Tackling addictive behaviors through memory suppression: A scoping review and perspective.

Forgetting is often viewed as a human frailty. However, over the years, it has been considered an adaptive process that allows people to avoid retrieval of undesirable memories, preventing them from suffering and discomfort. Evidence shows that the ability to suppress memories is affected by several psychopathological conditions characterized by persistent unwanted thoughts, including anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorders. Nevertheless, memory suppression (MS) mechanisms in addiction-a clinical condition characterized by recurrent drug-related thoughts that contribute to repeated drug use-have received little attention so far. Addiction theories reveal that drugs change behavior by working on memory systems, particularly on declarative memory, which is related to the retrieval and encoding of drug-related memories. In this review, the main behavioral and neurofunctional findings concerning the Think/No-Think task-an adaptation of the classical Go/No-Go tasks typically used to evaluate the suppression of motor response-are presented. We then show how the memory system can be involved in the craving or anticipation/preoccupation stage of the addiction cycle. Subsequently, the study of MS in the context of addictive behaviors is highlighted as a promising approach for gaining knowledge about the mechanisms contributing to the continuation of addiction. Finally, we discuss how interventions aiming to strengthen this ability could impact the anticipation/preoccupation stage by (i) reducing the accessibility of drug-related memories, (ii) decreasing craving and attention toward drug-related stimuli, and (iii) improving overall inhibition abilities. In conclusion, this review aims to illustrate how the study of MS may be a valuable approach to enhance our understanding of substance use disorders by unveiling the underlying cognitive and neural mechanisms involved, which could have important implications for addiction treatment.

Labour market participation among rehabilitated individuals with spinal cord injury in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: To document the labour market participation rate and investigate the impact of social and economic characteristics on this outcome among individuals with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) who participated in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme in Brazil. SETTING: A specialised rehabilitation centre in southern Brazil. METHODS: An interview was performed with former rehabilitation clients with SCI/D. A total of 111 community-dwelling individuals with SCI/D who had been previously rehabilitated in a large regional rehabilitation centre were considered. Employment status and demographic, injury, work, and economic characteristics were self-reported via interview. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: The labour market participation rate was 21.6% (24 individuals). Five respondents were employed in formal work activities, and the other 19 were involved in informal activities (self-employed). Since the onset of injury, a shorter time was associated with nonparticipation in occupational work. Individuals with a higher level of education were more likely to be working. Household income was higher among the participants who had returned to work than among those who had not returned. CONCLUSION: There is a relatively low labour market participation rate among rehabilitated individuals with SCI/D in southern Brazil. The rehabilitation services should emphasise vocational training, access to education, and employment support for individuals with SCI/D from early onset after the injury. Public policies must be revised to support labour market participation among individuals with SCI/D in Brazil.

O fazer que virou poesia: refletindo o trabalho da APS frente à COVID-19 em Macaé

Objetivo: O presente artigo objetiva relatar uma experiência vivenciada pelo grupo de alunos, professores e preceptores do Projeto PET-Saúde/Interprofissionalidade da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro/Campus Macaé no desenvolvimento de Oficinas Interprofissionais com três equipes de saúde da família atuantes no período da pandemia de COVID-19 no município de Macaé, no ano de 2020. Método: Trata-se de um relato de experiência. O trabalho envolveu as seguintes etapas: I) Caracterizando a APS no município de Macaé no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19; II) Planejamento das Oficinas Interprofissionais em saúde; III) Operacionalização das Oficinas; IV) Reflexões a partir da experiência retratada. Resultados: Os relatos traduzidos em forma de poesia expressaram de forma vívida o impacto de experienciar o trabalho das equipes de saúde da Família através das oficinas desenvolvidas. Reconhecer que a AB é uma linha de frente que precisa ser fortalecida, no sentido da capacitação dos profissionais, suporte técnico e material para realização da identificação de casos novos, bem como orientações para proceder ao isolamento domiciliar, acompanhamento e monitoramento dos contatos, pode fazer uma grande diferença na resposta do sistema de saúde à pandemia. Conclusões: Protagonizando ações de impacto significativo no enfrentamento da pandemia, o trabalho da APS pode ser fortalecido com ações de valorização dos profissionais e a promoção de espaços de diálogos e reflexões acerca dos seus próprios processos de trabalho, e os desdobramentos das mudanças a partir deles instituídas.

