Search

Although emerging adults (i.e., individuals aged 18-29 years old) may be at a lesser risk of COVID-19 severe illness and mortality, studies have found that the negative impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being is higher among emerging adults when compared to other age groups. The current study aimed to identify profile(s) based on resilience resources, which could help emerging adults in managing the disruptions to their lives following the pandemic. A cross-national sample of 1,768 emerging adults from China, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, and the US was utilized to identify profiles based on different resilience dimensions (ego-resiliency, positivity, religiosity, socioeconomic status, family support, peer support). Results of the Latent Profile Analysis suggest the presence of four different profiles: no resources, only peer, only family, and well-equipped. The association of these profiles with demographic variables, adulthood markers, self-perceived COVID-19 impact, present well-being, and future life perception was investigated. Implications for resilience theory as well as for future interventions are discussed.The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03658-y.

Macroeconomic crises occur cyclically, entailing devastating social consequences for individuals and families. Previous research addressing families' responses to socioeconomic upheavals has been mainly conducted with couples with young or adolescent children. Less research attention has been given to middle-aged couples with emerging adult children who might be struggling to support their offspring's transition to adulthood emotionally and financially. The present study examines the impact of economic stressors on family and individual functioning reported by couples with emerging adult children in Portugal. Using a sample of 317 heterosexual middle-aged couples, structural equation models were built to assess the links between economic hardship, economic pressure, and family functioning and psychological well-being. Following an actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) approach, both actor and partner effects were tested. The results showed that greater economic hardship was indirectly linked with (a) poor family functioning as reported by men and women, via the economic pressure felt by men, revealing an actor and a partner effect and (b) poor psychological well-being via each partner's own feeling of economic pressure, revealing only actor effects. Findings also indicated that economic stress processes may operate differently across socioeconomic status (SES) groups, with men from low/medium-low SES reporting a more pronounced association between economic pressure and family functioning. This study added support to previous literature on the adverse impact of economic stressors on family and individual functioning, extending family economic stress research to the Portuguese cultural setting and to an understudied stage of the family life cycle. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The aim of present study was to develop the Portuguese version of the Silent Interparental Conflict Scale (SICS). This research examined the psychometric properties of this scale that evaluates marker characteristics of silent conflict and its perceived costs and benefits for individuals in a relationship. Participants were 173 individuals in a relationship who filled out the following measures: SICS, Family Environment Scale, Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale and Brief Symptom Inventory. We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis to test the SICS factorial structure and computed correlations between its scores and those of other relevant constructs to contribute to this scale’s construct validity. The confirmatory factor analysis revealed an acceptable fit for the three-factor structure (marker, costs, and benefits of silent interparental conflict). The total score of SICS demonstrated very good internal consistency (αs > .80) and it was negatively correlated with scores of family cohesion, expressiveness, and marital satisfaction; conversely, it was positively correlated with scores of family conflict and psychological symptoms. Results support the use the SICS in Portuguese contexts. Silent conflict is a construct readily recognized, and this self-report questionnaire proved to be a valid instrument to assess this form of conflict between members of a couple.

The term parental alienation refers to the negative influence of one parent over a child’s perception of the other parent (targeted parent). The aim of this research was to gain further understanding of targeted parents’ experience of parental alienation from their own perspectives. For this qualitative study, a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight participants aged between 33 and 51 years was conducted. The data from individual semi-structured interviews enabled the identification of four main themes: perception of personal impact, coping strategies, family relationships and support network. Parents identified a serious impairment of their physical and emotional well-being and mainly identified emotion-focused coping strategies to deal with this adverse ongoing situation. Furthermore, they reported changes in key relationships, with emphasis on difficulties in family and social contexts. The contribution of the findings to research and interventions with parents and families experiencing parental alienation are discussed.

Childhood cancer is a traumatic experience for survivors and their families. The experience of this disease affects survivors' and families' quality of life, even years after it occurs. The purpose of the present study was to assess if the caregivers' posttraumatic stress symptoms mediated the associations between survivors' posttraumatic stress symptoms and caregivers' quality of life, in a sample of 46 dyads of caregivers and childhood cancer survivors. Survivors and caregivers completed the PCL-5, and caregivers completed the WHOQOL-bref. Results showed that survivors' and caregivers' posttraumatic stress symptoms scores and caregivers' quality of life were associated. The caregivers' posttraumatic stress symptoms mediated the relationship between survivors' posttraumatic stress symptoms and caregivers' quality of life. Knowing posttraumatic stress symptoms direct and indirect effects on caregivers' quality of life contributes to understand their experience and to develop intervention strategies with this population.

The main aim of the present study was to examine the psychological adaptation and beliefs of parents who identified themselves as experiencing a situation of parental alienation (targeted parents). Firstly, we compared psychological adaptation (depression, satisfaction with life) and belief in an unjust world in targeted parents and parents from the community. Secondly, we examined the associations between individual (depression, belief in an unjust world) and family (child behavior related to parental alienation, other parent’s alienating behavior and triangulation) factors and satisfaction with life in targeted parents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with two sub-samples (N = 106) who completed self-report questionnaires assessing depression symptoms, belief in an unjust world, and satisfaction with life. Targeted parents additionally reported on parental alienation and triangulation measures. Results showed that targeted parents presented higher scores of depression symptoms and of beliefs in an unjust world and lower scores in satisfaction with life, compared to parents in the community. Standard multiple regression analysis showed a significant contribution of depression, belief in an unjust world and child behavior related to parental alienation for the satisfaction with life of targeted parents. The findings provide an important contribution to characterize targeted parents’ psychological adaptation and beliefs, and to identify correlates of poorer satisfaction with life in the adverse context of parental alienation.

