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- Qualidade de vida em pessoas idosasPublication . Fernandes, Rosina; Martins, Emília; Mendes, Francisco; Sargento, JoséA avaliação da qualidade de vida (QV) no processo envelhecimento apresenta-se como decisiva atendendo às suas implicações na saúde e bem-estar das pessoas idosas. A complexidade do construtor impõe que esta avaliação integre múltiplas variáveis. Desenvolveu-se um estudo exploratório de tipo ex post facto para caracterizar e contratar a qualidade de vida em idosos da região Centro de Portugal, institucionalizados e a viver em comunidade, considerando variáveis sociodemográficas, nível cognitivo estado nutricional e prát.ica de atividade física (AF)
- Nutritional level, health, and subjective well-being in elderlyPublication . Martins, Emília; Fernandes, Rosina; Mendes, Francisco; Pocinho, R.; Margarido, C.; Santos, R.; Marques. L.; Trindade, B.; Silva, S.; Gordo, S.Literature points out the positive association between food, good health, and life satisfaction, manly in elderly. The purpose of this ex post facto quantitative study was to analyse the relationship between nutrition level, health, and subjective well-being, also exploring sociodemographic variables, in a convenience sample of 550 community-dwelling elderly. Participants were between 63 and 94 (72,85+6,56) years-old, mostly female (69,3%), from the inland (79,2%), living accompanied (62,2%) and in rural areas (67,9%). A sociodemographic questionnaire, Mini-Nutritional Assessment, Satisfaction With Life Scale, and Positive and Negative Affect Scales were used in data collection. Data analysis was performed in SPSS 27, assuming a 95% confidence level. Nutritional level was positively correlated with life satisfaction (r,- ,165, p= ,004) and inverse associated with negative affect (r,- -,308, p<,00l). Those who showed a very bad self-perception of health, were older and lived alone, presented lower nutritional levels (p<,05). Participants with health problems showed higher levels of negative affect (p<,001). Elderly with better health self-perception presented higher results in life satisfaction - (•,-271 , p<,001) and positive affect (r,-244, p<,001), contrary to those with worst self-perception of health, who were older (r,- -, 178, p<,001), with higher BMI (r,- - 173, p<,001) and also higher scores in negative affect (r,- -,217, p<,001). The results in our sample confirmed the previous relationship between the variables studied. It emphasizes the assessment of nutritional status and health education, as well as creating policies to promote the practice of physical activity in cities.
- Cognitive Impact Of Breakfast Consumption On School Age Children And YouthPublication . Martins, Emília; Mendes, Francisco; Fernandes, Rosina; Sargento, JoséThe literature has shown a positive impact of breakfast on cognitive performance of school-age children and youth, although this meal is often omitted by young people. This study reviews 30 previous studies, focusing on this population, published in PubMed and MEDLINE databases until September 2019. To allow the integration of the largest possible number of published studies in this analysis, the search terms had to be as comprehensive as possible. Breakfast, cognitive impact, children, and youth were the terms chosen. The main conclusions are that the differentiated effects on the several dimensions of cognition (attention, memory, aptitudes and school performance, among others) also depend on the variables and instruments used, on the population background and characteristics, and on the study conditions. Evidence also shows the difficult to isolate the direct effects due to the confounding variables. Despite some results where the relationship between breakfast and cognition is far from obvious, the existence of this effect (often mediated by individual and contextual variables) is clearly more evident than the mechanisms by which it manifests itself. So, scientific evidence plays a crucial role in the search for the ideal breakfast and to prove the importance of making breakfast a vital daily habit. Studies point to a greater visibility of consequences in processes that are more likely to trigger short-term influences.
- Intervenção do educador social com recurso a tecnologias: propostas de estudantes de licenciaturaPublication . Fernandes, Rosina; Martins, Emília; Sargento, José; Mendes, Francisco
- Entrepreneurship in higher education students of the social areaPublication . Fernandes, Rosina; Sargento, José; Martins, Emília; Mendes, Francisco; Felizardo, SaraIn higher education (IE), entrepreneurship education traditionally occurs in areas of the business world (economics, management). The uncertainty of the labor market requires an entrepreneurial profile, also in the social area. Innovation is increasingly necessary in a social context and the promotion of creativity and design-thinking in the creation of business ideas in these students is crucial. 41 students, 97.5% female, finalists of the Social Education degree, explored their own job creation. An ad hoc questionnaire was used, and responses were submitted to content analysis. The majority (92.6%) showed interest in starting a new company and the others were motivated to innovate existing companies. The investment intention focused on supporting elderly in the community (32.6%) or in institutions (10.8) and people with disabilities (21.7%). Support for the community in general and for minority groups emerged with 10.8% each. The development of community intervention projects and home support services registered, respectively, 46.3% and 36.5%. The majority of students intend to support the business through foreign capital, namely bank loans (41.4%). With less representativeness, own capital (eg anticipation of unemployment benefits - 12.1%) emerged and 36.5% of students did not anticipate the financial support of creating their own jobs. The results are encouraging in relation to students with signs of entrepreneurship in less common areas (social area). Doubts about financial support may result from less investment in these students, highlighting an important path to be taken by higher education institutions.
