Percorrer por autor "Brito-Costa, Sónia"
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- An Initial Comparison of the Psychometric Properties of the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen in Spanish and PortuguesePublication . Jonason, Peter K.; Tosi, Michele; Silva, Sofia; Da Silva Antunes, Rui Jorge; Brito-Costa, SóniaWe tested the psychometric properties of the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen measure of psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism in Portugal (n = 1,034) and Spain (n = 386). Adult (M = 43.40, SD = 14.81, range = 18–88) participants (1,113 women) completed the Dirty Dozen measure of each trait along with ultrabrief measures of extraversion, openness, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and religiousness and a lengthier measure of individual differences in depression, anxiety, and stress. Using confirmatory factor analysis and multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, we found evidence for measurement invariance for a 3-factor model of the Dirty Dozen in the sexes and countries. The Dark Triad traits and disagreeableness were present across the traits and countries. Across depression, anxiety, and stress, correlations with the Dark Triad traits were stronger in men than women. Our results suggest that the scale translations – in each country – are trustworthy paving the way for inter-Iberian and international collaborations.
- Association of Concurrent Clusters of Physical Inactivity and Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits with Common Mental Disorders among Primary Healthcare Workers: Insights from a large sample cross-sectional analysis in BrazilPublication . Lopes, Fernanda Queiroz Rego de Sousa; Rocha, Saulo Vasconcelos; Santos, Clarice Alves dos; Teixeira, Jules Ramon Brito; Patrão, Ana Luisa; Brito-Costa, Sónia; Rodrigues, Rafael N.; Campos, Francisco; Furtado, Guilherme Eustáquio; Araújo, Tânia Maria deBackground Common mental disorders (CMDs) are highly prevalent worldwide. Leisure time physical inactivity (LTPI) is a key modifiable behavior increasingly recognized for its contribution to CMD risk, alongside tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and nonparticipation in social activities (NPSA). Despite this, most studies examine these lifestyle factors individually rather than investigating their concurrent clustering and combined impact on mental health. Objective To examine the association between clusters of unhealthy lifestyle habits centered on LTPI and CMDs among primary healthcare workers (PHCWs) in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of 3,343 PHCWs was conducted. CMDs were screened with the Self-Report Questionnaire-20. Unhealthy behaviors (LTPI, tobacco use, alcohol use, and NPSA) were analyzed individually and as clusters (observed/expected ratios). Associations with CMDs were estimated via logistic regression. Results Participants were predominantly female (78.9%); 57.1% were ≤40 years. Prevalences were as follows: LTPI: 56.6%, tobacco: 6.2%, alcohol: 37.3%, NPSA: 61.3%; and CMDs: 22.6%. LTPI [odds ratio (OR) = 1.56; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23–1.99], and NPSA (OR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.27–2.03) were independently associated with CMDs. The LTPI + NPSA cluster showed higher odds of CMDs (OR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.29–2.31). Clustering patterns also revealed combinations involving LTPI and tobacco use. Conclusion CMDs among PHCWs are linked not only to single behaviors but to clusters centered on LTPI, particularly when combined with social isolation. Mental health strategies in primary care settings should prioritize increasing leisure time physical activity and social engagement alongside broader lifestyle risk reduction.
- Behavioral Differences And Impact Of Lowercase And Uppercase Letters On Reading PerformancePublication . Teixeira, Ana Rita; Brito-Costa, Sónia; Ferreira Antunes, Maria Fernanda; Espada, Sílvia MariaThe aim of this work is to understand the impact of lowercase letters and uppercase letters in terms of reading. Four sessions were held in which subjects are aged from 15 to 59 years old. Of the 19 participants with a mean age of 26.52 years (SD=13.14), to understand which letters (lowercase versus uppercase) presents a shorter reading time and higher levels of calmness, considering two different complexity texts (children and scientific) in two different forms of interaction (paper reading and screen reading). Several tests were carried out to ensure the intended result in order to comprehend the influence of various visual variables because of a more precise reading process. Four variables were examined using various sensors, including the Brain Computer Interaction (BCI) device, to measure heart rate activity (HRA) and levels of brain activity (active, neutral, and calm). The number of errors, the reading time, the heart rate variability and the calmness, active and neutral levels were considered. Our findings demonstrate that depending on the type of letters (lowercase versus uppercase), and the type of text (scientific versus children's text), and the reading text presentation (paper or screen), the visual variables have a different effect on reading performance.
