Browsing by Author "Relvas, Ana Paula"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- A bailar é que a gente se entende: o papel da comunicação nas coreografias da parentalidadePublication . Portugal, Alda; Alberto, Isabel; Beja, Maria João; Sotero, Luciana; Fonseca, Gabriela; Carvalho, Joana; Areia, Neide; Relvas, Ana PaulaA comunicação parento-filial representa uma dimensão essencial do exercício da parentalidade. Apesar de muitas famílias procurarem intervenção psicoterapêutica por considerarem que o seu problema reside na falta de comunicação, o Modelo da Pragmática da Comunicação Humana postula que é impossível não comunicar e, por esse motivo, comunicação e comportamento são sinónimos aquando da significação que se faz das relações familiares. Como uma dança (tendo os autores deste ensaio privilegiado o Bailinho da Madeira enquanto metáfora), a comunicação parento-filial rege-se por pressupostos e regras que permitem compreender e analisar a identidade de cada família e o modo como se operacionaliza a parentalidade. Tal como outras funções e tarefas, também o exercício da parentalidade se altera à medida que o ciclo vital da família evolui e, nesse sentido, os padrões de comunicação estabelecidos também se modelam, apresentando especificidades distintas em famílias com filhos em idade escolar e famílias com adolescentes. Pretende-se com este ensaio teórico reavivar os contributos do Modelo da Pragmática da Comunicação Humana para as relações familiares, bem como, apresentar uma sucinta caracterização dos padrões comunicacionais entre pais e filhos de famílias portuguesas.
- Between kisses and bytes: cyber dating abuse and internet use in emerging adulthoodPublication . Saial, Ana Cristina; Portugal, Alda; Gouveia, Élvio Rúbio; Nascimento, Paulo; Satar, Muhammad; Relvas, Ana Paula; Portugal, Alda; Gouveia, Élvio RúbioAbstract Emerging adults use the internet to connect with intimate partners, which can promote closeness but also increase vulnerability to abusive behavior, such as cyber dating abuse (CDA). In this study, we explored the use of the internet and information and communication technologies (ICT) and determined the prevalence of CDA among 105 emerging adults, with an average age of 23.2 years (SD = 3.65). Through an online cross-sectional study, our results indicate that emerging adults spend an average of 6.67 h a day online (SD = 3.34), with 37.6% communicating with their partner for more than 5 h daily via ICT. A high prevalence of CDA was observed: 62.9% victimization and 74.3% perpetration, with an emphasis on controlling behaviors. This study explores the relationship between problematic internet use (PIU) and CDA and highlights the normalization of CDA behaviours.
- (Dis)Connected: finding the link between problematic use of internet, parent-child communication and academic performance in emerging adultsPublication . Portugal, Alda; Almada, Carina; Sotero, Luciana; Relvas, Ana Paula; Portugal, AldaInformation and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a central role in the lives of emerging adults, offering both opportunities and challenges. While ICT facilitates communication and access to information, its problematic use has raised concerns about its impact on family relationships and academic performance during this developmental stage. This cross-sectional study aims to describe the use of ICT in academic context and analyse differences between groups considering the problematic use of the internet, the perception of academic performance and parent-child communication in a sample of college students (N = 201, aged between 18 to 29). In addition to instruments for sociodemographic characterisation and of ICT use, Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale-2 and Perception Scale of Parenting Communication-Emerging Adults were used. The results suggest that young people with problematic use of internet for non-academic purposes tend to report poorer communication with their parents, particularly their fathers. Additionally, half of the sample exhibited moderate problematic use of the internet. These results are relevant for professionals working with young adults, such as college professors, as well as for young adults themselves and their parents. Professors may benefit from implementing structured guidelines for ICT use in the classroom to promote academic engagement while minimizing distractions. For young adults, the findings emphasize the importance of developing self-regulation strategies to balance digital life, enhance academic performance, and maintain healthy relationships. Parents are encouraged to foster open communication and support positive family dynamics to mitigate the negative effects of problematic internet use.
