Reproducibility and physiological factors pertinent to the study of the acute effects of exercise on traditional and alternative measures of vascular and autonomic function in young and older adults

Measuring age-related endothelial dysfunction may provide a prognostic marker of cardiovascular diseases beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Flow-mediated slowing (FMS) may address flow-mediated dilation (FMD) major caveats including larger measurement and biological variability, still, applanation tonometry FMS reproducibility is unknown. The acute model permits investigating the mechanisms underlying aerobic exercise anti-atherogenic and sympatholytic effects which preserve neurovascular homeostasis through aging. Thus, this dissertation aimed to investigate the reproducibility and physiological factors relevant to the study of exercise acute effects on traditional and alternative measures of vascular and autonomic function in young and older adults. Reproducibility assessments of applanation tonometry FMS and FMD were conducted on twenty-four males (aged 23-75 years) healthy and active male adults. Participants also performed walking or running randomized acute bouts of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous training, or a non-exercise condition. FMS was not a reproducible method with poorer reproducibility (CV: 141%) than FMD (CV: 23%). We found no age-associated response patterns on FMD, and heart-rate variability indexes to exercise in active young and older adults. FMD remained unchanged following exercise, whilst only HIIT reduced cardiovagal modulation, likely representing the initial trigger for vagal adaptations, returning to baseline 60-min into recovery.A disfunção endotelial inerente ao envelhecimento pode ser preditiva de doenças cardiovasculares independentemente dos factores de risco tradicionais, assim a sua avaliação é crucial. A desaceleração fluxo-mediada (DFM) pretende colmatar as lacunas da vasodilatação fluxo-mediada (VFM): a elevada variabilidade biológica e de medição. Contudo, a reprodutibilidade da DFM medida por tonometria de aplanação é desconhecida. O modelo agudo possibilita investigar os mecanismos subjacentes aos efeitos ateroscleróticos e simpatolíticos do exercício aeróbio preservando a homeostasia neurovascular durante o envelhecimento. O objetivo desta dissertação consistiu em examinar a reprodutibilidade e os factores relevantes para o estudo dos efeitos agudos do exercício em medidas tradicionais e alternativas de função endotelial e autonómica em homens jovens e idosos. A reprodutibilidade da DFM e da VFM foi avaliada em 24 homens (23-75 anos), saudáveis e fisicamente ativos. Adicionalmente, duas sessões de treino aeróbio (contínuo vs intervalado) e uma de controlo foram ainda realizadas aleatoriamente. A DFM apresentou uma reprodutibilidade inferior (CV: 141%) à da VDM (CV: 23%). As respostas ao exercício da VFM e da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca não diferiram entre jovens e idosos. A VFM permaneceu inalterada no pós-exercício, já a modulação cardiovagal diminui apenas no pós-treino intervalado de alta intensidade retornando a níveis basais após 60-min de recuperação

Short Index of Job Satisfaction: Validity evidence from Portugal and Brazil

Job satisfaction is an important construct that is known to be associated with workers' performance and wellbeing. As such, to properly measure it, one must use adapted measures that show adequate validity evidence for the desired context. Such measures should preferably be short to allow the parsimonious use of various measures/constructs in the same data collection. The aim of this paper is to adapt the Portuguese version for Brazil and Portugal of the Short Index of Job Satisfaction (SIJS). The SIJS is a psychometric instrument that measures job satisfaction through five items. A cross-sectional study was conducted with two multi-occupational workers samples, one from Brazil (n = 599) and one other from Portugal (n = 572). The SIJS presented good validity evidence based on its internal structure, namely dimensionality, reliability, and measurement invariance across countries and sexes. It also revealed to be positively correlated with work engagement, and quality of work life (convergent evidence). It also has shown to be negatively associated with burnout (discriminant evidence). The SIJS showed promising validity evidence. The SIJS can be useful to be used together with other instruments, due to its small number of items, producing data with good psychometric properties.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Determinants of the intention to use performance-enhancing substances among Portuguese gym users

The present study examined the determinants of the intentions to use prohibited performance- enhancing substances (PES) and the hypothesis of gender and PES use influencing Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) variables. A TPB approach was used. A convenience sample of Portuguese gym users (n = 453) completed an anonymous web-based survey. Variance-based structural equation modeling, multigroup analysis strategy, latent mean analysis approach and one-way ANOVA analysis were used. The findings showed that, at structural level, results support the TPB framework in terms of characterizing and predicting intentions to PES use in the gym users sample, and that subjective norms were the strongest predictor of PES use intentions. Female and male differed in intentions to use PES, subjective norms and beliefs. However, the predictive model in study remains invariable in both groups. Concerning PES use, results showed the existence of a significant difference, regarding all the TPB´s constructs of the PES users and nonusers’ groups, and that the predictive capacity of each predictor was different for each group. Psychological strategies should be based on subjective norms, alongside beliefs and attitudes towards PES use, since these variables influence the intention to use PES in that particular population

