Validation of the advanced activities of daily living scale.

The objective was to evaluate the metric properties of the List of Advanced Activities of the Daily Living. A study quantitative was conducted. The sample comprised 200 older adults from the city of Pouso Alegre, Brazil. The following instruments were employed: 1- Questionnaire sociodemographic and health; 2- Vitor Quality of Life Scale for the Elderly (VITOR QLSE); and 3 - List of Advanced Activities in Daily Life - AAVDs. It was verified through the exploratory factorial analysis that the list possesses three denominated domains of Activities of Leisure, Social Activities and Productive Activities. The three-factor solution explained 58.18% of total variance: 30% by the first factor, 18.03% by the second, and 10.14% by the third. The coefficient alpha for the overall scale was 0.80. The list of AADLs presented reliable and valid metric properties to be applied in the elderly.

Different settings, different approaches: a qualitative comparison of Portuguese dietitians' beliefs, attitudes and practices about obesity in public and private settings.

OBJECTIVE: With obesity being a major public health epidemic, dietitians are charged with the difficult task to assist clients in modifying their behaviours. Since there are inconsistent data about dietitians' beliefs, attitudes and practices concerning obesity and little is known concerning differences in public and private practice, we conducted the present study to address those gaps. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews analysed according to thematic analysis procedures. SETTING: Public primary-care and private settings. SUBJECTS: Seventeen Portuguese registered dietitians working in public primary-care (n 10) and private settings (n 7). RESULTS: Regardless of work context, 'persistence of efforts' emerged as the main characteristic of dietitians' action. Besides holding negative attitudes towards obese patients, their practices are not negatively influenced. They perceive themselves as active agents in promoting lifestyle changes, offering as many management strategies as possible to empower patients, feeling positive about the accomplishment of a successful weight loss, believing in their own efficacy and competency in helping patients. However, differences in reimbursement, work environment, perceived barriers, patient characteristics and availability of resources seem to contribute to differences in persistence according to the setting in which dietitians are working, evidenced by an increase of efforts and engagement in private practice and a decrease in public primary-care practice. CONCLUSIONS: Portuguese dietitians present a positive mindset and actions about obesity treatment outcomes; however, education in behaviour change strategies should be improved. The public health system requires reorganization to enhance effective obesity management delivery. Motivation driving dietitians' work in private settings should be addressed.

Use of the "Mental Health Inventory - 5" with Portuguese 10-15 years old.

The present study describes the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Mental Health Inventory-5 for use with young adolescents. A sample of 367 Portuguese students (aged 10-15 years) completed the Portuguese-language versions of Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5; Berwick et al., 1991), Children's Hope Scale (CHS; Snyder et al., 1997), Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS; Huebner, 1991a), and Global Self-Worth Sub-scale (Harter, 1985). Analysis of readability, reliability (internal consistency and 1-year stability), factor structure, and criterion-related validity suggested that the MHI-5 can be appropriately used in this age group. Implications of the findings are discussed.

The Portuguese 35-item Survey of Pain Attitudes applied to Portuguese women with Endometriosis.

Background and aims Endometriosis is a gynecologic recurring persistent condition affecting from 8% to 15% of premenopausal women worldwide. About 80% of women with endometriosis have at least one form of chronic pain - a multidimensional experience influenced by a number of psychosocial factors, including pain-related beliefs. The Survey of Pain Attitudes is the most commonly used measure of pain-related beliefs. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of a brief version of the SOPA (the SOPA-35) in a sample of Portuguese women with Endometriosis. Methods A sample of 199 Portuguese women with Endometriosis provided demographic and pain history information, and completed a Portuguese version of the SOPA-35 and measures of pain intensity, disability, and psychological function. Analyses were performed to evaluate the factor structure of the Portuguese SOPA-35 items as well as the internal consistency, composite reliability, convergent validity, and concurrent validity of the scale scores. Results Confirmatory factor analysis supported a six-factor solution for a 19-item version of the Portuguese version of the Survey of Pain Attitudes (SOPA-19-P). The six scales evidenced marginal to good reliability (Cronbach's alphas: between 0.60 and 0.84; composite reliability: between 0.61 and 0.84). Four scales evidenced acceptable to good convergent validity (AVE: between 0.51 and 0.63). The findings also supported the concurrent validity of the SOPA-19-P. Conclusions The results support the use of the Portuguese SOPA-19-P for research and clinical purposes with Portuguese women in chronic pain due to endometriosis. Future research is warranted to further develop a European Portuguese version of SOPA. Implications The findings provide psychometric information about the SOPA-19-P. The results are helpful to researchers wishing to study the role of pain-related beliefs and their association with adjustment and treatment outcomes in women with chronic pain due to endometriosis.

