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- How Is leisure related to wellbeing and to substance use? The probable key role of autonomy and supervisionPublication . Tomé, Gina; Guedes, F. B.; Cerqueira, Ana; Noronha, Catarina; de Freitas, Joaquim Castro; Freire, Teresa; Matos, M. G.Abstract: The present research is based on a large and representative national survey and intends to analyse the correlation of several leisure activities with risk, and with health and well-being outcomes. This work is part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, a collaborative WHO international study that aims to explore the school-aged children behaviour regarding health and risk behaviours in their life contexts. Participants were 8215 Portuguese adolescents, randomly chosen from those attending the 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades in 2018. The sample included 52.7% of girls and the mean age was 14.36 years old. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed (ANOVAS and Chi-Square). The results of the present study suggested that several leisure activities, namely sports and social engagement activities (politic involvement and participation, religious activities, scouting and volunteer work), are associated with the adolescents’ well-being and life satisfaction. However, these types of activities can also be associated with an increase in substance use. However, some activities are also associated with risky behaviour. Identifying activities that promote well-being in young people can be important for professionals, families and public policies.
- Psychosocial factors and quality of life of portuguese adolescents with chronic conditions – Increased risk for victims of bullyingPublication . Cerqueira, Ana; Guedes, F. B.; Gaapar, Tania; Godeau, Emmanuelle; Simões, Celeste; Matos, M. G.The experience of living with a chronic condition (CC) impacts adolescents’ psychological and social adjustment and overall functioning. Considering the increased risk of psychosocial challenges among adolescents with CC, this study aimed to enhance our understanding of the psychological and social factors that impact their quality of life. It also compared the psychological and social variables among (a) adolescents with and without CC and (b) adolescents with CC who are and who are not victims of bullying. The results demonstrated that adolescents with CC showed more psychosocial difficulties than their peers, as they more frequently reported involvement in situations of violence, and demonstrated more difficulties at a psychological and emotional level. Further, being victims of bullying increased the psychosocial vulnerabilities of these adolescents. A better quality of life was associated with the following psychosocial factors: not being a victim of bullying or cyberbullying, having less anxiety and fewer depressive symptoms, liking school, receiving more support from family and friends, having better relationships with peers, and having fewer physical and psychological symptoms. These findings are significant for helping schools develop tools and strategies to address violence and support students with CC, who are at a higher risk of being involved in such situations and require a targeted response.
- Quality of life and well-being of adolescents in portuguese schoolsPublication . Guedes, F. B.; Cerqueira, Ana; Gaspar, Susana; Gaspar, Tania; Moreno, Carmen; de Matos, Margarida GasparThe quality of the school environment is associated with greater school involvement and academic success and improved levels of well-being/quality of life. In this sense, this study intends to explore the relationship between the quality of life of Portuguese adolescents and school. 8215 adolescents participated in this study, 52.7% of which were female, aged between 10 and 22 years and an average age of 14.36 years (SD=2.28). The sample was collected as part of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. The results show that girls like school, teachers, school breaks (between classes) and classes more than boys and present less concerns/difficulties with school. Compared to boys, they report more pressure with the schoolwork and a better perception of safety at school. On the other hand, boys have a better relationship with their peers and teachers, miss more classes on purpose and report a higher perception of quality of life. An above-average QoL is statistically and significantly related with liking school, peers, teachers, school breaks (between classes) and classes. It is also related with feeling less pressure with the schoolwork, a better perception of school success and of safety in the school environment. Additionally, having an above-average QoL is statistically significantly associated with having a better relationship with peers and teachers and less concerns/difficulties with school. This is an important message for the reorganization of schools in terms of their practices and curricula. The need to develop strategies to promote greater identification of students with school is reinforced.
