Addiction interprofessional experiences of care: Stress, coping and transformation.

This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals' attribution of meaning to the concept of addiction, treatment and recovery. The study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 18 healthcare professionals in the field of addiction: nine nurses, six psychologists, a psychiatrist, a social worker and a psychosocial technician. Based on a qualitative methodology, a thematic analysis was performed using the NVivo software. Regarding professional stress, the results revealed several stress factors related to the intervention (e.g. strategic powerlessness and uncertainty of intervention's effectiveness), the addicted individuals (e.g. motivation, difficulties in adhering to treatment, patient behaviour, negative patient emotionality and lack of socio-economic resources) as well as the healthcare services (e.g. team stress). Adaptive coping strategies were reported, both used in the work context (e.g. cognitive coping strategies and acceptance) and in personal life (e.g. work-family boundaries and family support and closeness). Despite the professional stress experienced, the participants' narratives indicated positive transformations of the self, which suggests resilient professional trajectories.

Driving for Success in Family Reunification-Professionals' Views on Intervention.

Family reunification is a complex process and is consensually considered the best solution for children in care, as soon as the family has changed the dysfunctional patterns that prevent child safety and well-being. Intervention throughout the entire process is crucial to the success of family reunification. This study aimed to explore and understand child protection professionals' views on factors influencing (un)successful family reunification trajectories. Using a qualitative design, 33 Portuguese child protection professionals participated in five focus groups. The thematic analysis revealed a set of influential factors within three different systemic levels: child, family, and child welfare system. The latter level was clearly predominant, pointing to the powerful role of the intervention as a vehicle for successful family reunification. The results showed the relevance attributed by the professionals to some main intervention guidelines, children-professionals' relationships, multisystemic assessment and intervention, coordinated work of intervention teams, and sufficient time between the court decision and the child's re-entry into the family home. The need for early intervention and its continuity after the child's reintegration into the home also emerged as relevant factors. This study provides in-depth knowledge of professionals' views on the intervention process, thus contributing to a comprehensive understanding of (un)successful family reunification trajectories.

Parental Attributions-Mothers' Voices in Economically and Socially Disadvantaged Contexts.

In the present study, the attributions of socially and economically disadvantaged mothers for their own negative parenting behavior and for their children's undesirable behaviors as perceived by parents-understood as misbehavior-were analyzed. To this end, an exploratory study with a qualitative design was developed, in which 24 socially and economically disadvantaged mothers were individually interviewed. The data were analyzed following a thematic analysis approach, using software suited to qualitative analysis, namely NVIVO 12. The children's undesirable behaviors as perceived by parents and some characteristics associated with parental performance (particularly the appraisal of the effectiveness of their negative practices) emerged respectively as external and internal factors, explaining mothers' inadaptive behaviors-difficulties in behavior regulation, physical coercion, psychological control and paraverbal hostility. The parental subsystem and school emerged as the main external factors, and the psychological characteristics as the most relevant internal factors, explaining the children's undesirable behaviors-challenge, immaturity, hostility, emotionally-based, school behavior/absenteeism and danger. The results also indicate weak self-critical reflexivity regarding some of the inadaptive behaviors. The comprehensive analysis of the results, based on the literature review, gave rise to an explanatory hypothesis on the dysfunctional circular process regarding the maintenance of inadaptive practices and children's undesirable behaviors, considering the role played by parental attributions and by insufficient parental reflexivity.

How Do Family Court Judges Theorize about Parental Alienation? A Qualitative Exploration of the Territory.