Forgetting Alcohol: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Memory Inhibition Training in Young Binge Drinkers.

Background: Binge Drinking (BD) has been associated with altered inhibitory control and augmented alcohol-cue reactivity. Memory inhibition (MI), the ability to voluntarily suppress unwanted thoughts/memories, may lead to forgetting of memories in several psychiatric conditions. However, despite its potential clinical implications, no study to date has explored the MI abilities in populations with substance misuse, such as binge drinkers (BDs). Method: This study-registered in the NIH Clinical Trials Database (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05237414)-aims firstly to examine the behavioral and electroencephalographic (EEG) correlates of MI among college BDs. For this purpose, 45 BDs and 45 age-matched non/low-drinkers (50% female) will be assessed by EEG while performing the Think/No-Think Alcohol task, a paradigm that evaluates alcohol-related MI. Additionally, this work aims to evaluate an alcohol-specific MI intervention protocol using cognitive training (CT) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) while its effects on behavioral and EEG outcomes are assessed. BDs will be randomly assigned to one MI training group: combined [CT and verum tDCS applied over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)], cognitive (CT and sham tDCS), or control (sham CT and sham tDCS). Training will occur in three consecutive days, in three sessions. MI will be re-assessed in BDs through a post-training EEG assessment. Alcohol use and craving will be measured at the first EEG assessment, and both 10-days and 3-months post-training. In addition, behavioral and EEG data will be collected during the performance of an alcohol cue reactivity (ACR) task, which evaluates attentional bias toward alcoholic stimuli, before, and after the MI training sessions. Discussion: This study protocol will provide the first behavioral and neurofunctional MI assessment in BDs. Along with poor MI abilities, BDs are expected to show alterations in event-related potentials and functional connectivity patterns associated with MI. Results should also demonstrate the effectiveness of the protocol, with BDs exhibiting an improved capacity to suppress alcohol-related memories after both combined and cognitive training, along with a reduction in alcohol use and craving in the short/medium-term. Collectively, these findings might have major implications for the understanding and treatment of alcohol misuse. Clinical Trial Registration: [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT05237414].

"It's a beer!": Brain functional hyperconnectivity during processing of alcohol-related images in young binge drinkers.

Alcohol attentional bias has been pointed as a major marker of alcohol misuse. Recent evidence has revealed that brain functional connectivity (FC) may be a valuable index of the brain networks' integrity in young binge drinkers (BDs). However, there is no study to date examining the FC networks linked to the processing of alcohol-related images in this population. The present study aimed to explore the FC signatures underlying alcohol attention bias in young BDs. Thus, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was recorded in 54 college students (55.5% females; 27 non/low-drinkers and 27 BDs) while performing a visual alcohol cue-reactivity task. We evaluated whole-brain FC profiles during the processing of alcoholic and non-alcoholic cues, as well as their potential relationship with craving and severity of alcohol use. Results showed that, at the behavioural level, BDs rated alcohol-related images as more pleasant/attractive than non/low-drinkers. Furthermore, at the electrophysiological level, BDs exhibited increased beta-band FC-particularly in the fronto-parieto-occipital network-when processing alcoholic cues. Conversely, they displayed reduced theta-band FC relatively to non/low-drinkers for non-alcoholic images. These hyper-/hypo-connectivity patterns were associated with higher alcohol craving levels. Findings are congruent with previous neurofunctional studies reporting an attentional bias towards alcohol-related information in BDs. These results may have important clinical implications as this neural reactivity to alcoholic cues may contribute to the maintenance and/or escalation of the drinking pattern. Finally, the present study constitutes the first evidence showing that FC networks may be a sensitive indicator to alcohol attentional bias in BDs.