- Shedding Light on the lifestyle and participation of portuguese adolescents with chronic conditions—Data from the HBSC 2018 StudyPublication . Cerqueira, Ana; Guedes, F. B.; Gaspar, Tania; Godeau, Emmanuelle; Matos, MGVariables associated with lifestyle can constitute either risk or protective factors for the development and progression of chronic conditions (CC). This study intends to explore the differences between adolescents with and without CC and between adolescents whose school participation is affected/not affected by the existing CC with regard to variables related to lifestyle (i.e., sleep, physical activity, BMI, and leisure). In addition, it also intends to analyze the influence of these variables (i.e., CC and lifestyle) regarding the adolescents’ quality of life (QoL). This work is part of the Portuguese HBSC 2018 study. A total of 8215 adolescents participated (52.7% female), with an average age of 14.36 years (SD = 2.28). The results showed that the adolescents with CC and whose school attendance and participation are affected by their CC exhibit more sleep difficulties (i.e., they experience lower sleep quality and have a higher degree of sleepiness), higher BMI levels (i.e., higher values of overweight and obesity), less participation in leisure activities, and a lower perception of QoL. A higher perception of QoL is associated with school participation unaffected by the existing CC, sleeping well, a low level of sleepiness, a more frequent practice of physical activity, a lower BMI, and a greater involvement in leisure activities. Adolescent health and well-being are a prominent issue in terms of public policies, with behavior and lifestyle playing a significant role in this domain. This message needs to be reinforced in regard to families, educators, healthcare professionals, and public sector policies, particularly concerning students with CC.
- School and family ecosystem: Incentives and barriers to school–family communicationPublication . Guedes, F. B.; Cerqueira, Ana; Marques-Pinto, A.; Branco, Amélia; Galvão, Cecília; Sousa, Joana; LF, Goulao; Bronze, MR; Viegas, Wanda; Gaspar, Tania; Moreno, Carmen; Matos, M. G.The aim of the study was to explore the factors and barriers related to the incentive and opportunity of school–family communication. This work is part of the HOUSE-Colégio F3 Project, ULisbon, which included 1,143 first-year university students from the University of Lisbon, with average age of 19.61 ± 3.96 years. The young people who had better communication with their parents, greater family support and better family relationship were the ones who reported greater incentives for school–family communication. School–family communication and relationship were associated with the incentives for school–family communication and greater parental monitoring. These results align with the literature stating that parents' communication and presence in all areas of young people's lives, including the school context, foster better social and family relationships and academic results. This result should not be read as a call for non-autonomy. Instead, it highlights that monitoring and supporting family presence promotes that autonomy
- 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.
- Healthy Social Network Use and Well-Being during Adolescence: A Biopsychosocial ApproachPublication . Gaspar, Tania; Carvalho, Marina; Noronha, Catarina; Guedes, F. B.; Cerqueira, Ana; Matos, M. G.ABSTRACT: Screen time and the use of social networks is the most frequent form of leisure time occupation and socializing for adolescents. The present study is aimed at understanding and characterizing, from an ecological perspective, what distinguishes healthy and less healthy or even dependent use of social media in young people and the influence on adolescents’ well-being. This paper is based on the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) from 2022, a survey carried out every 4 years, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), following an international protocol. A total of 7643 students from the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th school grades responded, of which 53.9% were female, with an average age of 15.05 (SD = 2.36). The sample is representative of the school grades under study. The results allow us to study and identify similarities and differences between three groups related to the level of healthiness in the use of social networks and its relations to well-being from an ecological perspective. What distinguishes adolescents with less healthy use of social networks is that they are more often female, older, have more self-injurious behaviour, higher alcohol consumption, and a worse relationship with teachers. The adolescents with the highest level of dependence on social networks are those who have a higher perception of lack of safety at school and in their area of residence, as well as a higher use of screen time as a leisure activity. The well-being of adolescents using social media in a healthy way is explained by fewer psychological symptoms, better stress management strategies, better body awareness, more physical activity, less time online with friends, and better relationships with family and teachers. Technologies and social networks are important for the well-being of adolescents; it is essential to promote a healthy, critical and balanced use with other “screen-free” activities and to promote socio-emotional skills, a lack of which seems to be one of the biggest risk factors associated with the healthy use of technologies.