- Contributions of one hypothetical model of predictive relationships between psychological skills and emotional intelligence in university student-athletes: A cross-sectional studyPublication . Mercader-Rubio, Isabel; Ángel, Nieves Gutiérrez; Brito-Costa, Sónia; ROSAS DA SILVA, SOFIA DE LURDES; Moisão, Ana; Furtado, GuilhermePsychological skills are considered in sport psychology as indispensable capabilities to analyze the athlete’s own vision of his or her own personality. These skills encompass self-confidence, positive and negative coping control, attentional control, visual-imaginative control, motiva-tional level, and attitudinal control. The significance of this research lies in demonstrating the relationship established between each of the dimensions of emotional intelligence and the con-stituent skills of the personality. As such, this study aims to investigate the relationship between the seven factors related to psychological skills and emotional intelligence (attention, clarity, and emotional regulation). The sample comprises 163 university students pursuing degrees in Phys-ical Activity and Sports Sciences, [70,9% (N = 117) men and 27.9% (N = 46) women] with a mean age of 20.33 years. As assessment instruments, we used two validated and standardized scales, the IPED and the TMMS-24. The main findings of this work allow us to affirm the existence of a relationship between the three dimensions of emotional intelligence and the control of both positive and negative coping, attentional control, visual-imaginative control, motivational level, and attitudinal control. In conclusion, this study underscores the necessity of cognitive and emotional training, in addition to physical training, to enhance these skills among both male and female athletes.
- Exploratory teaching: Integrating applet to teach arithmetic multiplication operationPublication . Freitas, Yelitza Aveiro; Abbasi, Maryam; Brito-Costa, Sónia; Pinto, Ricardo; Rato, Virgílio José; Martins, Fernando Manuel LourençoFoundational arithmetic skills in early education and understanding effective teaching methodologies are fundamental. This paper studies how exploratory teaching (ET) impacts the integration of an applet and its effect on understanding multiplication in a second-grade primary school. The data collected assessed students’ knowledge levels and overall performance. The intervention sessions involved tasks in an applet to understand the meanings of the multiplication operation. The ET model was structured with five sessions, each with four phases. The results indicated that this method significantly improved students’ arithmetic self-efficacy and effectively integrated applets into the classroom for enhanced learning of arithmetic operations.
- From Potential to Practice: Training as a Promoter of Self-Efficacy in Computational Thinking for Pre-service Primary School TeachersPublication . Rodrigues, Rita Neves; Costa, Cecília; Abbasi, Maryam; Brito-Costa, Sónia; Martins, Fernando Manuel LourençoBackground/purpose. Computational Thinking is a fundamental problem-solving skill. As its importance has been recognized by the scientific community, it has been incorporated into the curricula of several countries to foster its development from the earliest years of schooling. Therefore, it is essential to design training programs that equip teachers to integrate this skill into their practice. Since self-efficacy influences learning, these programs should include strategies to enhance participants' perception of self-efficacy. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate pre-service primary school teachers’ perceptions of self-efficacy in Computational Thinking within the context of a training program implementation. Materials/methods. A mixed-methods approach was followed to analyze the impact of the training program, implemented over nine months, on the perception of self-efficacy in Computational Thinking among 38 pre-service primary school teachers enrolled at a higher education institution in mainland Portugal. Quantitative data were collected using the Computational Thinking Self-Efficacy Scale at Pre- and Post-Intervention phases. Qualitative data were gathered throughout the intervention, including task resolutions, lesson plans, critical reflections, photography, videos, and transcriptions of audio records. Results. The results revealed statistically significant differences in all four analyzed dimensions of self-efficacy (Abstraction, Reasoning, Decomposition, and Generalization) between the Pre-Intervention and Post-Intervention phases. Conclusion. This study presents an approach that improves pre-service primary school teachers’ self-efficacy in Computational Thinking through the implementation of a training program within Initial Teacher Training.
