| Nome: | Descrição: | Tamanho: | Formato: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Documento em Acesso Embargado até dia 25-04-2027. Tente solicitar cópia ao autor carregando no ficheiro | 3.06 MB | Adobe PDF |
Autores
Resumo(s)
A solidão é concetualizada como um construto multidimensional, que tem impactos significativos na saúde mental, sendo influenciada por fatores individuais e contextuais. Esta investigação pretende analisar a experiência da solidão em adultos residentes na Ilha de São Miguel e incluiu quatro estudos: o primeiro estudo, de natureza quantitativa, pretendeu efetuar uma análise psicométrica mais robusta da UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3 (UCLA-LS-3). Os resultados revelaram uma excelente consistência interna e os resultados suportam a validade de constructo da UCLA-LS-3 na população adulta portuguesa, apoiando um modelo de três fatores relacionados (Isolamento, Conetividade Relacional e Conetividade Coletiva). Sobre a relação do resultado total na UCLA-LS-3 com outras variáveis, o resultado foi mais baixo em indivíduos casados, com maior escolaridade e estatuto socioeconómico, e maior em solteiros. O segundo estudo, de natureza qualitativa com grupos focais, explorou a solidão entre adultos na Ilha de São Miguel que residem em dois contextos: rural e urbano. Os sentimentos de tristeza e isolamento foram centrais em ambos os contextos. Os fatores associados à solidão que foram reportados em ambos os grupos abrangeram o viver sozinho, o divórcio e a reforma. Também a idade (quanto maior, maior a solidão) e a altura do dia ou do ano (sendo a vivência psicológica da solidão reportada como maior à noite e no inverno) foram reportados como associados à solidão. Por fim, a coesão social e o apoio comunitário foram reportados como fatores protetores no meio rural. Seguidamente, o terceiro estudo, de natureza quantitativa, examinou os determinantes da vivência psicológica da solidão e do isolamento social, considerando mediadores e moderadores como a personalidade, a autocompaixão, o suporte social e variáveis sociodemográficas (e.g., a idade). O neuroticismo revelou-se um forte preditor de maior solidão e isolamento. A autocompaixão atuou como fator protetor e mediador parcial dessa relação, sendo especialmente relevante na idade adulta avançada, uma vez que a mediação é moderada pela idade. Por sua vez, o suporte social moderou o efeito direto do neuroticismo, reduzindo o seu impacto sobre a vivência psicológica da solidão. Neste estudo averiguou-se também a forma como a vivência psicológica da solidão pode associar-se à presença (e maior severidade) de sintomatologia psicopatológica (i.e., ansiedade, depressão e stress). Esta associação foi mediada pela autocompaixão, reafirmando a importância do desenvolvimento de intervenções focadas neste constructo para combater os efeitos adversos da solidão. Por fim, o quarto estudo procurou comparar adultos a residir na ilha de São Miguel (n=600; idade: M= 38.74; género: feminino =414 e masculino =186) com adultos a residir em Portugal Continental (n=600; idade: M= 39.00; género; feminino =416 e masculino =184) num conjunto de variáveis sociodemográficas e de saúde mental, incluindo a avaliação dos níveis de vivência psicológica da solidão e isolamento social. Neste estudo foram encontrados níveis moderados de solidão, sem diferenças significativas entre os grupos. Em São Miguel, houve maior Conetividade Relacional e Coletiva, indicando maior coesão social. Em ambos os grupos, o neuroticismo correlacionou-se positivamente com a vivência psicológica da solidão, sendo um possível fator de risco, enquanto a autocompaixão e o suporte social se correlacionaram negativamente, sendo possíveis fatores protetores. Por sua vez, viver acompanhado, no Continente, uma associação negativa com a solidão, sendo um possível fator protetor. Os indivíduos de São Miguel apresentaram maior sintomatologia psicopatológica, o que parece indicar a importância de outros fatores para a presença (e severidade) desta sintomatologia, para além da vivência psicológica da solidão, que também foi encontrada em níveis moderados no grupo a residir no Continente. Finalmente, em ambos os grupos, as estratégias de coping mais usadas foram ver televisão e/ou vídeos no computador, trabalhar e/ou ter uma ocupação e conviver e conversar com as pessoas. Em suma, os resultados desta investigação sugerem que a solidão em adultos portugueses é multidimensional, influenciada por variáveis internas como a personalidade (neuroticismo), a autocompaixão, e o suporte social percebido. Para além de variáveis internas, destacam-se variáveis contextuais como a área de residência (rural vs urbana e ilha vs continente). É fulcral efetuar estudos futuros em outros contextos, dado que os ambientes sociais e geográficos têm um impacto significativo na saúde mental.
