, academic performance increased for those in preschool after implementation. Both teachers and children consistently reported positive behavioural changes in resilience-related competencies after implementing RESCUR. Our findings contribute to the recent research on the potential of RESCUR to address key socioemotional competencies and improve relevant protective factors. Study limitations and future recommendations are addressed.
- COVID-19 and lockdown, as lived and felt by university studentsPublication . Branquinho, Cátia; Guedes, F. B.; Cerqueira, Ana; Marques-Pinto, Alexandra; Branco, Amélia; Galvão, Cecília; Sousa, Joana; Goulão, Luís F.; Bronze, Maria Rosário; Viegas, Wanda; Matos, Margarida Gaspar deIn the last 2 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has spread all over the world, forcing the closure of universities, among other unusual measures in recent history. (1) Background: This work is based on the study HOUSE-ULisbon, a survey carried out during the second confinement (March–May 2021) in Portugal with the collaboration of all the Faculties of the University of Lisbon (UL). The present work aims to explore gender differences in how first-year college students experienced and felt COVID-19 and the second confinement. (2) Methods: A questionnaire was carried out. In total, 976 university students (19.66 years (SD = 4.033); Min = 17 and Max = 65) from the first year of the UL were included, of which 69.5% (n = 678) were female, and 30.5% were male (n = 298). SPSS v. 26 was used for quantitative data and MAXQDA 2020 for qualitative data. (3) Results: Overall, students reported various symptoms of physical and mental discomfort (especially females). Statistically significant differences were found in the problems that could arise from the pandemic, such as the prevalence of higher anxiety and worries by females, and online gaming by males. In coping strategies, differences were found in leisure and family relationships, with greater difficulty on the female side. Social interaction was perceived as difficult or very difficult by both genders. As strategies for future pandemics, they highlighted a concerted effort between the government and media in the transmission of messages to the population, facilitating information, knowledge and adoption of protective behaviors. (4) Conclusions: These results are important data for activating or maintaining resources and services for first-year university students, who in some university institutions were supported during the pandemic by psychological, material (e.g., computers, internet), and financial support measures, which are now diminished or extinct. The impacts on their lives will certainly not be extinguished post-pandemic, and health, education, and public policy measures should be prioritized for this group. These results are important data for activating resources and services for students, informing health and education professionals, and supporting public policies.
- Cyberbullying and bullying: Impact on psychological symptoms and well-beingPublication . Carvalho, Marina; Branquinho, Cátia; Matos, Margarida Gaspar deRelated, but with different impacts on psychological symptoms and well-being, bullying and cyberbullying have been the subject of numerous studies. The present study analysed the associations between cyberbullying and bullying, specifically: 1) gender, school grade and age associations with cyberbullying and bullying; 2) the impact of cyberbullying and bullying on psychological, social and contextual symptoms and well-being according to cyberbullying involvement, and 3) a combined bullying context was compared to single bullying contexts and to non-involvement for psychological, social and contextual factors, and well-being, among a cross-sectional and randomly assigned sample based on the 2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Portuguese Study, a World Health Organization collaborative study (HBSC/ WHO). Composed by 6026 adolescents (47.7% male), aged between 10 and 19.92 years old (M=13.77;SD=1.68), in the 6th, 8th,and 10th grades, results showed that 10.9% of the participants reported being involved in cyberbullying, as cybervictims, cyberbullies or cyberbully-victims, and 47.9% in bullying. Most of the cybervictims reported being involved as victims and bully-victims in bullying; cyberbullies as bully-victims in bullying, and most of the cyberbully-victims reported having the same role in bullying. Frequently, cybervictims were females and most of the cyberbullies and cyberbully-victims were males. No significant associations were found for age and for Body Mass Index. Comparisons between groups, based on the participants’ role in cyberbullying, showed significant differences for substances use, emotional symptoms, school context, fights and friends. Further comparisons (according to participant’s role, not involved, or involved in single or combined bullying) evidenced the cumulative effect of combined bullying. In conclusion, given the different characteristics and impact of cyberbullying on cybervictims, cyberbullies and cyberbully-victims, is crucial to consider the interrelations between the groups and focus on a more engaging perspective, based on an ecological intervention model. Results will be discussed from a public policy perspective.
- 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.
