Eliane Mary de Oliveira Falcone

Qualidade de vida, apoio social e depressão em idosos: relação com habilidades sociais

Current studies suggest that the capacity to socially interact is basic for the elderly in order to reach out and keep social support, and to guarantee a better quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate the social abilities, social support, quality of life and depression of the elderly from Universidade Aberta da Terceira Idade da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UnATI/UERJ), in the contexts of family and asylums. For this research the following tools were used: Social Skills Inventory, Social Support Measurement, WHOQOL-BRIEF and Geriatric Depression Scale-15. Analysis of the data obtained from the instruments above, show that the elderly that live in asylums present a reduced repertoire of social abilities, a diminished social support network and an impaired quality of life. This research offers subsidies for the implantation of Social Skills Training Programs directed for the elderly, enhancing their ability to get social support and, therefore, a better quality of life.

Habilidades sociais de estudantes de Psicologia: um estudo multicêntrico

Social skills occurring in a high frequency and low variability can be taken as patterns, suggesting cultural or sub-cultural features which are important when selecting instruments for evaluation and planning interventions. This research aimed to characterize the social skills repertoire among Psychology students from 4 Brazilian places: Sao Paulo (SP), Bahia (BA), Minas Gerais (MG)e Rio de Janeiro (RJ), also examining their differences and the influence of sex and age on their patterns. Five hundred sixty four Psychology undergraduates completed a self-report inventory (IHS-del-Prette) with a structure of 5 factors: F1) coping and assertion; F2) expressing positive affection; F3) talking and self-confidence; F4) dealing with unknown people and new situations; F5) aggressiveness self-control. The samples were compared considering general (GS) and factorial (F1, F2, F3, F4 e F5) scores as well as sex and age influence in each one (ANOVA, followed by t or Scheffe test). The results showed that: a) Psychology students presented higher scores than normative sample in the GS, F1, F3 and F4 and lower in the F2 and F5, but sex differences were similar to the normative pattern; b) place, sex and age significantly affected the scores, with place-sex and place-age interactions; c) samples from MG, BA, RJ and SP presented similar profiles, with higher values for RJ in the F1 and for MG and SP in the F2 and F5; d) students from BA presented the highest sex differences and from RJ the lowest ones; e) age differences occurred in the F4 (favorable to younger students for SP) and in the F5 (favorable to older ones for BA and RJ). The meaning of these differences and similarities are discussed as well as some explanatory hypotheses and questions for further studies.

As relações entre a satisfação conjugal e as habilidades sociais percebidas no cônjuge

This study investigated the association between the social skills perceived by the spouse and marital satisfaction. Fifty couples (n=100), aged from 29 to 69 and with relationship lasting from seven to 38 years, were asked to fill in the Marital Satisfaction Scale, the Marital Social Skills Inventory and the Marital Empathy Questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis revealed that spouses empathy was strongly correlated with marital satisfaction, followed by the expression of feelings and defense of own rights. The number of offspring was inversely correlated with satisfaction, and women were perceived by their partners as more empathic. The presence of social skills, particularly empathy, seems to be facilitators of marital satisfaction. Interventions directed to the development of social skills may be useful in the treatment of distressed couples.

