Gina Tomé

How Can Peer Group Influence the Behavior of Adolescents: Explanatory Model

The current work aims to study both the peer group and family influence on adolescent behaviour. In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, an explanatory model based on the Structural Equations Modelling (SEM)was proposed. The sample used was the group of adolescents that participated in the Portuguese survey of the European study Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC). The Portuguese survey included students from grades 6, 8 and 10 within the public education system, with an average age of 14 years old (SD=1.89). The total sample of the HBSC study carried out in 2006 was 4,877; however with the use of the SEM, 1,238 participants were lost out of the total sample. The results show that peers have a direct influence in adolescents’ risk behaviours. The relationship with parents did not demonstrate the expected mediation effect, with the exception of the following elements: relation between type of friends and risk behaviour; and communication with parent and lesser involvement in violence behaviours and increased well-being. The negative influence of the peer group is more connected to the involvement in risk behaviours, whilst the positive influence is more connected with protective behaviours.

Dream Teens: Adolescents-Led Participatory Project in Portugal in the Context of the Economic Recession

This article describes the implementation process of a nationwide project to enhance young people’s participation and active citizenship in the context of Portugal’s economic recession. This project used an innovative Positive Youth Development approach that engaged Portuguese youth (aged 11-18 years) through social media tools to facilitate their civic engagement and development. Participants from all over the country were empowered (1) to design and conduct research activities on topics of their choice and about their life contexts and (2) to create ways to improve youth civic participation in their communities, while developing supportive interactions with adults and peers. Overall, youth were engaged in their activities, felt their voices were heard, and felt that they were viewed as experts of their own well-being and living contexts. Youth research actions and preliminary findings were then compiled in a set of recommendations that was formally received by a high commissioner of the Ministry of Health. The article concludes with a discussion of the next steps for the project and its limitations so far.

Impact of Alienation on Portuguese Adolescentsâ Well-being

Objective: The present work aims to analyze the influence of alienation in different areas of adolescent health. Methods: The sample used was a group of adolescents that participated in the Portuguese survey of the European study Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC). The Portuguese survey included students from grades 6, 8 and 10 within the public education system, with an average age of 14 years (SD=1.85). The total sample of the HBSC study carried out in 2010 was of 5050. For this study, only adolescents from the 8th and 10th grades were included in the sample, comprising 3494 students. Results: The results show some health risks in adolescents with higher levels of social alienation. There is a positive association between social isolation and risk behaviours to adolescents’ health, such as bullying victims. The feeling of unsatisfaction with life seems to have a lot of influence to feelings of powerlessness, while the biggest association is between normlessness and relationship with family. Be satisfied with life and have a good relationship with family is important assets in adolescent mental health. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of further explore the influence that social alienation may have on the health of adolescents.

Friendships Quality and Classmates Support: How to influence the well-being of adolescents

The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of quality friendship and classmates support on risk behaviour and well-being of Portuguese adolescents. The sample was composed by individuals that participated in the study in continental Portugal, integrating the European study HBSC – Health Behaviour in School – aged Children. The study included a total of 4877 students from the 6th, 8th and 10th grades from Portuguese public schools, with an average age of 14 years. The results revealed the trend towards classmates’ more protection for involvement in risky behaviour, than to have high quality friends. The quality of friendship comes as the protector factor to other areas just as important, as happiness, life satisfaction and quality of life.

Is truth in the eyes of the beholder? Or are Portuguese schools, as viewed by Portuguese pupils, mismatching with what the educational system offers?

ABSTRACT Pupils who like school have better academic performance and better perception of health and well-being. This study aims to (1) know the pupils’ views of their schools and their schools’ characteristics, assets and problems and (2) identify the variables that may predict enjoying school. A total of 6026 Portuguese pupils participated in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study in 2014. Pupils reported that programme contents are too long and too boring as well as negative parental overpressure regarding school success. They also pinpointed issues regarding their perception of teachers (lack of trust and low person-to-person interaction) and regarding school facilities. These issues have an impact on the perception of how much they like and how they feel about school. Results suggested an urgent need to review present public policies regarding Portuguese education and the need to focus on the length and structure of programme contents and to the dynamics and length of the classes and school workload, as well as investing in school physical structures. Portugal has a ‘chronic’ low ranking regarding academic achievement according to several international studies; thus, some highlights on how to move forward are provided.

