Miguel, Isabel

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Miguel

First Name

Isabel

Name

Isabel Miguel

Biography

Isabel Miguel holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology, from the University of Coimbra, Portugal. Graduate degree in Psychology, by the same University. She is currently Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology and Education at Portucalense University (UPT), where she teaches in the fields of social psychology and developmental psychology. She is the Erasmus Coordinator for the Department of Psychology and Education, at UPT. She is an integrated member of Portucalense Psychology Institute (I2P) of Portucalense University. At present, her main research interests include social representations, social psychology of development, social contexts of aging, age attitudes and discrimination, and behavior change. She has (co-) authored publication in scientific journals, conferences proceedings and book chapter in these fields. She is a founding member of the Social Psychology Center (NPO) of the Portuguese Association of Psychology (APP). Afiliação: I2P - Instituto Portucalense de Psicologia. DPE - Departamento de Psicologia e Educação.

Identifiers

0000-0002-5305-7620
1212-C317-90ED
55388511600
N-1420-2013

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Organizational Unit
CINTESIS.UPT - Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde
Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias e Serviços de Saúde (CINTESIS.UPT), former I2P, is an R&D unit devoted to the study of cognition and behaviour in context. With an interdisciplinary focus, namely on Education, Translational and Applied Psychology

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 42
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Aging behind bars in Portugal: A case study of a prison context
    2017-07 - Ferreira, Catarina; Ferreira-Oliveira, Ana Teresa; Santos, Conceição; Fernandes, Sandra; Miguel, Isabel
    This paper presents a study about the ageing of people under detention, based on the analysis of a prison located in the north of Portugal. Scarce studies were developed with this population and statistical data indicates the increasing number of elderly inmates in the Portuguese prison context. This paper intends to explore the perceptions of the inmates who are over 60 years old, as well as other professionals who interact daily with this population. The research is a case study with a qualitative approach. Data collection includes semi-structured interviews to prisoners, the prison director, guards, health professionals, reeducation professionals, etc. For the purpose of this paper, only results from interviews to prisoners will be analyzed (n=11). Ethical issues and procedures were carefully considered during all phases of the research plan. The results intend to contribute to a greater comprehension of the ageing phenomena behind bars and the imprisonment experiences lived by elderly prisoners, including adaptation to prison as well as resocialization issues, pointed out as of great importance by the Portuguese legal system frameworks. Results of this exploratory paper show a description of the social representations of elderly inmates, regarding perspectives of life trajectory without imprisonment, reasons for the crime practice and its interpretation, representation of prison admission, adaptation to prison, representation of the relationship with professionals, social representation of prison population and resocialization and age.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Colonialism in Portuguese History textbooks: A diachronic psychosocial study
    2018 - Valentim, Joaquim Pires; Miguel, Isabel
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Are perceptions of grandparenthood related to family and life satisfaction? A study with emerging adults
    2021-01-08 - Carneiro, Luísa; Fernandes, Paula; Araújo, Alexandra M.; Miguel, Isabel; Fernandes, Sandra
    Given the crucial role that grandparents play in the upbringing and well-being of their grandchildren, research regarding the perceived importance of grandparents for their emerging adult grandchildren is of particular relevance. This study examined the relations between perceived grandparents’ roles and family and life satisfaction in Portuguese emerging adults. Participants (N ¼ 387), aged 18–25, completed a structured self-report questionnaire. Findings of structural equation modeling showed that emerging adults’ perceptions of grandparental roles of counselor, enjoying the relationship, and indulgence are positively related to their family and life satisfaction. The mediation analysis showed that family satisfaction mediated the relation between perceptions of grandparents acting as counselors and the life satisfaction of emerging adult grandchildren. Implications of family relationships and grandparenting in the context of emerging adulthood are discussed.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    What influences representations on vaccines and children’s vaccination? A psychosocial study on mothers’ representations, values, and decision-making styles
