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© 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC., Positive Youth Development (PYD) presents a strength-based conception of transition to adulthood that has been well-supported by literature to date. However, research is needed to integrate the pathways to PYD and the possible moderators. This study aimed to analyze the relationships between internal resources for resilience and PYD and to examine the moderating role of short-term and long-term self-regulation by gender. To reach this overall aim, a cross-sectional study was performed with a national sample of 2700 youths (73.3% girls; Mage = 21.3, SD = 2.79) from Portugal, who completed self-report measures. Regression-based moderation models were developed. Results indicated that greater presence of internal resources for resilience was related to higher PYD. Long-term self-regulation and gender moderated this relationship, such that a greater effect was observed in men with high levels of long-term self-regulation. These results highlight the need to integrate prevention and promotion paradigms to foster healthy development in youth, as well as the importance of taking self-regulation skills and gender into account in program design., The research leading to this publication was co-funded by different partial supports such as the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (Grants: Gina Tomé – SFRH/BPD/108637/2015; Marta Reis – SFRH/BPD/110905/ 2015), WJCR/ISPA, Instituto Universitário; ISAMB, FML/University of Lisbon; FMH/University of Lisbon. This manuscript was performed during a research period in Faculty of Human Kinetics – Universidade de Lisboa, granted by “Becas Iberoamerica Santander Investigacion” to Diego Gomez-Baya.

Resumo Este trabalho pretende analisar os cidadãos que viviam em Portugal durante a pandemia COVID-19 2020/2021, a saúde subjetiva, o risco percebido e a perceção relacionada com o surto, a motivação para a proteção e adoção de comportamentos preventivos, e suas expetativas de futuro. Foram incluídos 225 indivíduos, 81,3% do sexo feminino (18-83 anos; M = 36 anos; DP = 13,42), 49,8% solteiros, e 53,3% empregados. Os dados foram analisados através do software SPSS v. 26 e teste Qui-quadrado. Os resultados mostram que as mulheres se destacam numa maior perceção de probabilidade de infeção, apresentando maior motivação para a proteção e comportamentos como desinfetar o telemóvel. São também, a par dos jovens, quem menos se sente protegido por parte das ações tidas pelas autoridades locais. Com menor perceção de probabilidade de infeção, os jovens foram quem menos aumentou os seus comportamentos de proteção como evitar tocar a face. Semelhantemente aos adultos +55 anos, são quem apresenta expectativas mais positivas do tempo que a situação do país levará a melhorar. As mulheres e grupo 35-44 anos, são quem perceciona maior severidade dos impactos na saúde. Com base nos resultados, espera-se contribuir para o desenvolvimento e adaptação de políticas de saúde pública e de prevenção e promoção da saúde relacionadas com a pandemia, repensando-se a adaptação e desenvolvimento de estratégias de promoção da saúde e bem-estar para grupos-alvo específicos, como os jovens e mulheres.

Copyright © Society for Science and Education, United Kingdom, The aim of this study was to reach an in-depth understanding on how Portuguese university students feel towards life in general, which are their worries, how often they feel worried, and how intense their worries are. Moreover, it was intended to identify the kind of psychosocial variables involved, strategies they use as well as which are the sources of their well-being. A total of 2991 university students, participated in the quantitative study and in the qualitative study, there were 50 participants between 18 and 35 years old. A significant minority of students got worried frequently, allowing their worries to interfere significantly in their lives. Gender and age differences were found. Having worries demonstrated to be relevant and negatively associated with young people’s perception of well-being, self-regulation and resilience; showing that the mental health of the Portuguese university students is at risk, mainly when their social emotional skills are underdeveloped., Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (Grants: Marta Reis-SFRH/BPD/110905/2015)

