Margarida Couto

Psychological Adjustment to Lung Cancer: the Role of Self-compassion and Social Support

Introduction The impact of the diagnosis of an oncologic disease is well-known in terms of psychological adjustment and quality of life. On the other hand it is known that depressive symptoms may also overlap the physical symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment, which may interfere in their detection and appropriate treatment approach. Objectives The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between psychological adjustment to lung cancer, self-compassion, social support and emotional negative states in patients with lung cancer. Method Fifty-five patients diagnosed with lung cancer (38 men and 17 women) with ages ranging from 44 to 87 years old participated in the study. A set of self-report instruments was used: the Mini Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (MiniMac), the Self-compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003), the Social Support Satisfaction Scale (SSSS) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results Significant correlations were found between psychological adjustment and emotion regulation strategies (self-compassion), social support and psychopathology. The predictive model for depressive symptomatology and psychological adjustment (as assessed by the helpless/hopeless dimension) includes mindfulness as a significant predictor. Regarding the predictive model for stress, the satisfaction level with support from friends revealed to be an important element. Conclusions Our findings suggest that these patients may benefit, in their therapeutic approach, from the development of this kind of strategies (new ways of relating themselves with their emotional experiences and quality of their social networks) in order to promote a better psychological adjustment to their clinical condition.

Social Anxiety in Adolescents: the Role of Early Negative Memories and Fear of Compassion

Introduction Social anxiety refers to the discomfort felt in situations of social interaction or performance and may be an especially intense emotion in adolescence due to characteristics and developmental tasks of this age group. Although it is a common emotion and has an adaptive function, it can also develop as a negative experience raising serious difficulties in school and social life of young people. Objectives This study analyses the contribution of childhood negative memories and fear of compassion in social anxiety in adolescence. Method Three hundred and twenty adolescents (186 boys and 134 girls) with ages ranging from 12 to 19 years old took part in the study. Participants completed the following self-report measures: Early Life Experiences Scale for Adolescents, Fear of Compassion Scale (FCS-A) and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A). Results Significant gender differences were found regarding social anxiety, empathy and early unvalued experiences within the family. Age was only correlated with social anxiety. Social anxiety showed a significant and expected correlation with the study variables. The model including fear of compassionate feelings (from other and from oneself) and early unvalued experiences showed to be the best predictor of social anxiety. Conclusions This study integrates the contribution of less explored variables, as the fear of compassion and early negative memories, in the understanding of social anxiety in adolescents. Results suggest that these variables may have an important role and should be incorporated in psychological interventions for social anxiety in adolescence.

Autocompaixão, bem-estar subjetivo e estado de saúde na idade avançada

Introducao: O aumento da populacao envelhecida constitui um avanco na sociedade, mas tambem um grande desafio, impondo a necessidade de acoes que promovam um envelhecimento bem-sucedido.Objetivos: Analisar de que forma e que a autocompaixao, satisfacao com a vida, afetos, estado de saude fisico e mental se encontram associados na idade avancada, controlando ainda o efeito do sexo, idade, escolaridade, local de residencia e tipo de resposta social dos participantes. Explorar qual o conjunto de variaveis que melhor prediz a satisfacao com a vida e o estado de saude nos idosos.Metodo: 155 individuos, com idades entre os 65 e 94 anos, dos distritos de Coimbra e Leiria responderam a um conjunto de instrumentos administrados no formato de entrevista.Resultados: 1) A idade, a escolaridade e o local de residencia apresentaram uma correlacao significativa e no sentido esperado com a saude fisica e mental, e com o afeto positivo. O tipo de resposta social dos idosos mostrou-se associado a quase todas as variaveis em estudo. Globalmente, os idosos que se encontram no seu domicilio apresentam uma maior satisfacao com a vida, uma melhor saude fisica e mental, mais tracos compassivos, e mais afeto positivo, comparativamente aos que se encontram sob resposta social; 2) Foram encontradas associacoes significativas e no sentido esperado entre a autocompaixao, bem-estar subjetivo e estado de saude; 3) A percecao da saude fisica esta associada a uma maior satisfacao com a vida e menor idade do idoso; a percecao da saude mental esta associada ao aumento da satisfacao com a vida, da autocompaixao e diminuicao dos afetos negativos; e, por ultimo, a satisfacao com a vida esta associada a uma superior saude fisica e autocompaixao.Conclusoes: Estes resultados sugerem a importância do desenvolvimento de estrategias psicologicas que permitam lidar de forma mais calorosa, tolerante e aceitante o sofrimento resultante dos momentos dificeis tipicos da idade avancada, apoiando o possivel beneficio das terapias focadas na compaixao junto desta populacao especifica, nomeadamente na promocao da satisfacao com a vida e saude mental.