Validation of the Portuguese Version of Impulsive-Premeditated Aggression Scale in an Inmate Population.

Aggression is one of the core symptoms of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) with therapeutic and prognostic relevance. ASPD is highly prevalent among inmates, being responsible for adverse events and elevated direct and indirect economic costs for the criminal justice system. The Impulsive/Premeditated Aggression Scale (IPAS) is a self-report instrument that characterizes aggression as either predominately impulsive or premeditated. This study aims to determine the validity and reliability of the IPAS in a sample of Portuguese inmates. A total of 240 inmates were included in the study. A principal component factor analysis was performed so as to obtain the construct validity of the IPAS impulsive aggression (IA) and premeditated aggression (PM) subscales; internal consistency was determined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient; convergent and divergent validity of the subscales were determined analyzing correlations with the Barratt Impulsiveness scale, 11th version (BIS-11), and the Psychopathic Checklist Revised (PCL-R). The rotated matrix with two factors accounted for 49.9% of total variance. IA subscale had 11 items and PM subscale had 10 items. The IA and PM subscales had a good Cronbach's alpha values of 0.89 and 0.88, respectively. The IA subscale is correlated with BIS-11 attentional, motor, and non-planning impulsiveness dimensions (p < 0.05). The PM subscale is correlated with BIS-11 attentional, motor impulsiveness dimensions (p < 0.05). The PM subscale is correlated with PCL-R interpersonal, lifestyle, and antisocial dimensions (p < 0.05). The IA subscale is not correlated with PCL-R. The Portuguese translated version of IPAS has adequate psychometric properties, allowing the measurement of impulsive and premeditated dimensions of aggression.

The hospital anxiety and depression scale, in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-lasting disabling disease with psychological implications. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is a questionnaire developed to screen anxiety and depression among patients in hospital settings. The objective of this report was to study the metric properties of the Portuguese version of HADS regarding MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Three hundred and eighty individuals with a diagnosis of MS, according to the revised McDonald criteria, were recruited from an outpatient Neuroimmunology Clinic of the city of Porto. Participants had a mean age of 40.04 years (SD =10.86), 63.9% of them were female. HADS consists of two subscales - anxiety and depression - scored separately, with seven items each. RESULTS: The results of our study show the appropriateness of HADS for the identification of mood changes in people with MS and show good metric properties. CONCLUSION: It seems to be a useful tool for the scrutiny of mood disorders in Portuguese patients with MS. The questionnaire is also sensitive to disease when compared to people with other severe illnesses, and with people without the disease.

O modelo de coping de Folkman e Lazarus: aspectos históricos e conceituais / Coping model of Folkman and Lazarus: historical and conceptual aspects / El modelo de coping de Folkman y Lazarus: aspectos históricos y conceptuales

Coping pode ser definido como um conjunto de estratégias cognitivas e comportamentais desenvolvidas pelas pessoas para lidar com as exigências internas e externas da relação entre o indivíduo e o ambiente. Essas estratégias estão relacionadas com a saúde mental, uma vez que podem moderar o impacto das adversidades ao longo da vida, além de aumentar os níveis de bem-estar psicológico e reduzir o sofrimento. Este trabalho consiste em um estudo de revisão narrativa da literatura sobre o modelo de coping de Folkman e Lazarus. Concluiu-se que a teoria de coping proposta por Folkman e Lazarus continua a ser uma importante ferramenta para explicar as estratégias utilizadas pelas pessoas diante de um evento estressante, bem como para desvelar intervenções a fim de ajudar os indivíduos a lidarem melhor com a situação de estresse.