- COVID-19, wellness and life satisfaction in adolescence: Individual and contextual issuesPublication . Matos, MG; Carvalho, Marina; Branquinho, Cátia; Noronha, Catarina; Moraes, Bárbara; Gaspar, Tania; Guedes, F. B.; Cerqueira, Ana; Santos, Osvaldo; Neto Rodrigues, NunoDuring and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, several works reflected on young people’s physical and psychological health. The Dual Factor Model, which we refer to as the quadripartite model, is useful for understanding children’s and adolescents’ psychological health and differentiating them regarding their attitude toward the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this investigation, students from the fifth to twelfth year of schooling enrolled in the DGEEC study “Psychological Health and Wellbeing in Portuguese schools” were considered. Four groups were created based on life satisfaction (low or high) and psychological distress (with or without symptoms). The study included 4444 students (M = 13.39 years ± 2.41), of whom 47.8% were male. Of the participants, 27.2% were in the second cycle of primary education, and 72.8% were in lower and upper secondary education. Differences in gender and education level (as a proxy for age) were observed. Additionally, when considering students’ perceptions of changes in their lives following the COVID-19 pandemic (stayed the same, became worse, became better), these three groups were compared concerning personal and contextual variables, revealing significant differences at both the individual and contextual levels. Finally, the study discusses the influence of education and health professionals and the need for friendly public policies.
- Family environment and portuguese adolescents: Impact on quality of life and well-beingPublication . Guedes, F. B.; Cerqueira, Ana; Gaspar, Susana; Gaspar, Tania; Moreno, Carmen; Matos, M. G.Background: A healthy and supportive family environment leads to more positive results regarding adolescents’ development. The main objective of this study was to explore and analyze the relationship between adolescents’ quality of life (QoL) and their family environment/relationship. Method: The sample was collected as part of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children 2018 study, which included 8215 adolescents, 52.7% female, with a mean age of 14.36 years (SD = 2.28). Results: Girls are more involved in family activities (such as family meals), report being treated with fairness by their parents and feel less parental pressure to get good grades. Boys have a higher perception regarding their family affluence, better family relationships and support and better QoL. Having an above-average QoL is significantly related to high family affluence, better communication with both parents, greater involvement in family activities, greater perception of help from parents regarding decision-making, greater perception of being treated with fairness by parents and less pressure from parents to get good grades, as well as a better family relationship/support. Conclusion: It is important to determine the impact that parental divorce/separation or a weak parent–child relationship can have on adolescents. It is also necessary to consider the family relationship and structure when devising strategies and public policies related to the promotion of adolescents’ health and well-being.
- Health literacy and medication health literacy in adolescents: Highlights from HBSC/WHOPublication . Gaspar, Susana; Guedes, F. B.; Cerqueira, Ana; Gaspar, Tania; Machado, Maria do Céu Soares; de Matos, Margarida GasparHealth literacy (HL) is an essential health determinant thatcould encourage the adoption of individual and commu-nity protective behaviours that contribute to public health.This study aims to analyse the associations between HLand medication HL (MHL) in 4015 adolescents from theHealth Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC/WHO).Data were collected from the HBSC/WHO questionnaire.Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multinomiallogistic regression were performed. 62.4% of participantshave a moderate level of HL and 29.1% have a high levelof HL. The youngest boys, and those who have a low levelof MHL in the different dimensions presented (expirationdate, recycling, side effects, illegal sale and safety), havea low level of HL. The oldest girls have a moderate levelof HL. Also, girls with a high level of MHL, reported a highlevel of HL. MHL, namely, the expiration date, recycling,side effects and safety dimensions in adolescents is signifi-cantly related to and positively associated with HL. The re-sults will enable us to highlight to family professionals andpublic policies the importance of HL and MHL promotionin adolescents.