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  • Assessment of psychopathological problems in school context: the psychometric properties of a portuguese version of the adolescent psychopathology scale – short form
    Publication . Lemos, Ida; Faísca, Luís; Valadas, Sandra T.
    The psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the Adolescent Psychopathology Scale–Short Form (APS-SF) were studied in a sample of 656 Portuguese adolescents, aged 12 to 19 years, assessed in school context. Also, the aim of the study was to gather data concerning age-and gender-related differences in the expression of psychopathological problems assessed by the APS-SF. Results of the reliability of APS-SF scales are compared with those obtained by Reynolds in the validation studies with the American sample. Factor analysis reproduced the bidimensionality of the original validation studies of the scale. These findings seem to support the use of the APS-SF as a valuable tool for early identification of psychosocial problems in the school context in Portuguese adolescents. Results concerning age-and gender-related differences in the expression of psychopathological problems in the adolescents are discussed.
  • Psychological distress symptoms and resilience assets in adolescents in residential care
    Publication . Lemos, Ida; Brás, Marta; Lemos, Mariana; Nunes, Cristina
    Most studies with institutionalised children and adolescents focus on evaluating the impact of negative life events on emotional development. However, few have investigated the relationship between resilience assets and the teenagers’ psychopathological problems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate differences in psychological distress symptoms and in resilience assets in institutionalised and non-institutionalised adolescents. A total of 266 adolescents aged between 12 and 19 years old took part in the study (60.5% female): 125 lived in residential care and 144 resided with their families. Results found a significant and inverse relation between psychopathology and the perception of individual resilience assets, specifically with self-efficacy and self-awareness in the community sample, and with empathy in the institutionalised sample. Overall, and regardless of the age group, adolescents in residential care tend to perceive themselves as significantly less resilient in perceived self-efficacy and empathy, and they report fewer goals and aspirations for the future. The importance of promoting mental health and resilience assets in adolescents, particularly in those in residential care, is discussed. This can be achieved through early interventions that may prevent emotional suffering and deviant life paths, with transgenerational repercussions.
  • A comparative study on the health and well-being of adolescent immigrants in Spain and Portugal
    Publication . Hernando Gomez, Angel; Nunes, Cristina; Torres, Carmen Cruz; Lemos, Ida; Valadas, Sandra T.
    The terms on which the integration of new generations of immigrants into Portuguese and Spanish societies happens will have a decisive influence in the future of both countries. Therefore, promoting their health, well-being, and psychosocial adaptation is a matter of strategic interest. This paper analyses psychosocial factors associated with well-being and psychological adjustment on a sample of 108 adolescents (55 males and 53 females), children of immigrants from Huelva (Spain) and Algarve (Portugal), aged between 10 and 17 years. Adolescents were assessed for demographic characteristics and perceived well-being. We used the “KIDSCREEN-5”, a self-report questionnaire that yields detailed profile information for children aged 8 to 18 years for the following ten dimensions: Physical well-being, Psychological well-being, Moods and emotions, Self-perception, Autonomy, Parental relationships and home life, Financial resources, Social support and peers, School environment, and Social acceptance(Bullying). Overall, significant differences were found between the Spanish and Portuguese samples on physical well-being, psychological well-being, mood, financial resources and social acceptance (bullying). Boys perceived themselves as having a better physical well-being than girls. Mothers’ educational level was associated with psychological well-being and mood. Also, results suggested that residence location and other socio-demographical variables were not associated with the adolescents’ well-being and psychological adjustment.
  • Prácticas parentales y calidad de vida en adolescentes holandeses y portugueses: un estudio transcultural
    Publication . Nunes, Cristina; Bodden, Denise; Lemos, Ida; Lorence, Barbara; Jimenez, Lucia
    The aim of this study was to examine differences in Quality of life (QoL) and parenting practices, as well as the impact of parenting practices on QoL in Dutch and Portuguese adolescents. A total of 168 Portuguese (44.64% girls, 55.36% boys) and 155 Dutch adolescents (55.68% girls, 44.32% boys) aged 12-17 years old (M = 14.44, SD = 1.65) completed questionnaires about QoL (Kidscreen-27), several dimensions of parental parenting practices, and socio-demographic information. No significant differences were found between countries on general QoL. On the subscale for school environment, scores were higher for Dutch adolescents. Portuguese adolescents reported that their mothers showed more positive parenting, psychological control and behavioral control than did Dutch adolescents. Dutch fathers showed more responsiveness and harsh discipline, whereas Portuguese fathers showed more psychological control. Parenting practices seem to be culturally dependant. Parenting practices, especially positive parenting and behavioral control, influenced adolescents' QoL regardless of nationality.