Openness Toward Organizational Change Scale (OTOCS): Validity evidence from Brazil and Portugal

Openness toward organizational change is central to employees’ responses to organiza- tions’ strategic actions. This study aims to assess the validity evidence of the Openness Toward Organizational Change Scale (OTOCS) by examining the internal structure of the measure (e.g., dimensionality, reliability, measurement invariance) and its relations with other variables such as quality of work life, burnout, job satisfaction, and work engagement. A cross-sectional study was conducted using total sample of 1,175 workers, with 565 work- ers from Portugal and 610 from Brazil. The data provided satisfactory validity evidence based on the internal structure: the expected dimensionality was confirmed, acceptable lev- els of reliability were found, and measurement invariance was achieved among countries and sex. The measure also demonstrated satisfactory validity evidence based on the rela- tions to other variables, being negatively associated with burnout and positively associated with work engagement, job satisfaction and quality of work. The OTOCS proved to be a rela- tively short self-report measure with satisfactory validity evidence to be used among Brazil- ian and Portuguese workers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Teachers and Technology: A Complicated Relationship Pedro Brás, Guilhermina Lobato Miranda and João Marôco

Although technology is present in most classrooms and many countries have made strong recommendations for ICT integration in schools and teachers’ practices, a great number of teachers do not use ICT in their educational activities. Research has provided theories and models that explain the consistency of the relationship between attitudes and behavior. These theories converge to identify common aspects that foster technology integration.We now propose an “ICT Skills Towards Technology Use” (ISTTU) model to evaluate the impact of “ICT Knowledge” over “Intention to Use ICT” (IUICT). Based on previously validated questionnaires, we have developed a questionnaire that was applied to a sample of teachers from the vocational stream of secondary education in Portugal. The data was tested and evaluated using Structural Equation Modeling techniques and we concluded that “ICT Knowledge” is a good predictor of the “IUICT” and that “teaching area” has an impact on “Intention to Use ICT”. We also concluded that “gender” and “Learning through ICT” have no significant impact on IUICT. The ISTTU model shows that fostering the development of ICT skills (increasing “ICT Knowledge”) will develop the “intention to use technologies with students”

Análise de variáveis não diretamente observáveis: influência na tomada de decisão durante o processo de investigação

El tamaño de la muestra, el tipo de variables, su medida y la construcción de instrumentos para la recogida de datos válidos y fiables son aspectos a considerar en el proceso de investigación. En el ámbito de las ciencias sociales, de la salud y particularmente en el área de enfermería, los instrumentos para la recogida de datos son muchas veces compuestos por variables componentes o indicadores que originan variables latentes o no observables directamente, lo que muestra la importancia de decidir cuidadosamente cómo se miden (escala ordinal, Likert o de tipo Likert). Las escalas psicométricas son ejemplos de instrumentos, por el tipo de variables que lo componen, que pueden traer problemas de medición y de análisis estadístico (test paramétricos versus no paramétricos). Así, el investigador cuando usa estas variables, debe respetar algunos supuestos basados en estudios de simulación o recomendaciones basadas en la evidencia científica, lo que permite una mejor toma de decisiones.The sample dimension, types of variables, format used for measurement, and construction of instruments to collect valid and reliable data must be considered during the research process. In the social and health sciences, and more specifically in nursing, data-collection instruments are usually composed of latent variables or variables that cannot be directly observed. Such facts emphasize the importance of deciding how to measure study variables (using an ordinal scale or a Likert or Likert-type scale). Psychometric scales are examples of instruments that are affected by the type of variables that comprise them, which could cause problems with measurement and statistical analysis (parametric tests versus non-parametric tests). Hence, investigators using these variables must rely on suppositions based on simulation studies or recommendations based on scientific evidence in order to make the best decisions.A dimensão da amostra, o tipo de variáveis, o seu formato de medida, a construção dos instrumentos de recolha de dados válidos e fiáveis, são aspectos a ter em consideração no processo de investigação. No âmbito das ciências sociais, da saúde e especificamente na área de enfermagem, os instrumentos de recolha de dados são muitas vezes compostos por variáveis componentes ou indicadores que dão origem a variáveis latentes ou não observáveis diretamente, daí a importância da decisão relativa à forma como são medidas (escala ordinal, Likert ou de tipo Likert). As escalas psicométricas são exemplos de instrumentos, pelo tipo de variáveis que as integram, que podem trazer problemas de medida e de análise estatística (testes paramétricos versus não paramétricos). Assim o investigador quando usa estas variáveis deve respeitar alguns pressupostos baseados em estudos de simulação ou em recomendações fundamentadas na evidência científica, de forma a tomar a melhor decisão