Saxitoxins (STX) are a group of carbamate alkaloids known to inhibit the axons sodium ion channels, thus affecting the nervous system in vertebrates. These neurotoxins cause paralysis and respiratory failure, ultimately ending in death. They are produced by organisms belonging to two different kingdoms: marine eukaryotic dinoflagellates and freshwater prokaryotic cyanobacteria. The unique biosynthetic pathway, which is responsible for encoding proteins that allow synthesizing and exporting STX, is the cluster sxt, already described in several cyanobacterial species. It has been observed that diverse environmental factors affect differently STX production in cyanobacteria. Among those, temperature is the one that aroused greater interest, since it directly affects cyanobacterial growth rates, however controversial results have been reported. Furthermore, studies on the environmental regulation of STX synthesis and transport are quite rare. In this work, we tested the influence of temperature in two STX producers, Aphanizomenon gracile LMECYA40 and Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi LMECYA31, isolated from Portuguese freshwaters and maintained in the ESSACC. Total STX concentration, the expression of genes linked to STX biosynthesis (sxtA) and transport (sxtM and sxtPer) and the percentage of heterocytes per trichome were determined, in four different phases of cyanobacterial growth (lag, early exponential, late exponential and stationary phases). At 20ºC, a higher expression of the sxt genes and higher production of STX in the late exponential and stationary phase was observed in both species. Also, C. issatschenkoi produced more STX throughout the growth cycle than A. gracile. In A. gracile the percentage of heterocytes per trichome was higher in the lag phase, decreasing along the cell cycle. C. issatschenkoi did not form heterocytes throughout the growth cycle. Further experiments are being performed at 10ºC and 30°C in order to understand the effect of temperatures environmentally relevant in STX producers. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Not using condom and engaging in sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol or drugs have been long identified as sexual risk behaviours, particularly for adolescents. Participants were 5695 adolescents, of which 46.1% were boys, with a mean age of 15 years old. Most of the adolescents are Portuguese, attend the 8th year, the 10th year or the 12th year. The measures included asking the adolescent whether he or she had already had a romantic relationship, sexual intercourse, age of first sexual intercourse, condom use in last sexual intercourse, sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol or drug, HIV testing and HPV vaccine. Gender and school years were also analysed. The majority reported having never had sexual intercourse (77.0%). Among those who answered affirmatively, they referred having had their first sexual intercourse at 15 years old. A significant minority reported not having used condom at last sexual intercourse (34.1%) and having had sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol or drugs (14.5%). It was found that boys are those who use condoms more often, have sexual intercourse associated with the consumption of alcohol or drugs and do not have the HPV vaccine. And the younger boys of the 8th year are those that most often have sexual intercourse associated with the consumption of alcohol or drugs. These results may represent significant changes in educational and health policies, directing these towards the development of personal and social skills, and the activation of all the support structures where adolescents are involved. AIDS related campaigns and sexual education in school context within a health education context must be revitalized., O não uso do preservativo e as relações sexuais associadas ao consumo de álcool ou drogas têm sido desde sempre considerados comportamentos sexuais de risco, em particular para os adolescentes. Participaram 5695 adolescentes, dos quais 46,1% são rapazes, com uma média de idades de 15 anos. A maioria dos adolescentes são portugueses, frequentam o 8º ano, o 10º ano ou o 12º ano. As medidas incluíam perguntar sobre ter relacionamento amoroso, ter relações sexuais, idade da primeira relação sexual, uso do preservativo na última relação sexual, ter relações sexuais associadas ao álcool ou drogas, teste do VIH e vacina do HPV. Analisou-se género e o ano de escolaridade. A maioria mencionou não ter tido relações sexuais (77,0%). De entre os adolescentes que referiram já ter tido, mencionaram ter tido a primeira relação sexual aos 15 anos. Uma minoria significativa reporta não ter usado preservativo na última relação sexual (34,1%) e ter tido relações sexuais associadas ao consumo de álcool ou drogas (14,5%). Verificou-se que são os rapazes que mais frequentemente usam preservativo, têm relações sexuais associadas ao consumo de álcool ou drogas e não têm a vacina do HPV. São os jovens mais novos, do 8º ano, que mais frequentemente têm relações sexuais associadas ao consumo de álcool ou drogas. Estes resultados podem ter implicações significativas na alteração das políticas de educação e de saúde, direcionando-as para o desenvolvimento de competências pessoais e sociais nas várias estruturas que servem de suporte de apoio aos adolescentes portugueses. Necessário reativar as campanhas de SIDA e a educação sexual em meio escolar dentro de um contexto de educação para a saúde., Marta Reis é apoiada pela Bolsa FCT (SFRH/BPD/110905/2015).

©Copyright 2019 - SPPS | Creative Commons License. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License, The Positive Youth Development (PYD) theory believes that all young people have the potential for healthy and successful development. The aim of this study is to validate the PYD scale for portuguese adolescents. The sample included 384 adolescents (53.4% boys), attending between the 5th and 12th year of schooling levels. The confirmatory factorial analysis allowed to maintain the original structure proposed in the PYD-SF (34 items) with 5 C'S (Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character and Caring), the subscales conserved index of internal consistency ranging from a= .73 and a = .87. Differences between genders and age groups were also analysed through ANOVA. Regarding gender differences, it was observed that boys have a higher mean for the Competence, Confidence and Connection subscales. For age, the younger adolescents (10-12 years old), have higher averages for all subscales, except the subscale character. A new instrument for evaluating Positive Youth Development, valid for the Portuguese population, sensitive to gender and age differences, is proposed for use with adolescents, highlighting the importance of gender differences and age for the adequacy of public education policies to promote positive development in adolescents.