Effects of the COVID-19 Mitigation Measures on Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking in College Students: A Longitudinal Survey.

To "flatten the curve" of COVID-19 contagion, several countries ordered lockdowns amid the pandemic along with indications on social distancing. These social isolation measures could potentially bring alterations to healthy behavior, including to alcohol consumption. However, there is hardly any scientific evidence of the impact of such measures on alcohol consumption and binge drinking (BD) among young adults, and how they relate to alcohol craving, stress, anxiety, and depression levels. We addressed these questions by conducting a longitudinal study with 146 Portuguese college students-regular binge drinkers (regular BDs), infrequent binge drinkers (infrequent BDs) and non-binge drinkers (non-BDs)-in three moments: before the pandemic (Pre-Lockdown), during lockdown (Lockdown) and 6 months after (Post-Lockdown). Results revealed that regular BDs decreased alcohol use during Lockdown, a change in behavior that was even greater during Post-Lockdown, when regular BDs displayed similar levels of consumption to infrequent/non-BDs. Additionally, alcohol craving and living with friends were predictive of alcohol use during Lockdown, whereas stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms did not contribute to explain changes in drinking behavior. Collectively, the results suggest that BD in young Portuguese college students can be stopped when the contexts in which alcohol intake usually takes place are suppressed, which may have important implications for future prevention and intervention strategies.

Portuguese validation of the Alcohol Craving Questionnaire-Short Form-Revised.

Alcohol craving has been described as a strong subjective desire to drink, being considered highly valuable in the clinical practice, as it is recognized as a strong predictor of alcohol relapse in alcohol-dependent individuals. However, to date, there is not a multifactorial questionnaire available for assessing short-term acute craving experience in Portugal. The aim of the present study was to validate a swift and efficient tool for the assessment of acute alcohol craving in a sample of Portuguese citizens. For that purpose, the Alcohol Craving Questionnaire-Short Form-Revised (ACQ-SF-R) was translated into European Portuguese and administered to a sample of 591 college participants with ages between 18 and 30 years. Results suggested that a three-factor model (i.e., Emotionality, Purposefulness, and Compulsivity) proved to be most suitable for the Portuguese sample. Overall, the ACQ-SF-R exhibited good psychometric properties, having a good internal consistency both for the general craving index (Cronbach's α = 0.85) and each subscale (Cronbach's α = 0.66-0.83), as well as an appropriate convergent validity with the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (r = 0.65, p<0.001), suggesting a good construct validity. In addition, the ACQ-SF-R also showed a good concurrent validity with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (r = 0.57, p<0.001), indicating that risky alcohol use patterns are associated with increased craving scores in the ACQ-SF-R. Collectively, these findings suggest that the Portuguese version of the ACQ-SF-R can accurately measure alcohol craving at a multifactorial level, being a valid and reliable tool to use in Portuguese samples in research settings.

Electroencephalographic signatures of the binge drinking pattern during adolescence and young adulthood: A PRISMA-driven systematic review.

Research on neurophysiological impairments associated with binge drinking (BD), an excessive but episodic alcohol use pattern, has significantly increased over the last decade. This work is the first to systematically review -following PRISMA guidelines- the empirical evidence regarding the effects of BD on neural activity -assessed by electroencephalography- of adolescents and young adults. A systematic review was conducted in 34 studies (N = 1723). Results indicated that binge drinkers (BDs) showed similar behavioral performance as non/low drinkers. The most solid electrophysiological finding was an augmented P3 amplitude during attention, working memory and inhibition tasks. This increased neural activity suggests the recruitment of additional resources to perform the task at adequate/successful levels, which supports the neurocompensation hypothesis. Similar to alcoholics, BDs also displayed increased reactivity to alcohol-related cues, augmented resting-state electrophysiological signal and reduced activity during error detection -which gives support to the continuum hypothesis. Evidence does not seem to support greater vulnerability to BD in females. Replication and longitudinal studies are required to account for mixed results and to elucidate the extent/direction of the neural impairments associated with BD.

