PSICOLOGIA

Adaptation and Validation of the New Social Dominance Orientation Scale (SDO7) To European-Portuguese

Catarina L. Carvalho, Isabel R. Pinto, Rui Costa-Lopes, Darío Paéz — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Understanding why hierarchical social systems thrive and persist has been an important issue for the social sciences. Social dominance orientation (SDO) is considered one of the most important measures to study intergroup attitudes and behavior and how hierarchical social systems are maintained. In this study (N = 313) we assessed the psychometric proprieties of the European-Portuguese version of the SDO₇ scale and examined the proposed two-factor solution corresponding to the two SDO subdimensions (SDO-D and SDO-E). Results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that both the one-factor (full scale) and the two-factor solution model have good indicators of model fit. Nevertheless, results also showed that, although the SDO full scale was positively correlated with all the related constructs (e.g., right-wing authoritarianism, meritocracy), each subdimension correlated with them differently. Thus, considering and examining the two subdimensions separately should allow to understand and predict, with more precision, intergroup attitudes, and behaviors.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Experiences of Higher Education Students: A Qualitative Study in the Angolan Context

Alcino Chimuco Miguel, Eugénia Ribeiro — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

The psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education (HE) students have been linked to young adult development and to changes in academic practices and dynamics. The impact of these conditions is rarely contextualized within the cultural knowledge of the populations being studied. This study aimed to understand the perceptions of Angolan students regarding their academic experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through an open-ended questionnaire administered online. A thematic analysis of students’ responses was conducted, which identified three central themes: The difficult academic experience of loss and threat, Specific concerns and challenges beyond academic life, and Resources for coping during the confinement period. The study’s findings are discussed in light of their alignment with the results of similar research and through contextualization of the specific emerging subthemes within dimensions of Angolan culture.

Factor Structure, Reliability and Validity of the European Portuguese Version of the Revised Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity index (CASI-R) in a Clinical Sample of School-Aged Children

Ana Carolina Góis, Brígida Caiado, Maria Cristina Canavarro, Helena Moreira — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

The present study explored the factor structure, reliability and convergent validity of the Portuguese version of the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index – Revised (PT-CASI-R) in a clinical sample of school-aged children. A clinical sample of 153 children with emotional disorder symptomatology (i.e., anxiety or depressive disorder; 6-13 years) completed the CASI-R and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the psychometric properties of the CASI-R were assessed. The PT-CASI-R revealed good internal consistency, with a four-factor hierarchical structure. Moderate and strong correlations were found between the CASI-R and RCADS subscales, specifically the “panic disorder” RCADS subscale. Our findings suggest that the PT-CASI-R is a psychometrically valid measure for assessing anxiety sensitivity in Portuguese children with clinical emotional symptoms, between 6 and 13 years old.

Development and validation of a measurement of Bystander Intervention on Online Hate Speech towards Immigrants (BIOHS-Immigrants)

Catarina Carvalho, Isabel R. Pinto, Sara Alves, Márcia Bernardo — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Online hate speech has profound implications for society, with migrants as primary targets. Underreporting by victims and bystanders obscures the true extent, indirectly legitimizing these crimes. To assess bystander intervention in online hate speech against immigrants, we developed a scale based on the five steps of the bystander intervention model. In Study 1 (N = 294), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the five-factor structure, having, as the final step, different types of actions that bystanders can adhere to when witnessing online hate speech. Structural equation modelling showed that, overall, each step was predicted by the preceding step, as proposed by the bystander intervention model. Study 2 (N = 240) replicated this finding and assessed the scale's criterion-related validity, revealing negative associations with moral disengagement and victim blaming, and positive associations with self-efficacy. We discuss the scale's relevance and applicability in studying bystander behaviour in response to online hate speech.

Factorial analysis and invariance of the Portuguese version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale – Version 3

Edna Moniz, Luís, Célia, Rosa — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0700

The objectives of this study are to analyze the psychometric properties of the data collected with the European Portuguese version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3 (UCLA-LS-3) and to evaluate levels of loneliness and perceived social isolation in Portuguese adults. 802 individuals aged 18 to 82 years (M= 35.12; SD= 15.67) responded to the scale, and reliability and validity analyses were conducted. The total score of the UCLA-LS-3 exhibited a strong negative correlation with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. A three-factor model showed the best fit, demonstrating good fit [(χ2/df = 1.81; CFI = .99; RMSEA (90 CI) = .032 (.026; .038)]. This model showed only metric invariance between genders and only configural invariance between age groups. The results support the UCLA-LS-3 as a reliable and valid measure of loneliness for future research studies interested in assessing the psychological experience of loneliness in Portuguese population.