Browsing by Author "Ferreira, Regina"
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- A Comprehensive Review and Bifactor Modeling Analysis of the Brief COPEPublication . Rodrigues, Filipe; Figueiredo, Nuno; Rodrigues, José; Ferreira, Regina; Hernández-Mendo, Antonio; Monteiro, DiogoThe Brief COPE is a measure of coping strategies that contains 14 factors. The purpose of this research was twofold: (a) examine the psychometric proprieties of the Brief Cope in previous studies; and (b) perform Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) with second-order model and bifactor model specifications that could be used to assess the best model that represents the 14 coping strategies inherent to the instrument. In order to meet the first objective, a bibliographic review of published peer-reviewed studies between 1997 and 2021 was conducted. Results from the review identified 50 studies, of which 21 used exploratory factor analysis, 28 CFA and one study test-retest analysis. Seventeen studies used the entire correlated 14-factor structure. However, only 11 studies conducted a CFA. For the second objective, a sample of 472 working class individuals (female = 278) with a mean work experience of 19.06 years (SD = 11,92) were recruited. We tested several model specifications, convergent and discriminant validity analysis. We found the correlated 14-factor structure of the Brief COPE to have good psychometric properties. The second-order and bifactor model specifications displayed poor fit or did not converge, respectively. The measure showed good convergent and discriminant validity, and the subscales showed adequate internal consistency. We provide further validity and reliability of the correlated 14-factor structure, evidencing that this measure can assess coping mechanisms. Secondorder model specifications need further testing and empirical evidence to support such hierarchical categorization.
- Controlled trial of an mHealth intervention to promote healthy behaviours in adolescence (TeenPower): Effectiveness analysisPublication . Miguel Lopes de Sousa, Pedro; Martinho, Ricardo; Reis, Catarina I.; Dias, Sara Simões; Gaspar, Pedro; Dixe, Maria dos Anjos; Luís, Luís; Ferreira, ReginaAim To evaluate the effectiveness on lifestyle change of an mHealth intervention to promote healthy behaviours in adolescence (TeenPower) and to analyse the predictors of the mHealth intervention effectiveness. Design This study is designed as a non‐randomized controlled trial with a two‐arm structure. Methods Adolescents of 12–16‐year old were recruited from three school districts, with access to the Internet and smartphone/tablet devices. The intervention group was invited to engage in the mHealth intervention (TeenPower) for 6 months in addition to a school‐based intervention. The control group only followed the school‐based intervention. A repeated measures factorial ANOVA was used and the main effectiveness outcome was the lifestyle change measured by the adolescent lifestyle profile. Results The outcomes of the mHealth intervention (TeenPower) show a significant effect on nutrition (ƞ2p = 0.03, p = .03), positive life perspective (ƞ2p = 0.04, p = .01), and global lifestyle (ƞ2p = 0.02, p = .05), with a dropout rate of 62.1%. The analysis of the effectiveness predictors of the mHealth intervention suggested that older adolescents tended to show a significant increase in the rates of stress management (r = .40; p < .05). Conclusions Although the considerable dropout rate, the mHealth intervention presented significant impact on multiple lifestyle domains, providing support for the effectiveness of mHealth interventions for health promotion as an add‐on to standard interdisciplinary interventions. Impact Adolescents must have the necessary and appropriate knowledge for the correct and responsible decision‐making regarding their health and lifestyle. Innovative strategies (mHealth intervention) were used to promote healthy behaviours. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an mHealth intervention (TeenPower) specifically designed for adolescents. We found a significant impact in several lifestyle domains such as health responsibility, nutrition, positive life perspective, and global lifestyle.
