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Research Project
Research Center for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics
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Publications
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.
Education matters: cumulative advantages and disadvantages amongst Portuguese older men
Publication . Vilhena, Carla; Valadas, Sandra T.; Almeida, António Fragoso de
Our paper sought to analyse the influence of the educational background over various
dimensions of the lives of Portuguese older men (age 60+) across the life course.
Drawing on the theory of cumulative advantages and disadvantages we used
biographical research, namely narrative interviews with men from different educational
background: men with a very low educational background and men with a medium/high
educational background. Our results show the influence of educational background in
the life course, and how it can contribute to accumulation of advantages/disadvantages
that explain their biographies and the very different situations in which they live today.
Living with coastal hazards: place attachment and risk perception at Faro beach
Publication . Domingues, Rita Isabel de Oliveira Soares Branco; Jesus, Saul; Ferreira, Óscar
Risk perception and place attachment are constructs frequently studied in the context of environmental hazards. Risk perception is a subjective and emotional judgement about the severity of a risk, and it may be influenced by place attachment, the emotional connection between an individual and a specific place. The interplay between these constructs influences how individuals deal with risks.
Faro Beach is a vulnerable and heavily urbanized settlement in the Ria Formosa barrier island system, exposed to beach erosion and overwash caused by storms, that have resulted in house and road destruction. However, residents, mainly fishermen and their families, have accepted the risks in exchange for benefits that they perceive as largely exceeding potential personal damages. Although residents are aware of the coastal hazards impacting the area, they do not seem worried or prepared to deal with the associated risks, and they refuse to relocate to safer locations. The main goal of this thesis is to understand the psychological variables, particularly risk perception and place attachment, that influence residents’ perceptions towards coastal risks.
Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Content analysis of semi-structured interviews with selected stakeholders allowed the development of self-report questionnaires that were applied to Faro Beach residents. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and correlational statistics, and relationships between constructs were tested with partial least squares structural equation modelling. Two psychometric instruments aimed at measuring risk perception and sense of place were also developed and validated.
Overall, it was confirmed that Faro Beach residents are aware of the risks they face, most of them have witnessed coastal hazards, but they feel safe living at the beach. A strong emotional attachment to the place, influenced by a long residence time, familial heritage, and social ties, is at the root of residents’ low risk perception and unwillingness to relocate to safer grounds. In addition, an optimism bias and the perception that threats are distant in time prevent the adoption of effective preparedness measures to deal with a potential disaster. Despite some limitations, mainly related to the small samples used, this thesis made significant contributions to environmental psychology and has relevant implications for coastal management.
Keywords: place attachment; risk perception; preparedness; coastal risks; coastal management; environmental psychology.
An assessment of the psychometric properties of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale and its prediction in safety performance in a Portuguese adult sample
Publication . Sousa, Cátia; Gonçalves, Gabriela; Sousa, António; Pinto, Ezequiel
This study aims to present the psychometric properties of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale in a Portuguese sample. Three studies were performed: the first study provides psychometric evidence pertaining to its reliability and factor structure, an analysis of the measurement invariance of the BSSS across gender and age, and an examination of the differences scores on the scale regarding gender, age and marital status (n = 526); the second study consists of an assessment of convergent, discriminant and postdictive validity (n = 240); and the third study includes a test-retest of the BSSS (n = 72). A four-factor model yielded the best fit to the data with good reliability and validity. The scale showed non-invariance between genders and between ages, which makes it less generalizable and susceptible to different populations. Convergent validity with the variables risk taking, need for arousal and extraversion, and discriminant validity between neuroticism, agreeableness and conscientiousness, were demonstrated. The scale presents good temporal stability and represent an important tool for psychological assessment of personality and behavior, and as a predictor of safety performance.
Cultural heritage visits supported on visitors' preferences and mobile devices
Publication . Cardoso, Pedro; Rodrigues, Joao; Pereira, Joao; Nogin, Sergey; Lessa, Joana; Ramos, Celia; Bajireanu, Roman; Gomes, Miguel; Bica, Paulo
Monuments, museums and cities are great places to feel and experience neat and interesting things. But cultural heritage is experienced differently by different visitors. The more erudite may know beforehand what they intend to explore, while the least literate usually know and are capable of expressing some of their preferences but do not exactly realize what to see and explore. This paper proposes the use of a mobile application to set an itinerary where you can move at your own pace and, at the same time, have all the complementary information you need about each of the points of interest. The application is designed in face of an adaptive user interface where the routing and augmented reality are connected to acknowledge the needs of different user categories, such as elders, kids, experts or general users
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Funders
Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Funding Award Number
UID/SOC/04020/2013