The utility of heart rate variability as a prognostic factor in children with traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to do a literature review to prove the hypothesis that a change in autonomous nervous system regulation, more precisely a decrease in heart rate variability (HRV), is associated with a worse outcome and could be used as a prognostic factor in children with TBI. METHODS: Databases (Pubmed, World of Science and Scopus) studies were conducted from 1996 to 2017, considering HRV in children with TBI. Seven studies were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients that became brain dead had a markedly lower LF/HF ratio, with a significant decrease after the first few hours of hospitalization. Patients with a more favorable prognosis had significantly higher LF/HF ratios. DISCUSSION: The HRV can be useful when determining the severity of neurological damage and a prognostic factor in the evaluation of its recovery. However, to assess the true value of HRV monitoring in children with TBI, a prospective study with identified thresholds for HRV, comparison to the standard methods of assessment and predictions should be made blinded to outcome at admission and then through the clinical course including the post-acute phase of rehabilitation. In the absence of this, any recommendation for its use as a prognostic tool may be premature.

Perthes-Like Disease Masquerading Non-Classical MPS

Abstract Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are inborn errors of metabolism caused by deficient lysosomal enzymes, leading to organomegaly, hip osteonecrosis, coarse facial features, bone deformities, joint stiffness, cardiac and pulmonary symptoms (MPS VI) or hypermobility (MPS IVA). Some patients may present with non-classical forms of the disease in which osteoarticular abnormalities are the initial symptoms of non-classical forms. As orthopedists and surgeons are the specialists most frequently consulted before the diagnosis, it is critical that MPS may be considered as a differential diagnosis for patients with bone dysplasia. Experts in Latin America reviewed medical records focusing on disease onset, first symptoms and the follow-up clinical and surgical outcomes of non-classical MPS VI and IVA patients. All patients displayed orthopedic issues, which worsened over time, followed by cardiac and ophthalmological abnormalities. Our findings enlighten the necessity of including non-classical MPS as possible diagnosis for patients who report osteoarticular abnormalities in absence of inflammation.

Obesidade infantil: vivências familiares relativas ao processo de aconselhamento nutricional / Childhood obesity family experiences related to nutrition counseling process

Introdução: Diante do acelerado aumento da obesidade infantil e da ciência de que suas consequências perduram ao longo da vida, na grande maioria dos casos, fica evidente, a necessidade de prevenção precoce do excesso de peso na infância para reduzir esse importante problema de saúde pública. A promoção da alimentação adequada e saudável e a promoção da saúde estão intensamente relacionadas, por isso, tratar crianças com excesso de peso implica considerá-las em seus contextos familiares e sociais com um olhar além da gordura corporal, mas de respeito às suas histórias, sentimentos, conflitos, valores, crenças e saberes. Objetivo - Descrever, interpretar e compreender as vivências familiares relativas ao aconselhamento nutricional para crianças com obesidade. Métodos - Pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, com produção dos dados por meio de grupos focais. Os sujeitos participantes foram os familiares de crianças que realizam acompanhamento nutricional devido ao diagnóstico de obesidade na Policlínica Centro de São Bernardo do Campo. A amostragem foi constituída através do critério de saturação quando nos dados produzidos não emergiram novos temas que contribuíssem para a reflexão teórica. Foi utilizada análise de conteúdo para analisar os dados produzidos. Resultados - Foram realizados 12 grupos focais que compuseram uma amostra total de 13 participantes, entre eles, mães, avó e tia. As categorias que emergiram dos dados abarcaram as memórias alimentares da infância dos familiares; a imagem corporal das crianças percebidas pelos familiares e pelas próprias crianças, segundo as percepções dos familiares; a dimensão afetiva do comportamento alimentar; as manifestações infantis sobre o aconselhamento nutricional, segundo os familiares; às experiências familiares após o aconselhamento nutricional; as redes de apoio social reconhecidas, e os comportamentos alimentares familiares, tanto em ambiente doméstico, quanto no lazer. Conclusão - O alimento demonstrou ter funções que vão além do suprimento das necessidades biológicas por agregarem significados culturais, comportamentais e afetivos a partir dos quais os indivíduos se relacionam. As vivências e trajetória de vida de cada uma dessas famílias são únicas e fundamentam a forma como as situações são experienciadas individualmente por elas e impactam diretamente em suas atitudes e comportamentos. A comida e o comer se mostraram ligadas a história, as memórias e a dimensão afetiva que compõe cada uma dessas pessoas

