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Relaxation is a coping mechanism that helps to regulate emotions and is associated with prosocial responses. This paper included two studies: 1) a randomized clinical trial conducted with 139 university students who participated in a relaxation program and were assessed on interpersonal relationships over time; 2) a correlational study that assessed the relationship between emotional regulation, cognitive functioning, the importance attributed to sociability, and interpersonal relationships. Results revealed that interpersonal relationships did not change over time due to the relaxation intervention. The importance attributed to sociability played a moderating role in the relationship between emotional regulations and interpersonal relationships. The results suggest the need for further studies and emphasises the critical role of emotional regulation skills in university students.

Implementing effective prevention programmes is critical to prevent tobacco use. Objectives. This study aims to assess the long-term effectiveness of the "SmokeOut-I" programme in the smoking prevention of school-aged adolescents, by gender. Methodology. A quasi-experimental study was conducted including a pre-test and a post-test, as well as a experimental group (N = 163) and a control group (N = 148) of adolescents attending the 6th grade at Braga schools in 2014/2015. A follow-up was conducted three years later. A self-report questionnaire was administered to both groups before and after the programme implementation, and at the follow-up. The programme was only administered to the experimental group. Results. The programme has shown long-term effectiveness in preventing smoking experimentation, and in enhancing smoking refusal skills. There was a lower prevalence of tobacco use and intention to smoke in the experimental group than in the control group, although not statistically significant. It was found that the experimental group maintained adequate knowledge about smoking over time. Conclusions. The positive effects on health and on the environment justify the broad implementation of this programme, which implies the involvement and commitment of governmental institutions.

One of the sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations is to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Tobacco consumption is a serious health problem that affects smokers and non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS), particularly children. This study aims to describe parental perceptions of smoke-free rules, to analyze parental awareness about health risks associated with children’s exposure to SHS, and to describe the prevalence of avoidance behaviors related to tobacco smoke, according to parental smoking status. This study includes 1175 parents from a representative sample of 1511 Portuguese children aged 4 to 9 years old in 2016. Parents who were non-smokers reported a higher level of agreement regarding smoke-free rules at home, inside the car, at playgrounds, and near the school entrance than smokers. A higher percentage of nonsmoking parents agreed that children whose parents smoke at home are more likely to become smokers themselves. Nonsmoking parents reported adopting more avoidance behaviors regarding exposure to SHS. The findings indicate that parental exposure perceptions and avoidance behaviors towards SHS were lower and less frequent among smokers. Health education, smoking cessation programs and smoking bans are needed to raise parental awareness and to protect children from SHS exposure., This research was funded by the Direção Geral da Saúde, Portugal, project: Nº458/2014/DGS.

Background Studies show that post-traumatic stress symptoms among Portuguese veterans who participated in Colonial War (1961-75) are high, even though 43 years have gone by since the end of the war. Aims This study analyzed the role of family type, personality traits, and social support as predictors of post-traumatic stress symptoms and quality of life in war veterans, and whether satisfaction with social support was a mediator between neuroticism/post-traumatic stress symptoms and quality of life. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted including 230 war veterans with a mean age of 60 years (SD=3.82). Results Results indicated a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as high neuroticism, 16.5 (SD=4.41); 81% of veterans presented high psychological distress, suggesting emotional disturbance and 71% belonged to extreme families (families with cohesion and adaptability problems). Results showed that age (β=-0.166, p

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the recursive perspective that emphasizes bureaucracy as a source of officers’ stress, explain officers’ stress as a loosely coupled effect, examine the positive effects of loose coupling and legitimize the necessity of improving context management as a stress-reduction factor. Design/methodology/approach The research methodology uses a quantitative perspective; the members of two police forces constituted the universe; the sampling technique was not random and accidental; and an exploratory factor analysis and an invariance measure were performed. Findings The stress phenomenon is common and similar in both police forces, which means that it is indifferent to their organizational differences and has common causes. Loose coupling is present in both police work settings and entails significant stress; and the search for an explanation of the stress caused by loosely coupled elements should focus on both the value chain and the processes. Practical implications Addressing this phenomenon should entail a twofold improvement strategy: the correction of loosely coupled organizational factors by revising the management processes that cause stress and the prevention of loosely coupled effects by using professional training to enhance adaptive behavior within specific contexts. Originality/value Police organizations are addressed as loosely coupled (anarchic organized) systems instead of tightly coupled (bureaucratic) systems. The loosely coupled factors that emerge inside bureaucratic organizations cause significant stress among officers and complementary research is necessary to analyze the fallacious nature of the recursive attribution of police stress to bureaucratic characteristics.