- Escala do impacto da dor na família (FIPS)Publication . Branco, Sandra; Portugal, Alda; Sotero, Luciana; Relvas, Ana Paula; Portugal, Alda; Marques Portugal, Alda PatríciaA Escala do Impacto da Dor na Família é a versão portuguesa da The Family Impact of Pain Scale (FIPS; Newton-John, 2005), um questionário de auto-resposta composto por 10 itens que permite avaliar o impacto da dor crónica na família. A partir de uma amostra de 51 sujeitos com dor crónica foram realizados estudos de tradução e adaptação para a população portuguesa, assim como estudos descritivos, de precisão e de validade de constructo. Os resultados demonstram uma elevada con sistência interna dos itens (α = .91). Na análise fatorial confirmatória não se verificou uma correspondência com os fatores da escala original. As correlações, com base no coeficiente de Spearman, permitem concluir que existe uma relação estatisticamente significativa entre o impacto da dor crónica na família e as crenças de autoeficácia e a depressão (r = -.754, p < .01; r = .332, p < .05, respetivamente). Futuramente, o estudo da dor crónica na família deverá contemplar, não só os sujeitos com dor crónica, como também os seus familiares.
- Exploring the role of relationship dynamics and chronic illness in psychological outcomes among cohabiting couples during the COVID-19 pandemicPublication . Lacomba-Trejo, Laura; Portugal, Alda; Vieira, Ana Diniz; Randall, Ashley K.; Relvas, Ana Paula; Portugal, AldaBackground: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated mental health difficulties among couples. Factors such as chronic physical illness, perceived threat of COVID-19, dyadic coping, and relationship quality may influence levels of psychological distress, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. This study aimed to examine how these individual and relational variables are associated with psychological outcomes in cohabiting couples during the first national lockdown in Portugal. Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted with a sample of 956 individuals (83.9% women), aged 18 to 81 years (M = 40.76, SD = 10.42), living with a romantic partner for at least one year. Participants completed validated self-report instruments: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales - 21 Items (DASS-21) to assess anxiety, depression, and stress; the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) to evaluate COVID-19 threat perception; the Perceived Relationship Quality Component – Short Version (PRQC-SV) to assess relationship quality; and the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) to measure dyadic coping. Hierarchical linear regression and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) were used to examine associations between variables. The study received prior approval from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra. Results: The regression models accounted from between 17% to 21% of the variances of the dependent variables. In the case of the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) models, the models explained between 11% and 85% of the cases. Hierarchical regression models (HRMs) showed that COVID-19 threat perception and relationship quality were significantly associated with mental health outcomes. In QCA models, low threat perception and high relationship quality and coping skills correlated with lower psychological distress. Conclusions: Chronic illness was not significantly associated with psychological distress when compared to COVID-19 threat perception, relationship quality, and dyadic coping. These insights are vital for managing mental health of couples during crises. By underscoring the importance of threat perception, relationship quality, and coping for psychological well-being management during health crises, this study offers valuable insights for supporting couples through periods of adversity.