Objetivo O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Escala do Medo da Felicidade. Este conceito é definido como o medo que tem subjacente a crença de que a felicidade traz consequências negativas. Método Os participantes foram 323 estudantes universitários entre os 18 e os 54 anos de idade cujos dados foram recolhidos presencialmente (n = 118) e online (n = 205). Resultados Os resultados da análise paralela e das análises fatoriais exploratória e confirmatória confirmaram a estrutura unidimensional da escala que demonstrou uma boa consistência interna. O medo da felicidade apresentou uma correlação negativa moderada com a satisfação com a vida, o afeto positivo e a esperança e uma correlação também moderada mas positiva com o afeto negativo. Através de uma análise de regressão linear hierárquica verificou-se que o medo da felicidade, controlando variáveis sociodemográficas e psicossociais, estava negativamente associado à satisfação com a vida. Conclusão A versão portuguesa da Escala do Medo da Felicidade apresentou boas qualidades psicométricas. A disponibilização deste instrumento permitirá contribuir para os estudos sobre a felicidade, especificamente, como é que pode ser experienciada de uma forma negativa e, por vezes, evitada.

Thinking about the future is paramount in emerging adulthood. The present study examines the role of economic strain during macroeconomic hard times and family functioning on emerging adults’ domain-specific future hopes and fears and their links with psychological well-being. Participating were 418 Portuguese emerging adults aged 18–30, mean ( M) = 22.4; standard deviation ( SD) = 2.8. Results from path analysis showed that greater economic strain was associated with a higher number of financial resources–related hopes and fears, positive levels of family functioning were associated with a higher number of work/career-related hopes and fears, and a higher number of property-related hopes were associated with a greater psychological well-being. Multigroup analyses indicated that these associations were moderated by living arrangements but not by participants’ sex, age, occupational status, and socioeconomic status. In sum, this study shed light on emerging adults’ lives during times of financial instability in Portugal.

The purpose of this study was to examine the direct and indirect links between the perception of family-centered care (FCC) and psychological well-being via the perceived self-efficacy of parents of children with cancer. This study also sought to identify the potential moderators of these links (treatment status and patient age). This cross-sectional study was conducted at the pediatric oncology wards of two Portuguese public hospitals. The consecutive sample comprised 251 parents (87.6% mothers) of children/adolescents (8−20 years old) diagnosed with cancer. Participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring their perception of family-centered care (family-centered services and providing general information), perceived self-efficacy (regarding healthcare and parenting role) and psychological wellbeing. Results from the Structural Equation Modeling suggested that parents’ perception of FCC was indirectly, but not directly, linked to psychological well-being via perceived self-efficacy. Multi-group analyses suggested that this mediation model was valid across treatment status (on vs. off-treatment) and patient age groups (children vs. adolescents). These findings highlighted that, through the implementation of FCC, healthcare professionals may promote parents’ perceived self-efficacy and, consequently, their psychological well-being. Results also suggest that FCC may equally operate on parents’ psychosocial functioning, regardless of treatment status or patient age. Overall, our findings reinforced the benefits of FCC practices in pediatric oncology wards.

The present research examined the association of perceived impact of COVID-19 on emerging adults’ perceptions of their future and the potential mediating role of intolerance of uncertainty on these associations. Specifically, we investigated the associations of perceived financial impact, needed resource impact, and psychological impact on perceptions of future life and financial future. Using online survey data from emerging adults ( N = 1768) living in six countries (China, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, and USA), we found that the perceived dimension of impact (i.e., finances, needed resources, and psychological) was negatively associated with perceptions of future life and financial future, despite mean level differences by country. The ability to tolerate uncertainty was a significant mediator only for psychological impact. We conclude the article with suggestions for applying our findings in the design of future interventions.

The percentage of missing data among economic-related items is likely to be particularly high. This study aimed at examining the amount, mechanisms, and variables associated with missingness of different family members participating in a family economic stress study. Portuguese emerging adults (N = 418) and their parents (N = 748) were required to answer objective and subjective economic items and complete measures assessing individual and family psychological functioning. Results showed that, for all participants, non-response was more likely to occur among objective economic items than among subjective ones. Children presented higher percentages of item/construct-level missingness than parents, which could reflect a reduced financial awareness on the part of these family members. Although the identification of mechanisms explaining missing data proved to be complex, family members’ missingness was associated with sociodemographic and psychological indicators, suggesting that non-answers do not occur purely by chance. Implications of these findings for further family economic stress research are discussed.