This study examined the mediator role of mindfulness and spirituality in the relationship between psychological morbidity, awareness of the disease, functionality, social support, family satisfaction, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with mild AD.The sample consisted of 128 patients who answered the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R), the Assessment Scale of Psychosocial Impact of the Diagnosis of Dementia (ASPIDD), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS), the Satisfaction with Social Support Scale (SSSS), the Family Satisfaction Scale (FSS), the Spiritual and Religious Attitudes in Dealing with Illness (SpREUK), the Index of Barthel, and the Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD).Mindfulness and spirituality mediated the relationship between functionality, awareness of the disease, family satisfaction and QoL. Psychological morbidity had a direct negative impact on QoL and was negatively associated with awareness of the disease, family satisfaction and social support. Mindfulness was negatively associated with spirituality and the latter was negatively associated with QoL. More social support was associated with greater awareness of the disease and family satisfaction. More functionality, awareness of the disease and family satisfaction contributed to more QoL and this relationship was mediated by mindfulness and spirituality.Interventions directed at the promotion of the QoL of patients with mild AD should focus on the promotion of mindfulness skills in AD patients, in addition to the reduction of psychological morbidity and the promotion of functionality, awareness of the disease, family relationships and social support.

Introduction: Children’s exposure to secondhand smoke is a cause of serious health problems and infant morbidity. This is the first nationally representative study conducted in Portugal to describe the prevalence of children exposed to secondhand smoke at home and in the car. Material and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with a representative sample of 2396 Portuguese children aged 0 to 9 years old, stratified by age and administrative region NUTS II. Questionnaires were administered between January and September 2016. Results: Results showed that 6.1% of mothers and 11.2% of fathers reported smoking at home. It was found that 4.5% of mothers and 8.3% of fathers reported smoking in the car. Results also showed that 5.4% of children were double exposed to secondhand smoke at home and in the car. Children whose parents were smokers and had a lower level of education were more exposed to secondhand smoke at home. Discussion: Children’s exposure to secondhand smoke has been decreasing in Portugal. Parental smoking and a low educational level were risk factors for children’s exposure to secondhand smoke at home. Conclusion: The main source of children’s exposure to secondhand smoke is parental smoking. As such, it is crucial to implement effective measures to control parental smoking. It is necessary to promote smoking cessation among parents and to ban smoking inside the car., Introdução: A exposição das crianças ao fumo ambiental do tabaco é uma importante causa de graves problemas de saúde e morbilidade infantil. Este é o primeiro estudo com representatividade nacional realizado em Portugal a descrever a prevalência de crianças expostas ao fumo ambiental do tabaco em casa e no carro. Material e Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal descritivo que inclui uma amostra representativa de 2396 crianças portuguesas dos 0 aos 9 anos de idade, estratificada por idade e por região administrativa NUTS II. A aplicação de questionários decorreu entre janeiro e setembro de 2016. Resultados: Verifica-se que 6,1% das mães e 11,2% dos pais fumam no domicílio. Constata-se que 4,5% das mães e 8,3% dos pais fumam no carro. Verifica-se também que 5,4% das crianças estão duplamente expostas ao fumo ambiental do tabaco em casa e no carro. As crianças cujos pais são fumadores e com menor nível de escolaridade, estão mais expostas ao fumo ambiental do tabaco em casa. Discussão: A exposição das crianças ao fumo ambiental do tabaco tem diminuído em Portugal. Ainda assim, o consumo de tabaco dos pais e um baixo nível de escolaridade são fatores de risco para a exposição das crianças em casa. Conclusão: Uma vez que a principal fonte de exposição das crianças ao fumo ambiental do tabaco é o tabagismo dos pais, é necessário promover a cessação tabágica junto dos mesmos, assim como implementar a proibição de fumar no carro., Portuguese national funds through the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) within the framework of the CIEC (Research Center for Child Studies of the University of Minho) project under the reference UID/CED/00317/2019. Study funded by the Direção Geral da Saúde, project: Nº458/2014/DGS

