Measuring Perceived Social Support in Elite Athletes: Psychometric Properties of the Romanian Version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.

The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is a brief measure designed to capture individuals' perceptions of the support received from their social networks. It has been translated into several languages and adapted for various cultural contexts. The aim of this study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the Romanian version of the MSPSS, using a sample of young elite athletes. To assess its validity and reliability, 282 Romanian elite athletes (176 males, 106 females; 19 - 25 years old) completed the MSPSS together with questionnaires measuring life satisfaction, negative emotional disposition, and perceived stress. A confirmatory factor analysis underpinned a 12-item three-factor correlated model that was invariant over gender. Cronbach's alpha and Raykov's composite reliability coefficients together with average variance extracted showed adequate values for each factor. Correlational analysis displayed that three sources of social support positively correlated with life satisfaction and negative emotional disposition and negatively correlated with perceived stress. Altogether, the MSPSS is a valid and reliable short measure for Romanian elite athletes to explore perceived social support from their family, friends, or significant others.

Students' engagement in school and family variables: A literature review / Envolvimento dos alunos na escola e variáveis familiares: uma revisão da literatura

"Students' engagement in school" is regarded in the literature as a current and valued construct despite the lack of empirical studies on its relationship with specific family variables. The present research aimed to survey studies on the correlation between students' engagement in school and family contexts, specifically in terms of the following variables: perceived parental support, socioeconomic and sociocultural levels, perceived rights, and parental educational styles. In order to describe the state of the art of student's "engagement in school" and "family variables", a narrative review was conducted. The studies reviewed highlight the role of family as a context with significance in student's engagement in school. However, further research is needed to deepen the knowledge of this topic considering potential mediator variables, either personal or school variables. It was also found the need for a psychosocial intervention aimed at providing support for the students coming from adverse family contexts who exhibit low level of engagement associated with poor academic achievement and a higher probability of dropping out.(AU)

A valorização e a atualidade do construto "envolvimento dos alunos na escola" têm sido salientadas na literatura teórica, observando-se, no entanto, falta de estudos empíricos acerca da sua relação com variáveis familiares específicas. A presente investigação teve por finalidade analisar as pesquisas acerca das relações entre o envolvimento dos alunos na escola e os contextos familiares, especificamente as variáveis: suporte parental percebido, níveis socioeconômico e sociocultural, direitos percebidos e estilos educativos parentais. Para descrever o estado da arte do presente tema, "envolvimento na escola", e as "variáveis familiares", a metodologia utilizada foi a revisão da literatura de tipo narrativa. Os estudos revistos destacam a importância da família como contexto com influências significativas no envolvimento dos alunos na escola. Detectou-se a necessidade de aprofundar os estudos existentes, tendo em conta possíveis variáveis mediadoras, quer de natureza pessoal quer de tipo escolar, bem como de uma intervenção psicossocial aos alunos que, vindos de contextos familiares adversos, apresentam fraco envolvimento e rendimento escolares e uma maior probabilidade de abandono dos estudos.(AU)

Students' engagement in school and family variables: a literature review / Envolvimento dos alunos na escola e variáveis familiares: uma revisão da literatura

"Students' engagement in school" is regarded in the literature as a current and valued construct despite the lack of empirical studies on its relationship with specific family variables. The present research aimed to survey studies on the correlation between students' engagement in school and family contexts, specifically in terms of the following variables: perceived parental support, socioeconomic and sociocultural levels, perceived rights, and parental educational styles. In order to describe the state of the art of student's "engagement in school" and "family variables", a narrative review was conducted. The studies reviewed highlight the role of family as a context with significance in student's engagement in school. However, further research is needed to deepen the knowledge of this topic considering potential mediator variables, either personal or school variables. It was also found the need for a psychosocial intervention aimed at providing support for the students coming from adverse family contexts who exhibit low level of engagement associated with poor academic achievement and a higher probability of dropping out.

A valorização e a atualidade do construtor "envolvimento dos alunos na escola" têm sido salientadas na literatura teórica, observando-se, no entanto, falta de estudos empíricos acerca da sua relação com variáveis familiares específicas. A presente investigação teve por finalidade analisar as pesquisas acerca das relações entre o envolvimento dos alunos na escola e os contextos familiares, especificamente as variáveis: suporte parental percebido, níveis socioeconômico e sociocultural, direitos percebidos e estilos educativos parentais. Para descrever o estado da arte do presente tema, "envolvimento na escola", e as "variáveis familiares", a metodologia utilizada foi a revisão da literatura de tipo narrativa. Os estudos revistos destacam a importância da família como contexto com influências significativas no envolvimento dos alunos na escola. Detectou-se a necessidade de aprofundar os estudos existentes, tendo em conta possíveis variáveis mediadoras, quer de natureza pessoal quer de tipo escolar, bem como de uma intervenção psicossocial aos alunos que, vindos de contextos familiares adversos, apresentam fraco envolvimento e rendimento escolares e uma maior probabilidade de abandono dos estudos.

PREDICTORS OF SUICIDE RISK IN INCARCERATED MALE OFFENDERS: THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS.

AIM: This paper summarizes the results of a cross-sectional study aimed at exploring the role of personality disorders in predicting the suicide risk among males imprisoned for various offenses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data set used in analyses was based on the responses of 124 males imprisoned for various violent or non-violent offenses (M(age) = 32.39 years, SD = 8.43 years). Male offenders were interviewed using a form for demographic data and information on suicidal history. Also, they completed the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, as part of a broader protocol used in an ongoing study focused on the psychosocial and pharmacological aspects relevant to the diagnosis and management of personality disorders among inmates. RESULTS: At the time of data collection, forty-three respondents (34.7%) were diagnosed with at least one personality disorder. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple linear regression. The frequency of suicide attempts during the periods of freedom and during incarceration were significant predictors of suicide risk. Moreover, the diagnosis of personality disorder brought a significant addition to the power of final regression model, explaining almost 8% of the variance in suicide risk among the inmates. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of implementing prevention programs in correctional institutions, with screening and monitoring of inmates diagnosed with severe mental disorders as an important component.