Práticas educativas positivas favorecem o desenvolvimento da empatia em crianças

This study aims at investigating the relationship between parenting practices and the empathy levels in 77 children with ages ranging from 6 to 12. Thirty seven of them lived in foster homes; eight lived in a shelter, which provided a long term residence (Small shelter) and 29 children lived in a short term residence shelter (Big shelter). The remaining 40 children lived at home with their own families (Home). Empathy was evaluated by using two instruments: An empathy scale for children and adolescents and interviews based on selected video clips showing scenes, which aimed at eliciting anger, sadness, happiness and fear. The parenting practices were evaluated through interviews. Big Shelter children presented lower scores both, in terms of empathy, as well as of parenting, when compared to Small Shelter and Home children, This pattern of results suggests that the practices adopted by parents or caregivers affect the development of empathy in children.This study aims at investigating the relationship between parenting practices and the empathy levels in 77 children with ages ranging from 6 to 12. Thirty seven of them lived in foster homes; eight lived in a shelter, which provided a long term residence (Small shelter) and 29 children lived in a short term residence shelter (Big shelter). The remaining 40 children lived at home with their own families (Home). Empathy was evaluated by using two instruments: An empathy scale for children and adolescents and interviews based on selected video clips showing scenes, which aimed at eliciting anger, sadness, happiness and fear. The parenting practices were evaluated through interviews. Big Shelter children presented lower scores both, in terms of empathy, as well as of parenting, when compared to Small Shelter and Home children, This pattern of results suggests that the practices adopted by parents or caregivers affect the development of empathy in children.

Assessment of interpersonal skills in obese women with binge eating disorder

Based upon interpersonal theory that suggests an association between binge eating disorder (BED) and interpersonal problems, the present study examined empathy and other social skills of obese women with BED. The findings showed that five social skills were statistically associated with the chance of presenting BED. Obese women with less assertiveness, lower ability to express feelings, lower capacity to deal with strangers, lower ability to understand the perspective of others, and with higher levels of distress in interpersonal situations had a higher probability of presenting the diagnosis of BED. These results highlight an association between social skills deficits and BED.

Public Speaking in Social Phobia: A Pilot Study of Self-Ratings and Observers' Ratings of Social Skills

OBJECTIVES The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) differ from controls in the quality of skill-related behaviors displayed during a speech and in overall behavioral adequacy as perceived by observers and by the patients themselves. DESIGN A total of 18 SAD patients and 18 controls were screened by a diagnostic interview and took part in a 3-minute speech of their own choosing. For each videotaped speech, observers rated the adequacy of the skill-related behaviors and overall performance adequacy. After the experiment, participants were asked to rate their own overall performance adequacy. RESULTS The results showed that SAD patients exhibited significantly worse voice intonation and fluency of the speech, however no differences were found in global self-ratings. Moreover, the performance evaluations of the SAD group were consistent with the observers, while the controls evaluated their performance lower than the observers. CONCLUSIONS The results are inconsistent with the cognitive model, because patients with SAD did not underestimate their performance. Compared with spontaneous interactions, the clear rules established for such social situations as speeches may result in less cognitive distortion for SAD patients.

Phobic postural vertigo: a cognitive-behavior approach

VERTIGEM POSTURAL FóbICA: UMA AbORdAGEM COGnITIVA-COMPORTAMEnTAL Clinical Psychologist, Graduate Student and Researcher of the Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil (UFRJ); MD, Msc. Graduate Student and Researcher of the Institute of Psychiatry, UFRJ; Ph.D., Associate Professor of Institute of Psychology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil (UERJ); MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medical School/Institute of Psychiatry, UFRJ. This research project is supported by the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), grant 554411/2005-9.

O desenvolvimento das habilidades sociais em idosos e sua relação na satisfação com a vida