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the cutoff and the specificity and sensitivity of the Emotion Thermometers (ET) in a Portuguese sample of cancer patients.MethodA total of 147 patients (mean age = 49.2; SD = 12.6) completed the ET, the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and the Subjective Experiences of Illness Suffering Inventory. Data were collected in a cancer support institution and in a major hospital in the North of Portugal.ResultThe optimal cutoff for the Anxiety Thermometer was 5v6 (until 5 and 6 or more), which identified 74% of the BSI-anxiety cases and 70% of noncases. The Depression Thermometer cutoff was 4v5 (until 4 and 5 or more), which identified 85% of BSI-depression cases and 82% of noncases. Cutoff for the Anger Thermometer was 4v5 (until 4 and 5 or more), which identified 83% of BSI-hostility cases and 73% of noncases; for the Distress Thermometer, the optimal cutoff was 4v5 (until 4 and 5 or more), which identified 84% of the suffering cases and 73% of noncases. Finally, for the Help Thermometer, it was 3v4 (until 3 and 4 or more), which helped to identify 93% of the suffering cases and 64% of noncases.Significance of resultsResults supported the Portuguese version of the ET as an important screening tool for identifying the emotional distress in cancer patients.

To explore changes in the quality of life of caregivers of amputees due to type 2 diabetes ten months after amputation. Methods: This is a longitudinal study with three moments of evaluation (T1: one month after surgery, T2: 7 months, T3: 10 months). The sample comprised 110, 101, and 84 caregivers of amputated patients with type 2 diabetes. Caregivers answered a Socio-demographic questionnaire; the Self-Assessment Caregiver; the Family Disruption from Illness Scale; and the Short Form Health Survey (SF36). Results: Stress levels were not significantly reflected in changes on mental quality of life over time, except in the caregivers who presented less stress, emphasizing the adverse role of stress when experienced on a continuous basis for ten months on the caregivers’ mental well-being. Caregivers presented greater number of physical symptoms at T2 that decreased at T3. Conclusions: According to the results, in order to promote caregivers’ physical and mental quality of life, it would be important to evaluate stress levels especially in patients who presented somatic complaints., This study was supported by a scholarship from the Coordination Foundation for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel/Full Doctoral Program Abroad Financed by CAPES – Brazil (reference number 1010-14).

Objective This study analyzed the relationships between illness representations, psychological morbidity, family stress, and quality of life and whether these variables were mediated by body image and social support. Methods The sample consisted of 106 patients with skin tumors, who answered the following measures: Dermatology Life Quality Index, Illness Perception Questionnaire–Brief, Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, Index of Family Relations, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales, and the Body Image Scale. Results Patients with poor quality of life showed more threatening cognitive and emotional illness representations, less perceived social support, higher psychological morbidity, and higher concern with body image. Body image mediated the relationship between cognitive and comprehension illness representations, family stress, psychological morbidity, and quality of life. Social support mediated the relationship between family stress/psychological morbidity and quality of life. Conclusions Psychological intervention should focus on body image and social support, particularly in patients with melanoma, less disease duration, tumors in the face, head or neck, in an active professional status, and with lower education.

Article in Press, To identify the prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke(SHS) at home and in the car among children attending the 4th grade in Azores. Methods:This is across-sectional study that assessed children’s exposure to SHS in a convenience sample of school children attending the 4th grade in all primary schools of Azores.The entire population of 4th graders from all elementary schools in Azores were asked to participate in the study (n=2463) in 2017. A validated self-reported questionnaire was administered to 2092 students who delivered the signed informed consent form. We analyzed frequencies, contingency tables, and performed Chi-square tests. Results: Results showed that 56.1% (95% CI54.0--58.2) children reported having, at least, one smoking parent. Overall exposure to SHS at home was 38.4%(95% CI36.3--40.6), and overall exposure to SHS in the car was 27.6%(95%CI25.8--29.3). Children whose parents were smokers reported being more exposed to SHS at home (63.6%;95% CI58.6--68.3) than children whose parents were non-smokers (32.3%;95% CI30.2--34.6). Conclusion: The results showed that the children’s exposure to SHS in Azores is high and it tends to be higher than the prevalence found in mainland Portugal. Having parents who smoke is a major risk factor for children’s exposure to SHS at home. These data justify a population-wide intervention plan for preventing tobacco consumption and children’s exposure to SHS in Azores., Portuguese national funds through the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) within the framework of the CIEC (Research Center for Child Studies of the University of Minho) project under the reference UID/CED/00317/2019.