Validation of the Youth Quality of Life Instrument for Portuguese Adolescents

Introduction Quality of Life (QoL) plays a remarkable role in practice and public health policy. However, research on QoL among children and adolescents is still scarce and it seems crucial to develop and validate assessment tools for measuring health-related QoL. Objectives The current study aims to analyse the psychometric properties and validate the Portuguese version of the Youth Quality of Life Instrument (YQOL-R; Patrick et al., 2002). In addition, the convergent and divergent validities are examined with related constructs. Methods Participants were 507 adolescents, with ages between 12 and 19 years old, attending middle and high schools. Together with YQOL-R, participants also filled out the Kidscreen-27 (Gaspar & Matos, 2008) and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (Pais-Ribeiro, Honrado & Leal, 2004). Results The Portuguese version of YQOL-R showed a four-factor structure (dimensions: Self, Relationships, Environment, General Quality of Life), similar to the original version. This instrument also revealed a good internal reliability and adequate temporal stability. YQOL-R showed positive correlations with health-related quality of life and negative associations with depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. There were significant gender differences regarding quality of life, with boys reporting higher levels of perceived quality of life than girls. Conclusions Future studies should be conducted to ensure these findings among clinical samples or physical conditions. Nevertheless, this study contributes to the set of available instruments for the assessment of QoL among children and adolescents, suggesting that the YQOL-R may be a useful tool for research and health practices in community samples.

EPA-1701 – Social values assessment in adolescence: exploratory study of the psychometric properties of the social values survey and its relationship with affective states and hope

Introduction Social relationships (e.g. family, friendships and romantic relationships) are fundamental to human development and well-being. Objectives The current study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of the Social Values Questionnaire (SVS; Blackledge & Ciarrochi, 2006) in a sample of Portuguese adolescents. Furthermore we sought to understand motives for and commitment to social values and how these elements are associated with well-being across age and gender. Methods The sample included 268 adolescents (150 girls and 118 boys) with ages ranging from 14 to 18 years old, attending high school. Participants completed a set of self-report measures: the SVS, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-C; Sadin, 1997), the Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS;Huebner 1991) and the Childrens Hope Scale (CHS; Snyder, Hoza, Pelham, Rapoff, Ware, Danovsky, Highberger, Rubinstein & Stahl, 1997). Results The Portuguese version of the SVS showed high internal consistency: Intrinsic motivation (α=0,91), extrinsic motivation (α=0,90), commitment (α=0,79). It also showed adequate test retest reliability. Gender revealed a relevant role with girls presenting more intrinsic motivation, less extrinsic motivation and a higher degree of commitment when compared with boys. Age was positively correlated with intrinsic motivation and commitment. Significant and expected relationships were also found between SVS subscales and positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and hope. Conclusions The SVS seems to be a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of social values in adolescents. This construct is an important one in the context of mindfulness and acceptance based therapies and thus its assessment is pertinent.

EPA-1700 – The role of childhood positive memories, mindfulness, and hope, in emotional states in adolescence

Introduction Previous studies concerning early experiences in childhood show that these play a crucial role in the individuals’ development and may lead to a decrease in the vulnerability to show psychological problems. Mindfulness skills and feelings of hope seem to function as mechanisms that promote adjustment and psychological well-being. Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between early positive emotional memories, hope, and mindfulness skills, as well as their role in the psychological well-being. Method A sample of 402 adolescents with ages ranging from 12 to 18 years old completed four self-report instruments: the Early Memories of Warmth and Safeness Scale, the Children and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure, the Children Hope Scale and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Results Girls exhibited more negative affect when compared to boys. Age and years of education were not correlated with any of the study variables. Students with no school disapprovals showed more positive emotional memories and more hope. Mindfulness skills, hope, warmth and safety memories, and positive and negative affect were significantly correlated in an expected way. The set of variables that better predicted positive affect was: hope, early warmth and safety memories, and mindfulness skills. For negative affect, mindfulness was the best predictor followed by hope and lastly by positive emotional memories. Conclusions The current study heightened the role of positive emotional memories, mindfulness, and hope in affective states, suggesting that they may be addressed in intervention programs for the adjustment or the psychological well-being of the adolescents.