- Well-Being At Work: A Study With Social EducatorsPublication . Fernandes, Rosina; Sargento, José; Martins, Emília; Mendes, FranciscoEmployee health and well-being are on organizations leaders’ agendas, including in the social area. So, this study aimed to explore the associations between job satisfaction and other well-being at work variables (success, salary, and occupation’s prestige) in a recent social sector profession. Also, intended to reflect on its importance in promoting health and well-being in workers who daily deal with other’s suffering. This quantitative study involved 74 employed Portuguese Social Educators, 94.6% female with mean age of 30.12±8.94. A questionnaire was specifically prepared for this research project, given the scarcity of studies about well-being at work in Social Education area. SPSS 25 was used for data analysis, assuming a 95% confidence level. Job satisfaction was positively correlated (p≤.05) with success and prestige. Salary was relevant (p≤.05) to job satisfaction, regardless of whether the professionals were working in the training area. In those who were, job satisfaction was also correlated with the desire to keep the job (p=.002). Participants with higher success, career satisfaction and prestige were more optimistic about professional future (p≤.05). Given the Social Educators intervention in high risk and social vulnerability contexts, work benefits such as access to counselling or other health initiatives preventing occupational stress and burnout, may be an effective alternative to salary increase, often difficult to social organizations. It’s effect on satisfaction and success, together with growing social recognition of profession is essential for these workers well-being.
- Food intake, physical activity and quality of life among children and youthPublication . Martins, Emília; Fernandes, Rosina; Mendes, Francisco; Magalhães, Cátia; Araújo, PatríciaBackground: The health-related quality of life construct (QoL) implies a relationship with eating habits (EA) and physical activity (PA). Sociodemographic and anthropometric variables (gender, age and Body Mass Index - BMI) are highlighted in the definition of healthy lifestyle habits promotion strategies. Objective: We aim to characterize and relate PA, EA and QoL in children/youth and explore gender, age and BMI influences. Methods: It is a non-experimental study, with 337 children/youth, ages between 8 and 17 years (12.61±2.96), mostly from the rural inland of Portugal. In data collection we used a sociodemographic and anthropometric questionnaire, a weekly register table of EA and Kid-Kindl (QoL). Statistical analysis (p < 0.05) were performed in SPSS-IBM 25. Results: Lower BMI was associated with better EA (p < 0.001), PA (p < 0.05) and self-esteem (p < 0.01) and worse scores on family subscale of QoL. Female showed higher fruit intake (p < 0.05). The older has shown better results. PA is positively correlated with QoL (p < 0.01) and EA (p < 0.05). Conclusions: It is important to explore other relevant social and family dimensions, to promote intervention programs with parents, school and community, as well as healthy practices policies. The intervention in these age groups is critical for a longer-term impact in improving healthy life habits.
- Grateful Workers, Satisfied Workers? A Portuguese Study about Organizational Happiness during COVID-19 QuarantinePublication . Ataíde, Inês; Araújo, Patrícia; Araújo, Alexandra M.; Fernandes, Rosina; Martins, Emília; Mendes, FranciscoAlthough work satisfaction has been largely studied, gratitude is an emerging field within multiple sciences, including positive psychology, organizational behavior, and human resources marketing. This ex post facto study aims to characterize gratitude and understand its relations to job satisfaction in a non-probabilistic sample of 521 Portuguese workers (62.2% women), 30.90% and 69.10% in the public and private sector, respectively, mean ages of M = 43, SD = 12.6. Data were collected using anonymous questionnaires during the COVID-19 lockdown. Statistical analyses were performed in SPSS 26, and include Student’s t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlations, and a hierarchical linear regression model. Results confirm that Portuguese workers are grateful and satisfied at work. There were statistically significant differences between groups in sociodemographic (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05), professional (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001), and perceived living conditions variables (p < 0.05) regarding gratitude. Gratitude, alone, explains 8% of job satisfaction. According to the regression model (32.4%), perceptions of satisfaction initiatives and greater job security are also associated with higher levels of job satisfaction (23.6%). Implementation of gratitude-promoting strategies may increase job satisfaction, especially in the post-pandemic period. The investment in workers’ organizational happiness, after the impacts of COVID-19 on work dynamics, is a differentiating organizations success dimension.