Understanding the relationship between illness perceptions of breast cancer and perceived risk in a sample of U.A.E. female university students: the role of comparative risk

BackgroundIn the Middle East region, the incidence of breast cancer (BC) has substantially increased in the last years. Despite a considerable body of research about BC in Arab countries, how illness perceptions of healthy women about BC may influence risk perception is unknown.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 298 young Emirati women. The measures included demographic information, illness perceptions, and risk perception. Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed to assess illness perceptions about BC, perceived individual risk and comparative risk. A structural equation modelling (S.E.M.) was built to investigate the relationship between illness perceptions and perceived individual risk.ResultsParticipants reported negative illness perceptions about BC The individual risk perception and the compared risk perception for BC were low. Participants with a family history of BC reported more negative illness and higher risk perceptions. The relationship between illness perceptions and perceived individual risk was significant and mediated by compared risk. The S.E.M. explained 55.9% of the variance in predicting perceived individual risk for BC.ConclusionWomen\u27s views of BC are important factors in risk perception and may provide culturally sensitive clues to promote early screening for BC in Arab countries. This may be important for policymakers to design intervention strategies to lower health risks, considering the different ways in which women perceive their risks for BC

Shame, Self-Criticism, Perfectionistic Self-Presentation and Depression in Eating Disorders

Costa, J., Marôco, J., Pinto-Gouveia, J., & Ferreira, C. (2016). Shame, Self-Criticism, Perfectionistic Self-Presentation and Depression in Eating Disorders. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 16(3), 317-328. http://www.ijpsy.com/volumen16/num3/449.htmlThe complexity of eating disorder (ED) manifestations has increased the interest in understanding the mechanisms underlying the eating psychopathology and it is now widely accepted that there are multiple risk pathways for both the development and maintenance of eating psychopathology. This study examined the association between external shame and depression. We also investigated the possible mediation effect of self-criticism in the relation between shame and depression. Further to that, the current cross-sectional study inspected whether this mediation exists for different conditional values of perfectionistic self-presentation. One hundred and twenty one women diagnosed with eating disorder according to the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE 16.0D) completed a battery of self-report questionnaires to assess external shame, self-criticism, perfectionistic self-presentation and depression. A mediated-moderation analysis was performed. Results showed that the path from external shame to self-criticism depends on the level of perfectionistic self-presentation whereas the effect of self-criticism on depression is constant. Thus, there is an interaction between external shame and perfectionistic self-presentation on self-criticism which, in turn, affects depression. The internalization of an ideal-self sets up a standard that once compared to the actual self, displays negative self-evaluations and feelings that individuals see as reflecting a bad, inferior and flawed self. In this context, a perfectionistic self-presentation is used to create positive images on the minds of others. Although this style of organization is an adaptive way to deal with specific social contexts once it functions as a buffer in the relationship between shame and self-criticism, perfectionistic self-presentation seems to be a useless strategy since it does not prevent them from depression. Implications for future research are discussed

Understanding the relationship between illness perceptions of breast cancer and perceived risk in a sample of U.A.E. female university students: the role of comparative risk

BMC Women's Health is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of the health and wellbeing of adolescent girls and women, with a particular focus on the physical, mental, and emotional health of women in developed and developing nations. The journal welcomes submissions on women's public health issues, health behaviours, breast cancer, gynecological diseases, mental health and health promotion.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Copenhagen Burnout Inventory - student version: adaptation and transcultural validation for Portugal and Brazil

Realizou-se adaptação cultural do Inventário de Burnout de Copenhagen para estudantes (CBI-S) em português e estimou-se sua confiabilidade e validade. O CBI-S foi preenchido por 958 estudantes universitários brasileiros e 556 portugueses. O modelo fatorial original apresentou bom ajustamento entretanto, foram removidos dois itens com confiabilidade individual baixa (λ<0,5). A nova estrutura apresentou bom ajustamento a 2/3 da amostra total sendo invariante no 1/3 restante da amostra original. Verficou-se adequada consistência interna e validade convergente, discriminante e concorrente. Os pesos fatoriais do CBI-S não foram invariantes nas amostras de Brasil e Portugal. O CBI-S apresentou adequada confiabilidade e validade entretanto, verificou-se ausência de estabilidade transcultural.The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory for college students (CBI-S) was adapted to the Portuguese language and its reliability and validity studied in a sample of both Brazilian (n=958) and Portuguese (n=556) college students. The confirmatory factor analysis of the CBI-S showed good fit but two items were removed since they lack individual reliability (λ<.50). The new structure showed a good fit on 2/3 of the total sample and was invariant in the other 1/3 of the sample. The CBI-S factor weights were not invariant in the Brazilian and Portuguese samples. Internal consistency as well as convergent, discriminant and concurrent validity were good. The Portuguese CBI-S showed adequate reliability and validity but did not show cross-cultural validity