Loneliness is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct that has significant impacts on mental health, being influenced by both individual and contextual factors. This research aims to examine the experience of loneliness in adults residing on São Miguel Island and included four studies: The first study, quantitative in nature, aimed to conduct a more robust psychometric analysis of the UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3 (UCLA-LS-3). The results revealed excellent internal consistency, and the findings su pport the construct validity of the UCLA-LS-3 in the Portuguese adult population, endorsing a three-related-factor model (Isolation, Relational Connectedness, and Collective Connectedness). Regarding the total UCLA-LS-3 score in relation to other variables, scores were lower in married individ uals, those with higher education and socioeconomic status, and higher in single individuals. The second study, qualitative in nature using focus groups, explored loneliness among adults on São Miguel Island residing in two contexts: rural and urban. Feelings of sadness and isolation were central in both contexts. Factors associated with loneliness reported by both groups included living alone, divorce, and retirement. Age (older individuals experienced greater loneliness) and time of day or season (with ps ychological experiences of loneliness reported as higher at night and during winter) were also associated with loneliness. Finally, social cohesion and community support were reported as protective factors in the rural setting. The third study, quantitative in nature, examined the determinants of the psychological experience of loneliness and social isolation, considering mediators and moderators such as personality, self-compassion, social support, and sociodemographic variables (e.g., age). Neuroticism emerged as a strong predictor of higher loneliness and social isolation. Self-compassion acted as a protective factor and partial mediator of this relationship, being particularly relevant in later adulthood, as the mediation was moderated by age. Social support, in turn, moderated the direct effect of neuroticism, reducing its impact on the psychological experience of loneliness. This study also investigated how the psychological experience of loneliness may be associated with the presence (and greater severity) of psychopathological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress). This association was mediated by self-compassion, reaffirming the importance of developing interventions focused on this construct to counteract the ad verse effects of loneliness. Finally, the fourth study aimed to compare adults residing on São Miguel Island (n = 600; age: M = 38.74; gender: female = 414, male = 186) with adults residing in mainland Portugal (n = 600; age: M = 39.00; gender: female = 416, male = 184) across a set of sociodemographic and mental health variables, including the assessment of psychological loneliness and social isolation levels. Moderate levels of loneliness were found in this study, with no significant differences between the groups. On São Miguel, higher Relational and Collective Connectedness was observed, indicating greater social cohesion. In both groups, neuroticism was positively correlated with the psychological experience of loneliness, suggesting a potential risk factor, while self-compassion and social support were negatively correlated, indicating potential protective factors. In mainland Portugal, living with others was negatively associated with loneliness, representing a possible protective factor. Individuals o n São Miguel exhibited higher levels of psychopathological symptoms, suggesting the importance of other factors influencing the presence (and severity) of these symptoms beyond the psychological experience of loneliness, which was also reported at moderate levels in the mainland group. Finally, in both groups, the most commonly used coping strategies were watching television and/or videos on the computer, working and/or having an occupation, and socializing and talking with others. In summary, the results of this research suggest that loneliness in Portuguese adults is multidimensional, influenced by internal variables such as personality (neuroticism), self-compassion, and perceived social support. In addition to internal variables, contextual variables such as area of residence (rural vs. urban, island vs. mainland) are also highlighted. Future studies in other contexts are essential, given that social and geographical environments have a significant impact on mental health.