© 2018 Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited., Positive Youth Development - PYD pointed out the need to strengthen internal/external developmental assets in youth’s contexts. Literature suggests gender differences concerning health outcomes, with girls reporting poorer health outcomes, but higher quality in peer relationships, than boys. This chapter examines the associations of PYD and its dimensions with psychosocial variables, according to gender. Through an online survey, 2700 Portuguese college students (73.3% females), with a mean age of 21.3±2.79 years old were included. For both genders, the results showed significant differences and similarities with the PYD’s total score and its dimensions. Such results reinforce the importance to study positive indicators for PYD, but taking into account gender issues. More knowledge in this area can help health/education professionals and policy-makers to better plan interventions/policies. It is aimed to improve an integral and gender-sensitive healthy perspective for youths, based on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary work., The research leading to this publication was cofunded by different partial supports such as the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (Grants: Teresa Santos - SFRH/BD/82066/2011 /J51280474607; Marta Reis - SFRH/BPD/1109 05/2015), WJCR/ISPA, Instituto Universitário; ISAMB, FML/University of Lisbon; FMH/ University of Lisbon. The William James Center for Research, ISPA - Instituto Universitário is supported by a grant from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (Grant Number: UID/PSI/ 04810/2013).

Introdução: A vivência da sexualidade na adolescência está frequentemente associada ao início da atividade sexual, condicionando elevadas taxas de gravidez, de infeções sexualmente transmissíveis e de consequências psicológicas nefastas, com implicações pessoais, familiares e sociais marcantes. Esta é uma questão prioritária no âmbito da saúde pública. Este trabalho pretendeu avaliar atitudes e comportamentos sexuais de adolescentes de um colégio privado de Lisboa, comparando diferenças de género nessas atitudes e comportamentos. Métodos: Aplicou-se um questionário a 385 jovens, entre os 14 e os 19 anos, a frequentarem do 9º ao 12º ano de escolaridade. Resultados: Referiram ter iniciado vida sexual 27%, em média aos 15,5 anos. A moda do número de parceiros foi de um. Na primeira relação sexual, 95,5% utilizaram contraceção, principalmente o preservativo (91,8%) e na última relação sexual 96% utilizaram contraceção (preservativo 80%, método hormonal 59%). Referiram ter tido relações sexuais sob efeito de álcool ou drogas 9%. Verificou-se um início mais precoce da vida sexual e maior número de relações sexuais ocasionais nos rapazes. Também nas atitudes se verificaram diferenças, com as raparigas evidenciando maior preocupação contracetiva e os rapazes mostrando atitudes de maior permissividade, valorização do sexo e instrumentalização do parceiro. Discussão: Este estudo reforça a necessidade de uma educação sexual tendo presente as diferenças de género, com vista a uma vivência mais igualitária, mais responsável e mais gratificante da sexualidade., Portuguese Journal of Pediatrics, Vol. 48 No. 4 (2017)

Resumen tomado de la publicación Información y actitudes sobre el VIH-SIDA en los adolescentes portugueses : estado del arte y los cambios en un período de cuatro años. La incidencia del VIH-SIDA en la población heterosexual ha aumentando en los adultos jóvenes. El objetivo de esta investigación fue profundizar en los conocimientos y actitudes sobre el VIH-SIDA, y evaluar si desde 2002 hasta 2006 han cambiado. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de un cuestionario autoadministrado, de conducta de salud en niños en edad escolar, que se ha aplicado a una muestra portuguesa. Este estudio, hecho en colaboración con la OMS, proporciona datos representativos de Portugal, incorporando una muestra de 7.093 adolescentes portugueses, elegidos aleatoriamente entre los que frecuentan en octavo y décimo grado. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la edad de la primera relación sexual aumentó y que el número de adolescentes que reportaron haber tenido relaciones sexuales disminuyó. También ha disminuido el nivel de información y prevención de VIH-SIDA, al igual que las actitudes positivas hacia las personas con VIH-SIDA. En general, los adolescentes tienen buen conocimiento de cómo protegerse. Sin embargo, en comparación con el 2002, hubo una reducción de los conocimientos y, por consiguiente, las dudas sobre el VIH-SIDA aumentaron. En 2006, la educación sexual fue incipiente y por eso los resultados obtenidos no se pueden atribuir a la educación sexual, pero pueden ser relevantes en comparación con HBSC 2010. Asturias Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Asturias; Calle Ildefonso Sánchez del Río, 4-1 B; 33001 Oviedo; Tel. +34985285778; Fax +34985281374; Universidad de Oviedo. Facultad de Psicología; Plaza Feijoo, s. n.; 33003 Oviedo; Tel. +34985104146; Fax +34985104126; ESP