Coping can be defined as a set of cognitive and behavioral strategies developed by people to deal with internal and external requirements of the relationship between the individual and the environment. These strategies are related to the mental health, once they can moderate the impact of the adversities throughout life, besides increasing the levels of psychological well-being and reducing the suffering. This work consists in a study of narrative review of the literature about the coping model of Folkman and Lazarus. It was concluded that the coping theory proposed by Folkman and Lazarus is still an important tool to explain the strategies used by people in face of a stressful event, as well as to exhibit interventions in order to help individuals to deal better with the stressful situation.

Coping puede ser definido como un conjunto de estrategias cognitivas y conductuales desarrolladas por las personas para hacer frente a las exigencias internas y externas de la relación entre el individuo y el ambiente. Estas estrategias están relacionadas con la salud mental, ya que pueden moderar el impacto de las adversidades a lo largo de la vida, además de aumentar los niveles de bienestar psicológico y reducir el sufrimiento. Este trabajo consiste en un estudio de revisión narrativa de la literatura sobre el modelo de coping de Folkman y Lazarus. Se concluyó que la teoría de coping propuesta por Folkman y Lazarus sigue siendo una importante herramienta para explicar las estrategias utilizadas por las personas ante un evento estresante, así como para desvelar intervenciones para ayudar a los individuos a lidiar mejor con la situación de el estrés.

Qualidade de vida: comparação entre idosos de uma comunidade brasileira e idosos institucionalizados / Quality of life: comparison between the elderly in a Brazilian community and the institutionalized elderly / Calidad de vida: comparación entre los ancianos de una comunidad brasileña y mayores institucionalizados

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a qualidade de vida entre idosos que vivem em uma comunidade brasileira, e idosos que vivem em instituições de longa permanência (ILPI). Trata-se de um estudo comparativo, transversal e quantitativo. Os idosos institucionalizados apresentaram escores menores estatisticamente significativos em todos os domínios de qualidade de vida, quando comparados aos idosos que vivem em comunidade Viver em uma instituição de longa permanência para idosos parece ser um fator que compromete a qualidade de vida dos idosos que lá vivem.

The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life among elderly people living in a Brazilian community, and elderly people living in long - term care institutions. It is a comparative, cross-sectional and quantitative study. The institutionalized elderly showed statistically significant lower scores in all domains of quality of life when compared to the elderly living in the community. Living in a long-term institution seems to be a factor that compromises the quality of life of the elderly living there.

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la calidad de vida entre personas mayores que viven en una comunidad brasileña, y mayores que viven en instituciones de larga permanencia. Se trata de un estudio comparativo, transversal y cuantitativo. Los ancianos institucionalizados presentaron escores menores estadísticamente significativos en todos los ámbitos de calidad de vida en comparación con los ancianos que viven en la comunidad. Vivir en una institución de larga permanencia parece ser un factor que compromete la calidad de vida de los mayores que viven allí.

Propriedades Psicométricas da Escala de Espiritualidade de Pinto e Pais-Ribeiro: Estudo com pessoas idosas residentes na comunidade / Psychometric properties of the Pinto and Pais-Ribeiro Spirituality Scale: Study with elderly people living in the community / Propiedades Psicométricas de la Escala de Espiritualidad de Pinto y Pais-Ribeiro: Estudio con personas mayores residentes en la comunidade

