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Self-compassion is an important psychological skill that may facilitate the adoption of a mindful way of parenting, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the association between these constructs may be explained by several variables, such as maternal psychopathological symptoms, with a well-established interference in parenting. This study aimed to compare mothers who experienced and mothers who did not experience a negative emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-compassion, mindful parenting, postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) and postpartum anxious symptoms (PPAS). We also explored whether mothers' self-compassion was associated with mindful parenting and whether this relationship may be mediated by PPDS and PPAS. A sample of 977 Portuguese mothers of infants aged between zero and six months completed an online survey between December 2020 and January 2021, a period of major pandemic-related restrictions. The survey included several self-report questionnaires that assessed sociodemographic, clinical, and COVID-19 information, self-compassion, mindful parenting, PPDS and PPAS. Mothers who reported having felt that the pandemic had a negative emotional impact during their postpartum period (79.5%) presented lower levels of self-compassion and mindful parenting, and higher levels of PPDS and PPAS. Regarding the mediation model, higher levels of self-compassion were related to higher levels of mindful parenting, and this association was mediated by lower levels of PPAS. These results highlight the relevance of mothers' self-compassion for helping them feel less anxious and to adopt a mindful way of parenting in the postpartum period, particularly during the pandemic. Compassion-based interventions may be particularly important in reducing PPAS and promoting mindful parenting and should be available to postpartum mothers, especially during, but also beyond the pandemic., Author(s): Daniela Ventura Fernandes [sup.1] , Maria Cristina Canavarro [sup.1] , Helena Moreira [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.8051.c, 0000 0000 9511 4342, Centre for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioural [...]

The present study aims to explore the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Parents' Beliefs About Children's Emotions Questionnaire (PBACE), a self-report questionnaire composed of seven scales: Cost of Positivity, Value of Anger, Manipulation, Control, Parental Knowledge (PN), Autonomy and Stability. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess the factorial structure of PBACE (seven independent models corresponding to the seven scales and a seven-factor correlated model were tested), in a sample of 411 parents (83.2% mothers) of children aged 6-13 years old. All the analyzed models, except for the PN scale, presented an adequate fit. Adequate Cronbach's alpha values were found for all the scales, except for the PN and Stability scales. PBACE construct validity was attested by the significant correlations between the PBACE scales and child's temperament, parental neuroticism, parental anxiety, parental overprotection and parental support of child's coping behaviors. No gender differences were found in responses of PBACE scales. Therefore, the Portuguese version of the PBACE proved to be a psychometrically valid measure for assessing different parents' beliefs about children's emotions (positive and negative). However, the use of PN scale is not recommended given its low Cronbach alpha, poor fit to the data and weak or nonsignificant correlations with the remaining subscales., Author(s): Brígida Caiado [sup.1] , Helena Moreira [sup.1] , Maria Cristina Canavarro [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.8051.c, 0000 0000 9511 4342, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), [...]

In the context of interpersonal risk models of psychopathology, little is known about the role of self-expressiveness within the family (SEF) in individual psychological distress. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory study was to examine main and interaction effects of positive and negative SEF on maternal depression and anxiety symptoms. The 'Self-Expressiveness in the Family Questionnaire-Short Form' (SEFQ-SF) and the 'Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale' (HADS) were administered to a sample of 403 mothers of toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school-aged children. Regression analyses and PROCESS computational tool in particular were used to examine main and interaction/moderating effects. Positive and negative SEF revealed altogether a medium-sized main effect on depressive symptoms, and negative SEF displayed a medium-sized main effect on anxiety symptoms. Positive SEF was found to buffer the association between negative SEF and maternal depressive symptoms. These preliminary findings suggest that positive and negative SEF may be differentially targeted in interventions to prevent or decrease maternal depression and anxiety symptoms. Specifically, the cultivation of positive SEF is likely to attenuate the detrimental effects of negative SEF on specific dimensions of maternal mental health., Author(s): Carlos Carona [sup.1] , Helena Moreira [sup.1] , Ana Fonseca [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.8051.c, 0000 0000 9511 4342, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, The University of Coimbra, [...]

