Early adversity and adult delinquency: the mediational role of mental health in youth offenders

This research explores the mediational role of mental health in the relationship between early adverse experiences and current self-reported delinquency in young adults with past juvenile justice involvement. Seventy-five young adults with official records of juvenile delinquency in 2010/2011 filled out our protocol in 2014/2015 including the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire, the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the D-CRIM questionnaire (evaluating delinquency). The global level of adverse experiences during childhood and adolescence was related to mental health problems and self-reported delinquency in young adulthood, while psychopathological symptoms were also related to current self-reported delinquency. The mental health indicator partially mediated the link between early adversity and current self-reported offending in individuals with past juvenile justice involvement. Our results are in line with previous psychological and neurobiological approaches and highlight the importance of mental health services in youth offender rehabilitation. Future directions for research are provided.Esta pesquisa explora o papel mediador da saúde mental na relação entre experiências adversas precoces e delinquência autorreportada em jovens adultos com historia de envolvimento no sistema de justiça juvenil. Setenta e cinco jovens adultos com registros de delinquência juvenil em 2010/2011 preencheram o protocolo em 2014/2015, incluindo o Questionário de Experiências Adversas na Infância, o Inventário de Sintomas Psicopatológicos e o D-CRIM (que avalia a delinquência). O nível global de experiências adversas na infância e adolescência associou-se tanto a problemas de saúde mental como à delinquência autorreportada em jovens adultos, os sintomas psicopatológicos estiveram também associados à delinquência juvenil no presente. O indicador de saúde mental parcialmente mediou a relação entre adversidade precoce e o nível atual de delinquência em indivíduos com história de envolvimento no sistema de justiça juvenil. Os nossos resultados estão em linha com abordagens psicológicas e neurológicas prévias e salientam a importância dos serviços de saúde mental na reabilitação de jovens ofensores. Direções futuras são apresentadas.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Developmental predictors of offending and persistence in crime: A systematic review of meta-analyses

Meta-analyses have provided major findings about developmental predictors of offending. However, there has been little focus on their relative ability to predict offending behaviour. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of meta-analyses with two aims: 1) to summarize all well-established knowledge about developmental (explanatory) predictors of offending, and 2) to sort those predictors according to their effect size. The strongest predictors of general offending were related to family/parental dimensions. Delinquent peers, school/employment problems, family problems, certain types of mental health problems, and alcohol/substance abuse were the most important predictors of persistence in crime. Our findings suggest the crucial role of family-related developmental predictors in preventing offending. The predictors of persistence in crime highlight the multisystemic nature of persistent antisocial behaviour.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Two sides of child maltreatment: from psychopathic traits to altruistic attitudes inhibition

Child maltreatment is a known risk factor for criminal behavior, however, only a few studies have addressed the relationship between child maltreatment and the development of psychopathic traits. Meanwhile, the effect of adverse childhood experiences on prosocial behavior is practically unknown. The current research aims to explore the relationship between child maltreatment, psychopathic traits and altruistic attitudes among young adults. Six hundred and seventy-three young adults from the community filled out the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire, the Youth Psychopathic Traits Inventory - Short Version and the Altruistic Attitudes Scale. Results suggest that child maltreatment is related to both psychopathic traits and inhibition of altruistic altitudes. Each adverse childhood experience appears to be associated with the development of specific forms of psychopathic traits and/or altruistic attitudes. Early identification of maltreatment is essential for prevention of antisocial behavior and for the promotion of altruistic attitudes. Research, political and social recommendations are suggested.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cross-cultural adaptability of parenting interventions designed for childhood behavior problems: A meta-analysis

The dissemination of parenting interventions is one of the advised approaches to globally counteract childhood behavior problems, delinquency, and future criminal careers. Many of these interventions are developed in Anglosphere countries and transported to other contexts with distinct cultural backgrounds. However, there are no meta-analyses evaluating the overall effectiveness of these Anglosphere parenting programs in non-Anglosphere settings. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the effectiveness of parenting interventions developed in Anglosphere countries when transported to non-Anglosphere countries, as well as compare effectiveness levels between Anglosphere and non-Anglosphere trials; and analyze the impact of research and contextual factors in the dissemination of these interventions. Parenting interventions were included if they were: created in an Anglosphere setting; tested in non-Anglosphere countries; focused on reducing childhood behavioral problems; designed for children ranging from two to 12 years old; and tested in an experimental randomized trial. A random-effects model was selected for our meta-analysis. Standardized mean differences, confidence intervals and prediction intervals were also computed. Twenty studies were included, and results suggest that parenting interventions designed for childhood behavior problems can be transported to non-Anglosphere countries and potentially maintain effectiveness. This study is a relevant contribution to the evidence of cross-cultural transportability of parenting interventions

Motivated to compete but not to care: The fundamental social motives of risk-taking behaviors

Based on the evolutionary framework of risk-taking, the present study aims to examine how the fundamental social motives relate to health risks, interpersonal risks and deviant non-violent behaviors as a function of sex and across different life stages of transitioning to adulthood. A total of 1370 Spanish adolescents and young individuals participated in the survey study. The results showed that status-seeking and kin care (family) were the principal social motives related to risk-taking behaviors. Specifically, status-seeking acted as a promoting factor of risk-taking behaviors, while kin care (family) exerted the opposite effect. Therefore, the results in general demonstrate the significant role of the fundamental social motives on risk-taking behaviors. The impact of sex and age group on the relationship between social motives and risk-taking behaviors is discussed.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comportamento organizacional positivo e empreendedorismo: Uma influência mutuamente vantajosa