Parental alienation (PA) and its conceptualization or understanding of the process underlying this dynamic has long been controversial, but it has also been frequently brought to courtrooms. This study provides an account of how legal professionals conceptualize "parental alienation" and how they describe the characteristics of the phenomenon. Using a qualitative design, 21 family court judges (range 33-60 years; 11 men and 10 women), working with child custody cases, participated in an individual in-depth interview. A qualitative analysis based on Grounded Theory basic procedures revealed a complex picture of alienation dynamics with five interconnected results. First, PA contexts and landscapes, which included the judges' perceptions on the PA nurturing contexts, its strategic behavior patterns and functions, portraits of PA and clues for its identification; second, considerations on PA severity; third, the influential factors, including those related to the emergence of PA; fourth, individual and relational impact of being exposed to PA; and fifth, perceived signs of change. The results also allowed for the complexification of the judges' theories, revealing six properties of the PA concept: elasticity, intentionality and camouflage, power asymmetries, multifactorial nature, and destructiveness. Directions for future research are expanded from these results and pragmatic contributions of knowledge on judges' critical thinking on PA issues and its manifestations in legal practice are discussed.

Dyadic coping mediates the relationship between parents' grief and dyadic adjustment following the loss of a child.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine forms of dyadic coping (DC) as mediators of the association between parents' grief response and dyadic adjustment and to determine whether these indirect effects were moderated by the child's type of death, timing of death, and age. DESIGN: The study design was cross-sectional. METHOD: The sample consisted of 197 bereaved parents. Participants completed the Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale, Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and Dyadic Coping Inventory. RESULTS: Significant indirect effects of parents' grief response on dyadic adjustment were found through stress communication by oneself and by the partner, positive and negative DC by the partner, and joint DC. The timing of death moderated the association between grief response and dyadic adjustment and between joint DC and dyadic adjustment. Grief response was negatively associated with dyadic adjustment only when the death occurred after birth. Grief response was negatively associated with joint DC, which, in turn, was positively associated with dyadic adjustment, when the death occurred both before and after birth. However, the association was stronger in the latter. CONCLUSIONS: Specific forms of DC might be mechanisms through which grief response is associated with dyadic adjustment and should be promoted in clinical practice.

Posttraumatic growth in bereaved parents: A multidimensional model of associated factors.

OBJECTIVE: Although the death of a child is a devastating event, recent evidence shows that personal growth is a relevant outcome of parents' grief. This study aimed to examine the factors associated with posttraumatic growth (PTG) and to propose a multidimensional model consisting of sociodemographic, situational, and intrapersonal and interpersonal factors. METHOD: A sample (N = 197; 89.8% female; mean age = 39.44 years) of bereaved parents completed the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form, the 14-Item Resilience Scale, the Continuing Bonds Scale, and the Dyadic Coping Inventory. RESULTS: The final model consisted of sociodemographic, situational, intrapersonal, and interpersonal factors of PTG, which accounted for 36.7% of the variance. Higher levels of PTG were generally associated with female sex, younger age of the child, higher levels of resilience, higher levels of internalized continuing bonds (i.e., internal representation of the child, maintaining psychological proximity), and higher levels of stress communication by the partner (communicating the stress experience and requesting emotional or practical support). CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice, health professionals assisting bereaved parents should pay attention to men and parents of older children, who might be at higher risk of difficulties in developing PTG. Additionally, promoting a more internalized bond with the child, resilience and dyadic coping, especially stress communication, can constitute important therapeutic goals. (PsycINFO Database Record

Meaning and coping orientation of bereaved parents: Individual and dyadic processes.

The present study aimed to examine whether bereaved parents "meaning-made"-defined as results of attempts to reduce discrepancies between the meaning assigned to the death of the child and self and world-views-was influenced by their own and their partner's coping orientations. Coping orientations were conceptualized within the Dual Process Model, which entails loss coping orientation (LO; focus on the loss itself), restoration coping orientations (RO; focus on stressors that come about as an indirect consequence of the bereavement), and a flexible oscillation between both coping orientations. The sample consisted of 227 couples identified through obituary notices in local and national newspapers, who provided data at 6, 13, and 20 months after the death of their child. At all three points of measurement, both partners independently completed the Dual Coping Inventory (DCI) and a scale developed by the authors about meaning-made from the loss. Data were analyzed using a multi-level Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Results show that the combination of parents' own LO and RO (operationalized through the interaction effect between LO and RO) have a positive effect in parents' meaning-made. Partners' LO have a negative effect in parents' meaning-made. These results highlight the importance of, in the context of parental bereavement, being flexible by using both coping orientations, and of acknowledging the interdependence between partners, namely, the interpersonal process by which partner's coping affect one's meaning-made.