- The Image of Group Fitness Instructors: An Intra- and Inter-Country Comparison Between Portugal and RomaniaPublication . Ardelean, Viorel Petru; Geantă, Vlad Adrian; Dulceanu, Corina; Bulzan, Claudiu; Brito-Costa, Sónia; Furtado, Guilherme Eustáquio; Gomes, Ricardo; Martins, Fernando Manuel Lourenço; Campos, FranciscoFitness instructors play an essential role in fitness services, as they require both technical and interpersonal skills. A good image of a fitness instructor can be defined as having a pleasant appearance and good presentation in terms of hygiene and/or clothing used, which is appropriate for the context and characteristics of the participants. Their image significantly influences participants’ perceptions and satisfaction. The objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis between Romania and Portugal regarding the quality of services offered within group fitness classes, focusing on instructors. It involved 133 group fitness instructors and 210 participants from Romania and Portugal. An adaptation of the Szumilewicz questionnaire was used to assess the importance of the different attributes of the fitness instructor’s image. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, and effect size to compare perceptions between countries and groups. Romanian instructors and participants generally attributed more importance to the fitness instructor’s image compared to their Portuguese counterparts. Significant differences were found in attributes like physical fitness, technical execution, and communication. Instructors tended to overestimate the importance of their image compared to participants. The fitness instructor’s image is crucial in determining participant satisfaction and the perceptions of service quality. The innovative aspect of this study lies in its intercultural comparison, which highlights how cultural context influences the perception of a fitness instructor’s attributes, such as physical fitness, technical execution, and communication. The practical application of these findings lies in the suggestion that fitness professionals should tailor their approach, balancing technical skills and interpersonal communication to align with the cultural expectations of their participants. This culturally sensitive approach is essential for enhancing participant satisfaction and improving the overall quality of fitness services.
- Impact of a Training Program on Developing Computational Thinking in Pre-Service Primary School Teachers: From Theory to PracticePublication . Rodrigues, Rita Neves; Costa, Cecília; Brito-Costa, Sónia; Abbasi, Maryam; Martins, Fernando Manuel LourençoBackground/purpose. The Computational Thinking ability has become a fundamental skill in the 21st century and has been integrated into educational curricula in various countries. For this curricular integration to be effective, it is essential that teachers are prepared to incorporate the development of this competency into their practices. In this context, this study aims to analyze whether a training program implemented over an extended period, encompassing theoretical, practical, and reflective components, has influenced pre-service teachers' perceptions of the competencies of Creativity, Algorithmic Thinking, Cooperativity, Critical Thinking, and Problem-Solving within Computational Thinking. Materials/methods. This is a mixed-methods study, using both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the perception of the Computational Thinking competence levels of 38 pre-service primary school teachers, who constitute the sample of this study, before and after the implementation of a 9-month training program. Results. The study results revealed statistically significant differences in all the competencies analyzed from the Pre-Intervention to the Post-Intervention phases. The data collected during the intervention highlight the specific moments within the training program that contributed to the development of each competency. Conclusion. It is concluded that the training program significantly contributed to changing the pre-service teachers' perceptions of the five Computational Thinking competencies analyzed. This highlights the importance of incorporating training programs into Initial Teacher Training, especially those that integrate theory and practice, fostering the development of essential competencies for the teaching practices of pre-service teachers.
