Ana Lopes

Teens and dating: study of factors that influence attitudes of violence

FRAMEWORK Dating violence is a relevant social problem in adolescent and young adult romantic relationships. Particular attention has begun to be paid to it by the scientific community in the last two decades. It may involve a sexual, physical and psychological dimension, requiring different prevention and intervention strategies. OBJECTIVE To analyse the effect of socio-demographic and contextual variables on attitudes to dating violence. MATERIAL AND METHOD This is a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional descriptive and correlational study. Questionnaires to characterise socio-demographics and dating context and the Scale of Attitudes about Dating Violence (SADV), were applied to 243 adolescents attending the 10th, 11th and 12th years of schooling in a Portuguese secondary school. RESULTS The adolescents are over 17 years in age (40.7%), with a predominance of girls (56.0%). They reside mainly in rural areas with most attending the 10th year. More than half live with their parents (91.7%). The vast majority are Catholic. Nearly all of the participants are dating or have dated. We found statistically significant differences in all types of violence with regards to gender, the religion they practice and adolescents who have had sexual relations. The type of violence exerted was mainly psychological. CONCLUSION The results point to the need to integrate the topic of dating violence in adolescent education using active methods with the effective participation of everyone involved in the process (adolescents, parents, teachers and health professionals). Only in this way will it be possible to develop healthy emotional relationship skills.

Conflict in adolescent dating relationships: a study of factors involved.

BACKGROUND Dating violence is a relevant current social and public health problem, not only due to adolescents exposure to risk of physical and mental injury, but also because its at this age that romantic relationships begin with the possibility of these patterns of interaction to be perpetuated throughout life. The aim of this study is to characterize behaviours of violence and to identify the factors of conflict in adolescent dating relationships. MATERIAL AND METHODS Transversal and correlational study, with a non-probabilistic sample of 243 mostly Portuguese adolescents, 56.0% female (mean age = 16.29 years; SD = 1.02), 71.2% living in rural areas and who attended between the 10th and 12th year at school. A socio-demographic questionnaire and on the contextual characteristics of dating was applied as well as a validated and adapted version for the Portuguese population of the Conflict in Adolescent Dating Relationships Inventory. RESULTS Of the adolescents, 91.7% live with their parents and the vast majority is dating or has dated. The victimization conflict behaviours superseded those of perpetration and the boys showed more conflict strategies (of the self and the other) compared to girls, while girls and older boys had demonstrated more non-abusive strategies of the self. The conflict behaviours were significant in adolescents who initiated their sexual activity earlier and non-abusive strategies when dating couples or friends talk about sex. CONCLUSIONS The results justify the need to integrate the topic of dating violence in adolescent education, using active methods with effective participation of everyone involved in the process.

Traditional Toys and Student Motivation and Commitment in Technological Education

Technological Education is a subject where students acquire knowledge and technical skills, which will enable them to analyse and resolve specific situations and will prepare them for an increasingly technological world. This course requires students to gain knowledge and know-how such that motivation and commitment are crucial for the development of classroom projects and activities. It is in this context that traditional toys come up in this study as catalysts for motivation and student interest. Thus, the aim of the research performed is to understand whether the units of work related to traditional toys promote the students’ motivation and commitment on Technological Education. In terms of methodology, we carried out an exploratory research of qualitative nature, based on semistructured interviews with teachers and students in the 2nd cycle of basic education at five schools in the municipality of Viseu, Portugal. Nine teachers and forty-five Technological Education students, aged between 10 and 12 years, attending the 5th and 6th years of schooling participated. Content analysis of the answers revealed that the implementation of units of work involving the construction of traditional toys are conducive to students’ motivation and commitment, constituting an added value in Technological Education. As this is a classroom project, it allows students to apply technical knowledge they have acquired. Thus, starting from a first idea, it allows them to experience all of the stages of toy building, from conception to completion, contributing to greater student satisfaction in the teaching-learning process.

Affections, Disaffections, and Relationship Abuse in Adolescence

Dating violence is a socially relevant problem among adolescents and young adults and has begun to receive particular attention by the scientific community over the past 2 decades. It is not limited to the sexual dimension, and it may involve multiple and varied forms including physical and psychological abuse, necessitating different strategies for prevention and intervention. The objective was to identify the factors that influence dating violence among high school students and analyze the effect of …

Promotion of energy-efficiency in the electricity sector in restructuring markets-the Portuguese case

This paper analyses demand-side energy efficiency promotion mechanisms compatible with the ongoing electricity market restructuring in the European Union. Three main strategies are presented. The first one is based in the present regulatory framework, the second one consists in the implementation of a public benefit charge, and the third one is related with setting up an energy certificate (white certificates) competitive market. These strategies essentially rely on the definition of financial and market-transformation mechanisms, to promote energy efficiency in the demand side. Environmental externalities, the Kyoto emission targets, and the implementation of a European Union Directive on the promotion of energy efficiency and energy services are also considered during the mechanism design, using Portugal as a case study for its application.