Validation of the Portuguese version of the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) in a sample of bereaved individuals.

The Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) evaluates the ability to integrate stressful experiences into one's meaning system. The present study developed and validated a version of this scale for a bereaved Portuguese-speaking population, utilizing a sample of 242 adults who had lost a significant other to diverse causes of death. The sample was predominantly female, educated, married, or in consensual unions, and actively employed. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure, consisting of 13 items, showing adequate local and global goodness-of-fit and supporting the proposed original structure. Convergent evidence based on internal structure was found for the two dimensions (Comprehensibility and Footing in the World). Regarding reliability, Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega computed for each factor showed good internal consistency and the average inter-item correlation was considered satisfactory. This psychometric support for ISLES underscores its relevance in enhancing the knowledge of meaning-making processes in the Portuguese context.

Is Negative Affect that Bad? The Effect of Affective States on Conventional and Unconventional Creative Thinking in University Students.

Introduction: The role of affective states on the creative process has been receiving the attention of researchers and has led to contradictory results. Most research in creativity has emphasized the role of affective states, mainly positive ones, on creativity levels, namely those resulting from divergent thinking tasks that reveal the unconventional way of thinking in the creative process. However, there are no studies to date that focus on the impact of affective states on conventional and unconventional thinking, during the same creative process, which consider a single creative assessment task. The aim of this experimental study was to analyze the effect of induced affective states on both conventional and unconventional thinking of creativity in adults by using the TCT-DP (Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing Production). Method: Seventy-five university students, mostly female, with a mean age of 26.95 years, were randomly assigned into three affect elicitation conditions (pleasant vs. unpleasant vs. neutral). Results: Results indicated that the negative affective state led to higher levels of conventional thinking when compared to positive and neutral affective states. However, no significant differences were found on unconventional thinking across the three conditions. Conclusions: Our results do not support the assumption that the negative affect has a hindering effect on creativity nor the positive affect increases creativity. Negative affect seems to promote conventional thinking, perhaps due to its cognitive correlates, which can be manifested in focusing attention and analytic thinking. Practical and theoretical implications for future research on the role of affective states on creativity are discussed.

Introducción: El papel de los estados afectivos en el proceso creativo ha sido objeto de atención por parte de los investigadores y ha dado lugar a resultados contradictorios. La mayor parte de la investigación en creatividad ha hecho hincapié en el papel de los estados afectivos, principalmente los positivos, sobre los niveles de creatividad. A saber, los resultantes de las tareas de pensamiento divergente que revelan la forma no convencional de pensar en el proceso creativo. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el efecto de los estados afectivos inducidos en dos dimensiones distintas del pensamiento creativo en adultos. Método: Setenta y cinco voluntarios, en su mayoría mujeres, con una edad media de 26.95 años, fueron asignados aleatoriamente a tres condiciones de elicitación de estados afectivos (agradable vs desagradable vs neutral), justo antes de realizar una tarea de creatividad figurativa. Resultados: Los resultados indicaron que el estado afectivo negativo condujo a niveles más altos de pensamiento convencional. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados no apoyan ni la hipótesis de que el afecto negativo tiene un efecto perjudicial sobre la creatividad ni la de que el afecto positivo aumenta la creatividad. El afecto negativo parece promover el pensamiento convencional, quizá debido a sus correlatos cognitivos, que pueden manifestarse en la atención focalizada y el pensamiento analítico. Se discuten las implicaciones prácticas y teóricas para futuras investigaciones sobre el papel de los estados afectivos en la creatividad.

Sintomatologia musculosquelética nos estudantes de enfermagem: o papel dos fatores psicossociais / Musculoskeletal symptoms in nursing students: the role of psychosocial factors / Sintomatología musculoesquelética en estudiantes de enfermería: el papel de los factores psicosociales

Resumo Enquadramento: Durante todo o curso, os estudantes de enfermagem estão expostos a fatores que podem contribuir para uma diminuição da sua qualidade de vida e do seu estado de saúde em geral, quando associados a sintomatologia musculoesquelética. Objetivo: Identificar os fatores psicossociais associados à presença de sintomatologia musculoesquelética no estudante do curso de licenciatura em enfermagem. Metodologia: Estudo transversal, com 253 estudantes de escolas superiores de enfermagem. A recolha de dados foi realizada em março e abril de 2018, através de um questionário autopreenchido incluindo variáveis sociodemográficas, bem como questionários Nórdico Músculo-esquelético (QNM), Questionário Estado de Saúde (SF-36) e a Escalas de Ansiedade Depressão e Stress (EADS-21). Resultados: A ansiedade, stress e depressão foram identificadas como variáveis associadas à presença de sintomatologia musculoesquelética, interferindo na saúde dos estudantes de enfermagem. Conclusão: Existem fatores psicossociais associados à sintomatologia musculosquelética nos estudantes de enfermagem. Conhecer estes fatores de risco irá permitir que se possam planear atempadamente estratégias de prevenção e, também, contribuir para a potenciação do processo de aprendizagem.