Infidelity in Dating Relationships: Gender-Specific Correlates of Face-to-Face and Online Extradyadic Involvement.

This study examined the gender-specific correlates of face-to-face and online extradyadic involvement (EDI) in dating relationships. The sample consisted of 561 women (M age = 23.19 years) and 222 men (M age = 23.97 years), all of whom reported being in an exclusive dating relationship for an average of 35 months. Participants completed the following self-report measures: Extradyadic Behavior Inventory, Attitudes toward Infidelity Scale, and Investment Model Scale. During the current relationship, men were more likely than women to report engagement in face-to-face physical/sexual EDI (23.4 vs. 15.5 %) and online sexual EDI (15.3 vs. 4.6 %). Both men and women with a history of infidelity in a prior relationship were more likely to engage in EDI. More positive attitudes toward infidelity, lower relationship satisfaction, lower commitment, and higher quality of alternatives were significantly associated with EDI, regardless of gender. Women reporting infidelity of a partner in a prior relationship were more likely to engage in face-to-face and online emotional EDI; a longer relationship and a younger age at the first sexual encounter were significant correlates of the engagement in face-to-face emotional EDI. Women with higher education were approximately three times more likely to engage in online sexual EDI. Although men and women are converging in terms of overall EDI, men still report higher engagement in physical/sexual extradyadic behaviors, and the correlates of sexual and emotional EDI vary according to gender. This study contributes to a comprehensive approach of factors influencing the likelihood of EDI and encourages future research in this area.

Partners' Similarity in Differentiation of Self is Associated With Higher Sexual Desire: A Quantitative Dyadic Study.

The relationship between sexual desire and differentiation of self in couples has been frequently discussed in clinical literature but lacks empirical support. This exploratory study investigates the associations between individual and dyadic levels of sexual desire, differentiation of self, and couple satisfaction. Similarities and discrepancies in sexual desire and differentiation of self between partners were especially targeted. Partners were expected to have a lower discrepancy of differentiation of self than unrelated individuals (Bowen's similarity hypothesis). Partners' discrepancy in differentiation of self was expected to be negatively associated with sexual desire, and higher levels of sexual desire and differentiation in the dyad were expected be positively associated with couple satisfaction. Results suggest that partners' similarity regarding differentiation of self predicted individual sexual desire. Other findings suggest that couple satisfaction was positively associated with both sexual desire and differentiation of self. Limitations and clinical implications are discussed.

Is committed desire intentional? A qualitative exploration of sexual desire and differentiation of self in couples.

The question of what heightens or diminishes sexual desire has long been a passionate theme across cultures in literature, arts, media, and medicine. Yet, little research has been conducted to determine what affects level of desire within couples. The degree of differentiation of self has been suggested as an important variable in shaping partners' level of desire. Through a qualitative analysis of dyadic couple interviews, this study provides an account of characteristics, processes, and trajectories of sexual desire and differentiation in 33 heterosexual couples of varying ages and relationship duration. Factors associated with high desire were change and autonomy, whereas conflict and children were reported to be desire-diminishing factors. Innovation, sharing, autonomy, and effort emerged as desire-promoting strategies, while fostering personal interests, investing in a positive connection, and enhancing personal integrity were identified as couples' strategies to promote and preserve differentiation of self. The results also shed light on couples' perceptions of whether and how sexual desire changes over the course of the relationship and challenge common cultural assumptions about desire in committed relationships-namely the myth that the only authentic expression of desire is that which occurs spontaneously and without intention and planning. Implications for couple therapy are discussed.

What is sexual satisfaction? Thematic analysis of lay people's definitions.