The Role of Worries in Mental Health and Well-Being in Adolescence in Portugal

This chapter purports to challenge the increasingly powerful position of psychiatry as a first-line narrative for understanding refugee youth suffering. Refugee youth are under significant social, cultural, political, and economic pressures as they settle into a receiving country. While some do experience debilitating emotional reactions that require “treatment,” we believe that many others are better served through nonmedical avenues, and that concepts of resilience promotion are crucial to addressing the complex issues they face. This is in contrast to the psychiatric paradigm, which critics see as translating socially related suffering into individual medical pathology. We discuss this trend and argue for a model of community-based psychiatric case consultation that focuses on a systemic understanding of mental health, including approaches that address sociopolitical oppression and its impacts. Finally, we acknowledge the limitations of the psychiatric lens and the need to support other modes of healing both locally and globally.

Does having a pet make a difference? Highlights from the HBSC Portuguese study

Abstract Pets are part of many adolescent’s lives. Objectives: To identify in a large national representative sample of Portuguese adolescents (HSBC study), the percentage of adolescents that have pets, what kind of feelings pets provide, differences by gender and age (through school grades) and to verify whether adolescent health, well-being, life satisfaction and psychological symptoms are associated with having a pet. Methods: The 2014 study provided national data of 6026 Portuguese adolescents (52.3% of which were girls), whose mean age was 13.8 years, randomly selected from those attending 6th, 8th and 10th grades. Measures included asking the participant if he/she had pets, which pet was, and the relationship they had with the pet, ISS, perception of well-being, life satisfaction and psychological symptoms. Results: The large majority of Portuguese adolescents had a pet. Adolescents who referred having a pet reported more frequently having dogs and cats. As for positive feelings related to pets, results showed that pets give them feelings of happiness, companionship, nurturing, tranquility, security and responsibility always/almost always, especially in girls and younger boys. The results also showed that having a dog was associated with a higher socio-economic status, better perception of well-being, more life satisfaction and less psychological symptoms. Conclusion: Since research shows that young people who have pets report higher rates of well-being/health perception, that information should be used to conduct more studies and change policies in ways that benefit adults and children.

A escola portuguesa pelos olhos dos adolescentes

Young people who reported to like school have more positive behaviors associated, including better academic performance and more well-being. This study aims to understand 1) the relationship between liking school and academic ability 2) what young people would like to change in their schools, 3) check the variables that may predict liking school and perceived academic ability 4) analyze the variables related to the school including pressure with school work, problems about school, relationship with classmates and teachers. 6026 students from 6th, 8th and 10th grades that integrated the study Health Behaviour in School - Aged children (HBSC) in 2014 participated. Young people that reported to like school very much are those who would not change anything in their school and are the ones who have more trust in teachers. Students report that school subjects are too extensive, too boring and even useless and referred some negative parental overpressure regarding school success. The results suggest the need to review existing policies in Portuguese education system pointing out that it is crucial to intervene in schools, with families, teachers and young people.

When Foster Care is Called "Home": Risk and Protective Issues

Aim: The aim of this study was to understand in depth the differences that exist between adolescents in foster care and adolescents living with their families (living with mother and father; living with mother or father; living with mother and stepfather; living with father and stepmother). Methodology: The Portuguese HBSC survey included 6026 students (47.7% were boys). Results: Adolescents in foster care when compared with their peers, show more risk behaviours such as: smoking, being drunk and being more violent. These adolescents often report that they are sad, nervous and angry, are more frequently worried, and practice less physical activity.

Anxiety, depression and coping strategies in adolescence: psychometric issues and proposal of a reduced version

This study used depression (CDI – Kovacs, 1981), anxiety (MASC – March, 1997) and coping strategy (CRI-Y – Moos, 1993) scales and studied the fitness of reduced versions. The sample consisted of 916 Portuguese pupils, 54.3% fiinine, aged 10 to 21 years old. The participants were randomly selected from public schools nation-wide. Two classes were chosen from the 5th to the 12th grade. A set of principal component analyses was carried out in a randomly chosen sample (n = 394) and three reduced measures were found to be strongly correlated with the previous. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) using the other part of the sample (n = 522) revealed adjustment indexes suggesting a good fit for both the whole model and gender and age groups separately. All scales revealed a good internal consistency. According to our results, girls were more anxious and developed more coping strategies than boys. Older students tended to be less depressed, while younger adolescents present higher scores in CDI-R (depression) and CRI-R (coping) scales.