O aumento das infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, da gravidez indesejada e de outros riscos ligados à actividade sexual, nomeadamente o uso inconsistente dos métodos contraceptivos e do preservativo, a existência de parceiros ocasionais e a associação entre o consumo de álcool e drogas e o comportamento sexual, faz com que os jovens sejam considerados um grupo de intervenção prioritário. Esta investigação avaliou os métodos contraceptivos utilizados habitualmente, a existência de parceiros ocasionais e a relação entre o consumo de substâncias e a actividade sexual, uma vez que estes comportamentos podem originar graves consequências ao nível pessoal e ao nível sócioeconómico. Administraram-se 436 questionários a 113 rapazes e 323 raparigas, entre os 18 e os 24 anos. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que a maioria é sexualmente activa e utiliza simultaneamente preservativo e pílula. Os rapazes referem mais parceiros ocasionais e maior frequência de actividade sexual sob efeito de álcool ou drogas que as raparigas., The increase in sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy and other risks related to sexual activity, including the inconsistent use of contraceptive methods and condoms, the existence of casual partners and the association between alcohol consumption, drug use and sexual behaviour, is responsible for selecting young people as an important target group for prevention. This study tested the most usual contraceptive methods adopted, the existence of casual partners and whether there is any relationship between the consumption of substances and sexual activity, as these behaviors can lead to serious consequences at an individual and socio-economic levels. Structured self-reported questionnaires were responded by 436 participants (113 college men and 323 college women), between 18 and 24 years old. Findings show that the majority is sexually active and use condom and contraceptive pill simultaneously. College men more often than college women report casual partners, and alcohol and drug use when having sex.

Copyright © 2020 IJEHSS - International Journal of Education Humanities and Social Science, Self-harm behaviors have been increasing systematically, particularly in adolescents. The national HBSC study evaluated the prevalence of self-harm behaviors and associated risk factors in Portuguese adolescents. The sample consisted of 5695 adolescents, of whom 46.1% were boys, with a mean age of 15 years. The results showed that 18% reported having experienced self-harm behavior. Regarding the risk factors associated with "self- harm", it was found that young people, with more symptoms, more depression, more unhappy, with lower quality of life, worse relationship with their parents and absence of family support were more likely to have engaged in self-harm behaviors.

© Associação Brasileira do Sono, The academic years are a period of vulnerability when considering sleep problems and mental health. Growing evidence suggests poor sleep patterns are related to impaired academic life and lower psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to explore the importance of sleep habits and report the associations of sleep problems with quality of academic life and different dimensions of mental health (e.g. worries, anxiety, self-regulation and resilience) in a large sample of college students. The HBSC/JUnP data base comprises a representative sample of 2991 college students (n=2203; 73.7% women), aged from 18 to 35 years old (22.43±3.83). Participants socio-demographic characteristics included sex and age. Besides, participants were inquired about sleep duration, characteristics of their sleep habits, questions about quality academic life, namely feeling bored in university, pressure from academic work and academic performance perception and mental health, namely worries, anxiety, self-regulation and resilience. Results showed most young people report an average value for sleep habits (M=4.41; SD=1.46) and that they sleep an average of 7 hours a night. More than half of the young people report either being affected by difficulty falling asleep, showing signs of sleep onset insomnia (67.7%). The conducted analyses indicated that the difficulty falling asleep (having insomnia) was associated with poor/reasonable academic performance perception, higher levels of concerns and anxiety, and lower levels of self-regulation and resilience, thus jeopardizing the mental health of college students. In turn, that characteristics of sleep was also associated with poor sleep habits. In conclusion, this study showed that poor sleep habits were associated with a worse level of academic performance perception and low levels of mental health among college students in Portugal. Universities offer enormous potential as settings to promote sleep-health programs since they can reach many young people who are future-oriented and willing to learn. There is then the need for academic researchers, teaching staff and health professionals working for college students health, to develop and test a wide array of sleep-promoting interventions (e.g., education classes, online programs, adjustment of class time), thus preventing negative secondary outcomes.