Sexual satisfaction is an important indicator of sexual health and is strongly associated with relationship satisfaction. However, research exploring lay definitions of sexual satisfaction has been scarce. We present thematic analysis of written responses of 449 women and 311 men to the question "How would you define sexual satisfaction?" The participants were heterosexual individuals with a mean age of 36.05 years (SD = 8.34) involved in a committed exclusive relationship. In this exploratory study, two main themes were identified: personal sexual well-being and dyadic processes. The first theme focuses on the positive aspects of individual sexual experience, such as pleasure, positive feelings, arousal, sexual openness, and orgasm. The second theme emphasizes relational dimensions, such as mutuality, romance, expression of feelings, creativity, acting out desires, and frequency of sexual activity. Our results highlight that mutual pleasure is a crucial component of sexual satisfaction and that sexual satisfaction derives from positive sexual experiences and not from the absence of conflict or dysfunction. The findings support definitions and models of sexual satisfaction that focus on positive sexual outcomes and the use of measures that incorporate items linked to personal and dyadic sexual rewards for both men and women.

Individual and relational risk factors for the development of eating disorders in adolescent aesthetic athletes and general adolescents.

This study compared potential risk and protective factors, levels of disordered eating (DE), and their relationship among young aesthetic athletes (elite and non-elite) and controls (N = 725; 62.5 % females; mean age = 15.3, SD = 2.1). The participants completed self-report measures (McKnight Risk Factor Survey-IV, Contour Drawing Rating Scale and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire). Female elite athletes showed a greater risk of developing eating disorders than non-elite athletes and controls, with no difference between the three groups of males. Multiple group analyses revealed important differences in DE predictors. Although social pressure is the strongest DE predictor in non-elite athletes and controls, in elite athletes, the strongest DE predictor is body image dissatisfaction. Parental influences, rather than self-esteem, are predictors of DE in elite athletes, unlike the other two groups. These results show that the risk and protective factors involved in the development of DE are not universally valid. The results highlight the importance of studying specific characteristics associated with DE in aesthetic athletes. Some implications for ED risk assessment and prevention are discussed.

Los adolescentes y conductas autodestructivas: un análisis exploratorio de los factores individuales y familiares / Adolescents and self-destructive behaviors: an exploratory analysis of family and individual correlates

Los estudios demuestran que el porcentaje de adolescentes estudiantes que relata pensamientos y conductas autodestructivas es de aproximadamente 20% en toda Europa. Mediante un análisis de regresión logística multinomial, el presente estudio investigó tres grupos de adolescentes (M= 15,88; DT= 2,11), uno sin informe de pensamientos/comportamientos autodestructivos (NSDTB; n= 998), uno con informe de pensamientos/comportamientos autodestructivos (SDTB; n= 268) y un grupo clínico (CS; n= 42). Se evaluaron los estilos parentales, el apego de los padres, el funcionamiento familiar, la satisfacción con las relaciones familiares, autoestima y síntomas interiorizados y exteriorizados. Los hallazgos sugieren que la calidad del vínculo emocional con las madres, el control de los padres, la cohesión familiar y la disminución en la edad llevan a una menor probabilidad de pertenecer al grupo SDTB. Sin embargo, ser mujer, percibir un alto nivel de inhibición de exploración e individualidad de la madre, un alto nivel de rechazo de los padres y una baja satisfacción en las relaciones familiares, aumentan la probabilidad de pertenecer al grupo CS (AU)