- Positive youth development, mental stress and life satisfaction in middle school and high school students in portugal: outcomes on stress, anxiety and depressionPublication . Carvalho, Marina; Branquinho, Cátia; Moraes, Barbara; Cerqueira, Ana; Tomé, Gina; Noronha, Catarina; Gaspar, Tânia; Rodrigues, Nuno; Matos, M. G.Abstract: The relation between positive youth development and stress, anxiety and depression was studied considering the mediator role of psychological symptoms and life satisfaction. A total of 3109 students included in the “Psychological Health and Well-being” study of the School Observatory participated, including 1618 females and 1491 males aged between 11 and 18 years old (M = 14.45; SD = 1.88), belonging to different school groups in different regions of the country. Adolescents with higher stress, depression and anxiety levels reported lower levels of competence, confidence and connection, as well as more psychological symptoms and lower life satisfaction. The results also showed that adolescents with higher levels of competence, confidence and connection reported less psychological symptoms and more life satisfaction. Two separate mediation analyses were performed to analyse the role of mental distress and life satisfaction on the relationship between positive youth development indicators and stress, anxiety and depression. These analyses confirmed the predicted relationships and partial mediations between mental distress and life satisfaction. These results should be taken into account in public policies concerning young people’s health and education that should involve both targeted and indicated prevention strategies, including school and community-based interventions, in order to be effective.
- Perceived quality of life and life satisfaction: Does the role of gender, age, skills, and psychological factors remain relevant after the COVID-19 pandemic?Publication . Branquinho, Cátia; Moraes, Bárbara; Noronha, Catarina; Ferreira, Tomás; Neto Rodrigues, Nuno; Gaspar de Matos, MargaridaBackground: After two years of psychological, physical, social, economic, environmental, and societal challenges, this paper examines the psychological health and well-being of Portuguese students based on their socioemotional skills (SSES), positive youth development (PYD), depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS), as well as the relationship between these variables and their influence on perceived quality of life and life satisfaction. Methods: This study examined 3235 students from lower to upper secondary, half of whom were female (M = 14.46 ± 1.883 years old). Using SPSS software, descriptive statistics were determined for all variables; mean differences between age and gender were found using ANOVA and the post hoc Scheffe test. Linear regressions with the Enter method were used to study how to predict perceived quality of life and satisfaction with life. Results: Males had scores indicating more SSES|optimism, emotional control, resilience, confidence, sociability, creativity, energy, a sense of belonging to school, and PYD. Girls had better skills for cooperating and relating to teachers but more test anxiety and DASS. Younger adolescents had better psychological health, greater skills, and a better perception of quality of life and life satisfaction when compared to older adolescents. Age, gender, SSES, PYD, and the DASS variables can explain 69% of the variance in life satisfaction, while these variables can explain 60.5% of the variance in perceived quality of life. Conclusions: These results point to the relevance of SSES for psychological health and well-being, suggesting that interventions should focus on promoting these variables, paying special attention to female gender and age-related challenges.
- Individual and sociodemographic factors associated to prosocial behaviors and academic performance in portuguese preschool and elementary school children: Highlights from a National Study After COVID-19Publication . Carvalho, Marina; Branquinho, Cátia; Noronha, Catarina; Moraes, Barbara; Rodrigues, Nuno; Matos, M. G.Scientifc knowledge has long been showing the intrinsic link between health and well-being with education highlighting the positive health impacts from improvements in education. The present study was developed with the main goal of analyzing the individual and sociodemographic predictors of prosocial behavior and academic performance in preschool and elementary school children. Data on 3623 school aged children, 1853 girls and 1770 boys, aged between 5 and 11 years old (M=7.25; SD=1.56) participating in the study “Psychological Health and Wellbeing | School Observatory” were analyzed. Prosocial behavior was measured by the SDQ, and academic performance was assessed by the students’ classifcations on diferent domains/subjects. The results of regression analyses showed that girls with less emotional, hyperactivity, behavioral and peer problems had more prosocial behaviors. Younger preschool children with more support from school social action tier, less hyperactivity problems and more prosocial behavior presented better academic performance. Elementary school children with parents/caregivers with higher educational attainment, more support from school social action tier, fewer hyperactivity and emotional symptoms and more prosocial and behavior problems presented better academic performance. We can conclude that gender and internalizing and externalizing symptoms are related to prosocial behavior and that hyperactivity problems and higher social action levels are related to a poorer academic performance. Future in depth studies will focus on the mechanisms of these relationships to better inform strategies for the promotion of prosocial behavior and academic performance. This is an important message for parents, educators, and teachers as well as for public policies in education, whenever pupils’ psychological well-being and their academic growth is concerned. ·