Pedro Cordeiro

The Portuguese Validation of the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale: Concurrent and Longitudinal Relations to Well-being and Ill-being

This research comprises two studies based on Self Determination Theory. In Study 1, we translate and examine the factor structure of the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS; Chen, Vansteenkiste et al., 2015) in a sample of Portuguese undergraduate students. Further, in Study 2 we used an independent longitudinal sample of 12th grade students to inspect whether the six subscales differently predict adjustment over time. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that a six-factor solution best fitted the BPNSFS data. Subsequent structural equation modelling indicated that the dimensions of need satisfaction and need frustration predicted unique variance in participants’ well-being and ill-being over time, even after controlling for reciprocal and baseline effects. Taken together the findings support the 6-factor multidimensional structure of the BPNSFS and provide extensive support for the distinction between the satisfaction and frustration dimensions of needs, suggesting that they should be measured and interpreted as relatively distinct motivational constructs.

Parenting Styles, Identity Development, and Adjustment in Career Transitions: The Mediating Role of Psychological Needs

Drawing from self-determination theory, this study examines how does perceived parenting and psychological needs relate to identity development and psychosocial adjustment in Portuguese 12th-grade students (N = 462) who prepare the transition to higher education or to the job market. Path model results revealed two distinct pathways: a “growth-oriented pathway” from need-supporting parenting to integrated career exploration, commitment-making and well-being via need satisfaction and a “vulnerability” pathway from need-thwarting parenting to both diminished well-being and ill-being through need frustration. Findings suggest that perceived parental support is a protective factor, and parental thwarting a risk factor for career decision-making, but this relation is mediated by the adolescents’ subjective feelings of psychological need satisfaction and frustration. Altogether, they suggest the need to customize interventions with adolescents to address “bright” and “dark” trajectories of identity development and establish a supportive counseling climate that facilitates the exploration of different aspects of self-environment in career transition periods.

Perceived Parenting and Basic Need Satisfaction among Portuguese Adolescents

We examined the psychometric properties of the Parenting Questionnaire in a sample of Portuguese high school students. Two measurement models were specified. Model 1m,f specifies a bi-dimensional structure of parental need-support and behavioral control. Model 2m,f proposes a tripartite structure of parental need-support, psychological control and behavioral control. Model 2m,f. best-fitted the data, being also supported in terms of convergent, discriminant validity. Regression results found the unique effect of autonomy-support (M2mr, b = .25 p < .001; M2fr, b = .14 p < .01), responsiveness-warmth (Model 2mr, b = .19, p .05). Notably, psychological control predicted low need-satisfaction (M2mr: b = -.10) and moderated of the positive effect of parental need-support on need-satisfaction, M2mr: F(3, 367) = 11.62, p < .001. Psychological control and need-support also moderated the positive effect of behavior control on competence satisfaction, with parental need-support amplifying this effect and psychological control buffering it. Overall the findings support the substantive distinction between the parenting dimensions, suggesting that need-satisfaction is enhanced by need-supportive and behavioural control and undermined by psychological control.

Um Novo Modelo Multidimensional d a Perspetiva Temporal

EnglishTime Perspective is a cognitive - motivational dimension. Currently, Zimbardo & Boyd s (1999) model is one of the most cited, still, it doesn t consider the influence of future negative temporality, which is referred by Lewin (1965) as fundamental for human understanding. This study has three objectives, to determine i) Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) and ii) Transcendental - Future Time Perspective Scale (TFTPS) factor structures through Structural Equation Modeling and iii) to establish a new multi dimensional model which includes the negative future dimension. Results with both instruments showed a structure coherently aligned with current theory, suggesting a new model formed by seven temporal dimensions. portuguesA Perspetiva Temporal e uma dimensao cognitivo - motivacional. Um dos modelos com maior difusao na atualidade e apresentado por Zimbardo e Boyd (1999) . Contudo, e importante referir que este modelo nao considera a influencia da temporalidade futura negativa, apesar de esta ser referida como fundamental por Lewin (1965) . Sao tres os objetivos deste estudo: determinar a estrutura fatorial i) do Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), ii) da Transcendental - Future T ime Perspective Scale (TFTPS) atraves de Modelacao de Equacoes Estruturais e iii) apresentar um novo modelo multidimensional no qual seja considerada a dimensao negativa da temporalidade futura. Os resultados com ambos os instrumentos foram coerentes com a teoria estabelecida, assim como tambem permitem sugerir um novo modelo formado por sete dimensoes temporais.

International studies in time perspective

The current study presents research on future time ambiguity and its relation with personality characteristics. Ambiguity of future was traditionally considered to be a stressful factor. Our study revealed that with concern to ambiguity, respondents could be divided into 3 groups: (1) those having a clear idea of their future; (2) those having no idea of the future; (3) those whose attitude is perceiving the future as ambiguous. The sample was initially divided into two: young adults (aged 17-20, n=60), older adults (aged 45-60, n=187). Different content of the future in these 3 groups was revealed. An analysis of personal characteristics and coping strategies revealed that the fi rst and third groups, though using different mechanisms, show quite constructive and adaptive strategies of behavior, while the less adaptive group appeared to be the second. Lifespan analysis showed that though in both age samples the fi rst and third groups are most adaptive, they are still using different mechanisms. Results showed that ambiguity remains quite an underdeveloped construct, which considers positive and negative components, among which ambiguity as unclearness of future time plays more of a negative role, and the conceptual attitude to the future as unidentifi ed and undetermined has a positive effect.

O Lugar das Variáveis Motivacionais no Processo de Instrução e Aprendizagem: A Teoria dos Objectivos de Realização

Este artigo pretende discutir a importância das variaveis motivacionais em contexto escolar, pela influencia que exercem na aprendizagem, no rendimento escolar e no bem-estar dos alunos. Restringimos a nossa analise a teoria dos objectivos de realizacao, porque e, no presente, uma das perspectivas teoricas mais utilizada no âmbito da psicologia educacional, em segundo lugar, pela importância que da ao estudo da qualidade (a par da quantidade) da motivacao dos alunos e, em terceiro lugar, porque adopta uma perspectiva situacional e contextualizada da motivacao dos alunos (e dos professores). Mais especificamente, aborda a influencia que os factores contextuais, situados ao nivel da cultura de escola e das praticas de instrucao dos professores, exercem sobre a orientacao dos objectivos de realizacao dos alunos (mestria vs. aproximacao do desempenho e evitamento do desempenho).