Introduction - Faced with the accelerated increase in childhood obesity and the knowledge that its consequences lasts throughout life in the vast majority of cases, it is evident, the need for early prevention of overweight in childhood to reduce this important public health problem. The promotion of the adequate and healthy food, and the promotion of health are intensely related, therefore, treating overweight children involves considering them in their family and social contexts with a look beyond body fat, but that respects their stories, feelings, conflicts, values, beliefs and knowledges. Objective - To describe, interpret and understand family experiences related to nutritional counseling for obese children. Methods - Qualitative exploratory research, with the production of data through focus groups. The subjects of this research were the relatives of children who undergo nutritional monitoring due to the diagnosis of obesity in the Downtown Polyclinic of São Bernardo do Campo. The sampling was constituted through the saturation criterion when, in the data produced, no new themes emerged that contributed to the theoretical reflection. Content analysis was used to analyze the produced data. Results - Twelve focus groups comprised a total sample of 13 participants, including mothers, grandmother and aunt. The categories that emerged from the data encompassed the family members´s childhood memories around food; the body image of the children perceived by the relatives and

Vivências Acadêmicas e Sofrimento Psíquico de Estudantes de Psicologia / Academic Experiences and Psychological Suffering among Psychology students / Vivencias Académicas y el Sufrimiento Psíquico de los estudiantes de Psicología

Resumo A vivência estudantil na universidade é uma questão pouco investigada e discutida, especialmente nos cursos de Psicologia, assim como o sofrimento que pode acompanhá-la, decorrente sobretudo do contato com o sofrimento psíquico de outras pessoas ou os conteúdos acadêmicos mais diretamente relacionados com a subjetividade humana. Este artigo apresenta dados de uma pesquisa cujo objetivo era o levantamento das vivências acadêmicas dos estudantes de Psicologia de uma universidade pública do interior paulista. Na coleta de dados foi utilizado um instrumento, contendo uma questão de identificação sociodemográfica, um conjunto de 20 itens de múltipla escolha (formulado como numa escala do tipo likert de cinco pontos) e cinco questões abertas, que foi respondido por 119 estudantes dos cinco anos do curso. Os resultados, após serem submetidos às análises quantitativa e qualitativa, permitiram verificar que, na Escala Likert, os alunos apresentaram, no geral, percepção favorável do curso. No entanto, nas questões abertas referentes às vivências e ao sofrimento psíquico foram apresentados indicadores explícitos de mal-estar universitário. Na última questão, que indagava sobre a vivência de sofrimento psíquico, 107 dos 119 estudantes responderam afirmativamente. A partir destes dados, se discute a necessidade urgente de ações, tanto por parte dos gestores universitários quanto das entidades que fiscalizam a formação de psicólogos....(AU)