  • Parenting stress predictors in mothers of families at psychosocial risk
    Publication . Ayala Nunes, Lara; Lemos, Ida; Nunes, Cristina
    In this study we analyzed the associations between parenting stress, parental sense of competence and the contribution of socio-demographical and psychological factors to the explanation of parenting stress. Participants were 80 Portuguese mothers, recipients of the child protection services. Results showed high levels of parenting stress, especially in unemployed mothers with adolescent children, and significant associations between parenting stress and perceived parental competences. Maternal role satisfaction and employment were the most robust factors on the explanation of parenting stress, predicting 37% of the variance.
  • Calidad de vida y competencias sociales: un estudio comparativo entre adolescentes nativos e inmigrantes de España y Portugal
    Publication . Romero-Oliva, Cristina; Nunes, Cristina; Montilla Coronado, Cecilia; Lemos, Ida; Hernando Gomez, Angel; Ayala Nunes, Lara
    This research aims to determine the relationship between social skills and quality of life (QoL) in native and immigrant adolescents of Spain and Portugal, in order to understand the importance of these variables in the adolescents' development and adjustment. In order to accomplish this, 1151 adolescents, aged between 12 and 18 years, were assessed through two questionnaires: the KIDSCREEN-52 and the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS). The results indicate that immigrants have a lower QoL index than natives in the dimensions of feelings, relationship with parents, economic resources and social acceptance. Academic performance correlates with the dimensions of QoL and social skills, although there are differences between natives and immigrant adolescents.
  • Parenting and stress: A study with Spanish and Portuguese at-risk families
    Publication . Perez-Padilla, Javier; Nunes, Lara; Victoria Hidalgo, Maria; Nunes, C.; Lemos, Ida; Menendez, Susana
    This study analyzed parenting stress, parental sense of competence, and stressful life events in families at psychosocial risk in Western Andalusia (Spain) and the Algarve (Portugal). Differences and similarities between families from both countries on these dimensions were explored, as well as the influence of country of origin in determining risk profiles for this population. Although both groups shared some sociodemographic characteristics, differences were found on all studied dimensions, with Portuguese mothers showing higher levels of parenting stress, sense of competence, and accumulation of stressful life events. Results suggest that higher risk families tend to share psychosocial characteristics, regardless of their country of origin.
  • Social support and parenting stress in at-risk Portuguese families
    Publication . Nunes, Lara Ayala; Nunes, C.; Lemos, Ida
    A Summary: Families that are at psychosocial risk live under personal and contextual circumstances that hinder their parenting skills. They frequently lack the resources necessary for addressing the challenges of parenting and encounter multiple stressful life events. Social support may help diminish the parenting stress that is experienced from living in a disadvantaged environment by enhancing coping strategies. However, previous research examining the associations between parenting stress and social support among at-risk families has been inconclusive. This study analyzed the psychosocial profile of at-risk Portuguese families, the size and composition of their social support networks and the associations between social support and parenting stress. Participants consisted of 167 parents (80% mothers) who received assistance from Child Protection Services. Measures included the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, the Arizona Social Support Interview Schedule and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Findings: Parenting stress levels were extremely high, with 44.51% of parents showing clinically significant levels. Emotional support was the type of support that was most closely related to parental distress, namely the network size available for providing emotional support (r=-.27, p=.000) and satisfaction with the emotional support received (r=-.24, p=.006). Applications: The size of the emotional support network was significantly smaller among parents who reported clinically significant levels of parenting stress. Hence, having the opportunity to express feelings and concerns as well as engaging in social interactions during leisure time may serve as protective factors against parental stress in at-risk families. Implications of for the interventions of professionals who work with at-risk families are discussed.
  • Assessment of psychopathological problems in school context: the psychometric properties of a portuguese version of the adolescent psychopathology scale – short form
    Publication . Lemos, Ida; Faísca, Luís; Valadas, Sandra T.
    The psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the Adolescent Psychopathology Scale-Short Form (APS-SF) were studied in a sample of 656 Portuguese adolescents, aged 12 to 19 years, assessed in school context. Also, the aim of the study was to gather data concerning age- and gender-related differences in the expression of psychopathological problems assessed by the APS-SF. Results of the reliability of APS-SF scales are compared with those obtained by Reynolds in the validation studies with the American sample. Factor analysis reproduced the bidimensionality of the original validation studies of the scale. These findings seem to support the use of the APS-SF as a valuable tool for early identification of psychosocial problems in the school context in Portuguese adolescents. Results concerning age- and gender-related differences in the expression of psychopathological problems in the adolescents are discussed.