Los estudios actuales indican la importancia de las relaciones sociales de calidad para el bienestar fisico, psicologico y social en la vejez, pero no proporcionan datos suficientes para indicar como ayudar los ancianos para convertirse en socialmente competentes, es decir, la forma de desarrollar las habilidades sociales en la vejez. Un metodo muy utilizado para la ensenanza de habilidades sociales para diferentes poblaciones ha sido el entrenamiento en habilidades sociales. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar la eficacia de un programa de habilidades sociales para la vejez en aumento, tanto en habilidades sociales como la satisfaccion con la vida de 40 ancianos. Las habilidades sociales se evaluaron antes y despues de la intervencion, mediante juego de roles en siete situaciones sociales y la satisfaccion con la vida a traves de la Escala de Satisfaccion con la Vida. El presente estudio encontro cambios positivos en el grupo experimental como el desarrollo de habilidades asertivas.Current studies suggest to the importance of quality in social relationships for the physical, psychological and social well-being in the third age, but they don’t provide enough data that indicates how to assist the elderly to become socially competent, that is, how to develop social skills in the third age. A method that has been recurrently used to teach social skills for different populations is the Social Skills Training. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Social Skills Program for the Elderly in the increase of the repertoire of social skills as well as of the satisfaction with life of 40 elderly people. Social skills were evaluated before and after the intervention, through role play in seven social situations and satisfaction with life through the Life Satisfaction Scale. The present study found positive changes among the experimental group as the development of assertive skills.Development of social skills in elderly and its relation to the satisfaction with life. Current studies suggest to the importance of quality in social relationships for the physical, psychological and social well-being in the third age, but they don’t provide enough data that indicates how to assist the elderly to become socially competent, that is, how to develop social skills in the third age. A method that has been recurrently used to teach social skills for different populations is the Social Skills Training. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Social Skills Program for the Elderly in the increase of the repertoire of social skills as well as of the satisfaction with life of 40 elderly people. Social skills were evaluated before and after the intervention, through role play in seven social situations and satisfaction with life through the Life Satisfaction Scale. The present study found positive changes among the experimental group as the development of assertive skills.

História e panorama atual das terapias cognitivas no Brasil

This article is a brief revision on the history of cognitive psychotherapies and their development in Brazil, as well as an evaluation of the different theoretical and practical tendencies of 228 psychologists and 20 psychiatrists from Brazil, who have chosen, among three theoretical intervention models presented in a questionnaire (A- cognitive restructuring; B-cognitive-behavior and C-constructivists) the one that most represented their clinical practices. Other data asked in the questionnaire were: experience time, type of training, approach on training initialization, areas of work, place of work and profession. The results show a crescent expansion of cognitive therapies in Brazil, especially in the last five years, being Rio de Janeiro the city with the higher concentration of professionals in this approach. The great majority of therapists adopt a combination of models A and B in their clinical practices. When only one model is used, model A is the most popular of all three, followed by model B. The school-clinic and the specialization or graduating courses have been predominant in the training of participants. The percentage of professionals working in hospitals is still quite low when compared to those working in clinics or private offices. A reapplication of studies is suggested after 10 years

Positive parenting practices bring benefits to the development of empathy in children

This study aims at investigating the relationship between parenting practices and the empathy levels in 77 children with ages ranging from 6 to 12. Thirty seven of them lived in foster homes; eight lived in a shelter, which provided a long term residence (Small shelter) and 29 children lived in a short term residence shelter (Big shelter). The remaining 40 children lived at home with their own families (Home). Empathy was evaluated by using two instruments: An empathy scale for children and adolescents and interviews based on selected video clips showing scenes, which aimed at eliciting anger, sadness, happiness and fear. The parenting practices were evaluated through interviews. Big Shelter children presented lower scores both, in terms of empathy, as well as of parenting, when compared to Small Shelter and Home children, This pattern of results suggests that the practices adopted by parents or caregivers affect the development of empathy in children.This study aims at investigating the relationship between parenting practices and the empathy levels in 77 children with ages ranging from 6 to 12. Thirty seven of them lived in foster homes; eight lived in a shelter, which provided a long term residence (Small shelter) and 29 children lived in a short term residence shelter (Big shelter). The remaining 40 children lived at home with their own families (Home). Empathy was evaluated by using two instruments: An empathy scale for children and adolescents and interviews based on selected video clips showing scenes, which aimed at eliciting anger, sadness, happiness and fear. The parenting practices were evaluated through interviews. Big Shelter children presented lower scores both, in terms of empathy, as well as of parenting, when compared to Small Shelter and Home children, This pattern of results suggests that the practices adopted by parents or caregivers affect the development of empathy in children.