Acompanhando a situação de crise humanitária da Venezuela e verificando que esta está longe de acabar e a violação de direitos humanos só aumenta, e consequentemente os venezuelanos permanecem sem perspectiva de trabalho, comida, saúde, os deslocados para o Brasil e demais países fronteiriços aumentou demasiadamente, causando transtornos sociais, políticos e econômicos nos países acolhedores. Na França também vemos o aumento de imigrantes aumentar desde 2015, tendo em vista a Guerra da Síria e outros conflitos africanos, sendo aquele um problema ainda não resolvido por vários países europeus e pela União Européia, propiciando a elaboração de políticas públicas a fim de mitigar o problema. Assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo comparar as legislações, sistemas jurídicos e demais políticas públicas de imigração entre 2015 e 2018 no Brasil e na França. O objetivo do presente trabalho é identificar as políticas públicas implementadas pelo Brasil e pela França e entender suas causas e consequências, através de uma pesquisa qualitativa e bibliográfica, análise dogmática a fim de verificar se essas alterações legislativas e políticas públicas têm respeitado os Direitos Humanos.

This study aimed to describe parents’ preferences regarding their role in treatment decision-making when a child has cancer and examines whether their preferences were related to parents sociodemographic characteristics (sex and education level), patients’ characteristics (age group and treatment status), and healthcare context features (parents’ perception of family-centered care). Two hundred and twenty-eight parents of children/adolescents with cancer were recruited from two Portuguese pediatric oncology wards. Participants provided sociodemographic and clinical information. The Control Preferences Scale for Pediatrics was used to assess the parents’ preferred role in treatment decision-making. The Measure of Process of Care assessed the parents’ perception of family-centered care (family-centered services and providing general information subscales). Results showed that parents preferred a passive-collaborative role (45.2%), followed by collaborative (27.2%), passive (21.0%), and active-collaborative (6.6%). None preferred an active role. Chi-square test showed that the group of parents preferring a passive role had a lower proportion of more-educated parents, compared to those preferring active-collaborative or collaborative roles. Additionally, groups did not proportionally differ according to the parents’ sex, patients’ age, and treatment status. A multivariate analysis of variance showed that parents preferring an active-collaborative role reported lower mean scores on family-centered services compared to those preferring passive-collaborative and passive roles. Finally, no significant differences were found concerning providing general information. This study’s findings may guide professionals in identifying parents’ preferences regarding their participation in treatment decision-making process. Mapping their preferences may support professionals in promoting desirable levels of parental involvement in decisions in pediatric oncology context.

Children and adolescents living in residential childcare have a higher prevalence of mental health problems as a result of a history of adverse childhood experiences. Therefore, this population should be a priority target for mental health preventive interventions. The current study analyses the effectiveness of the Wave by Wave surf therapy program, that combines surfing with a psychological group intervention, through a randomized controlled trial. Seventy-three youth (7-17 years) living in residential care participated in the study. Main mental health outcomes (adjustment problems, depression, anxiety, and wellbeing) and secondary outcomes (self-efficacy, self-regulation, sleep quality, physical activity, pro-social behavior, and social connectivity) were assessed at pre- and post-intervention. The results indicated a significant impact of the intervention on mental health outcomes reported by the key residential worker, with medium to large effect sizes. Specifically, after the intervention, there was a significant reduction in the total emotional and behavioural problems, and a significant increase of youth pro-social behaviour and quality of life that was not observed for the waiting list group. There were no significant effects on other measures reported by the children (e.g., depression and anxiety, self-esteem, emotion regulation, social connectedness, sleep quality, physical activity) and on executive functions measures. The Wave by Wave program seems to be an effective intervention to reduce behavior problems and to promote pro-social behavior in a high-risk sample. The absence of significant effects on other dimensions may indicate the need of some complementary support to address specific difficulties of this population. Efectividad de una intervención preventiva psicológica y de surf combinada con niños y adolescentes en cuidado residencial: Un ensayo controlado aleatorizado. Los niños y adolescentes que viven en acogimiento residencial tienen una mayor prevalencia de problemas de salud mental. Por lo tanto, esta población debe ser un objetivo prioritario para las intervenciones preventivas de salud mental. El estudio actual analiza la efectividad del programa Wave by Wave, que combina el surf con una intervención psicológica grupal, a través de un ensayo controlado aleatorio. Setenta y tres jóvenes (7-17 años) que viven en acogimiento residencial participaron en el estudio. Los principales resultados de salud mental (problemas de ajuste, depresión, ansiedad y bienestar) y los resultados secundarios (autoeficacia, autorregulación, calidad del sueño, actividad física, comportamiento prosocial y conectividad social) se evaluaron antes y después de intervención. Los resultados indicaron un impacto significativo de la intervención sobre los resultados de salud mental reportados por el cuidador en la residencia. Específicamente, después de la intervención, hubo una reducción significativa en los problemas emocionales y conductuales totales, y un aumento significativo del comportamiento prosocial de los jóvenes y de la calidad de vida que no se observó en el grupo control. No hubo efectos significativos en otras medidas reportadas por los niños (ex., depresión y ansiedad, autoestima) y en las medidas de las funciones ejecutivas. El programa Wave by Wave parece ser una intervención efectiva para reducir los problemas de comportamiento y promover el comportamiento prosocial en una muestra de alto riesgo. La ausencia de efectos significativos en otras dimensiones puede indicar la necesidad de algún apoyo complementario para abordar las dificultades específicas de esta población..