This study analyzed which family and couple variables predicted adherence to standard care treatment, in patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The sample comprised 224 dyads assessed during the first year of diagnosis (T1) and 4 months later (T2). The results showed that family stress, dyadic adjustment, family coping, and positive support assessed by patients at T1 predicted medication adherence and glucose monitoring at T2. Positive support and dyadic adjustment, assessed by partners at T1, predicted patients' adherence to glucose monitoring and diet at T2. This study highlights the important role of the partner in patient`s adherence. Therefore, standard care in type 2 diabetes should be offered in the context of the dyad., This study is part of a research project PTDC/SAU-ESA/67581/2006 supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal (FCT).

Aims: This study analysed whether beliefs about medicines mediated the relationship between illness representations and medication adherence. Background: Adherence to medication is required in diabetes treatment, contributing to decreased blood glycaemic levels. The knowledge and perception of patients about diabetes as well as the beliefs about medicines are considered to be key factors for medication adherence. Design: The study used a cross‐sectional design that included 387 patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Participants were assessed, between 2010 and 2013, and answered the Medication Adherence Scale, the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Results: The results of the path analysis showed that beliefs about medicines had a mediating role on self‐report medication adherence with the exception of beliefs about specific concerns with medicines. Therefore, both general beliefs and specific needs about medicines mediated the relationship between diabetes consequences and self‐report medication adherence as well as between treatment control and self‐report medication adherence. Needs about medicines mediated the relationship between personal control and self‐report medication adherence. Conclusion: Health professionals should target beliefs about medicines besides illness representations regarding medication adherence. The current study may help optimize adherence to medication in early‐diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients., PTDC/SAU‐ESA/67581/2006

Alcohol use among adolescents is associated with serious health problems and with increased mortality. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the "Alcohol-free" programme in the prevention of alcohol consumption among adolescents. A quasi-experimental study was conducted including an experimental group of 92 students and a control group of 77 students, who attended the 3rd cycle of basic education at Braga and Porto schools (Portugal). A self-report questionnaire was administered to both groups before and after the programme implementation. The programme was only administered to the experimental group. Results. The “Alcohol-Free” programme was not effective in preventing alcohol consumption among adolescents, as no significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group regarding the prevalence of alcohol use, the prevalence of drunkeness, early alcohol experimentation, and intention to consume alcohol in the future. Conclusions. School-based prevention programmes should be improved in the future, and should also include families, peers and the school community., CIEC – Research Centre on Child Studies, IE, UMinho (FCT R&D unit 317), Portugal; National Funds through the FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) and co-financed by European Regional Development Funds (FEDER) through the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program (POCI) through CIEC (Research Centre on Child Studies, of the University of Minho) with the reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007562, info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Este estudio investiga las características de las víctimas del maltrato entre iguales percibidas por 1237 adolescentes (media de edad es 13.3 años) de dos ciudades del sur de Europa. El principal objetivo fue inspeccionar cómo las descripciones de las víctimas varían en función del país, edad, sexo, estatus de victimización (agresor, víctima y espectador) y la experiencia de los participantes en situaciones de maltrato entre iguales. Los resultados muestran que la percepción de las víctimas como vulnerables se acentúa conforme aumenta la edad de los adolescentes y que los chicos comparados con las chicas tienen una actitud más crítica hacia las víctimas. Los participantes agresores son los que describen a la víctima más desfavorablemente y la perciben como más vulnerable, mientras que los espectadores y el resto de adolescentes que tienen experiencia como víctima o son victimizados tienen percepciones menos estereotipadas y le otorgan atributos más deseables socialmente. Los resultados fueron discutidos en términos de sus implicaciones de cara a la investigación e intervención.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore changes in the burden of caregivers of patients with type 2 diabetes experiencing lower limb amputation after surgery.Background: Literature suggests the burden overload experienced by the caregivers of new amputees is related to an imbalance between the demands and the resources available to these caregivers.Design: The study followed a longitudinal design assessing caregiver burden at 1 (T1), 7 (T2) and 10 (T3) months after the patient's surgery.Methods: We used a convenience sample of caregivers of patients with type 2 diabetes amputated with recent lower limb amputation. Data were collected in several hospital units over 18 months in 2014-2015. Sample size included at T1, T2 and T3 110, 101 and 84. Participants completed the socio-demographic questionnaire, the Burden Assessment Scale and the Self-Assessment Caregiver Questionnaire scale.Results: Caregivers who received help reported lower levels of burden from at baseline with no variation over time. Those caregivers with high levels of stress showed an increase in burden over time, although these results were not significant. Also, caregivers who did not receive help showed higher levels of burden and stress over time compared with the initial baseline that decreased over time.Conclusion: These results highlight the importance of receiving help, in care, especially among caregivers who care for patients who have undergone major amputation., This study was supported by a scholarship from the Coordination Foundation for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel/Full Doctoral Program Abroad Financed by CAPES - Brazil (reference number 1010-14)