- Educação STEAM Outdoor: Perceções dos Docentes e Oportunidades de FormaçãoPublication . Correia, Marisa; Beirante, David; Arrais, Ana; Catela, David; Santos, Raquel; Martins, Maria Clara; Galinha, Sónia; Luís, Helena; Dias, Isabel Simões; Ramos, Liliana; Portelada, António; Simões, Vera; Pinto, Paula; Franco, Susana; Ferreira, Regina; Ribeirinha, TeresaA educação STEAM (Ciência, Tecnologia, Engenharia, Artes/Humanidades e Matemática), aliada ao ambiente outdoor, poderá promover o desenvolvimento integral e harmonioso das crianças e jovens, uma vez que se perspetivam aprendizagens significativas e o incentivo à adoção de estilos de vida saudáveis. O presente estudo tem como principais objetivos avaliar a perceção de educadores de infância e professores do 1.º e 2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, de um agrupamento de escolas de Portugal, acerca do uso pedagógico de espaços exteriores, e averiguar quais as competências e necessidades de formação que estes identificam como fundamentais para implementar a abordagem STEAM outdoor. Utilizando uma abordagem de métodos mistos, recolheram-se dados provenientes de uma entrevista (N = 8) e de um questionário (N = 49), desenvolvido e validado para o efeito. Os resultados sugerem que os docentes percecionam os espaços exteriores das suas escolas como locais com potencial pedagógico para implementação da abordagem STEAM, sendo as dimensões mais prevalentes a ludomotora, expressiva e de bem estar. Contudo, verificou-se uma frequência reduzida de realização de atividades de articulação curricular, envolvendo duas ou mais áreas STEAM nestes espaços, que poderá ser explicada pela extensão e rigidez curricular. Além disso, os docentes consideram essencial a formação para o uso pedagógico de espaços exteriores, a mudança de práticas e a promoção da interdisciplinaridade. Embora a maioria não tenha formação nesse contexto, há uma disposição para participar em cursos de capacitação. Nesse sentido, é crucial oferecer oportunidades de formação para explorar o potencial pedagógico dos espaços exteriores e da educação STEAM ao ar livre.
- Outdoor STEAM Education: Opportunities and ChallengesPublication . Correia, Marisa; Ribeirinho, Teresa; Beirante, David; Ramos, Liliana; Dias, Isabel Simões; Luís, Helena; Catela, David; Galinha, Sónia; Arrais, Ana; Portelada, António; Pinto, Paula; Simões, Vera; Ferreira, Regina; Franco, Susana; Martins, Maria ClaraThere is a consensus that students should be involved in interdisciplinary activities that promote a solid education in STEAM subjects from an early age. The outdoor settings of schools present an advantageous context for STEAM education, allowing for a myriad of learning experiences. To understand how teachers perceive the pedagogical use of the school’s outdoor space, a study was carried out in a cluster of schools in a Portuguese city, including one middle school and 10 kinder garten and elementary schools. A mixed methods approach was used, combining a questionnaire for teachers (N = 49) with interviews (N = 8). The results indicate that teachers’ perceptions of the characteristics of their school’s outdoor spaces either facilitate or hinder the implementation of outdoor pedagogical activities. Most teachers concur that the outdoors provides contact with nature and encourages interdisciplinary and collaborative activities. However, the teachers surveyed admit to using the school’s outdoor spaces only occasionally, and this use decreases as the educational level at which they teach increases. The most common use of outdoor spaces is for physical and motor activities, promoting the well-being of children and youth. Although interdisciplinary activities in outdoor spaces are recognised, their implementation is limited and hampered by factors such as the length of curricula and the lack of training for teachers in these approaches. In this sense, there is an urgent need to train teachers in the interdisciplinary use of outdoor spaces to promote a solid education in STEAM subjects.
- The Future Looks Good: Examining the Associations Between Coping, Psychological Distress, and OptimismPublication . Santos, Tiago; Uva, António de Sousa; Rodrigues, José Fernandes; Ferreira, Regina; Monteiro, Diogo; Hernández-Mendo, Antonio; Rodrigues, FilipeThe recent pandemic and consequent lockdown had a substantial impact on mental health and optimism regarding the future. Previous research showed that levels of depression, anxiety, and stress had increased throughout the pandemic. Nonetheless, how individuals cope when faced with adversity may be associated with positive expectations regarding the future. A sample of 274 Portuguese workers (female = 54) with a mean age of 40.86 (SD = 0.70) and work experience of 19.68 years (SD = 12.07) met inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the proposed study. They represented a variety of working classes (i.e., arts, engineering, marketers, transportation and logistic, clerks, personal trainers, managers, lawyers, accountants, directors, journalism, health care). We investigated the associations between depression, stress, anxiety, adaptive and maladaptive coping, and optimism while controlling for working experience, gender, and work type. We found that depression was related to lower levels of optimism. However, for participants scoring high on adaptive coping and anxiety, higher scores of optimism were reported. Gender, work type, and experience did not significantly influence the results. These results provide evidence through which positive mental health can be promoted after the pandemic.