Nowadays, emerging adults live in a context of macroeconomic uncertainty. As the major processes of one’s identity exploration currently occur in emerging adulthood, understanding how these individuals foresee their future is of special interest. The purpose of this study was 2-fold: (i) to investigate future orientation (FO) in a sample of Portuguese emerging adults and (ii) to validate the Portuguese version of the Hopes and Fears Questionnaire. Data from 332 individuals were analyzed. Results demonstrated that participants’ future hopes and fears were mainly pertaining to education, work/career, and family/marriage. Participants also reported concerns related to their financial resources. Thus, the results showed that participants’ FO reflected major tasks associated with their development stage, as well as contextual factors, such as macroeconomic trends. This study contributed to the knowledge of emerging adulthood in Portugal, simultaneously providing a useful and reliable measure to evaluate emerging adults’ FO in that country.

Objetivo O desaparecimento de uma criança pode ser caracterizado por uma perda ambígua em que a criança está ausente fisicamente mas presente psicologicamente. No contexto da literatura atual não é ainda claro como é que indivíduos e famílias se adaptam a este evento adverso, verificando-se um escasso investimento na investigação sobre este tema. Deste modo, realizou-se uma revisão sistemática com o objetivo de identificar as áreas sobre as quais incidem os estudos existentes sobre crianças desaparecidas, com maior foco na compreensão da sua vivência e impacto na família. Método No presente estudo realizou-se uma revisão sistemática dos estudos empíricos relacionados com a temática do desaparecimento de uma criança. Resultados Foram incluídos na revisão 37 estudos analisados a partir de uma análise qualitativa, surgindo quatro temáticas: programas de prevenção de rapto; características do desaparecimento; implicações no reconhecimento de pessoas desaparecidas; impacto psicossocial do desaparecimento. Conclusão A revisão permitiu concluir que a investigação sobre crianças desaparecidas é escassa e apresenta uma grande dispersão de temas. Verificou-se a necessidade de examinar as características e o impacto dos diversos tipos de desaparecimento. A intensidade deste fenómeno não normativo justifica a necessidade de investigações que possam informar práticas de prevenção e de intervenção empiricamente sustentadas.

Pathogens represent a significant threat to human health leading to the emergence of strategies designed to help manage their negative impact. We examined how spiritual beliefs developed to explain and predict the devastating effects of pathogens and spread of infectious disease. Analysis of existing data in studies 1 and 2 suggests that moral vitalism (beliefs about spiritual forces of evil) is higher in geographical regions characterized by historical higher levels of pathogens. Furthermore, drawing on a sample of 3140 participants from 28 countries in study 3, we found that historical higher levels of pathogens were associated with stronger endorsement of moral vitalistic beliefs. Furthermore, endorsement of moral vitalistic beliefs statistically mediated the previously reported relationship between pathogen prevalence and conservative ideologies, suggesting these beliefs reinforce behavioural strategies which function to prevent infection. We conclude that moral vitalism may be adaptive: by emphasizing concerns over contagion, it provided an explanatory model that enabled human groups to reduce rates of contagious disease. WOS:000504858100004 2-s2.0-85074290879 PMID: 31662082 Science Citation Index Expanded - Social Sciences Citation Index Q1 Article Uluslararası işbirliği ile yapılan - EVET Kasım 2019 YÖK - 2019-20

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of individual (positive reappraisal) and family factors (parenting satisfaction, couple relationship quality, and family life difficulty) to the psychological well-being (PWB) of parents of children/adolescents diagnosed with cancer. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at two pediatric oncology wards in Portugal. Two-hundred and five parents of pediatric patients with cancer completed self-report questionnaires assessing the use of positive reappraisal as a coping strategy, parenting satisfaction, relationship quality, family life difficulty, and PWB. Sociodemographic and clinical data were also assessed. Results Standard multiple regression analysis showed a significant contribution of both individual- and family-level factors to parents' PWB. Specifically, the use of positive reappraisal as a coping strategy, parenting satisfaction, and relationship quality were associated with higher PWB; conversely, family life difficulty was linked to lower PWB. Sociodemographic (child's age and family's socioeconomic status) and clinical variables (time since diagnosis and treatment status) were not associated with PWB. Conclusions The present study identified potential resources for parents' adaptation to this stressful situation, contributing with insightful conclusions for both research and clinical practice. Screening and addressing both individual- and family-level aspects may be crucial to foster parents' well-being when a child is diagnosed with cancer.

The current study aims to describe the relationships between emerging adults and their families and how these evolve over emerging adult years. Through a systematic review of the literature, we extracted data from 38 empirical studies, which met the following inclusion criteria: published since 2000, included emerging adults and/or their relatives as participants, and focused on family relationships. The results showed that most studies examined the parent-child relationship, providing insight into the relational renegotiations occurring during emerging adulthood and into inter-generational discrepancies in the way that parents and children viewed their relationships. Family support was also found to be of substantial relevance during this developmental stage. In addition, sex, age, living arrangements, family structure, socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity and cultural contexts emerged as key factors influencing family relationships in varied ways. Implications for future research include the need to consider the family as the unit of analysis and to collect data from multiple family members; to conduct longitudinal studies in order to better understand changes in family relationships across emerging adulthood; and to focus on family relationships beyond the parent-child dyads, namely on sibling and grandparent-grandchildren relationships. In conclusion, this review provided a renewed perspective on family relationships during the transition to adulthood, contributing to clinical insights on individual and familial shifts in the fast-paced and complex contemporary context.