This study analyzed whether family variables such as marital adjustment, partner support, family coping, and family stress moderated the relationship between negative beliefs about medicines and adherence to self-care behaviors (diet, glucose monitoring, exercise, foot care, and medication), in Type 2 diabetes patients. The sample was composed of 387 individuals with Type 2 diabetes, diagnosed in the past 12 months. Patients were assessed on self-care behaviors in diabetes, medication adherence, beliefs about medicines, family coping, family stress, marital adjustment, and partner support. The results showed marital adjustment, family coping, partner support, and family stress as moderators in the relationship between negative beliefs and adherence. Patients with negative beliefs regarding medicines, but who reported good marital adjustment and family coping were more likely to test their blood glucose; and if they reported low support from their partners were less likely to adhere to their prescribed diet. Finally, patients with negative beliefs about medicines, but who reported high family stress, were less likely to take their medication. The results emphasize the importance of family variables on adherence to self-care behaviors and medication. This study revealed the importance of including partners on interventions regarding Type 2 diabetes because they seem to play an important role in patient's adherence., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Non-profit organizations are constrained by their institutional environment to adopt management models based both on quality certification and on principles of lean thinking . This research analyses the effects of organizational change based on two resources that rationalize organizational management : a quality standard and a software platform . The first resource provides a set of requirements, based on which the quality management system is built. The second resource provides the information/communication technology that provides the infrastructure for a quality management system. In theory, these resources should increase efficiency and stimulate institutional isomorphism . In reality, the consequences of this change process are not only the improvement of overall organizational performance but also increased intra-organizational and inter-organizational heterogeneity and the emergence of organizational paradoxes .

The purpose of this study was to analyze partners'representations of diabetes as mediators between patients' illness representations and adherence to all self-care behaviors, in recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. The sample included 340 patientsand their respective partners. The instruments used were: Revised Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (RSDSCA); Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS); and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief-IPQ). A mediational effect of partners' representation of diabetes consequences was found between the samepatients' representations and exercise, foot care, and self-monitoring of blood glucose. Partners'representations of personal and treatment control, were mediators between the same partners'representations and self-monitoring of blood glucose. No partners' representations mediated patients' representation and adherence to medication or diet. This study emphasized partners' representations on patient's adherence to exercise,foot care and monitoringof blood glucose, in recent diagnosed T2DM patients. Interventions to promote adherence inT2DM should promote convergence between patients and partners' diabetes representations. This study provides some evidence for the need to treat T2DMwithin the dyad to improve adherence, starting after the diagnosis., FCT - Fuel Cell Technologies Program (PTDC/SAU-ESA/67581/2006), info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

