Socio-demographic and subjective well-being predictors of social an emotional loneliness

This research examined the relationship between loneliness and psychosocial variables among people from Portugal across the adult life span. The study examined, besides socio-demographic predictors, subjective well-being predictors of social and emotional loneliness. The sample was constituted by 1,209 participants with a mean age of 38.12 (SD = 17.49) and a range between 18 and 90 years. Social, family and romantic loneliness were measured (DiTommaso, Brannen, & Best, 2004). Overall, social, family and romantic loneliness were significantly associated with the indicators of subjective well-being. Subjective well-being factors accounted also for a larger proportion of the explained variance in social, family and romantic loneliness scores than socio-demographic factors. Limitations of the research are discussed

Psychometric properties of the Porto Saudade Scale

Saudade involves psychosocial reactions to several circumstances involving deprivation from loved people and/or familiar locations. This work concerns the development and preliminary validation of an instrument to assess general disposition to saudade, the Porto Saudade Scale (PSS). Three studies were conducted which indicated that the PSS has favorable psychometric properties. Exploratory factor analysis of the PSS demonstrated a single latent saudade factor. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the single latent model of the PSS is adequate and possesses good internal consistency. As expected, the data also supported the convergent, discriminant, and external validity of the PSS. Saudade was more frequently reported among females than among males. These results suggest the validity of the PSS and emphasize that it is a brief measure with strong psychometric evidence for assessing saudade

Are Attitudes of Young Portuguese towards Immigration also Hardening? A Comparison between 1999 and 2006

The host majority has an important impact on how immigrants adapt to their new land. The focus of the present chapter1 is to understand attitudes of Portuguese young people towards immigration. To achieve this aim, a pilot study was conducted with the ISATIS (International Study of Attitudes Towards Immigration and Settlement) instrument. The sample consisted of 477 Portuguese youngsters attending courses in high school, interviewed in 1999 and in 2006. All participants were of Portuguese origin and 94% were born in Portugal. Their age ranged between 16 and 20 years. An examination of acculturation expectations towards immigration showed that Integration is the option most preferred, while Exclusion is the least preferred. In-between preferences are Segregation and Assimilation. Globally, there was a positive social climate towards immigration and immigrants. However, from 1999 to 2006 those positive attitudes were less strong. Girls revealed more positive attitudes towards immigration and immigrants than boys. Regarding attitudes towards diversity, tolerance is clearly the strongest link. With respect to security, economic security and personal security are the weakest links. The indicators of immigration climate (perceived personal, economic and cultural consequences of diversity and immigration, the tendency to advocate prohibition of immigration and attitude toward 17 ethnocultural groups) are reasonably strong. Immigration climate is more strongly linked to diversity attitudes as compared with security

Adaptação portuguesa da escala de solidão social e emocional (SELSA-S)

Apresenta-se no presente trabalho a avaliação psicométrica inicial da adaptação da SELSA-S de DiTommaso, Brannen e Best (2004) para a população portuguesa. Foram efectuados dois estudos. O primeiro estudo foi feito com 183 estudantes do ensino superior com uma média de idade de 21.63 anos (DP=3.43). Conjuntamente com a escala SELSA-S foram administradas outras escalas para avaliar a solidão global, a timidez, a sociabilidade, os sintomas psicológicos, a satisfação com a vida e a auto-estima. Tal como a versão original inglesa, a análise factorial extraiu três factores correspondentes às escalas de solidão social, solidão familiar e solidão romântica. As três escalas da SELSA-S revelaram uma elevada consistência interna. Os resultados apoiam a validade concorrente e convergente da SELSA-S. O segundo estudo foi feito com 179 idosos com uma média de idade de 73.05 anos (DP=6.95). A esta amostra foram administradas as escalas SELSA-S e a UCLA-R, bem como questões sociodemográficas e a avaliação subjectiva da saúde. Em prol da validade externa da SELSA-S verificou-se que a solidão social expressa pelos idosos de uma aldeia não comunitária era maior do que a expressa pelos idosos residentes numa aldeia comunitária (Rio de Onor). Os elementos apresentados salientam as qualidades psicométricas da SELSA-S, bem como a sua utilidade para a investigação