Aim: The Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM) is a measure for assessing individual differences in social comparison orientation. Despite the relevance of social comparison orientation in understanding adult patients' adjustment responses to chronic health conditions, the impact of parental social comparison processes in the context of chronic pediatric conditions remains unexplored. This study’s main goal was to examine the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the INCOM with parents of children with chronic health conditions. Method: Two samples of parents of children with chronic pediatric conditions (asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and obesity) were used (test sample, N = 301; validation sample, N = 192). Parents completed self-reported measures of social comparison orientation, anxiety and depression symptoms and neuroticism. Results: Regarding factorial validity, results supported the unidimensionality of a revised INCOM scale, comprised of nine items. Results also supported the reliability of the measure, and provided evidence of concurrent validity: parents with higher social comparison orientation presented more anxiety and depressive symptoms, and higher neuroticism scores, consistent with what was theoretically expected. Conclusion: This study opens an important door in the field of pediatric chronic conditions, supporting the relevance of examining parents’ social comparison differences in future research, and the utility of the INCOM in the assessment of those differences. Objetivo: O Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM) é uma medida para avaliar as diferenças individuais na orientação para a comparação social. Na compreensão do ajustamento psicossocial de doentes adultos com condições crónicas de saúde, os processos de comparação social tem-se relevado importantes determinantes. Permanece por explorar a importância destes processos no contexto das condições crónicas pediátricas. O principal objetivo deste estudo consiste em analisar as propriedades psicométricas da versão Portuguesa do INCOM com pais de crianças com condições crónicas de saúde. Método: Foram utilizadas duas amostra de pais de crianças com condições crónicas pediátricas (asma, diabetes, epilepsia e obesidade) (amostra teste, N = 301; amostra de validação, N = 192). Os pais preencheram questionários de comparação social, neuroticismo e sintomatologia ansiosa e depressiva. Resultados: Os resultados apoiam a unidimensionalidade da versão revista da INCOM, composta por 9 itens, a fiabilidade da escala, e a respetiva validade concorrente: pais com níveis superiores de comparação social evidenciam maior sintomatologia ansiosa e depressiva, e níveis superiores de neuroticismo, consistente com o esperado teoricamente. Conclusão: Este estudo abre oportunidades de investigação futura ao atestar a relevância de examinar as diferenças na orientação para a comparação social entre os pais de crianças com condições crónicas pediátricas, e a utilidade da INCOM na avaliação dessas diferenças Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCT info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

ObjetivoEste estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar as perceções parentais dos Cuidados Centrados na Família (CCF) em função de fatores sociodemográficos e clínicos no contexto da oncologia pediátrica em Portugal.MétodoParticiparam neste estudo 204 cuidadores de crianças com cancro acompanhadas em duas unidades de oncologia pediátrica. Os participantes forneceram dados sociodemográficos e preencheram a Medida dos Processos de Cuidados (MPOC-20), composta por duas subescalas: Serviços e Informação Geral. Os médicos oncologistas pediátricos facultaram informação clínica.ResultadosA idade de crianças e pais estava positivamente associada às perceções parentais dos CCF (Serviços e Informação Geral) como mais centrados na família. Análises multivariadas da variância revelaram que pais de crianças (vs. adolescentes), pais que concluíram o ensino superior (vs. escolaridade igual/inferior ao 12º ano) e pais de crianças em tratamento antineoplásico (vs. fora de tratamento) percecionaram os cuidados como menos centrados na família (Serviços e Informação Geral). Não se verificaram diferenças em função do tempo desde o diagnóstico, do número de internamentos e da intensidade do tratamento.ConclusãoOs resultados sugerem que os pais mais novos que concluíram o ensino superior, pais de crianças mais novas e a receber tratamento, poderão constituir grupos em maior risco de percecionar os cuidados de saúde como menos centrados na família.

The financial burden of childhood cancer may contribute to the distress that parents experience during and after treatment. Inconsistent relationships between financial burden and parental psychological distress highlight the need to identify psychosocial factors that may moderate this relationship. In this study, we aimed to determine if family ritual meaning moderates the relationship between financial burden and anxiety and depression symptoms among mothers of children with cancer. Portuguese mothers of children with cancer on-treatment and off-treatment (N = 244) completed measures of financial burden, anxiety and depression symptoms, and family ritual meaning. Moderating effects were tested using hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Family ritual meaning buffered the effect of financial burden on anxiety, but not on depression symptoms. The relationship between financial burden and anxiety symptoms was not significant when mothers endorsed higher levels of family ritual meaning. Although preliminary, the current findings suggest that high levels of perceived family ritual meaning may constitute a protective factor against the effect of financial burden on mothers' anxiety symptoms. Promoting family ritual meaning might be an effective approach to reducing anxiety symptoms of mothers of children with cancer in the context of financial burden. (PsycINFO Database Record

The present study is a systematic review of empirical literature from the last 35 years on families' responses to economic distress in the context of macroeconomic crises. Thirty-nine studies published between 1983 and 2015 in 12 countries were identified, resulting in 3 main findings. First, economic distress was associated with negative changes in family dynamics, specifically couple relationships and parenting. Second, protective factors were found to buffer the adverse effects of economic distress on family and individual outcomes. Third, the results suggest that individual responses to macroeconomic crises may be moderated by sex. Implications for future research encompass using validated assessment instruments, including participants beyond 2-parent families with adolescent children and conducting both longitudinal and qualitative studies that focus on the processes and meanings of adaptation within this risk context. Conclusions highlighted the need to assist families dealing with macroeconomic crises' demands, encouraging the development and validation of macrosystemic intervention programs. (PsycINFO Database Record