This study aimed to examine the (uni) dimensionality of the Parental Acceptance Questionnaire (6-PAQ) in a sample of Portuguese parents of children within the community using a bifactor model that can test the separate contribution of the dimensions and of the general score. 390 parents of children (1-11 years) recruited online and in-person completed the assessment protocol, including the 6-PAQ and other measures. The bifactor model showed the best fit to data ([chi].sup.2(118) = 382.95, p < .001, CFI = .95). The degree of unidimensionality (.59) and the OmegaH indexes (.81 for the general factor and < .47 for the dimensions) supported the strength of the general factor of parental psychological flexibility, which accounted for 87% of the reliable variance in the total score. Reliability indices showed high reliability for the general factor (.93). Although the 6-PAQ contains items assessing the Hexaflex six core-processes, the results were globally supportive of the unidimensionality of the Portuguese version of the 6-PAQ, and thus of computing its total score., Author(s): Ana Fonseca [sup.1] , Maria Cristina Canavarro [sup.1] , Helena Moreira [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.8051.c, 0000 0000 9511 4342, Univ Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioral [...]

The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Kids (CERQ-Kids) is a self-report questionnaire that assesses cognitive emotional regulation strategies that children may employ when they face traumatic or stressful events. However, its psychometric properties were only analyzed among participants from the general community. The goal of this study is to examine the factor structure of the Portuguese CERQ-Kids and to explore its psychometric properties in a sample of children/adolescents exposed to a potentially traumatic event (wildfires). The sample included 488 children/adolescents (Mage = 13.02, SD = 2.5, range = 8-17) who lived in the areas affected by the 2017 Portugal wildfires and who did not receive a diagnosis of a mental disorder, and a clinical group of 50 children/adolescents (Mage = 12, SD = 2.62, range = 8-16) who lived in the same areas and who were diagnosed with a mental disorder. All participants completed the CERQ-Kids and measures of emotion regulation strategies, mental health, and quality of life. The best fitting model was the original nine-factor correlated model. This model was invariant across gender and age groups. With the exception of the Acceptance subscale, the remaining subscales presented adequate internal consistency. Participants from the clinical group scored higher on Self-blame, Rumination, Catastrophizing, and Acceptance than participants from the non-clinical group. Significant correlations were found between the CERQ-Kids subscales and measures of cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, prosocial behavior, mental health, and quality of life. The Portuguese version of the CERQ-Kids proved to be a psychometrically adequate measure of cognitive emotion regulation strategies that children and adolescents may use when exposed to a potentially traumatic event., Author(s): Helena Moreira [sup.1] , Paula Vagos [sup.1] [sup.2] , Joana Pereira [sup.1] , Ana Fonseca [sup.1] , Maria Cristina Canavarro [sup.1] , Daniel Rijo [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.8051.c, [...]

In this study, different factor analysis models were employed to test the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) in 11 distinct populations (n = 15,266) in different countries. The results strongly suggest that the most appropriate use of the SCS is to measure levels of Self-Compassionate responding (positive items) and Self-Uncompassionate responding (negative items) separately.