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar as propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Espiritualidade de Pinto e Pais-Ribeiro em idosos. A amostra foi de 400 idosos residentes em uma cidade metropolitana de São Paulo, Brasil. A solução dos dois fatores da escala explicou 72,6% da variância total; o coeficiente alfa global foi de 0,81; a validade de construto convergente, homogeneidade e de grupos contrastantes apresentaram resultados satisfatórios com valores de p < 0.01. A Escala apresentou propriedades métricas confiáveis e válidas para ser aplicada em pessoas idosas.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of Pinto Spirituality Scale and Pais-Ribeiro in the elderly. The sample was of 400 elderly people living in a metropolitan city of São Paulo, Brazil. The solution of the two factors of the scale explained 72.6% of the total variance; the overall alpha coefficient was 0.81; to the convergent construct validity, homogeneity and contrasting groups presented satisfactory results with values of p <0.01. The Scale presented reliable and valid metric properties to be applied in the elderly.

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Espiritualidad de Pinto y Pais-Ribeiro en ancianos. La muestra fue de 400 ancianos residentes en una ciudad metropolitana de São Paulo, Brasil. La solución de los dos factores de la escala explicó el 72,6% de la varianza total; el coeficiente alfa global fue de 0,81; la validez de constructo convergente, homogeneidad y de grupos contrastantes presentaron resultados satisfactorios con valores de p <0.01. La Escala presentó propiedades métricas confiables y válidas para ser aplicada en personas mayores.

Beliefs and practices of healthcare providers regarding obesity: a systematic review.

Despite the implementation of various intervention measures, the number of obese individuals remain high; thus, it is important to consider what is contributing to this scenario. Authors have been striving to understand the role healthcare providers, especially in primary healthcare, seem to play in this context. The present review aims to synthesize the main investigation results regarding beliefs, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers, as they seem to negatively influence the practitioner's actions. The words "obesity", "beliefs", "healthcare professionals", "general practitioners", "attitudes", "practices", "health physicians", and "family practitioners" were entered into databases, such as EBSCOHost, ScienceDirect, Psychlnfo, PubMed, and SciELO. Thirteen studies from 1991 to 2011 were reviewed. The data indicate a lack of appropriate understanding and adequate competence regarding obesity, which likely contributes to ambivalent belief development and negative attitudes toward obese individuals, who are described as unmotivated, lazy, and lacking self-control. These professionals consider it hard to deal with obesity, manifesting low expectations of success regarding weight loss, thus considering themselves unsuccessful. Their practices are inconsistent, mirroring a certain skepticism towards the efficacy of available interventions. Either during graduation or as active practitioners, it is imperative to make healthcare providers aware of the impact their beliefs regarding obesity can exert on their practices, as these may impair appropriate and effective treatment delivery to obese individuals.

Validity of four pain intensity rating scales.

The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Verbal Rating Scale (VRS), and the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) are among the most commonly used measures of pain intensity in clinical and research settings. Although evidence supports their validity as measures of pain intensity, few studies have compared them with respect to the critical validity criteria of responsivity, and no experiment has directly compared all 4 measures in the same study. The current study compared the relative validity of VAS, NRS, VRS, and FPS-R for detecting differences in painful stimulus intensity and differences between men and women in response to experimentally induced pain. One hundred twenty-seven subjects underwent four 20-second cold pressor trials with temperature order counterbalanced across 1°C, 3°C, 5°C, and 7°C and rated pain intensity using all 4 scales. Results showed statistically significant differences in pain intensity between temperatures for each scale, with lower temperatures resulting in higher pain intensity. The order of responsivity was as follows: NRS, VAS, VRS, and FPS-R. However, there were relatively small differences in the responsivity between scales. A statistically significant sex main effect was also found for the NRS, VRS, and FPS-R. The findings are consistent with previous studies supporting the validity of each scale. The most support emerged for the NRS as being both (1) most responsive and (2) able to detect sex differences in pain intensity. The results also provide support for the validity of the scales for use in Portuguese samples.