Abstract Academic experiences constitute a poorly discussed and researched subject, which is also truth for the suffering that may go along with such experiences, especially in the psychology courses, as well as the suffering that can accompany them, stemming mainly from contact with the psychic suffering of others or with an academic content more directly related to human subjectivity. This study presents data from a survey whose purpose was to map the academic experiences of psychology students, at a Brazilian public University. A questionnaire containing a question of socio-demographic identification, a set of 20 multiple-choice items (formulated as a Likert scale of five points) and five open questions was used to collect data by 119 students of the five years of the course. The results, after being subject to quantitative and qualitative analysis, allowed to verify, in Likert scale, that the students presented, in general, a favorable perception of the course. However, the open questions relating to experiences and psychological distress presented explicit indicators of university unease. In the last question, that inquired about the experience of psychological distress, 107 of 119 students responded affirmatively. From these data, we discuss the urgent need for action, both by university administrators and by the entities that oversee the training of psychologists....(AU)

Resumen La experiencia de los estudiantes en la universidad es un asunto poco investigado y discutido, sobre todo en los cursos de psicología, así como el sufrimiento que puede acompañarla, derivados principalmente del contacto con el sufrimiento psíquico de los demás, o con contenidos académicos más directamente relacionados con la subjetividad humano. Este artículo presenta datos de una encuesta cuyo objetivo fue estudiar las experiencias académicas de los estudiantes de psicología en una universidad pública de São Paulo. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó un cuestionario que contiene una pregunta de identificación sociodemográfico, un conjunto de 20 preguntas de elección múltiple (formulado como una escala Likert de cinco puntos) y cinco preguntas abiertas que fueron respondidas por 119 estudiantes de los cinco años del curso. Los resultados, después de haber sido objeto de un análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo, permiten verificar, en escala Likert, que los estudiantes presentan, en general, una percepción favorable del curso. Sin embargo, en las preguntas abiertas, relacionadas con las experiencias y los trastornos psicológicos, se presentaron indicadores explícitos de malestar universitario. En la última pregunta, que trataba acerca de la experiencia de sufrimiento psíquico, 107 de 119 estudiantes respondieron afirmativamente. A partir de estos datos, se discute la necesidad urgente de adoptar medidas, tanto por parte de los administradores de la universidad, como por parte las entidades que supervisan la formación de los psicólogos....(AU)

Escala de Sentido de Competência Parental (PSOC): estudos psicométricos / Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC): Psychometric studies / Escala de Sentido de Competencia Parental (PSOC): estudios psicométricos

O objetivo desta pesquisa consistiu em reforçar os estudos de validade e de precisão da escala de Sentido de Competência Parental (PSOC) com pais de crianças portuguesas, em uma amostra de 436 pais de crianças com 3 a 6 anos. A análise fatorial confirmatória confirmou o ajustamento dos dados a um modelo de dois fatores (Satisfação e Eficácia). As duas subescalas apresentaram bons índices de consistência interna. Os resultados mostraram-se negativamente correlacionados ao nível de atividade motora das crianças e positivamente com o bem-estar psicológico dos pais. Pais de crianças com problemas de comportamento externalizantes apresentaram resultados mais baixos. Não se observaram diferenças em função da idade da criança, mas os pais de meninos, mais velhos e mais escolarizados reportaram sentir-se menos eficazes. O nível de satisfação correlacionou-se positivamente à escolaridade dos pais. Os resultados documentaram as boas características psicométricas da PSOC portuguesa...

The main goal of this research was to reinforce validity and reliability studies of the Parenting Sense of Competence scale (PSOC) with parents of Portuguese children. The study was based on a sample of 436 parents of 3 to 6 year old children. CFA confirmed the data adjustment to a bi-factorial model (Satisfaction and Efficacy). Both subscales had good internal consistency. Results were negatively correlated with children’s activity level and positively with parents’ well-being. Parents of children with externalizing behavior problems scored lower. There were no differences according to children’s age but parents of boys, older and parents who were more educated rated themselves as having lower levels of efficacy, while parent’s education was positively correlated with satisfaction level. Results documented the good psychometric properties of the PSOC Portuguese version...