Abstract Background: Throughout their education, nursing students are exposed to factors that can decrease their quality of life and general health status when associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Objective: To identify the psychosocial factors associated with the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms in undergraduate nursing students. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with 253 students from university-level nursing schools. Data were collected between March and April 2018 through a self-administered questionnaire including sociodemographic variables and the Portuguese versions of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (EADS-21). Results: Anxiety, stress, and depression were identified as variables associated with the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms affecting nursing students' health. Conclusion: There are psychosocial factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in nursing students. Understanding these risk factors will allow for the timely planning of prevention strategies and contribute to enhancing the learning process.

Resumen Marco contextual: Durante todo el curso, los estudiantes de enfermería están expuestos a factores que pueden contribuir a la disminución de su calidad de vida y de su estado de salud en general cuando se asocian con la sintomatología musculoesquelética. Objetivo: Identificar los factores psicosociales asociados con la presencia de sintomatología musculoesquelética en el estudiante de enfermería. Metodología: Estudio transversal, con 253 estudiantes de escuelas de enfermería. La recopilación de datos se llevó a cabo en marzo y abril de 2018 mediante un cuestionario autocompletado que incluía variables sociodemográficas, así como los cuestionarios Nórdico Músculo-esquelético (QNM), Cuestionario Estado de Salud (SF-36) y la Escalas de Ansiedad, Depresión y Estrés (EADS-21). Resultados: La ansiedad, el estrés y la depresión se identificaron como variables asociadas a la presencia de sintomatología musculoesquelética, que interfieren en la salud de los estudiantes de enfermería. Conclusión: Hay factores psicosociales asociados con la sintomatología musculoesquelética en los estudiantes de enfermería. Conocer estos factores de riesgo permitirá planificar oportunamente las estrategias de prevención y contribuirá también a mejorar el proceso de aprendizaje.

Validation of a new tool for evaluating subjects' satisfaction with medicine package leaflets: a cross-sectional descriptive study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Package leaflets of medicines need to be intelligible, but tools for their evaluation are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To validate a new tool for assessing subjects' satisfaction with medicine package leaflets (LiS-RPL). DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in two regions of Portugal (Lisbon and Centre). METHODS: 503 participants (53.1% male) were selected according to convenience and homogenously distributed into three groups: 1 to 6; 7 to 12; and > 12 years of schooling. LiS-RPL was developed based on international regulation guidelines and was initially composed of 14 items. Twelve package leaflets were tested. Dimensionality calculations included: exploratory factor analysis and minimum rank factor analysis; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index and Bartlett's sphericity test to assess matrix adequacy for exploratory factor analysis; exploratory bifactor analysis with Schmid-Leiman solution to detect possible existence of a broad second-order factor; and Bentler's Simplicity Index and Loading Simplicity Index to assess factor simplicity. Diverse coefficients were calculated to assess reliability. RESULTS: Minimum rank factor analysis detected a two-factor or single-factor structure. Exploratory factor analysis with 12 items showed a two-factor structure, explaining 69.11% of the variance. These items were strongly correlated with each other (r = 0.80). Schmid-Leiman: all items seemed to represent the general factor (loadings above 0.50), which was 76.4% of the extracted variance. Simplicity indices were good (percentile 99): Bentler's Simplicity Index of 0.99 and Loading Simplicity Index of 0.48. Internal consistency indexes indicated good reliability. LiS-RPL was shown to be homogenous. CONCLUSION: LiS-RPL is a validated tool for evaluating subjects' satisfaction with medicine package leaflets.

Validation of a new tool for evaluating subjects' satisfaction with medicine package leaflets: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Package leaflets of medicines need to be intelligible, but tools for their evaluation are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To validate a new tool for assessing subjects' satisfaction with medicine package leaflets (LiS-RPL). DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in two regions of Portugal (Lisbon and Centre). METHODS: 503 participants (53.1% male) were selected according to convenience and homogenously distributed into three groups: 1 to 6; 7 to 12; and > 12 years of schooling. LiS-RPL was developed based on international regulation guidelines and was initially composed of 14 items. Twelve package leaflets were tested. Dimensionality calculations included: exploratory factor analysis and minimum rank factor analysis; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index and Bartlett's sphericity test to assess matrix adequacy for exploratory factor analysis; exploratory bifactor analysis with Schmid-Leiman solution to detect possible existence of a broad second-order factor; and Bentler's Simplicity Index and Loading Simplicity Index to assess factor simplicity. Diverse coefficients were calculated to assess reliability. RESULTS: Minimum rank factor analysis detected a two-factor or single-factor structure. Exploratory factor analysis with 12 items showed a two-factor structure, explaining 69.11% of the variance. These items were strongly correlated with each other (r = 0.80). Schmid-Leiman: all items seemed to represent the general factor (loadings above 0.50), which was 76.4% of the extracted variance. Simplicity indices were good (percentile 99): Bentler's Simplicity Index of 0.99 and Loading Simplicity Index of 0.48. Internal consistency indexes indicated good reliability. LiS-RPL was shown to be homogenous. CONCLUSION: LiS-RPL is a validated tool for evaluating subjects' satisfaction with medicine package leaflets.