This study examined the relationships between coping style, body image, psychological morbidity, and quality of life. A total of 58 patients who were diagnosed with skin tumors, had been submitted to surgery, and were in the follow-up phase answered the following instruments: dermatology life quality index (DLQI), hospital anxiety and depression scales (HADS), body image scale (BIS), and the mini mental adjustment to cancer scale (Mini-MAC). The results showed that patients with a higher use of the coping styles of helplessness/hopelessness, anxious preoccupation, and cognitive avoidance reported a worse quality of life. Body image mediated the relationship between the coping styles of anxious preoccupation, helplessness/hopelessness, and quality of life. Psychological morbidity mediated the relationship between helplessness/hopelessness and quality of life. Therefore, even in the follow-up phase, it is important that health professionals are aware of the patient's emotional distress and body image to identify those at a higher risk of having a poorer quality of life., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Parenting education programmes are becoming widespread practices and are being recognized by the scientific community as promising interventions for preventing child maltreatment. However, a diversity of programme objectives and implementation conditions can be related to different outcomes in parental competencies and child adjustment. In this paper we present data concerning the effects of different parent education interventions developed in Portugal. Five hundred one participants participating in 56 interventions were evaluated using a pre- and post-test design. Analyses were designed to determine the participant and programme characteristics that were associated with intervention outcomes, as indicated by univariate and covariate test results and respective effect sizes. After controlling for pre-test results, significant and positive intervention effects were found for parental stress, effective parenting attitudes (i.e., empathic responding, use of punitive discipline, and endorsement of parental r...

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of children's exposure to second-hand smoke in the family car; to compare exposure among children with smoking and non-smoking parents. Methods: In 2011, a self-administered questionnaire was applied to a 4th grade Portuguese children national sample (N=3187, mean age 9.5±0.7, 51.1% boys). Prevalence rates and chi-square tests were computed. Results: Of the participants, 52.0% reported having, at least, one smoking parent. Overall exposure in the car was 28.9% (95% CI 27.3-30.5). Children's exposure among those reporting smoking parents was 46.9% (95% CI 44.4-49.4); and 8.6% (95% CI 7.1-10.1) among those reporting non-smoking parents (p, Objetivos: Describir la prevalencia de la exposición de niños y niñas al humo ambiental del tabaco en el coche familiar; comparar la exposición de niños y niñas con padres fumadores y no fumadores. Métodos: En 2011, se aplicó un cuestionario auto-administrado a una muestra de niños y niñas portugueses de 4 ◦ curso (N = 3187, edad promedio 9,5 ± 0,7, 51,1% varones). Se calcularon ratios de prevalencia y pruebas de chi-cuadrado. Resultados: El 52,0% informaron tener al menos un padre/madre fumador. En la muestra total, la exposición fue del 28,9% (CI95%: 27,3-30,5). Esta exposición fue del 46,9% (CI95%:44,4-49,4) entre los niños y niñas con padres fumadores y del 8,6% (CI95%:7,1-10,1) entre los con padres no fumadores (p < 0,001), por lo tanto, fue más de cinco veces mayor entre los niños y niñas con padres fumadores. Conclusiones: La exposición es alta, especialmente si uno o ambos padres fuman. Esto indica la necesidad de medidas de control efectivo del consumo de tabaco para prevenir este severo riesgo para la salud., This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia), grant number PTDC/CPE-CED/098281/2008.

Second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) is a major indoor pollutant that causes serious health problems for all exposed, especially children. Children are often exposed to SHS at home, due to parental or other households’ or guests’ smoking. This study describes Portuguese children's exposure to SHS at home (total and by Portuguese main regions). In 2010/2011, a questionnaire was applied to a sample of Portuguese children in the 4th grade (N = 3187, mean age 9.05 ± 0.7 years, 51.1% male). Descriptive analysis, chi-square tests and crude odds ratios were performed. Of the participants, 62.9% of those with smoking parents and 19.2% of those with non-smoking parents were exposed to SHS at their home. Parental smoking varied significantly among regions and was significantly associated with children's exposure to SHS at home. Children's exposure to SHS at home was high, especially if their parents smoke. Children living in Lisbon Region presented the highest SHS exposure rate. The association of SHS exposure with geographic regions suggests the influence of social and contextual factors on smoking behaviour and on tobacco control effectiveness. Our findings highlight the need to effectively prevent children's SHS exposure at their home and to develop tailored tobacco control measures by region., This work was supported by FEDER through the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-009117), and by FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (Ref. PTDC/CPE-CED/098281/2008).