El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue reforzar los estudios de validez y fiabilidad de la escala de Sentido de Competencia Parental (PSOC) con padres de niños portugueses. Se realizó el estudio con base en una muestra de 436 padres con niños de entre 3 y 6 años. El AFC confirmó el ajuste de los datos a un modelo de dos factores (Satisfacción y Eficacia). Las dos subescalas mostraron buenos índices de consistencia interna. Los resultados reflejaron que índices más elevados en la PSOC correlacionan negativamente con el nivel de actividad motora de los niños y positivamente con el bienestar psicológico de los padres. Los padres de hijos con trastornos de conducta externalizante tuvieron resultados más bajos. No se han encontrado diferencias en función de la edad del niño, pero sí se encontró que los padres de varones, padres de más edad y con mayor nivel académico tienden a percibirse como menos eficaces. Por su parte, el nivel de satisfacción correlaciona positivamente con el nivel académico de los padres. Los resultados indicaron que la PSOC portuguesa tiene buenas características psicométricas...

Escala de Sentido de Competência Parental (PSOC): estudos psicométricos / Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC): Psychometric studies / Escala de Sentido de Competencia Parental (PSOC): estudios psicométricos

O objetivo desta pesquisa consistiu em reforçar os estudos de validade e de precisão da escala de Sentido de Competência Parental (PSOC) com pais de crianças portuguesas, em uma amostra de 436 pais de crianças com 3 a 6 anos. A análise fatorial confirmatória confirmou o ajustamento dos dados a um modelo de dois fatores (Satisfação e Eficácia). As duas subescalas apresentaram bons índices de consistência interna. Os resultados mostraram-se negativamente correlacionados ao nível de atividade motora das crianças e positivamente com o bem-estar psicológico dos pais. Pais de crianças com problemas de comportamento externalizantes apresentaram resultados mais baixos. Não se observaram diferenças em função da idade da criança, mas os pais de meninos, mais velhos e mais escolarizados reportaram sentir-se menos eficazes. O nível de satisfação correlacionou-se positivamente à escolaridade dos pais. Os resultados documentaram as boas características psicométricas da PSOC portuguesa.(AU)

The main goal of this research was to reinforce validity and reliability studies of the Parenting Sense of Competence scale (PSOC) with parents of Portuguese children. The study was based on a sample of 436 parents of 3 to 6 year old children. CFA confirmed the data adjustment to a bi-factorial model (Satisfaction and Efficacy). Both subscales had good internal consistency. Results were negatively correlated with children’s activity level and positively with parents’ well-being. Parents of children with externalizing behavior problems scored lower. There were no differences according to children’s age but parents of boys, older and parents who were more educated rated themselves as having lower levels of efficacy, while parent’s education was positively correlated with satisfaction level. Results documented the good psychometric properties of the PSOC Portuguese version.(AU)

El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue reforzar los estudios de validez y fiabilidad de la escala de Sentido de Competencia Parental (PSOC) con padres de niños portugueses. Se realizó el estudio con base en una muestra de 436 padres con niños de entre 3 y 6 años. El AFC confirmó el ajuste de los datos a un modelo de dos factores (Satisfacción y Eficacia). Las dos subescalas mostraron buenos índices de consistencia interna. Los resultados reflejaron que índices más elevados en la PSOC correlacionan negativamente con el nivel de actividad motora de los niños y positivamente con el bienestar psicológico de los padres. Los padres de hijos con trastornos de conducta externalizante tuvieron resultados más bajos. No se han encontrado diferencias en función de la edad del niño, pero sí se encontró que los padres de varones, padres de más edad y con mayor nivel académico tienden a percibirse como menos eficaces. Por su parte, el nivel de satisfacción correlaciona positivamente con el nivel académico de los padres. Los resultados indicaron que la PSOC portuguesa tiene buenas características psicométricas.(AU)