Several studies have shown that as many as 20% of European schooled adolescents report self-destructive thoughts/behaviours. Using multinomial logistic regression analysis, the present study investigated the family and individual variables that predict reports of these behaviours. Three groups, one without reports of self-destructive thoughts/behaviours (NSDTB; n= 998), one with reports of self-destructive thoughts/behaviours (SDTB; n= 268) and a clinical group (CS; n= 42) of adolescents with a mean age of 15.88 (SD= 2.11), participated in the study. Parenting styles, parental attachment, family functioning, satisfaction with family relationships, self-esteem and internalising and externalising symptoms, were analyzed. The findings suggest that increases in mothers’ quality of emotional bond, fathers’ control and family cohesion and decreases in age and mothers’ control lead to a decreased likelihood of belonging to the SDTB group. However, being female, perceiving a high level of mothers’ inhibition of exploration and individuality, perceiving a high level of fathers’ rejection and having a low satisfaction with family relationships increase the probability of belonging to the CS group

Processo de validação da Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction em três amostras da população portuguesa / Validation process of the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction in three samples of the portuguese population

A satisfação sexual é um indicador importante da saúde sexual, contudo, a sua definição não é consensual. A Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX) é um instrumento que avalia a satisfação sexual global no contexto de uma relação íntima. Pretendeu-se avaliar o comportamento psicométrico deste instrumento em três amostras distintas da população portuguesa, constituídas por participantes comprometidos em relações de coabitação: duas amostras presenciais designadas por "grupo normativo" sem diagnóstico e percepção de problemas sexuais (n = 291), "grupo clínico" com problemas sexuais (n =84), e uma amostra online (n = 760). Confirmou-se a estrutura unifactorial da escala, verificando-se uma adequada fiabilidade e validade do instrumento.(AU)

Sexual satisfaction is an important indicator of sexual health, however, its definition is not consensual. Lawrence and Byers (1995) developed a conceptual model of sexual satisfaction for people in committed relationships and, within this model, the authors developed the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX) which assesses global sexual satisfaction in the context of an intimate relationship. In the present study we aimed to adapt and assess the psychometric properties of this scale with three distinct samples from the Portuguese population in cohabitation relationships. One was designated as "normative group" with no diagnosis and perception of sexual problems (n = 291), another called "clinical group", whose participants presented sexual problems (n = 84), and an "online" sample of participants with and without perception of sexual problems (n = 760). The scale proved to have a single factor structure as well as good reliability and validity.(AU)

Processo de validação da Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction em três amostras da população portuguesa / Validation process of the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction in three samples of the portuguese population

A satisfação sexual é um indicador importante da saúde sexual, contudo, a sua definição não é consensual. A Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX) é um instrumento que avalia a satisfação sexual global no contexto de uma relação íntima. Pretendeu-se avaliar o comportamento psicométrico deste instrumento em três amostras distintas da população portuguesa, constituídas por participantes comprometidos em relações de coabitação: duas amostras presenciais designadas por "grupo normativo" sem diagnóstico e percepção de problemas sexuais (n = 291), "grupo clínico" com problemas sexuais (n =84), e uma amostra online (n = 760). Confirmou-se a estrutura unifactorial da escala, verificando-se uma adequada fiabilidade e validade do instrumento...

Sexual satisfaction is an important indicator of sexual health, however, its definition is not consensual. Lawrence and Byers (1995) developed a conceptual model of sexual satisfaction for people in committed relationships and, within this model, the authors developed the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX) which assesses global sexual satisfaction in the context of an intimate relationship. In the present study we aimed to adapt and assess the psychometric properties of this scale with three distinct samples from the Portuguese population in cohabitation relationships. One was designated as "normative group" with no diagnosis and perception of sexual problems (n = 291), another called "clinical group", whose participants presented sexual problems (n = 84), and an "online" sample of participants with and without perception of sexual problems (n = 760). The scale proved to have a single factor structure as well as good reliability and validity...

Predictors of body appearance cognitive distraction during sexual activity in men and women.