O suporte à família em cuidados paliativos / Family support in palliative care

Não faz sentido falar de cuidados paliativos sem referenciar uma equipa multidisciplinar e interdisciplinar que comporta diferentes profissionais, de diferentes áreas, que apoiem o doente e a família (TWYCROSS, 2003). Este é o desafio que o artigo apresenta, o de poder passar a visão psicossocial que envolve o mundo do doente paliativo e suas famílias, onde os cuidados de saúde considerados ativos estão centrados na dolência do ser humano. Pretende-se aqui contribuir para o conhecimento sobre as famílias no contexto de doença terminal recorrendo à investigação efetuada nesta área sistêmica e ao conhecimento empírico, enquanto investigadores e profissionais no trabalho diário com doentes e famílias em intenso sofrimento.

It makes no sense to talk about palliative care without referencing a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team approach comprising different professionals from different fields, supporting the patient and family (TWYCROSS, 2003). This is our challenge: the challenge to study the psychosocial world of palliative patients and their families, where health care are considered active and centered on the human being. We intend in this paper to contribute to the knowledge of the families in the context of terminal illness using the systemic research done in this area and our empirical knowledge, while researchers and practitioners in their daily work with patients and families in higher distress.

Adaptação transcultural Brasil-Portugal da escala de satisfação com o suporte social para estudantes do ensino superior / Brazil-Portugal transcultural adaptation of the social support satisfaction scale for college students

Realizou-se adaptação transcultural da Escala de Satisfação com o Suporte Social (ESSS) para a língua portuguesa. As qualidades psicométricas foram avaliadas numa amostra de 1.023 estudantes do ensino superior do Brasil e de Portugal. A partir dos resultados obtidos propõe-se uma versão modificada da ESSS com 12 itens que avaliam 4 dimensões. A versão modificada revelou adequada confiabilidade, validade fatorial, validade concorrente, divergente e discriminante com exceção dessa última para Satisfação com as Amizades e a Intimidade. A validade convergente esteve no limite do aceitável. Observou-se invariância dos pesos fatoriais entre Brasil e Portugal, permitindo sua utilização para a avaliação da Satisfação com o Suporte Social em estudantes do ensino superior de ambos os países.

The Social Support Satisfaction Scale (SSSS) was submitted to an adaptation to Portuguese language. Psychometric qualities of the SSSS were assessed in a sample of 1,023 university and college students from Brazil and Portugal. From the results obtained, we propose a modified version of the SSSS with 12 items that assess four dimensions (Satisfaction with Friendship, Intimacy, Satisfaction with Family and Social Activities). The modified version of the SSSS demonstrated good reliability; factorial validity; and concurrent, divergent and discriminant validity. Convergent valid is in the limit of what is acceptable. There was invariance of the factorial weights in the Portuguese and Brazilian samples, allowing its use for assessing "Social Support Satisfaction" in higher education students in both countries.

Crenças e práticas dos profissionais de saúde face à obesidade: uma revisão sistemática / Beliefs and practices of healthcare providers regarding obesity: a systematic review

Apesar da implementação de diversas medidas de intervenção, o número de obesos continua alto, fato que motiva interesse sobre o assunto, para que se possa contribuir para atenuar essa situação. Alguns autores têm procurado compreender o papel que os profissionais de saúde, principalmente os relacionados aos cuidados de saúde primários, parecem exercer nesse contexto. No presente artigo, pretendeu-se sintetizar os principais resultados de investigações relativas as crenças, atitudes e práticas de profissionais de saúde, visto que essas parecem influenciar negativamente em suas ações. As palavras obesity, beliefs, healthcare professionals, general practicioners, attitudes, practices, health physicians e family practicioners foram introduzidas em bases de dados tais como EBSCOHost, ScienceDirect, PsychInfo, PubMed e SciELO. Foram analisados 13 estudos, datados entre 1991 e 2011. Os dados indicam a ausência de conhecimentos e de competências adequados à obesidade, o que parece contribuir para o desenvolvimento de crenças ambivalentes e de atitudes negativas diante dos obesos, descrevendo-os como desmotivados, preguiçosos e com ausência de autocontrole. Esses profissionais consideram que lidar com o problema da obesidade não é facil, manifestando abertamente baixas expectativas de resultados quanto à perda de peso, e por isso, mal-sucedidos. As práticas demonstradas são inconsistentes, refletindo algum ceticismo quanto à eficácia das intervenções existentes. Torna-se peremptório alertar os profissionais de saúde, quer durante o seu processo de formação, quer durante a sua vida profissional, para o impacto que as crenças relativas à obesidade podem exercer nas suas práticas, as quais poderão comprometer o tratamento adequado e eficaz dos indivíduos obesos.

