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- Confirmatory factor analysis of the portuguese version of the Frost multidimensional perfectionism scalePublication . Carmo, Cláudia; Brás, Marta; Batista, Luis; Faisca, LuisThis study aimed to analyse the psychometric properties and dimensionality of the Portuguese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Frost Perfectionism (FMPS) using the confirmatory factor analysis. The sample consisted of 832 high school and college students (65.0% female) with a mean age of 19.5. The adjustment indexes of confirmatory factor analysis permitted to consider the multidimensional model of six factors the best representation of the data, replicating the original solution. The results showed good reliability and appropriate validity. The internal consistency of the scale presented satisfactory coefficients (Cronbach's alpha=.853). The test-retest method suggested a good temporal stability of the scale (r=.779). Globally the FMPS is a reliable and validated instrument for the study of perfectionism in Portugal.
- Psychological risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation: a study in an adolescent sample in an insular contextPublication . Cunha, Ana Margarida; Carmo, Cláudia; Brás, MartaObjectives: Adolescents are at risk of suicide. As suicide is a multifactorial process, risk and protective factors are relevant constructs for suicide prediction. This study explored the effects of risk and protective factors on suicidal ideation in adolescents on the island of Sao Miguel (Azores). Methods: A sample of 750 adolescents (male: n=358; 47.7%; mean age=14.67 years; standard deviation=1.85 years) from the island of Sao Miguel (Azores) completed several measures related to suicidal ideation and associated factors. Using a cross-sectional design, this study conducted descriptive, correlational, predictive, mediation, and moderation analyses. Results: Adolescents generally displayed high levels of risk and protective factors; an indicative proportion exhibited significant suicidal ideation with females presenting the greatest vulnerability. Furthermore, the results highlight that depression is the best predictor of suicidal ideation, however, the association between these variables is mediated. Conclusion: The data corroborate that the suicidal reality of adolescents in the Autonomous Region of the Azores is worrisome. Having substantiated the complexity of the suicidal context in young people in the present research, the need to continue studying risk/protective factors in this area is supported.
- The volunteer functions inventory (VFI): Adaptation and psychometric properties among a portuguese sample of volunteersPublication . Martins, Cátia; da Silva, José Tomás; Jesus, Saúl; Ribeiro, Conceição; Estêvão, M. Dulce; Baptista, Ricardo; Carmo, Cláudia; Brás, Marta; Santos, Rita; Nunes, C.: The Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) is an instrument widely used to assess volunteers’ motivation based on the Functionalist Model of Omoto and Snyder. It assesses six factors that reflect several motivational functions. The VFI has been translated into various languages and validated in different cultural contexts, but some studies have reported different factor structures (e.g., five or four factors). In the Portuguese context, previous studies have also shown inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the VFI for Portuguese volunteers, testing several alternative models (nine models) using confirmatory factor analysis. The sample comprised 468 volunteers (76.3% women), aged from 13 to 81 years (M = 36.66, SD = 14.93). The results support the original interrelated six-factor model as the best-fitting one. The VFI showed good internal consistency and convergent validity. Significant correlations were found between the VFI factors, organizational commitment, and volunteers’ satisfaction. Overall, the six-factor VFI is a valid and reliable tool for measuring the motivational functions of Portuguese volunteers, with implications for practice and research in the volunteering field.
- The influence of planning and response inhibition on cognitive functioning of Non-Psychotic unipolar depressed suicide attemptersPublication . Moniz, Marco; Jesus, Saul Neves de; Pacheco, Andreia; Gonçalves, Eduardo; Viseu, J.; Brás, Marta; Silva, Dina; Batista, SilviaDepression is one of the main risk factors for suicide. However, little is known about the intricate relationships among depressive symptomatology in unipolar depression, suicide risk, and the characteristics of executive dysfunction in depressed patients. We compared 20 non-psychotic unipolar depressed suicide attempters to 20 matching depressed non-attempters and to 20 healthy controls to further investigate the possible differences in neuropsychological performance. Depressed subjects were controlled for current suicidal ideation, and their neuropsychological profile was assessed using a range of measures of executive functioning, attention, verbal memory, processing speed, and psychomotor speed. Depressed groups were outperformed by healthy controls. Depressed attempters presented more cognitive impairment than depressed non-attempters on a simple Go/No-go response inhibition task and performed better than non-attempters on the Tower of London planning task. Depressed attempters were clearly distinguished by a deficit in response inhibition (Go/No-go commission errors). The normative planning performance (Tower of London extra moves) of the suicide attempters was unexpected, and this unanticipated finding calls for further research. Normative planning may indicate an increased risk of suicidal behavior.