Objective: this study assessed dyadic adjustment and psychological morbidity in type 2 diabetic patients and their partners, focusing on the role of gender. Methods: 214 diabetic patients and their partners participated in the cross-sectional study and were assessed on psychological morbidity (HADS) and marital adjustment (RDAS). Data was analyzed using dyadic analysis, a statistical process that studies the patient/partner dyads simultaneously. Results: results revealed that the negative relationship between dyadic adjustment and psychological morbidity in female patients was stronger than in male diabetic patients or in partners of male diabetic patients. On the other hand, the relationship between dyadic adjustment and psychological morbidity in partners of diabetic men was stronger than the same relationship in partners of diabetic women. Conclusion: since gender is a moderator, it is important to attend to the different needs of female and male patients and the education of diabetic patients should be centered on the patient/partner dyad., Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)

Throughout the last few years, the Internet has become a common tool at the workplace. Companies, from different activity sectors, were quick to embrace the opportunities and potential given by the Internet and put them to good use to achieve their goals. However, despite having contributed to the efficiency of employees, by allowing them to have immediate access to information on a variety of topics and facilitating communication all over the world, it also contributed to never before encountered concerns to employers. Initial research into the use of the Internet for personal reasons during working hours stated that such use had a negative impact on productivity. The reasoning for such was that employees would be wasting time which could be used to further their work, thus possibly making them unproductive. On the other hand, recent research has shown the Internet to be quite valuable to productivity. Studies have shown that not only is the Internet a priceless tool which aids workers to accomplish their designated tasks, but also when used reasonably, allows those who are working to have moments of relaxation. This contributes to improvements in concentration and ultimately in productivity. Due to this ambiguity and the absence of works on this theme in Portugal, a decision was made to base this study on the impact of the Internet usage on productivity.

O divórcio contribuiu para uma mudança da estrutura familiar estando associado a um declínio da qualidade da relação conjugal com implicações a nível pessoal, interpessoal e social e tem vindo a aumentar nos últimos anos. Participaram 165 mulheres separadas ou divorciadas, com pelo menos um filho do casamento, com idades entre os 24 e os 55 anos que responderam ao inventário feminino de vivências do processo de separação ou divorcio (IFVPSD). A análise factorial revelou cinco dimensões: disfuncionalidade conjugal, conflito, emocionalidade, apoio social e adaptação. A disfuncionalidade remete para a crise conjugal e conflitualidade durante o casamento; o conflito centra-se no relacionamento com o ex-conjuge; a emocionalidade foca-se nos sentimentos vivenciados no processo de separação; o apoio social centra-se no papel de familiares e amigos durante o processo de separação e, finalmente, a dimensão da adaptação remete-nos para a adaptação ao processo de separação. A consistência interna das cinco dimensões aponta para alfas entre .72 e .82 que explicam 49.25% da variância total. O inventario feminino de vivencias do processo de separação ou divorcio reúne as condições necessárias para ser utilizado como instrumento de rastreio para identificar mulheres com dificuldade no processo de adaptação ao divórcio., The divorce has contributed to a change in family structure associated to a decline in the quality of the marital relationship with implications for personal, interpersonal and social life that has been increasing in the last years. Participants were 165 women separated and divorced, with at least one child of the marriage, with current ages between 24 and 55 that answered the Inventory of Women's Experiences in the Process of Separation or Divorce (IWEPSD). The factor analysis revealed five dimensions: dysfunctionality, marital conflict, emotionality, social support and adaptation. The marital dysfunctionality is focused the marital crisis and conflict during the marriage; conflict brings us to the relationship with the former spouse; emotionality is focused on the feelings experienced in the process of separation; social support emphasizes the role of family and friends during the process of separation and divorce and finally, the adaptation dimension brings us to the process of adaptation to the separation process. The internal consistency for the five dimensions showed alphas between.72 and.82 which explained 49.25% of the total variance. Thus, the inventory of women's experiences of the process of separation or divorce meets the necessary conditions to be used as a screening tool to identify women with difficulties in the adaptation process to separation and divorce., (undefined)