Despite the implementation of various intervention measures, the number of obese individuals remain high; thus, it is important to consider what is contributing to this scenario. Authors have been striving to understand the role healthcare providers, especially in primary healthcare, seem to play in this context. The present review aims to synthesize the main investigation results regarding beliefs, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers, as they seem to negatively influence the practitioner's actions. The words "obesity", "beliefs", "healthcare professionals", "general practitioners", "attitudes", "practices", "health physicians", and "family practitioners" were entered into databases, such as EBSCOHost, ScienceDirect, Psychlnfo, PubMed, and SciELO. Thirteen studies from 1991 to 2011 were reviewed. The data indicate a lack of appropriate understanding and adequate competence regarding obesity, which likely contributes to ambivalent belief development and negative attitudes toward obese individuals, who are described as unmotivated, lazy, and lacking self-control. These professionals consider it hard to deal with obesity, manifesting low expectations of success regarding weight loss, thus considering themselves unsuccessful. Their practices are inconsistent, mirroring a certain skepticism towards the efficacy of available interventions. Either during graduation or as active practitioners, it is imperative to make healthcare providers aware of the impact their beliefs regarding obesity can exert on their practices, as these may impair appropriate and effective treatment delivery to obese individuals.

General anesthesia, surgery and hospitalization in children and their effects upon cognitive, academic, emotional and sociobehavioral development - a review.

We reviewed current knowledge about cumulative and differential consequences of general anesthesia, surgery and hospitalization upon cognitive, academic, emotional and sociobehavioral development in children. Our strategy was to search the databases Pub Med and PsycINFO for all articles published between 1990 and May 2002. Based on the abstracts, we included all articles that related in any way to our subject of interest. Analysis of the articles showed preoperative anxiety as the main contributing factor to perioperative negative developmental effects. These were generally limited in duration and reversible. Research in this area tries to investigate predictors of increased anxiety, as well as the efficacy of different interventional programs for reduction of preoperative anxiety. We found no studies attempting to differentiate the relative influences of 'anesthetic stress', 'surgical stress' and 'hospitalization stress' on 'negative outcomes', 'areas of development affected' or 'duration of effects'. There are very few studies on academic and cognitive consequences. There is a need for more research in this area to provide useful guidelines for clinicians, to identify risk situations and to prevent negative outcomes.

Sobrevivente de cancro: uma outra realidade / Cancer survivors: another reality

Nas últimas décadas tem-se verificado uma melhoria significativa do prognóstico das pessoasportadoras de cancro, emergindo com peso crescente a problemática dos sobreviventes de cancro. Apesar deo conceito ter entrado na literatura referente à oncologia, não há consenso sobre a sua definição. A substânciado conceito, ora assenta numa perspectiva mais biomédica, partindo de dados objectivos como os anos desobrevida, ora em outras perspectivas relacionadas com as idiossincrasias individuais e a trajectória da doença.Numa óptica qualitativa, mais do que a longevidade, há que incluir a avaliação da pessoa sobre as implicações da doença e dos tratamentos na vida pessoal, familiar e social. Compreender como as pessoas sobreviventes geremo impacto do cancro e a experiência das transformações na vida torna-se relevante para todos os profissionaisde saúde, de modo a potenciar uma sobrevivência de qualidade...