Loneliness is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct that has significant impacts on mental health, being influenced by both individual and contextual factors. This research aims to examine the experience of loneliness in adults residing on São Miguel Island and included four studies: The first study, quantitative in nature, aimed to conduct a more robust psychometric analysis of the UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3 (UCLA-LS-3). The results revealed excellent internal consistency, and the findings su pport the construct validity of the UCLA-LS-3 in the Portuguese adult population, endorsing a three-related-factor model (Isolation, Relational Connectedness, and Collective Connectedness). Regarding the total UCLA-LS-3 score in relation to other variables, scores were lower in married individ uals, those with higher education and socioeconomic status, and higher in single individuals. The second study, qualitative in nature using focus groups, explored loneliness among adults on São Miguel Island residing in two contexts: rural and urban. Feelings of sadness and isolation were central in both contexts. Factors associated with loneliness reported by both groups included living alone, divorce, and retirement. Age (older individuals experienced greater loneliness) and time of day or season (with ps ychological experiences of loneliness reported as higher at night and during winter) were also associated with loneliness. Finally, social cohesion and community support were reported as protective factors in the rural setting. The third study, quantitative in nature, examined the determinants of the psychological experience of loneliness and social isolation, considering mediators and moderators such as personality, self-compassion, social support, and sociodemographic variables (e.g., age). Neuroticism emerged as a strong predictor of higher loneliness and social isolation. Self-compassion acted as a protective factor and partial mediator of this relationship, being particularly relevant in later adulthood, as the mediation was moderated by age. Social support, in turn, moderated the direct effect of neuroticism, reducing its impact on the psychological experience of loneliness. This study also investigated how the psychological experience of loneliness may be associated with the presence (and greater severity) of psychopathological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress). This association was mediated by self-compassion, reaffirming the importance of developing interventions focused on this construct to counteract the ad verse effects of loneliness. Finally, the fourth study aimed to compare adults residing on São Miguel Island (n = 600; age: M = 38.74; gender: female = 414, male = 186) with adults residing in mainland Portugal (n = 600; age: M = 39.00; gender: female = 416, male = 184) across a set of sociodemographic and mental health variables, including the assessment of psychological loneliness and social isolation levels. Moderate levels of loneliness were found in this study, with no significant differences between the groups. On São Miguel, higher Relational and Collective Connectedness was observed, indicating greater social cohesion. In both groups, neuroticism was positively correlated with the psychological experience of loneliness, suggesting a potential risk factor, while self-compassion and social support were negatively correlated, indicating potential protective factors. In mainland Portugal, living with others was negatively associated with loneliness, representing a possible protective factor. Individuals o n São Miguel exhibited higher levels of psychopathological symptoms, suggesting the importance of other factors influencing the presence (and severity) of these symptoms beyond the psychological experience of loneliness, which was also reported at moderate levels in the mainland group. Finally, in both groups, the most commonly used coping strategies were watching television and/or videos on the computer, working and/or having an occupation, and socializing and talking with others. In summary, the results of this research suggest that loneliness in Portuguese adults is multidimensional, influenced by internal variables such as personality (neuroticism), self-compassion, and perceived social support. In addition to internal variables, contextual variables such as area of residence (rural vs. urban, island vs. mainland) are also highlighted. Future studies in other contexts are essential, given that social and geographical environments have a significant impact on mental health.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
São Miguel Continente Vivência Psicológica da Solidão Suporte Social Autocompaixão Neuroticismo Sintomas Psicopatológicos Mainland Psychological Experience of Loneliness Social Support Self-Compassion Neuroticism Psychopathological Symptoms