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive distraction is a core concept in cognitive models of sexual dysfunction. Body appearance cognitive distraction during sexual activity (BACDSA) has been mainly studied among female college samples. However, the relative contribution of different indicators of body dissatisfaction among men and women from community samples, including the contribution of relationship variables to BACDSA, has yet to be examined. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which aspects of body dissatisfaction and relationship variables predict BACDSA. METHODS: A total of 669 cohabitating, heterosexual, Portuguese participants (390 women and 279 men) with no sexual problems completed an anonymous online survey. The survey included a sociodemographic questionnaire and a set of questionnaires assessing body- and relationship-related variables. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We used a single item measure of the participant's satisfaction with the opinion that they perceive their partner has about the participant's body (PPO); the Global Body Dissatisfaction Subscale of the Body Attitudes Test (GBD); a version of the Contour Drawing Rating Scale; the Global Measure of Relationship Satisfaction; and the Inclusion of Other in Self Scale. Focus on specific body parts during sexual activity (FBP) and relationship length were assessed with an open-ended question. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression indicated that GBD and FBP were the only body dissatisfaction variables that significantly predicted BACDSA in both men and women. The relationship variables significantly increased the amount of variance explained in BACDSA for both men and women. However, PPO was the only significant relationship variable that predicted BACDSA and only in women. CONCLUSIONS: Body and relationship variables are significant factors in body appearance cognitive distraction. They require further research and assessment, particularly for clinical intervention.

Intimacy, sexual desire and differentiation in couplehood: a theoretical and methodological review.

The scientific community underlines that one of the main challenges for couples is the effect of time on sexual desire. Some studies suggest that although some dimensions associated with intimacy tend to increase during the relationship, sexual desire and the related constructs tend to decrease. Some researchers have recently suggested that couples' relationships with high degrees of sharing and fusion might be particularly detrimental for the sustenance of sexual desire. However, the authors found no empirical or theoretical studies that investigate the relations between intimacy and desire. Recovering the concept of differentiation as a possible influencing variable between intimacy and desire, this article develops reflections on this theme, which is of paramount relevance for the couple viability.

Aesthetic sports as high-risk contexts for eating disorders--young elite dancers and gymnasts perspectives.

This is the first study developed in Portugal which investigates specific characteristics of dance and gymnastics environments that make them high-risk contexts for the development of eating disorders. Four focus groups were conducted with thirteen ballet students from a professional dance school and nine gymnasts from a gymnastics club (aged 12 to 17 years old), which were subjected to an inductive-deductive analysis procedure. Specific risk and protective factors were identified. Among their respective sources of influence, teachers and coaches are those who exert a stronger influence upon young athletes. We also explored some themes related to the influence of peers, parents, and environmental characteristics, which could have an important role on the development or prevention of disordered eating.

Aesthetic sports as high-risk contexts for eating disorders - young elite dancers and gymnasts perspectives

This is the first study developed in Portugal which investigates specific characteristics of dance and gymnastics environments that make them high-risk contexts for the development of eating disorders. Four focus groups were conducted with thirteen ballet students from a professional dance school and nine gymnasts from a gymnastics club (aged 12 to 17 years old), which were subjected to an inductive-deductive analysis procedure. Specific risk and protective factors were identified. Among their respective sources of influence, teachers and coaches are those who exert a stronger influence upon young athletes. We also explored some themes related to the influence of peers, parents, and environmental characteristics, which could have an important role on the development or prevention of disordered eating (AU)

Este es el primer estudio realizado en Portugal que tiene como objetivo investigar las características específicas que en el mundo de la danza y de la gimnasia pudieran ser factores de alto riesgo para el desarrollo de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria. Se realizaron cuatro grupos focales con trece estudiantes de danza profesional y nueve gimnastas (de 12 a 17 años). Las transcripciones de los grupos focales fueron sometidas a un procedimiento de análisis inductivo-deductivo. Se identificaron factores de riesgo y protectores específicos. Entre las respectivas fuentes de influencia, los profesores y entrenadores son los que ejercen mayor influencia sobre los jóvenes atletas. También se exploraron algunos temas relacionados con la influencia que tienen compañeros, padres y las características del entorno deportivo; los cuales pueden tener un importante rol tanto en el desarrollo como en la prevención de comportamientos alimentarios alterados (AU)