- Impact of Exercise Interventions on Sustained Brain Health Outcomes in Frail Older Individuals: A Comprehensive Review of Systematic ReviewsPublication . Furtado, Guilherme Eustáquio; Reis, Anne Sulivan Lopes da Silva; Braga-Pereira, Ricardo; Caldo-Silva, Adriana; Teques, Pedro; Sampaio, António Rodrigues; Santos, Carlos André Freitas dos; Bachi, André Luís Lacerda; Campos, Francisco; Borges, Grasiely Faccin; Brito-Costa, SóniaSeveral systematic review studies highlight exercise’s positive impact on brain health outcomes for frail individuals. This study adopts a Comprehensive Review of reviews (CRs) approach to amalgamate data from existing reviews, focusing on exercise’s influence on brain health outcomes in older frail and pre-frail adults. The methodology involves a thorough search of Portuguese, Spanish, and English-indexed databases (i.e., Ebsco Health, Scielo, ERIC, LILACS, Medline, Web of Science, SportDiscus) from 1990 to 2022, with the AMSTAR-2 tool assessing evidence robustness. The search terms “physical exercise”, “elderly frail”, and “systematic review” were employed. Results: Out of 12 systematically reviewed studies, four presented high-quality (with metanalyses), while eight exhibit critically low quality. Positive trends emerge in specific cognitive and neuromotor aspects, yet challenges persist in psychosocial domains, complex cognitive tasks, and ADL outcomes. This study yields reasonable and promising evidence regarding exercise’s influence on quality of life and depression in frail older individuals. However, the impact on biochemical markers remains inconclusive, emphasizing the need for standardized methodologies. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of acknowledging methodological nuances for clinicians and policymakers when translating these results into impactful interventions for aging populations. This emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive and customized approach to exercise interventions aimed at fostering the sustainability of overall well-being in older individuals, aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.
- Implementing regular physical activity for older individuals in the family strategy program using the RE-AIM framework to ensure feasibility and sustainability: EISI study protocolPublication . Rocha, Saulo Vasconcelos; Santos, Clarice Alves dos; Conceição, Ariani França; Palotino-Ferreira, Bruna Maria; Morais, Danilo Barbosa; Chavane, Félix Salvador; Dias, Carolina Rego Chaves; Bachi, André Luís Lacerda; Mendes, Rui; Brito-Costa, Sónia; ROSAS DA SILVA, SOFIA DE LURDES; Furtado, Guilherme EustáquioThe EISI study protocol aims to address the low participation rate in physical exercise programs among older individuals, emphasizing its significance as a non-pharmacological therapeutic approach for overall health and increased physical activity. The objectives include implementing physical activity (PA) and educational health programs in Jequié, Bahia, Brazil, targeting the Family Health Strategy population to enhance local physical activity levels among older individuals. The study also seeks to evaluate the program's feasibility, safety, and sustainability for large-scale implementation, along with assessing its impact on immune and inflammatory response biomarkers to the SARS-CoV virus, as well as physical-functional and brain health. Participants, aged 60 or above, will be divided into two groups: multicomponent exercise (MCE) and behavioral change interventions (BCI). The study employs a mixed-method approach, utilizing a non-randomized controlled short-term pathway model for a 4-8 weeks of pilot study and 16-week intervention impact assessment. Data collection encompasses various aspects such as sociodemographic information, mental health, physical fitness, fall risk, functional capacity, anthropometric measurements, hemodynamic assessment, habitual physical activity, and health-related quality of life. Blood and saliva samples are collected for cytokine and antibody biomarker analysis related to SARS-CoV immunity. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations for both groups will be conducted, with the hypothesis that MCE will yield more favorable responses compared to BCI. The study's holistic approach, including the assessment of feasibility, safety, and sustainability, aims to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 and SDG 9 b y promoting accessible and sustainable healthcare initiatives for older individuals. This research aligns with global efforts to enhance health and well-being, emphasizing the importance of regular exercise in the aging population.