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Objectives: Traumatic brain injury continue to be a public health issue, mainly as a result of road accidents and falls. Current epidemiological studies appear to be necessary for a better understanding and monitoring of this problem. This paper analyzes the evolution of these cases in Portugal from the late 1990s to 2014. Methods: The number of hospital admissions and of total mortality in the country were analyzed regarding 2011 and 2014. The results were compared with values obtained previously, for 1997. Results: Incidence rate decreased, being 137/100 000 in 1997 and 65/100 000 in 2014. The mortality rate has also decreased from 17/100 000 to 10/100 000. However, between 2011 and 2014, there was a trend to increase the total number of cases. The incidence rate by age group also differs, with fewer cases in the young adult population in 2014 contrasting with a very high mortality among people aged 80 or older, of 57/100 000. Men continue to show a greater incidence, presenting more hospitalization cases (1.4:1), and higher mortality (2.3:1). Conclusions: The results are consistent with other studies, revealing a decrease in cases, but a high mortality in the elderly population, and the need of more preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Users of publicly funded voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Centers (VCT C) in the Portuguese National Service have been found to have higher rates of HIV risk behavior than the general population, but data concerning the relationship between socio-demographic, behavioral, and cognitive variables, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (ST Is) in this specific population are limited. This study tests the impact of socio-demographic, behavioral and cognitive variables on ST Is in a sample of 168 users of VCT C. Methods: A cross-sectional study using structured questionnaires was conducted. Results: Being older, being gay or bisexual, and having more barriers towards safer sex (e.g., negative attitudes toward safer sex behavior) were associated with increased odds of having had a ST I diagnosis. We found significant differences between heterosexual and gay men for number of sexual partners, frequency of anal sex, exchanging sex for money or drugs, history of ST Is, AIDS knowledge, and risk beliefs about the partner, with gay men showing higher rates. Conclusions: ST Is education should target older, gay or bisexual individuals, and focus on information as well as on changing barriers towards safer sex and associated health beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tested factorial structure, reliability as well as gender, age, and cultural measurement invariance of the Brief Inventory of Thriving (BIT). Data were collected from 981 Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese emerging adults. Results showed that BIT scores were reliable, mono-dimensional, and suitable to assess thriving across different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study modelled children's gross motor coordination, investigated sex-differences and identified the effects of fixed and dynamic correlates on motor coordination development. A total of 344 Portuguese children (170 girls), from 6 age cohorts (5 to 9 years of age), were followed consecutively for three years (age range 5 to 11 years) using a mixed-longitudinal cohort design. Birth weight, hand dominance and socioeconomic status (SES) were identified. Gross motor coordination, body mass index, physical fitness (PF) and physical activity (PA) were assessed annually. A sequence of multilevel hierarchical linear models were developed. Model 1 found that age, age2, sex, sex-by-age and sex-by-age2 were significant predictors (p < 0.05) of gross motor coordination. Boys outperformed girls from 6 years of age onwards. Model 2 found a cohort effect (p < 0.05). Model 3 found that right handers were more coordinated (p < 0.05). When the confounders of body mass index, PF and PA were added to the model (Model 4) it was found that boys and girls had parallel trajectories in their gross motor coordination development. In conclusion children with increasing body mass index were less coordinated, while those who were stronger and more agile had steeper trajectories of gross motor coordination with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the extent and nature of cyberbullying in 23 Portuguese schools. A sample of 3,525 sixth-, eighth-, and eleventh-grade students completed a self-response questionnaire assessing their perceptions and experiences of cyberbullying. The findings showed that 7.6% of students have been victimized, and 3.9% have bullied others at least once over the last year. The incidences of victimization were higher for females and for the older students. In contrast, more boys reported having bullied others in the eleventh grade. The most frequent medium of cyberbullying was via websites, whilst sending offensive messages was the most widely reported type of behavior. Telling someone about cyberbullying is among the most frequent coping strategies used by cybervictims, who usually chose to tell their friends rather than adults. Implications of these findings for students, schools, and parents are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) is persistently the most used inventory to evaluate handedness, being neuropsychological investigation and clinical practice. Despite this, there is no information on how this instrument functions in a Portuguese population. The objective of this study was therefore to examine the sociodemographic influences on handedness and establish psychometric properties of the EHI in a Portuguese sample. The sample consisted of 342 adults (157 men and 185 women), assessed with a battery of neuropsychological tests. The mean EHI Laterality Quotient was 63.52 (SD = 38.00). A much high percentage of ambiguous-handedness compared to left-handedness was detected. An inconsistency was found between the preference for formal education activities (writing-drawing-using scissors) and the remaining EHI activities. From sociodemographic variables, only age, area, and regions of residence showed significant influence on EHI scores. The reliability and temporal reliability of EHI were adequate. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a one-factor model (χ2/df = 2.141;TLI = 0.972;CFI = 0.979;RMSEA = 0.058). The inconsistency between formal education and nonformal activities could be an indicator of social pressure. The present data give support for the notion that handedness measured by EHI is potentially sensitive to sociodemographic and cultural influences. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The developmental activities of 328 elite soccer players aged under-16 years from Brazil, England, France, Ghana, Mexico, Portugal and Sweden were examined using retrospective recall in a cross-sectional research design. The activities were compared to the early diversification, early specialisation, and early engagement pathways. Players started their involvement in soccer at approximately 5 years of age. During childhood, they engaged in soccer practice for a mean value of 185.7, s = 124.0 h · year−1, in soccer play for 186.0, s = 125.3 h · year−1, and in soccer competition for 37.1, s = 28.9 h · year−1. A mean value of 2.3, s = 1.6 sports additional to soccer were engaged in by 229 players during childhood. Players started their participation in an elite training academy at 11 to 12 years of age. During adolescence, they engaged in soccer practice for a mean value of 411.9, s = 184.3 h · year−1, in soccer play for 159.7, s = 195.0 h · year−1, and in soccer competition for 66.9, s = 48.8 h · year−1. A mean value of 2.5, s = 1.8 sports other than soccer were engaged in by 132 players during this period. There were some relatively minor differences between countries, but generally the developmental activities of the players followed a mixture of the early engagement and specialisation pathways, rather than early diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]