Simple Summary: Standard chemotherapy is still ineffective in metastatic colon cancer and does not target cancer stem cells (CSCs). The combination of standard cytostatic drugs with natural compounds is considered a promising approach to improving cancer cell sensitivity to treatment. Here, a combination of camptothecin (CPT) with celastrol (CEL) or resveratrol (RSV) as a potential strategy to target metastatic and CSCs of colon cancer was investigated in vitro. γH2AX+ and Fast-Halo assays were used to evaluate genotoxicity, an annexin-V assay was used to rate the level of apoptosis, and a scratch test was used to assess antimigratory capacity. All combinations improved the genotoxicity of CPT, achieving a better efficacy with CPT-CEL combination in LOVO and CPT-RSV in LOVO/DX cells. No improvement in the pro-apoptotic effect of CPT was observed. Furthermore, higher efficiency in inhibiting cancer cell migration was noted. Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading and most lethal neoplasms. Standard chemotherapy is ineffective, especially in metastatic cancer, and does not target cancer stem cells. A promising approach to improve cancer treatment is the combination therapy of standard cytostatic drugs with natural compounds. Several plant-derived compounds have been proven to possess anticancer properties, including the induction of apoptosis and inhibition of cancer invasion. This study was focused on investigating in vitro the combination of camptothecin (CPT) with celastrol (CEL) or resveratrol (RSV) as a potential strategy to target metastatic (LOVO) and stem-like (LOVO/DX) colon cancer cells. Methods: The genotoxic effects that drive cancer cells into death-inducing pathways and the ability to inhibit the migratory properties of cancer cells were evaluated. The γH2AX+ assay and Fast-Halo Assay (FHA) were used to evaluate genotoxic effects, the annexin-V apoptosis assay to rate the level of apoptosis, and the scratch test to assess antimigratory capacity. Results: The results showed that both combinations CPT-CEL and CPT-RSV improve general genotoxicity of CPT alone on metastatic cells and CSCs. However, the assessment of specific double-stranded breaks (DSBs) indicated a better efficacy of the CPT-CEL combination on LOVO cells and CPT-RSV in LOVO/DX cells. Interestingly, the combinations CPT-CEL and CPT-RSV did not improve the pro-apoptotic effect of CPT alone, with both LOVO and LOVO/DX cells suggesting activation of different cell death mechanisms. Furthermore, it was found that the combinations of CPT-CEL and CPT-RSV improve the inhibitory effect of camptothecin on cell migration. Conclusions: These findings suggest the potential utility of combining camptothecin with celastrol or resveratrol in the treatment of colon cancer, including more aggressive forms of the disease. So far, no studies evaluating the effects of combinations of these compounds have been published in the available medical databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is a measure of emotion regulation that has been extensively used in research and clinical settings, both with adolescents and adults. However, its length has been recognized as an important limitation. In addition, its adequacy as a multidimensional measure and the utility and interpretability of the Awareness subscale has been questioned. The goal of this study is to contribute to the clarification of these issues through the examination of the factor structure and psychometric properties of a short form of the DERS in a large sample of Portuguese adolescents and adults from the community. Two studies were conducted. The first study comprised 1314 adults and the second study comprised 612 adolescents, who completed the DERS-SF and additional measures to assess validity evidence for DERS-SF scores in relation to other relevant variables (self-compassion, attachment orientations, anxiety and depressive symptoms, dispositional mindfulness, perceived stress, emotion suppression, and quality of life). Several models were examined in two studies as well as bifactor model-based psychometric indices. In both studies, bifactor models, particularly the one that excluded the Awareness items, exhibited a good fit to the data. ECV and OmegaH indices suggest a strong general factor of emotion dysregulation and do not support individual use of the Objectives, Strategies, Impulse, and Nonacceptance subscales. The DERS-SF scores correlated with the other measures as expected. Our findings suggest that the Awareness subscale should be excluded when computing the DERS-SF total score and that the total score can be considered essentially unidimensional. This study supports the use of a total score to assess emotion dysregulation but does not support the use of most subscale scores., Author(s): Helena Moreira [sup.1] , Maria João Gouveia [sup.1] , Maria Cristina Canavarro [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.8051.c, 0000 0000 9511 4342, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention, [...]

This study aimed to examine whether attachment orientations (anxiety and avoidance) were associated with perceived stress through self-critical rumination (a specific type of rumination focused on the content of self-critical thoughts). It also aimed to examine the factor structure of the Portuguese version of the Self-Critical Rumination Scale (SCRS) and to present additional evidence on its construct validity and reliability. A sample of 317 Portuguese women from the general community was recruited online. Participants completed the SCRS and measures of self-compassion, perceived stress, difficulties in emotion regulation, and adult attachment. The results of the mediation analyses showed that self-critical rumination mediated the association between attachment anxiety and perceived stress but not the association between attachment avoidance and perceived stress. In addition, the SCRS showed good psychometric properties. Specifically, the scale showed adequate reliability (Cronbach's alpha was .933 and composite reliability was .932) and construct validity. Significant correlations were found between the SCRS and measures assessing constructs expected to be associated with self-critical rumination (self-compassion, perceived stress, difficulties in emotion regulation, and attachment anxiety and avoidance). Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the one-factor structure of the Portuguese SCRS. This study identifies a new mechanism underlying the association between adult attachment and perceived stress. In addition, the results of the present study provide further evidence of the internal consistency and construct validity of the SCRS and indicate that the Portuguese version is a psychometrically robust and adequate measure of self-critical rumination., Author(s): Helena Moreira [sup.1] , Berta Rodrigues Maia [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.8051.c, 0000 0000 9511 4342, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention, Faculty of Psychology and Educational [...]

Primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), the least frequent type of multiple sclerosis (MS), is characterized by a specific course and clinical symptoms, and it is associated with a poor prognosis. It requires extensive differential diagnosis and often a long-term follow-up before its correct recognition. Despite recent progress in research into and treatment for progressive MS, the diagnosis and management of this type of disease still poses a challenge. Considering the modern concept of progression "smoldering" throughout all the stages of disease, a thorough exploration of PPMS may provide a better insight into mechanisms of progression in MS, with potential clinical implications. The goal of this study was to review the current evidence from investigations of PPMS, including its background, clinical characteristics, potential biomarkers and therapeutic opportunities. Processes underlying CNS damage in PPMS are discussed, including chronic immune-mediated inflammation, neurodegeneration, and remyelination failure. A review of potential clinical, biochemical and radiological biomarkers is presented, which is useful in monitoring and predicting the progression of PPMS. Therapeutic options for PPMS are summarized, with approved therapies, ongoing clinical trials and future directions of investigations. The clinical implications of findings from PPMS research would be associated with reliable assessments of disease outcomes, improvements in individualized therapeutic approaches and, hopefully, novel therapeutic targets, relevant for the management of progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop a Portuguese-language version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) for clinical and research use in Portugal (PT-BSS-R). The factor structure, its invariance across depression levels, and the internal consistency of the PT-BSS-R were analysed. A sample of 1373 Portuguese-speaking postpartum women completed a sociodemographic and clinical form, the PT-BSS-R, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale through an online survey tool. Four competing models were tested through confirmatory factor analyses and bifactor model-based psychometric indices were calculated. The internal consistency and the divergent/convergent validity are analysed. The psychometric properties of PT-BSS-R were found to be generally excellent. Both the original correlated three-factor model and the bifactor model exhibited a good fit to the data. Results from the bifactor model support the use of both the BSS-R total score and the subscale scores. Exemplary invariance findings were observed between groups stratified on the basis of depression screening. PT-BSS-R has demonstrated both divergent and convergent validity as well as internal consistency. PT-BSS-R is a psychometrically robust measure of birth satisfaction appropriate for clinical and research use in Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity has serious psychosocial consequences for youth and family members and has reached epidemic levels in Portugal. Objective: This study had two goals: (1) to investigate differences in family cohesion, mothers' quality of life (QoL), and externalizing/internalizing symptoms between children/adolescents with healthy-weight and overweight/obesity; (2) to assess the mediating role of maternal QoL and children/adolescents' externalizing/internalizing symptoms in the association between family cohesion and weight. Methods: Children/adolescents with healthy-weight (n = 134) and with overweight/obesity (n = 163) and their mothers participated in the study. Mothers completed measures of family cohesion (FC) and QoL and children/adolescents completed measures of externalizing and internalizing symptoms. This study used a cross-sectional design. Results: Children/adolescents with overweight/obesity reported higher levels of externalizing and internalizing symptoms than children/adolescents with healthy-weight. Mothers of children/adolescents with overweight/obesity reported lower levels of FC and QoL than mothers of children/adolescents with healthy-weight. Mothers' QoL and children/adolescents' externalizing symptoms sequentially mediated the relationship between FC and weight status. Specifically, an increase in FC and QoL resulted in a decreased likelihood of the child/adolescent reporting overweight or obesity, whereas an increase in externalizing symptoms resulted in a higher likelihood of the child/adolescent reporting overweight or obesity. Conclusions: This study identifies mechanisms that might account for the link between FC and weight, suggesting the importance of mothers' QoL and children's externalizing symptoms. Moreover, it provides a better understanding of the psychosocial outcomes related to pediatric obesity, highlighting the relevance of working with the parents to promote weight reduction in youths.