- Global study of social odor awarenessPublication . Sorokowska, Agnieszka; Groyecka, Agata; Karwowski, Maciej; Frackowiak, Tomasz; Lansford, Jennifer E; Ahmadi, Khodabakhsh; Alghraibeh, Ahmad M.; Aryeetey, Richmond; Bertoni, Anna; Bettache, Karim; Blumen, Sheyla; Błażejewska, Marta; Bortolini, Tiago; Butovskaya, Marina; Cantarero, Katarzyna; Castro, Felipe Nalon; Cetinkaya, Hakan; Chang, Lei; Chen, Bin-Bin; Cunha, Diana; David, Daniel; David, Oana A.; Dileym, Fahd A.; Domínguez Espinosa, Alejandra del Carmen; Donato, Silvia; Dronova, Daria; Dural, Seda; Fialová, Jitka; Fisher, Maryanne; Gulbetekin, Evrim; Hamamcıoğlu Akkaya, Aslıhan; Hilpert, Peter; Hromatko, Ivana; Iafrate, Raffaella; Iesyp, Mariana; James, Bawo; Jaranovic, Jelena; Jiang, Feng; Kimamo, Charles Obadiah; Kjelvik, Grete; Koç, Fırat; Laar, Amos; Lopes, Fívia de Araújo; Macbeth, Guillermo; Marcano, Nicole M; Martinez, Rocio; Mesko, Norbert; Molodovskaya, Natalya; Moradi Qezeli, Khadijeh; Motahari, Zahrasadat; Mühlhauser, Alexandra; Natividade, Jean Carlos; Ntayi, Joseph; Oberzaucher, Elisabeth; Ojedokun, Oluyinka; Omar-Fauzee, Mohd Sofian Bin; Onyishi, Ike E; Paluszak, Anna; Pierce, John D; Pillay, Urmila; Portugal, Alda; Razumiejczyk, Eugenia; Realo, Anu; Relvas, Ana Paula; Rivas, Maria; Rizwan, Muhammad; Salkičević, Svjetlana; Sarmány-Schuller, Ivan; Schmehl, Susanne; Senyk, Oksana; Sinding, Charlotte; Sorbring, Emma; Stamkou, Eftychia; Stoyanova, Stanislava; Šukolová, Denisa; Sutresna, Nina; Tadinac, Meri; Tapanya, Sombat; Teras, Andero; Tinoco Ponciano, Edna Lúcia; Tripathi, Ritu; Tripathi, Nachiketa; Tripathi, Mamta; Uhryn, Olja; Yamamoto, Maria Emília; Yoo, Gyesook; Sorokowski, PiotrOlfaction plays an important role in human social communication, including multiple domains in which people often rely on their sense of smell in the social context. The importance of the sense of smell and its role can however vary inter-individually and culturally. Despite the growing body of literature on differences in olfactory performance or hedonic preferences across the globe, the aspects of a given culture as well as culturally universal individual differences affecting odor awareness in human social life remain unknown. Here, we conducted a large-scale analysis of data collected from 10 794 participants from 52 study sites from 44 countries all over the world. The aim of our research was to explore the potential individual and country-level correlates of odor aware ness in the social context. The results show that the individual characteristics were more strongly related than country-level factors to self-reported odor awareness in different social contexts. A model including individual-level predictors (gender, age, material situation, education, and pre ferred social distance) provided a relatively good fit to the data, but adding country-level predictors (Human Development Index, population density, and average temperature) did not improve model parameters. Although there were some cross-cultural differences in social odor awareness, the main differentiating role was played by the individual differences. This suggests that people living in different cultures and different climate conditions may still share some similar patterns of odor awareness if they share other individual-level characteristics.
- One year of COVID‐19: a longitudinal study of individual and relational factors of psychological adjustment of individuals living in a romantic relationship in Portugal during the COVID‐19 pandemicPublication . Relvas, Ana Paula; Portugal, Alda; Lacomba‐Trejo, Laura; Major, Sofia; Sotero, Luciana; Agostinho, Rafaela; Moreira, Marta; Randall, Ashley K.; Portugal, AldaAbstractThis longitudinal study explored the impact of COVID‐19 on individuals in romantic relationships. The sample spans three waves: first confinement (n = 52), deconfinement (n = 49), and second confinement (n = 26). The study tested sociodemographic factors, psychological adjustment (anxiety, depression, stress, well‐being), COVID‐19 threat perception, dyadic coping, and relationship quality. Results from repeated measures ANOVA and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) models revealed a decline in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms, coupled with improved relationship quality over time. Well‐being and dyadic coping remained stable, while COVID‐19 threat perception increased. QCA models emphasized the predictive power of initial mental states (anxiety, depression, stress, and well‐being at W1) on subsequent adjustment. Notably, shorter relationship duration, healthcare worker status, and not having children, when combined with prior mental states, explained increased symptoms and diminished well‐being. The study underscores the significance of addressing these factors in individuals navigating romantic relationships during the pandemic.