In recent decades, a significant prognostic improvement in people with cancer has been verified, thus emerging as an important issue the problem set of cancer survivors. Although this concept is integrated in modern oncology literature, we found no consensus about its definition. Some authors emphasized a biomedical approach, using objective data, like the number of surviving years. Others included other perspectives related to individual characteristics and disease trajectory. From a qualitative point of view, more than longevity, wemust include an evaluation of the personÆs disease based on its implications to personal, familiar, and social life. Understanding how cancer survivors deal with the impact of the disease and their transformations is relevant for all health professionals, in order to promote a better quality of survival...

Validity and reliability of the portuguese version of the dispositional flow scale-2 in exercise

This study aimed to analyze the factorial validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of the Dispositional Flow Scale-2 (DFS-2; Jackson and Eklund, 2002) with a sample of 1437 exercise participants, a population in which flow has not been widely studied. The CFA adjustment indices of the nine-factor first-order structure were acceptable. Both the time transformation and loss of self-consciousness scales presented modest correlations with the remaining flow dimensions. Internal consistency estimates were satisfactory for all flow factors. Except for time transformation, all the dispositional flow scales correlated with perceived competence in and enjoyment of exercise. These findings provide support for the validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of the DFS-2 for measuring flow experiences in exercise. The use of the nine flow factor level scores rather than a single global score is recommended (AU)

El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido analizar la validez y fiabilidad de la versión portuguesa de la Escala de Flow Disposicional-2 (DFS-2; Jackson y Eklund, 2002) en una muestra de 1437 practicantes de ejercicio, una población en que el flow ha sido menos estudiado. Los AFC revelaron índices de ajuste aceptables para un modelo de 9 factores interrelacionados. Las escalas de transformación del tiempo y de pérdida de autoconsciencia tienen correlaciones modestas con las restantes dimensiones de flow. Todos los factores presentan valores satisfactorios de consistencia interna. A excepción de la escala de transformación del tiempo, la percepción de competencia y placer/satisfacción para el ejercicio se correlacionan significativamente con todas las escalas del flow. Los resultados apoyan la validez y fiabilidad de la versión portuguesa de la DFS-2 para evaluar la experiencia de flow en el ejercicio. Se recomienda el uso de los nueve factores del flow (AU)

Dispositional optimism is unidimensional or bidimensional? the Portuguese revised life orientation test

The aim of the study is to adapt and then discuss the appropriateness of the Life Orientation Test as a one or two dimension scale. The research includes two studies; one is composed of a sequential sample of 280 people with multiple sclerosis, 71 % female, and another includes a convenience sample of 615 individuals from the community, 51.1% female. Because the construct is built upon a theoretical assumption that has one dimension, we examine the hypothesis of one or two factor solutions through confirmatory factor analysis, and the two-dimension solution premise demonstrates better adjustment for both samples. The other psychometric properties explored show appropriate results for the Portuguese sample, and similar to the original ones; the Test therefore seems appropriate for use in cross cultural studies. Based on our results, we discuss whether the questionnaire is a one or two dimension instrument, concluding that it appears appropriate to accept the recommendations of the original authors to use it as a one-dimensional tool and, when necessary, to use both dimensions (AU)

El objetivo del estudio es adaptar y discutir la adecuación de la prueba de Orientación de la Vida en una o dos escalas de dimensión. La investigación engloba dos estudios, uno constituido por una muestra secuencial de 280 personas con esclerosis múltiple, 71% mujeres y otro con una muestra de conveniencia de la comunidad de 615 individuos, 51,1% del sexo femenino. Como el constructo se asienta sobre la presunción teórica de que tiene una dimensión, inspeccionamos la hipótesis de una o dos soluciones de factor a través del análisis factorial confirmatorio y la hipótesis de dos dimensiones manifiesta un mejor ajuste para ambas muestras. Las otras propiedades psicométricas exploradas muestran los resultados apropiados para la muestra portuguesa, y semejantes a los originales. Parece apropiado para los estudios culturales transversales. Basándonos en nuestros resultados, discutimos si el cuestionario es un instrumento de una o dos dimensiones, concluyéndose que parece conveniente seguir las recomendaciones de los autores originales, para utilizarlo como un instrumento unidimensional y, si fuera necesario necesario, utilizar cada una de las dimensiones (AU)