The quality of family functioning has been considered an important predictor of adaptation in children with chronic conditions and their parents. Previous research suggests that beyond general family functioning, the specific experience of the family’s condition management is paramount for understanding family members’ adaptation. This study’s first goal was to compare family functioning and parents’ and children’s adaptation outcomes across four chronic conditions: asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and obesity. Secondly, we explored the mediating role of family life difficulties and parental mutuality, as two potential paths through which family cohesion is linked to family members’ adaptation. A total of 263 parents of children (3–19 years old) with asthma (n = 77), obesity (n = 79), epilepsy (n = 52) and diabetes (n = 55) completed self-report measures of family cohesion, family life difficulty, parental mutuality, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and their children’s health-related quality of life (HrQoL). The results showed that families of children with diabetes, obesity, and epilepsy were at higher risk of experiencing family difficulties and children’s deteriorated HrQoL when compared to families of children with asthma. With regard to the links among study variables, although family cohesion had both a direct and indirect relationship with parental depressive symptoms, its links with parental anxiety symptoms and children’s HrQoL were only indirect, through family life difficulty. These associations were consistent across the four clinical groups. These findings emphasize the relevance of family-centered interventions aimed at promoting family cohesion, parents’ mutuality, and effective coping with the demands of pediatric chronic conditions.

INTRODUCTION Family-centered care (FCC) is a health-care delivery approach endorsing the support and participation of families. To date, little research has addressed the associations between FCC and adaptation outcomes specifically in the context of pediatric cancer. The main objective of this research was to identify the direct and indirect associations, through caregiving burden, between parents' FCC and quality of life (QoL) and life satisfaction. METHOD Participants were 204 parents of children diagnosed with cancer. Parents answered the Measure of Processes of Care questionnaire to evaluate their perceptions of FCC in 2 domains: family-centered services and provision of general information. Perceptions of caregiving burden (Revised Burden Measure), QoL (EUROHIS-QoL-8), and life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life Scale) were also assessed. Pediatric oncologists provided information on the child's diagnosis and treatment status. RESULTS Findings showed that when parents perceived their children's health care as more family-centered, they also reported lower caregiving burden. Family-centered services were indirectly linked to QoL and life satisfaction through caregiving burden. DISCUSSION This research suggests that the way parents perceive formal care, namely as being more or less family-centered, may influence the burden they experience as caregivers of a child with cancer and, indirectly, their adaptation. These findings highlight the relevance of gaining greater understanding of the interaction between the family and the health-care systems in the context of pediatric cancer.

Moral vitalism refers to a tendency to view good and evil as actual forces that can influence people and events. The Moral Vitalism Scale had been designed to assess moral vitalism in a brief survey form. Previous studies established the reliability and validity of the scale in US-American and Australian samples. In this study, the cross-cultural comparability of the scale was tested across 28 different cultural groups worldwide through measurement invariance tests. A series of exact invariance tests marginally supported partial metric invariance, however, an approximate invariance approach provided evidence of partial scalar invariance for a 5-item measure. The established level of measurement invariance allows for comparisons of latent means across cultures. We conclude that the brief measure of moral vitalism is invariant across 28 cultures and can be used to estimate levels of moral vitalism with the same precision across very different cultural settings. WOS:000540977000011 2-s2.0-85086354439 PMID: 32516333 Science Citation Index Expanded - Social Sciences Citation Index Q2 Article Uluslararası işbirliği ile yapılan - EVET Haziran 2020 YÖK - 2019-20