- Preferred interpersonal distances: a global comparisonPublication . Sorokowska, Agnieszka; Sorokowski, Piotr; Hilpert, Peter; Cantarero, Katarzyna; Frackowiak, Tomasz; Ahmadi, Khodabakhsh; Alghraibeh, Ahmad M.; Aryeetey, Richmond; Bertoni, Anna; Bettache, Karim; Blumen, Sheyla; Błażejewska, Marta; Bortolini, Tiago; Butovskaya, Marina; Castro, Felipe Nalon; Cetinkaya, Hakan; Cunha, Diana; David, Daniel; David, Oana A.; Dileym, Fahd A.; Domínguez Espinosa, Alejandra del Carmen; Donato, Silvia; Dronova, Daria; Dural, Seda; Fialová, Jitka; Fisher, Maryanne; Gulbetekin, Evrim; Hamamcıoğlu Akkaya, Aslıhan; Hromatko, Ivana; Iafrate, Raffaella; Iesyp, Mariana; James, Bawo; Jaranovic, Jelena; Jiang, Feng; Kimamo, Charles Obadiah; Kjelvik, Grete; Koç, Fırat; Laar, Amos; de Araújo Lopes, Fívia; Macbeth, Guillermo; Marcano, Nicole M.; Martinez, Rocio; Mesko, Norbert; Molodovskaya, Natalya; Moradi, Khadijeh; Motahari, Zahrasadat; Mühlhauser, Alexandra; Natividade, Jean Carlos; Ntayi, Joseph; Oberzaucher, Elisabeth; Ojedokun, Oluyinka; Omar-Fauzee, Mohd Sofian Bin; Onyishi, Ike E.; Paluszak, Anna; Portugal, Alda; Razumiejczyk, Eugenia; Realo, Anu; Relvas, Ana Paula; Rivas, Maria; Rizwan, Muhammad; Salkičević, Svjetlana; Sarmány-Schuller, Ivan; Schmehl, Susanne; Senyk, Oksana; Sinding, Charlotte; Stamkou, Eftychia; Stoyanova, Stanislava; Šukolová, Denisa; Sutresna, Nina; Tadinac, Meri; Teras, Andero; Tinoco Ponciano, Edna Lúcia; Tripathi, Ritu; Tripathi, Nachiketa; Tripathi, Mamta; Uhryn, Olja; Yamamoto, Maria Emília; Yoo, Gyesook; Pierce, John D.Human spatial behavior has been the focus of hundreds of previous research studies. However, the conclusions and generalizability of previous studies on interpersonal distance preferences were limited by some important methodological and sampling issues. The objective of the present study was to compare preferred interpersonal distances across the world and to overcome the problems observed in previous studies. We present an extensive analysis of interpersonal distances over a large data set (N = 8,943 participants from 42 countries). We attempted to relate the preferred social, personal, and intimate distances observed in each country to a set of individual characteristics of the participants, and some attributes of their cultures. Our study indicates that individual characteristics (age and gender) influence interpersonal space preferences and that some variation in results can be explained by temperature in a given region. We also present objective values of preferred interpersonal distances in different regions, which might be used as a reference data point in future studies.
- When play gets serious: can a game-based mobile application serve as an intervention for preventing intimate partner violence among emerging adults?Publication . Saial, Ana Cristina; Rúbio, Élvio Gouveia; Portugal, Alda; Peres, Beatriz Jardim; Satar, Muhammad; Relvas, Ana Paula; Gouveia, Élvio Rúbio; Portugal, AldaGames have been an approach used to facilitate increased knowl edge and changes in attitudes and behaviors related to well-being and mental health. However, the design and application of games to sensitive topics such as intimate partner violence (IPV) needs more exploration. Therefore, this 120-minute game-based work shop aims to analyze the perceptions collected from stakeholders (emerging adults aged 18-24; N=19) regarding the acceptability of using games and mobile applications to raise awareness of IPV, through a qualitative cross-sectional study. This research presents a preliminary study to inform the development of a game-based mobile intervention designed to increase knowledge and prevent IPV among emerging adults. This study contributes to a better un derstanding of the application of games to IPV among emerging adults, also highlighting the value of digital tools, such as mobile applications. More studies are needed on the design of games and digital tools that respond to the IPV problem. However, this work is still preliminary, and the insights gained from it will help to improve future work.
- YES, WE COPE: dyadic coping as a mediator between perceived relationship quality and emotional representation of COVID-19Publication . Relvas, Ana Paula; Lacomba-Trejo, Laura; Portugal, Alda; Chiarolanza, Claudia; Major, Sofia; Rosa, Catarina; Sotero, Luciana; Randall, Ashley K.; Portugal, AldaBackground The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about social changes that have impacted the functioning and dynamics of couples in a romantic relationship, arising from the overwhelming amount of added stress they have endured. Specifically, the divorce rate in Portugal has increased after lockdown, which underscores the adverse consequences of COVID-19 on couples. A lower quality of the couple’s relationship may worsen the emotional representation of COVID-19; however, the literature suggests that perceived partner dyadic coping responses have a great influence on adverse events. The aim of the present study was to assess the mediating role of partner coping in the association between relationship quality and emotional representation of COVID-19. We also sought to observe whether the length of the relationship moderates this association. Methods Participants (N=528) were adults living in Portugal (84.7% female) currently in a romantic relationship with their current partner for at least 1 year. Online data collection. Results We found that relationship quality predicted COVID-19 emotional representation, but this association was fully mediated by total dyadic coping. This association was especially significant in couples with a shorter length of time in the relationship. Conclusions We point out the importance of dyadic coping as a protective factor against emotional distress to cope with the ongoing stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. These data suggest the need for relationship education programs that promote positive coping between partners.