Finished
- Master Thesis
A pandemic: From suffer to resilience (October 4, 2022)
Inês Moço dos Santos
Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências de Educação da Universidade de Coimbra
During the Covid-19 pandemic, different cope behaviors were observable. Considering that resilience does not manifest equally in individuals, this study aims to understand how resilient European participants were during this event and how resilience is influenced by sociodemographic variables, as well as experiences of childhood neglect, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and general well-being.
Methods: A sample of 8459 participants (67.1% female and 32.9% male, with a mean of 43.95 years old and a standard deviation of 16.13), provided by the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, was evaluated. The chosen instruments were the Adverse Childhood Experiences, particularly the neglect dimension, the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5, the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index, and the Resilience Evaluation Scale. Questions on sociodemographic characteristics were also assessed.
Results: Higher levels of resilience were associated with older age, higher educational level, the absence of childhood neglect experiences and post-traumatic stress symptoms, and general well-being.
Conclusion: Considering the pandemic context, resilience is essential in participants' perceptions and influences their behavior towards a global threat. Since resilience develops from and within the context, resilient individuals are expected to remain stable during a traumatic experience.
- Master Thesis
Adjustment Disorder during de Covid-19 pandemic: the role of coping mechanisms and coexistent mental disorders (May 29, 2023)
Ana Rita Severino
Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto
This study aims to explore the dynamics of coping, Adjustment Disorder (AjD) and previous diagnosis of a mental disorder during COVID-19 pandemic and the association between these variables. We conducted a longitudinal study using data concerning Portuguese responders from the first and third waves of ESTSS ADJUST study. 91 participants provided data on ADNM-8, BRIEF-COPE, PCS, PHQ-4 and previous diagnosis of mental disorder on both assessments. The results indicated that the prevalence of AjD was 26.4% on the first and 20.9% on the third wave. Only shifts in Anxiety, use of active, planning, positive reframing and venting coping strategies were significant, decreasing between assessments. We found a positive correlation between dysfunctional coping and AjD and that individuals with a previous diagnosis of mental disorders developed more AjD symptoms. These results suggest positive psychological changes throughout the pandemic since coping mechanisms adopted seemed effective in mitigating its impact on mental health.
- Master Thesis
Posttraumatic stress disorder and Adjustment disorder among Covid-19 infected adults and their loved ones (May 29, 2023)
Beatriz Ramos
Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto
Background: Studies have shown high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among covid-19 infected individuals and loved ones. Adjustment disorder (AjD), however, has not been thoroughly studied.
Objective: This paper aims to examine PTSD and AjD among covid-19 infected Portuguese adults and their loved ones.
Method: Data collected between July and December 2020 from the first wave of the European Society of Traumatic Stress Studies' ADJUST study and by the Trauma Observatory of Coimbra were used. The final sample consisted of N = 1945 Portuguese adults. χ2, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to assess differences regarding AjD and PTSD between covid-19 infected and non-infected individuals and within covid-19 infected individuals to several sociodemographic characteristics, but also to access for differences regarding knowing someone infected.
Results: The prevalence of AjD and PTSD symptoms in the entire sample was 21.0% (n = 408) and 14.0% (n = 273), respectively. No significant differences were observed between covid-19 infected and non-infected individuals, nor between knowing someone infected or not. Among infected individuals (n = 165), the prevalence of AjD was 26.1% (n = 43) and the prevalence of PTSD was 14.5% (n = 24). Within this group, history of psychiatric disorders revealed differences in AjD, χ2 (2, n=165) =25.46 p <.001, V = .39 and PTSD, χ2 (2, n=165) =14.88, p = .001, V = .30. Severity of infection revealed differences in AjD diagnosis, χ2 (3, n=164) =19.52, p <.001, V= .35. Conclusion: Covid-19 pandemic warrants a need for additional psychological support.