Scale numa amostra Portuguesa de diabéticos tipo 2 e seus companheiros. Participaram no estudo 340 diabéticos diagnosticados no ano anterior a avaliação e respectivos companheiros. O estudo da validade revelou dois fatores que explicaram 53,66% da variância total: “Escala de Confiança na Relação” que explica 40,28% da variância e “Escala de Confi ança na Competência” que explica 13,38%, nos diabéticos, e 53,56% da variância total, 41,43% e 12,12% respectivamente. A escala apresenta boa validade convergente estando correlacionada com a adesão à medicação e uma boa validade descriminante em termos de idade e gênero reunindo as condições para ser utilizado em pacientes diabéticos Portugueses e seus companheiros., The present study focused on the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of Trust in Physician Scale (TPS) in a sample of Portuguese type 2 diabetics and their partners. Three hundred and forty diabetics diagnosed in the year prior to the assessment participated in the study as well as their partners. The validity study revealed two factors that explained 53.66% of the total variance: “Trust in Relationship” explains 40.28% of the variance and “Trust in Competence” explains 13.38% of the variance for the diabetics; and for their partners 53.56% of total variance, 41.43% and 12.12%, respectively. The scale shows good convergent validity being correlated with adherence to medication and a good descriminant validity in terms of age and gender validity gathering the necessary conditions for its use with Portuguese diabetic patients and their partners, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)

This article focuses on patients' and partners' variables regarding adherence to self-care, in recently diagnosed patients with Type 2 diabetes. One hundred four patients and partners were included. Instruments answered were Family Inventory of Life Events and Changes (family stress), Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (family coping), Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (dyadic adjustment), Multidimensional Diabetes Questionnaire (partner support) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (psychological morbidity). Results showed adherence to diet to be positively predicted by patient dyadic adjustment and patient positive support and negatively by partner depression and partner negative support. Adherence to exercise was predicted by patient's family stress and negatively by partner anxiety. Adherence to glucose monitoring was predicted by partner positive support. Psychological variables were not associated with adherence to foot care. Finally, positive partner support moderated the relationship between family stress and dyadic adjustment in patients. The results emphasize the need to treat the patient in the context of the dyad. Future research should focus on partners' specific instrumental behaviors that promote patients' self-care behaviors., This study is part of a research project funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal PTDC/SAU-ESA/67581/2006., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Este artigo analisa as expectativas de envolvimento académico de 1768 alunos que, em Setembro de 2002, se inscreveram pela primeira vez nos vários cursos da Universidade do Minho. Utilizamos o Questionário de Envolvimento Académico – versão expectativas (QEA – Soares & Almeida, 2000), que avalia as expectativas de investimento no curso, instituição, carreira, relações interpessoais e utilização dos recursos da instituição. Os resultados sugerem que os alunos, no momento em que se inscrevem na Universidade, apresentam expectativas de envolvimento muito elevadas, nas cinco dimensões do QEA. Mesmo assim, forma encontradas algumas diferenças relacionadas com variáveis demográficas e escolares dos alunos. Os alunos mais novos, do sexo feminino e deslocados da família tendem a apresentar expectativas mais elevadas de investimento académico. Também algumas diferenças de expectativas foram encontradas, quando se considera o percurso escolar anterior e o tipo de curso frequentado na Universidade., This paper analyses the academic Involvement expectations of 1768 students who, in September 2002, enrolled into the various courses in Universidade do Minho (Portugal). We used the Academic Involvement Questionnaire — Expectations version (QEA — Soares & Almeida, 2000), which evaluates five involvement dimensions: investment in course, institution, career, interpersonal relationships and college resources utilization. The results suggest that, at the beginning of their first year, students present very high expectations in those five dimensions. Nevertheless, some differences were found, when taking into consideration student's gender, age and being, or not dislocated from home. We also found some differences according to the student's school background, as well as according to the type of course attended in the University.