Inês Camacho

Cross-national associations between parent and peer communication and psychological complaints

Objectives:To assess whether or not communication with parents and with peers is related to experiencing psychological complaints in an attempt to explore the hypotheses of continuity and compensation or moderation between contexts.Methods:Questions on communication with their parents and peers, as well as on the frequency with which they experience psychological complaints were answered by 200,857 adolescents from 36 countries.Results:A cluster analysis detected four groups of adolescents. Those with better communication in both social contexts were the ones showing less psychological complaints. Moreover, we have found (using a regression analysis) that good communication with peers does not improve their experience of psychological complaints if the communication with parents is not good.Conclusions:We conclude that our findings are consistent with the continuity hypothesis and against the compensating or moderating one.

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.

Praticas parentais educativas, fobia social e rendimento academico em adolescentes

Parental educational practices and their implications on variables such as social phobia and academic performance are becoming increasingly interesting to researchers working in the Psychology field, due to the fact that these variables may influence the academic and social lives of children and adolescents. The aim of this research is to study the relationship between parental educational practices, social phobia and academic performance in adolescents. The study was conducted with 285 individuals (146 female and 139 male) of the 7th and 8th grades between the ages of twelve and fourteen. We used: demographic data questionnaire, QLP-A to evaluate parental educational practices, SPAI-C to evaluate social phobia. A questionnaire was also used to check for academic performance. It has been noted that there is a higher incidence of social phobia in individuals of the female gender. It has also been noted that teenagers whose parents give autonomy and care, show a tendency to have a better academic performance and also less probability of presenting social phobia. Teenagers whose parents give protection have a tendency to have social phobia and worse academic performance.

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.

Worries, coping strategies and well-being in adolescence: highlights from HBSC study in Portugal

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to understand adolescents’ worries and the strategies used to face them, and what makes them feel good. In this study, 3869 adolescents participated, of which 46.8% boys, attending grades 8 and 10, mean age 14.7 years, SD = 1.18, included in the Portuguese Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey 2014. In the first quantitative study, simple descriptive analyses and chi-squares were carried out and a regression model associated the intensity and frequency of worries with a decrease in perceived well-being; in a second qualitative study, content analysis was carried out regarding open questions about types of worries and ways to cope with worries and to increase well-being. It was clear that the majority of adolescents got worried frequently, part of them let worries interfere significantly with their lives, and that the best coping strategies are either trying to fix the problem or distraction. Family, peers (social support) and leisure time (distraction) are important factors in ensuring young people’s well-being. School seems to be ‘part of the problem’ but never ‘part of the solution’. Compared with previous studies, the economic crisis appears to be associated with the increased relevance of a new worry – economic and financial issues were not previously relevant. Gender and developmental/age differences were found. Although intensity and frequency of worries were significantly associated with lower perception of well-being, frequency had a higher association. The implications for health promotion interventions in families and in schools are discussed together with implications for public policies in the area of mental health.

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.

Trends in Portuguese Adolescents’ Sexual Behavior from 2002 to 2014: HBSC Portuguese Study

This study examined trends in adolescent sexual behaviors from 2002 to 2014 in Portugal. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaires from 8th and 10th graders in classrooms during 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. Overall, the prevalence of sexual intercourse, age of sexual initiation, pill use, and sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol or drugs decreased in Portugal between 2002 and 2014, while condom use increased. Boys and 10th graders more frequently reported having ever had sexual intercourse, boys and 8th graders more frequently reported having had sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol or drugs, girls and 10th graders more frequently reported having had their first sexual intercourse at 14 years or older (except in 2014, where boys and girls reported more frequently having initiated at 12–13 years), and girls and 10th graders reported more frequently having used condoms and the pill (except in 2014) at the last sexual intercourse. Eighth graders more frequently reported having had their first sexual experience at 12–13 years (except in 2006).

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.