- The positive and negative suicidal ideation inventory among portuguese adolescents: Factor structure and gender invariancePublication . Brás, Marta; Cunha, Ana; Antunes, João; Carmo, CláudiaSuicide worldwide is an issue that needs to be addressed, and adolescents are an at-risk group. Assessing suicidal ideation is central to tackling the issue of suicide. The Positive and Negative Suicidal Ideation inventory is a widely validated measure of suicidal ideation, and yet, very little is known about its invariance across various groups. The present study aimed to adapt and test the PANSI’s structure in a Portuguese sample while testing its gender invariance. A total of 750 middle and high school students were recruited for the study, and data were collected on various suicide risk and protective factors, including the Portuguese-translated PANSI. Data were put through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Kaiser’s criterion and scree plot both extracted two factors (64.10% variance explained). Confirmatory factor analysis also supported the PANSI’s structure (TLI = 0.943). The PANSI showed good reliability (α ≥ 0.83) and good construct and discriminative validity. The PANSI also exhibited scalar, but not strict, invariance. Overall, these results were similar to previous versions of this scale. The PANSI is a reliable measure of suicide risk among Portuguese adolescents. Future studies should further replicate these results in other cultures and expand on them by testing for invariance across other demographic variables.
- Psychological distress symptoms and resilience assets in adolescents in residential carePublication . Lemos, Ida; Brás, Marta; Lemos, Mariana; Nunes, CristinaMost 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.
- Acontecimentos de vida negativos, padrões de vinculação e ideação suicidaPublication . Brás, Marta Sofia Ventosa; Cruz, José Carlos Pestana dos Santos
- Reasons for Living Inventory for Young Adults: Psychometric Properties Among Portuguese SamplePublication . Madeira, Ana Rita Salve-Rainha; Janeiro, Luís; Carmo, Claudia; Brás, MartaA main protective factor against suicide in young adults is their reasons for living; therefore, suicide risk screening should consider these reasons. However, few psychometric instruments assess reasons for living, and none have been adapted for young adults in Portugal. Thus, we assess the psychometric characteristics of the Reasons for Living Inventory for Young Adults-II (RFL-YA-II) in participants (n = 936; Mage = 21.77; SD = 2.88) from Portugal. Participants answered measures concerning suicidal ideation, depression, hopelessness, and positive and negative affect. The results of an exploratory factorial analysis replicated the original 4-factor model of the RFL-YA-II, and a confirmatory factorial analysis indicated satisfactory indices. In terms of reliability and convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity, our results are consistent with previous research. Moreover, our results indicate that the RFL-YA-II is a valid and reliable instrument to study the protective factors against suicidal behavior in Portuguese young adults, and should thus be integrated into preventive strategies.
- Condutas suicidas: vulnerabilidade e prevenção em adolescentesPublication . Brás, Marta Sofia Ventosa; Cruz, José Pestana; Jesus, SaulA presente investigação, composta por seis estudos. explora duas áreas essenciais dos atos suicidas: a vulnerabilidade (Estudos 1 e 2) e a prevenção (Estudos 3, 4, 5 e 6).
- Paradoxical effects of Worrisome Thoughts Suppression: the influence of depressive moodPublication . Silva, Sónia; Janeiro, Luís; Brás, Marta; Carmo, Cláudia; Martins, Ana Teresa; Jiménez-Ros, Antonia MaríaThought suppression increases the persistence of unwanted idiosyncratic worries thoughts when individuals try to suppress them. The failure of suppression may contribute to the development and maintenance of emotional disorders. Depressive people seem particulary prone to engage in unsuccessful mental control strategies such as thought suppression. Worry has been reported to be elevated in depressed individuals and a dysphoric mood may also contribute for the failure of suppression. No studies examine, however, the suppression of worisome thoughts in individuals with depressive symptoms. To investigate the suppression effects of worrisome thoughts, 46 participants were selected according to the cut-off score of a depressive symptomatology scale and they were divided in two groups (subclinical and nonclinical group). All the individuals took part in an experimental paradigm of thought suppression. The results of the mixed factorial analysis of variance revealed an increased frequency of worrisome thoughts during the suppression phase on depending of the depressive symptoms. These findings confirm that depressive mood can reduce the success of suppression.