Research has long acknowledged the disruptions posed by pediatric cancer diagnosis and treatment to family life. Nonetheless, the mechanisms through which the family response influences parents' mental health in this adverse context are not fully understood. The main goal of the present study was to examine the direct and indirect links, via parenting satisfaction, between family condition management and psychological distress of parents of children with cancer. Participants were 201 parents (86.6% mothers) of children/adolescents diagnosed with cancer who completed self-report questionnaires assessing family condition management (family life difficulty and parental mutuality), parenting satisfaction, and psychological distress (anxiety and depression). Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed mediation model. The results showed that parenting satisfaction mediated the association between both the family condition management dimensions (family life difficulty and parental mutuality) and depression. Specifically, greater family life difficulties and lower parental mutuality were associated with lower parenting satisfaction, which, in turn, was associated with higher levels of depression. Additionally, greater family life difficulties and lower parental mutuality were directly linked to higher levels of anxiety. Multigroup analyses suggested that the model was valid across patient age groups (children vs. adolescents) and treatment status (on vs. off-treatment). These findings reinforce the need for family- and parent-based interventions in the pediatric oncology field. Interventions that target families' difficulties and promote their resources are likely to foster parenting satisfaction and psychological adjustment.Desde hace tiempo, las investigaciones han reconocido las dificultades que plantea el diagnóstico de cáncer infantil y el tratamiento para la vida familiar. No obstante, los mecanismos a través de los cuales la respuesta de la familia influye en la salud mental de los padres en este contexto adverso no se comprenden totalmente. El objetivo principal del presente estudio fue analizar los vínculos directos e indirectos, mediante la satisfacción con la crianza, entre el manejo de la enfermedad por parte de la familia y el distrés psicológico de los padres de niños con cáncer. Los participantes fueron 201 padres (86.6% madres) de niños/adolescentes diagnosticados con cáncer quienes contestaron cuestionarios de autoinforme que evaluaban el manejo de la enfermedad por parte de la familia (la dificultad para la vida familiar y la reciprocidad parental), la satisfacción con la crianza y el distrés psicológico (ansiedad y depresión). Se utilizó el modelo de ecuaciones estructurales para evaluar el modelo de mediación propuesto. Los resultados demostraron que la satisfacción con la crianza medió la asociación entre las dimensiones de manejo de la enfermedad por parte de la familia (la dificultad para la vida familiar y la reciprocidad parental) y la depresión. Específicamente, una mayor dificultad para la vida familiar y una menor reciprocidad parental estuvieron asociadas con una menor satisfacción con la crianza, la cual, a su vez, estuvo asociada con niveles más altos de depresión. Además, una mayor dificultad para la vida familiar y una menor reciprocidad parental estuvieron asociadas directamente con niveles más altos de ansiedad. Los análisis multigrupo sugirieron que el modelo era válido entre los grupos etarios de pacientes (niños frente a adolescentes) y el estado del tratamiento (en tratamiento frente a sin tratamiento). Estos hallazgos reafirman la necesidad de realizar intervenciones para la familia y los padres en el ámbito de la oncología pediátrica. Probablemente, las intervenciones que se ocupen de las dificultades de las familias y promuevan sus recursos fomentarán la satisfacción con la crianza y la adaptación psicológica.研究很早就承认了儿科癌症诊断和治疗对于家庭生活的干扰. 然而家庭反应如何在这一不良背景下影响家长心理健康的机制还没有被完全理解.该研究的主要目的是通过亲职满意度考察家庭情况管理和患有癌症儿童家长的心理困扰之间的联系.参与者为201名被诊断患有癌症的儿童/青少年的家长(86.6% 是母亲).这些参与者完成了评估家庭情况管理(家庭生活困难和家长相互性)自我报告问卷,亲职满意度以及心理困扰(焦虑和抑郁).我们使用结构性等式模型来测试所提出的调和模型.研究结果显示亲职满意度调节家庭情况管理维度(家庭生活困难和家长相互性)以及抑郁之间的关联. 特别是,较多的家庭生活困难和较低的家长相互性和较低的亲职满意度相关, 而较低的亲职满意度又和较高的抑郁水平相关.此外,较多的家庭生活困难和较低的家长相互性直接和较高水平的焦虑相关.多小组分析显示该模型在不同患者年龄组(儿童和青少年)和治疗状况都适用.这些发现增强了儿科肿瘤领域对于以家庭和家长为基础的干预措施的需求.针对家庭困难并促进其资源的干预措施可能促进亲职满意度和心理调适.

Introduction The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Family Distress Index (FDI). The FDI is an 8-item self-report measure that assesses family maladaptation, providing an index of family outcomes within the resiliency model of family stress, adjustment, and adaptation. Method Participants were 459 adults, who completed measures of family distress (FDI) and family functioning (Systemic Clinical Outcome Routine Evaluation; SCORE-15). Results Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a unidimensional factorial structure. Results also indicated that the FDI has good internal consistency and temporal stability. The positive and significant correlation between FDI and SCORE-15' scores demonstrated its convergent validity. Through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, we determined a cut-off score of 12 for identifying probable family distress. Discussion In sum, the Portuguese version of the FDI is a valid and reliable instrument, which can foster the development of future empirical studies focused on family adaptation in diverse contexts of adversity, namely in health care settings. (PsycINFO Database Record

This cross-sectional study examined the associations between family ritual meaning and 3 indicators of parental adaptation (anxious and depressive symptoms and quality of life) via 2 dimensions of parental competence-satisfaction and efficacy-in parents of children with epilepsy. Two hundred Portuguese parents of children diagnosed with epilepsy for at least 6 months completed self-report measures assessing the main study variables. Our results showed that when parents reported stronger family ritual meaning, they also reported higher levels of parental satisfaction and efficacy, which were in turn were associated with lower psychological distress (anxious and depressive symptoms) and better quality of life of parents. This pattern of results was significant regardless of the severity of children's epilepsy, age group, and family socioeconomic level. In the context of pediatric epilepsy, empirical evidence was found for the role of family ritual meaning in being directly and indirectly associated with parents' adaptation outcomes by higher levels of parental satisfaction and efficacy. Focusing intervention targets on what families naturally do and recognize as their own ritual meaning may be a favorable route to address those at risk of psychological distress and lower quality of life. (PsycINFO Database Record

This study aimed to examine the direct and indirect effects of hope on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) via anxiety of children/adolescents with cancer. We proposed to test if the mediation model was moderated by the child/adolescent’s treatment status. The participants were 211 children/adolescents diagnosed with cancer, divided into two clinical groups according to treatment status: 97 patients on-treatment and 114 off-treatment. Self-reported questionnaires measured the youths’ hope, anxiety, and HRQoL perceptions. The results revealed that children/adolescents on- and off-treatment only differed in levels of HRQoL, with a more compromised HRQoL found for the on-treatment group. Hope was positively associated with HRQoL, directly and indirectly via anxiety reduction. Moreover, only the association between anxiety and HRQoL was moderated by clinical group, revealing stronger associations for on-treatment patients. Findings highlight the importance of hope as a decisive resource in pediatric cancer adaptation, which may be strategically targeted in psycho-oncological interventions.