Use of the «Mental Health Inventory - 5» with Portuguese 10-15 years old

The present study describes the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Mental Health Inventory-5 for use with young adolescents. A sample of 367 Portuguese students (aged 10-15 years) completed the Portuguese-language versions of Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5; Berwick et al., 1991), Children’s Hope Scale (CHS; Snyder et al., 1997), Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS; Huebner, 1991a), and Global Self-Worth Sub-scale (Harter, 1985). Analysis of readability, reliability (internal consistency and 1-year stability), factor structure, and criterion-related validity suggested that the MHI-5 can be appropriately used in this age group. Implications of the findings are discussed (AU)

El presente estudio describe las propiedades psicométricas de la versión en portugués del Mental Health Inventory-5 para su uso con los jóvenes adolescentes. Una muestra de 367 estudiantes portugueses (10-15 años de edad) completaron la versión en portugués del Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5; Berwick et al., 1991), Children’s Hope Scale (CHS; Snyder et al., 1997), Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS; Huebner, 1991a), y Global Self-Worth Sub-scale (Harter, 1985). Análisis de la comprensión de la lectura, de la fiabilidad (consistencia interna y 1año de estabilidad), de la estructura factorial y de la validez relacionada con el criterio sugiere que el MHI-5 puede ser utilizado con este grupo de edad. Se analizan las implicaciones de los resultados (AU)

Psychometric Properties of a Brief Version of the Escala de Satisfação com o Suporte Social for Children and Adolescents

The main objective of this study was to develop a brief versión of the Escala de Satisfação com o Suporte Social for children and adolescents (Ribeiro, 1999). A representative sample of 3195 children and adolescents was obtained from 5th and 7th graders throughout all five Portuguese regions. The results showed a good internal consistency for the social support satisfaction factor, α = 0.84; acceptable for the necessity for activities connected to social support factor, α = 0.69. By using ANOVA, gender, age and socioeconomic status related differences were identified. A confirmatory factorial analysis was done and an adjusted model was found by taking off item 5. The concurrent validity was inspected with measures related to social support, such as optimism, self-worth and perceptions of health related quality of life. With this analysis, we verified that women and younger participants (< 12 years) showed a higher social support satisfaction. Mediumhigh socioeconomic status participants showed a higher negative social support satisfaction. These results suggest the validity of the scale in assesing perceptions of social support (AU)

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue desarrollar una versión breve de la Escala de Satisfacción con el apoyo social (ESSS) de Ribeiro (1999) para niños, niñas y adolescentes. Una muestra representativa de 3195 niños y adolescentes se obtuvo de alumnos de 5º y 7º grados de las cinco regiones portuguesas. Los resultados mostraron una buena consistencia interna para el factor de satisfacción con el apoyo social, α = 0,84; y aceptable para el factor de necesidad de actividades conectadas al apoyo social, α = 0,69. Se identificaron las diferencias relativas al género, edad y status socioeconómico a través de ANOVA. Se llevó a cabo un análisis factorial confirmatorio y se llegó a un modelo ajustado retirando el item 5. Se comprobó la validez concurrente con variables relacionadas con el apoyo social, incluido el optimismo, la autoestima y la percepción subjetiva de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Los análisis mostraron que son las chicas y los sujetos menores de 12 años los que informan de mayor satisfacción con el apoyo social percibido. Los sujetos de status socioeconómico medio-alto mostraron una satisfacción más alta con el apoyo social negativo. Los resultados parecen confirman la validez de la escala para la evaluación del apoyo social percibido (AU)