O comportamento organizacional positivo (COP) e o empreendedorismo têm procurado distinguir-se enquanto campos de referência no estudo das organizações. Contudo, ambas as áreas podem ainda beneficiar de melhorias ao nível conceptual, metodológico ou interventivo. Com base no estado da arte das duas áreas, o presente artigo procura estabelecer sinergias entre o COP e o empreendedorismo, de modo a contribuir para um desenvolvimento mais sustentado de ambas as disciplinas. Por influência da literatura sobre empreendedorismo, o COP pode beneficiar da introdução de uma maior preocupação com o impacto societal, de uma abordagem integrada e de uma perspectiva temporal no estudo das capacidades psicológicas. A investigação sobre empreendedorismo pode ficar mais favorecida ao evidenciar o uso de critérios de êxito mais claros, a preocupação com o rigor metodológico e a utilidade de uma visão desenvolvimentista dos empreendedores, todas elas características patentes nos estudos do COP

Meaning in life, meaning-making and posttraumatic growth in cancer patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionThe purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the association between meaning in life (MiL), meaning-making and posttraumatic growth (PTG) in the context of cancer.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in eighteen electronic databases. The screening and selection process followed the PRISMA guidelines. For the purpose of the meta-analysis, the correlation coefficients between meaning in life and posttraumatic growth were extracted from the included studies. The effect size (r) was calculated using the restricted maximum-likelihood estimator, a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed through the Q statistic, I2 index and forest plot, while publication bias was analyzed with the use of the funnel plot and Egger’s test.Results889 records were considered according to the inclusion criteria. A total of nine articles, published between 2006 and 2021, were included in the systematic review. More than half were published in the last five years. The sample was mostly diagnosed with breast cancer. The meta-analysis included five articles (N = 844) and the results indicate a significant moderate correlation between meaning in life and posttraumatic growth (r = 0.43, 95% IC [0.36, 0.50]).DiscussionIn conclusion, there is a clear association between meaning in life and posttraumatic growth in cancer patients. Future research should explore this relationship further, in order to better assist and guide meaning centered interventions that can potentiate a positive adjustment and possibly growth from the cancer experience

Early trauma and associations with altruistic attitudes and behaviours among young adults

Childhood and adolescent traumas are exceptionally prevalent worldwide. Despite their high prevalence and substantial impact, little research has investigated the rates and specific types of early trauma by gender. It is also unknown whether the types of early trauma are differentially associated with heightened or hindered prosocial attitudes and behaviours.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Recommended age groups and frequency of mammography screening : a systematic review

Esta revisão teve por objetivo avaliar a força de evidência do atual indicador de desempenho português relativo ao rastreio do Câncer da Mama através da mamografia, de modo a determinar o grupo etário e a periodicidade recomendadas. Foram pesquisados artigos nas principais bases de dados internacionais de literatura médica. Incluímos artigos publicados entre Janeiro de 2006 e Janeiro de 2012 que correspondiam aos objetivos da revisão. Foi utilizada a taxonomia SORT para a classificação dos resultados. Dos 253 artigos encontrados foram selecionados cinco que cumpriam os critérios de inclusão. Estes incluem três revisões sistemáticas (RS), uma meta-análise (MA) e uma norma de orientação clínica (NOC) baseada numa RS. Os artigos selecionados avaliaram a redução da mortalidade por câncer da mama através do rastreio com mamografia. A realização do rastreio mamográfico entre os 50 e os 69 anos é recomendado em todos os artigos que avaliam esta faixa etária. A NOC recomenda o rastreio bienal. Em suma, a mamografia deverá ser realizada entre os 50 e os 69 anos com uma periodicidade bienal. Estes resultados vão ao encontro do atual indicador de desempenho do rastreio do câncer da mama em Portugal.The scope of this review was to assess the strength of evidence for the current Portuguese performance indicator on breast cancer screening with mammography in order to determine the recommended age group and periodicity for screening. A search for articles was conducted in the main international databases of medical literature. Articles published between January 2006 and January 2012 addressing the objectives of this review were included. The SORT taxonomy was used to classify the results. Of the 253 articles, five articles met the inclusion criteria and were selected for review. These included three systematic reviews, one meta-analysis and one clinical guideline based on a systematic review. A reduction in breast cancer mortality with mamography screening was the outcome in all articles selected. Mammography screening between 50 and 69 years was recommended in all articles that assess this age group. The clinical guidelines recommended screening every two years. In conclusion, the current literature recommends mammography for women every two years between the ages of 50 and 69 years. This is consistent with the current performance indicator for breast cancer screening in Portugal

Performance indicators for clinical practice management in primary care in Portugal : consensus from a Delphi study

Early OnlineBackground: Performance indicators assessing the quality of medical care and linked to pay for performance may cause disagreement. Portuguese indicators included in recent health care reform are controversial. Objectives: To obtain consensus from opinion leaders in family medicine regarding the performance indicators for practice management used in the evaluation of Family Health Units in Portugal. Methods: Eighty-nine specialists in primary care were invited to answer the following question in an online Delphi study: 'Which performance indicators should be assessed regarding the organization and management of clinical practice in primary care in Portugal?' A Likert scale was used to evaluate validity, reliability, feasibility and sensitivity to change. Twenty-seven experts participated in the second round and achieved a high degree of consensus. Eight categories were created for analysis. Results: The experts suggested the use of existing indicators as well as new indicators. Thirty-nine indicators suggested by the experts are currently in use in Portugal. The assessment of the number of clinical acts performed, the number of administrative acts, and evaluation of the clinical demographic profile achieved a high degree of consensus. The expert panel suggested fifty new indicators. Five categories of these new indicators had a high degree of consensus, and three categories had a low degree of consensus. Conclusion: The expert panel recommended that performance indicators of practice management should first assess the quantity of clinical and administrative activities undertaken. These indicators must take into account the human and financial resources available to the clinic and its demographic context