Treatment for pediatric cancer requires periodic and long hospital admissions. The intensity and frequency of the interactions taking place in the treatment setting indicate that this is a context to which children and their families can feel connected. This study’s main goal was to develop the Connectedness to Treatment Setting Scale (CTSS-Pediatric Cancer), a 10-item scale assessing children’s and parents’ connectedness to the health setting where children receive cancer treatment. Participants were 128 dyads of children receiving treatment at two Portuguese public hospitals and their parents. Two exploratory factor analyses with children’s and parents’ data separately and a dyadic confirmatory factor analysis with the whole sample supported a second-order factorial structure of the CTSS-Pediatric Cancer, where three dimensions (Sense of Belonging, Comfort and Emotional Care) loaded onto a total score of connectedness. Findings suggest that the CTSS-Pediatric Cancer is a valid and useful assessment measure.

Within family stress theories, the way in which families communicate about their hardships and issues is crucial for the family’s stress management and functioning. In the current study, we sought to validate the Portuguese version of the Family Problem Solving Communication (FPSC) Index and examine its psychometric properties. Developed within the context of the resiliency model of family stress, adjustment and adaptation, the FPSC is a ten-item self-report measure that assesses the family communication patterns that are likely to play a role in the family’s coping with hardships and difficulties. The participants were 332 individuals between 18 and 76 years who completed the FPSC and self-report measures of family hardiness and family functioning. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the original FPSC bifactorial structure, indicating the presence of two dimensions, Affirmative Communication and Incendiary Communication. Correlations between the scale’s total score and its dimensions with the measures of family hardiness and family functioning attested to its convergent validity. Furthermore, the index demonstrated respectable to very good internal consistency and temporal stability. In conclusion, the Portuguese version of the FPSC is a valid and reliable instrument that can support the development of future empirical studies focused on family problem solving communication, especially with regard to family adaptation in different contexts of adversity.

Parents play a key role in how children deal with epilepsy. When diagnosed with health conditions, people seek comparison information from fellow patients and families, and this information has consequences for how they evaluate their situation. This study examined the moderating role of parents' social comparison orientation in the associations between family management (parental perceptions of family life difficulties and child's daily life) and adaptation outcomes of children with epilepsy (HRQoL and perceived stigma). Participants included 201 dyads of children with epilepsy and either their mother or father. The results showed that when parents perceived higher difficulties managing their child's epilepsy and/or reported that their child was more affected by this condition, children reported higher perceived stigma and worse HRQoL only when parents had a higher social comparison orientation. Our results are innovative in showing that when parents have a higher social comparison orientation, their children may be at increased risk of poorer outcomes.

Adolescence is a sensitive period for the development of depressive-anxious symptomatology. The practice of family rituals and perceived social connectedness have been indicated as protective factors for adolescents´ adjustment, however the existing empirical research is still scarce. The present research examined the relationships among family ritual meaning, social connectedness, anxiety and depression among Portuguese students. A total of 248 students (52.8 % female) aged between 15 and 20 years old (M = 16.27, SD = 1.22) participated in this study. The participants completed self-report measures (Family Ritual Questionnaire, Social Connectedness Scale—Revised, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Results showed that family ritual meaning was positively related to social connectedness and negatively related to depression. Social connectedness was negatively associated with anxiety and depression. Gender was only associated with anxiety, and age wasn’t significantly correlated with any of the variables. Mediation analysis demonstrated that family ritual meaning was negatively linked to both depression (indirect effect = −.07; CI = −.13/−.02) and anxiety symptoms (indirect effect = −.06; CI = −.11/−.01) via social connectedness. These results clarified one of the possible paths through which family ritual meaning influences depressive-anxious symptomatology in adolescence. Taking into account the protective role of family ritual meaning and social connectedness, future interventions can be designed in order to reduce and prevent anxiety and depression in this particular developmental stage. Contributions and limitations of this study are presented along with suggestions for further investigation.

ObjetivoEste estudo teve como objetivos apresentar a versão portuguesa da Escala de Classificação da Intensidade do Tratamento 3.0, uma medida objetiva para avaliar a intensidade do tratamento no cancro pediátrico, e comparar a qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde (QdVrS) em crianças/adolescentes com diferentes níveis de intensidade do tratamento.MétodoA amostra foi constituída por 129 crianças/adolescentes com cancro (98 em tratamento e 31 fora de tratamento). A intensidade do tratamento foi classificada pelos médicos oncologistas pediátricos com a Escala de Classificação da Intensidade do Tratamento 3.0 e a QdVrS foi avaliada pelas crianças/adolescentes através do DISABKIDS Chronic Generic Measure (DCGM-12).ResultadosAs análises do coeficiente de Kappa revelaram excelentes índices de fiabilidade interavaliadores. Verificou-se a existência de diferenças estatisticamente significativas na QdVrS de acordo com o nível de intensidade do tratamento. Comparações post-hoc revelaram níveis de QdVrS superiores em crianças/adolescentes com tratamentos de intensidade 2 comparativamente aos de intensidade 3 e 4.ConclusãoOs dados evidenciam a importância de intervenções para melhorar a QdVrS junto de potenciais grupos de risco, definidas de acordo com a intensidade do tratamento.