Loading...
5 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
- Professional skills in family support: A systematic reviewPublication . Dos Santos, Rita Alexandra Mendes; Isakov, Anita Burgund; Martins, Cátia; Antunes, Ana Pereira; Zegarac, Nevenka; Nunes, C.Family support encompasses a wide variety of professionals, sectors, and intervention paradigms that make it difficult to systematize and standardize the skills needed by the family support workforce. The present study aimed to describe the relevant skills of professionals, organize the main skills into different categories, and contribute to the development of intervention standardization guidelines in the field of family support. So, a systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out in five databases and included the analysis of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies, and all studies were qualitatively assessed. Of the initial 3334 articles identified, 59 studies were included, and four categories were identified: professionals’ qualities, essential skills common to all professions and contexts, specific knowledge, and theoretical approaches necessary for family support. Most of the studies were from the United Kingdom, qualitative, published in the last 10 years, used small samples, and included a specific group of professionals. The included studies did not specify whether some skills or characteristics were considered more effective in practice, and they had bias issues related to social desirability. The implications for family support practice are discussed, as well as the gaps to be covered in future studies.
- Parental involvement and stress in children’s quality of life: A longitudinal study with portuguese parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic periodPublication . Mocho, Helena; Martins, Cátia; dos Santos, Rita Alexandra Mendes; Nunes, CristinaParental involvement (PI) has particular relevance on children’s academic adjustment and on children’s general quality of life (QoL). QoL can be influenced by parental stress, specifically the stress suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the differences during the pandemic period (before, after and with no lockdown), comparing these constructs with parental educational level to provide predictors of their children’s quality of life. Data collection was performed with a non-probability convenience sampling procedure. It was composed of 129 parents, mainly women (71.8%), with children aged between 6 and 12 years. The family’s sociodemographic characteristics were assessed, as well as the PI, parental stress, and children’s QoL. The comparison between the three times revealed an increase in the children’s QoL, but no differences were found in PI. Based on the parental educational level, as defined by academic qualifications and split into superior and non-superior levels, it is possible conclude that engagement in school activities and parents’ meetings increased in the parents with superior education levels and decreased in the parents with lower education levels. This study concluded that despite this difficult and uncertain pandemic period, these parents were able to maintain important aspects of their children’s lives.
- Who benefits most from the family education and support program in cape verde? a cluster analysisPublication . Gageiro Correia, Adriana Sofia; Martins, Cátia; dos Santos, Rita Alexandra Mendes; Hidalgo, Victoria; Neves de Jesus, Saúl; Nunes, CristinaChild parenting programs can enhance parental skills, prevent future issues in child development, and improve children's quality of life. The present research aimed to study the changes promoted by the Family Education and Support Program (FAF) implemented in Cape Verde, regarding parental educational practices, perceived parental efficacy, and attitudes and beliefs of Cape Verdean parents. Methods: To this end, 37 participants were evaluated through a pretest-postest design. The evaluated dimensions were perceived parental competence, parenting practices, Parental attitudes and beliefs, mental health and perceived child quality of life. Results: A cluster analysis was conducted, distinguishing two groups. Both groups benefited from the program. Cluster 1 reported more significant gains in dimensions of parental efficacy and satisfaction, inadequate expectations, affection and support, and reactivity, while cluster 2 showed a greater difference in regulation and reactivity. Conclusions: Overall, the FAF intervention contributed to an increase in positive parenting practices. By analyzing potential underlying profiles in the change process, this study suggests that there are participants who benefit more than others from the intervention, and this information may be relevant for professionals and researchers in the field.
- Determinants of psychological adjustment of institutionalized adolescents: a systematic reviewPublication . Simão, Ana; dos Santos, Rita Alexandra Mendes; Brás, Marta; Nunes, CristinaBackground Adolescents in residential care present a greater risk of developing various problems in several domains compared to adolescents residing with their biological families. Psychological adjustment is an emerging area of investigation with this particularly vulnerable population to understand the factors that underlie the difficulties youths present within this context. Objective The present study aimed to contribute to recognizing these factors through a systematic literature review following the PRISMA guidelines. Methods A search was conducted in seven databases (Academic Search Complete, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, PsycINFO, Web of Science, PsycArticles, Scopus), and quantitative studies from the last thirty years were included. RESULTS: Of the initial 8,174 articles identified, 64 were included, and all the studies were qualitatively assessed with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Four categories of factors influencing psychological adjustment were identified: personal characteristics, social characteristics, caregiving, and adjustment problems. Most of the studies were cross-sectional and published in European countries. Conclusions The present review contributes to the research on the psychological adjustment of adolescents in residential care by providing an update and supplementing the previous systematic reviews. The proposed organization of the different factors and domains found in publications allowed us to analyze in detail what most impacted these youths' psychological adjustment. Practical and institutional implications for professionals working with this population are discussed, as well as the limitations to overcome in future studies.
- Motivación para el aprendizaje en niños: revisión sistemática de instrumentos de evaluaciónPublication . Ratinho, Elias; dos Santos, Rita Alexandra Mendes; BELÉM MOCHO ALCAPARRA, HELENA SOFIA; Nunes, Cristina; Santos, Andreia; Martins, CátiaGiven the inherent complexity of assessing motivation in educational contexts, the use of theoretically grounded and psychometrically validated instruments is essential to ensure accurate measurement. This systematic review aims to identify and analyze the assessment tools and their psychometric properties used to evaluate learning motivation in children aged 6 to 12 years. Following PRISMA guidelines, searches were conducted in databases such as B-on, ERIC, and PsycINFO, identifying 473 articles published between 2010 and 2024. After applying exclusion criteria, 54 studies were included, revealing 44 distinct instruments based on six predominant theoretical models, Goal Theory. Most instruments demonstrated strong internal consistency, and a wide range of validity indicators-such as criterion, discriminant, and external validity- were frequently reported. The review offers a comprehensive synthesis of validated tools for measuring motivation in elementary education, providing practical guidance for educators and psychologists to enhance motivational assessments in school settings