- Nutritional status in a portuguese sample of institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderlyPublication . Martins, Emília; Mendes, Francisco; Fernandes, RosinaElderly institutionalization implies changes in the daily life with an impact on nutritional status. It is important to evaluate this impact in order to prevent malnutrition among the elderly. This ex-post facto study aims to evaluate the impact of the institutionalization in the elderly nutrition and health, as well as the influence of sociodemographic variables. Additionally, we intend to reflect on the practical implications for institutions caring for the elderly and caregivers on food preparation and management. A quantitative non-experimental study was performed with a convenience sample of 202 elderly, of both genders (70.3% women), aged 81.76 ± 7.47, from Long-Stay institutions (65.8%), Day Centres (6.9%) and community (27.2%), in the centre of Portugal. We used the Portuguese validation (Loureiro, 2008) of Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) for data collection and the SPSS-24 for statistical analyses (95% confidence degree). We found 50.9% undernourished and at risk in Long-Stay institutions vs. 13.2% in non-institutionalized elderly. The comparison between these groups shows statistical differences in nutritional status (U=2399, p=.000) and in global scores of MNA (U=1651, p=.000). There are low negative correlations between age and global score (rS= -.220, p=.003) and nutritional status (rS= -.199, p=.001), but no gender differences and a protective effect of academic qualifications. The study highlighted the prevalence and risk of undernutrition in elderly Long-Stay institutions. Hence, the interventions to reduce this public health problem should focus particularly among institutionalized elderly. However, for such interventions to be effective, it is essential to identify possible factors of this condition. It is imperative to monitor the nutritional status of the elderly and guiding institutions, caregivers and familiars.
- Regulação emocional e competências sociais em crianças e jovens institucionalizadasPublication . Pinto, Tânia; Gaspar, Ana; Fernandes, Rosina; Martins, Emília; Mendes, FranciscoRisk situations in childhood and youth are often characterized by the failure in meeting physical and socio-emotional needs with an impact on children and young people development. Institutionalization emerges as a measure of promotion and protection, with a fundamental role in promoting emotional regulation and the development of social skills. This quantitative, non-experimental and exploratory study aimed to assess the quality of emotional regulation and the mastery of social skills in institutionalized children and young people. The sample was selected by convenience and included 24 participants, between 10 and 21 years old (15.63±2.20), institutionalized in a residential care home for female children and young people. Two age groups were organized (cutoff point 16 years) for comparisons to be made. Most attended the 2nd cycle (50%) and secondary (41.7%). They completed the Portuguese version of the Emotion Regulation Index for Children and Adolescents (ERICA). The Social Skills Assessment Questionnaire was completed by professionals who accompanied the 24 children and youth. In the data analysis, SPSS – IBM 27 was used, with a confidence level of 95% in the interpretation of the non-parametric tests used. In general, children/young people showed an adaptive emotional regulation, albeit with moderate values (3.20±0.52) according to the instrument scale from 1 to 5. The Emotional Control subscale (2.96±0.68) stood out on the negative side, and the Emotional Responsibility subscale (3.93±0.79) on the positive side, as it was close to a high level. With regard to social interaction skills, from the perspective of the professionals, children/young people showed a moderate level of social competence (3.09±0.33), on a scale from 1 to 5, with better results in Conversation Skills (3.29 ±0.34). In turn, the Problem Solving and Basic Social Skills subscales were negative (2.78 ±0.46 and 2.88 ±0.42, respectively). There were no age differences or differences in terms of education level, in emotional regulation and social skills. In the latter, the Assertiveness subscale showed statistically significant differences (p=.04) as a function of age, favorable to the older ones. Emotional regulation was positively correlated with social skills (rs=.48, p=.015) and respective subscales of Assertiveness (rs=.49, p=.013) and Conversation Skills (rs=.53 p= .007); this, in turn, correlated with the dimensions of the emotional regulation scale, Emotional Control (rs=.42, p=.041) and Emotional Self-Awareness (rs=.47, p=.021). The attention and adoption of promoting and restorative strategies in terms of socio-emotional development must be assumed as a central concern, alongside the guarantee of basic care needs, by the professionals of these institutions, especially concerning the less developed skills we found in our study. Boosting the emotional regulation of these children and young people at risk will have effects on the development of essential social skills for future adult life in society, breaking with dysfunctional patterns of relationships that often characterize the early experiences of this population.