    2022-03-16 - Valentim, Joaquim Pires; Carugati, Felice; Selleri, Patrizia; Miguel, Isabel
    Although the complex reasons underlying parents’ decision whether to vaccinate their children have been largely unraveled, a socio-cognitive perspective on the representational field of vaccination is missing. This study is a contribution to fill such a gap. A sample of 309 Portuguese mothers with children aged 0-6 years answered a self-administered questionnaire. Results show that psychosocial variables such as the number of children modulate mothers’ representations of vaccination as a matter of freedom of choice and preference for natural immunity, while age of children and having (or not) searched for information in-fluence their confidence in vaccines. Also, results show that representations related to freedom of choice, preference for natural immunity, and conspiracy theories are positively predicted by individualism values and a dependent decision-making style, whereas confidence in vaccines is positively associated with uni-versalism values and a rational decision-making style. We discuss the implications of the socio-cognitive dynamics organizing mothers’ representations about vaccines and vaccination for the understanding of behaviors about vaccines and the development of tailored measures for vaccination promotion.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Sexual well‑being across the lifespan: Is sexual satisfaction related to adjustment to aging?
    2024-01-26 - von Humboldt, Sofia; Leal, Isabel; Miguel, Isabel
    Introduction: Sexual satisfaction is relevant to aging well, throughout the lifespan. This study aims to compare the perspectives of sexual satisfaction and adjustment to aging (AtA) in three age cohorts across the lifespan and to analyze whether sexual satisfaction influences the perceptions of AtA. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 619 participants from three different age cohorts (18–44, 45–64, and 65 + years). Three measures were used to meet the defined objectives: (a) Adjustment to Aging Scale (ATAS), (b) New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS-S), and (c) sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle questionnaire. Data were subject to MANOVAs and hierarchical regression analyses. Results: Social support emerged as the most relevant dimension in the multifactorial nature of AtA. Generational differences were found in sense of purpose and ambitions [F (2, 616) = 14.203, p < .001], zest and spirituality [F (2, 616) = 3.175, p = .042], body and health [F (2, 616) = 8.732, p < .001], and social support [F (2, 616) = 10.646, p < .001], with participants aged 65 and older showing significantly lower levels in all dimensions. Younger participants showed the highest score for body and health. Age-related decreases in sexual satisfaction were also found, as younger participants showed statistically higher levels of sexual satisfaction, followed by middle-aged and older participants. Sexual satisfaction predicts all the dimensions of AtA, exception made for aging in place and stability. Ego-centered sexual satisfaction positively predicted sense of purpose and ambitions (β = .225, p = .015) and social support (β = .297, p < .001), while partner/sexual activity–centered sexual satisfaction was a positive predictor of zest and spirituality (β = .243, p = .010) and body and health (β = .243, p = .008). Conclusions: Sexual satisfaction decreases with age and is positively related to dimensions of AtA. Sexual satisfaction is a relevant variable for effective approaches to promoting healthy aging and overall well-being among (older) adults. Policy Implications: Gerontological program policies and interventions with older people would strongly benefit of including sexual satisfaction as a relevant variable for aging well along the lifespan.
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    PublicationRestricted Access
    Cidadania ativa numa sociedade envelhecida: O voluntariado sénior
    2021 - Luz, Helena Reis; Miguel, Isabel
    O envelhecimento demográfico constitui uma realidade incontornável das sociedades atuais, colocando às sociedades envelhecidas desafios acrescidos que interessa observar. Considerando a cidadania, as concepções capitalistas enfatizam o papel central do trabalho na definição do estatuto de cidadão, destacando a estreita relação entre participação no mercado de trabalho e inclusão social. No entanto, essa abordagem deve ser reequacionada no contexto específico da população idosa, uma vez que na reforma estes encontram vários domínios significativos de participação social para além do trabalho remunerado. Neste âmbito, o voluntariado sénior afigura-se como um meio proeminente de ativar a participação social dos idosos. O presente capítulo tem como objetivo discutir as fragilidades de uma cidadania baseada no trabalho, enfatizando o voluntariado sénior como uma abordagem de ativação e promoção da participação social dos idosos.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Questionário de Estilos e Dimensões Parentais – Versão Reduzida: Adaptação portuguesa do Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire – Short Form.
    2009 - Valentim, Joaquim Pires; Carugati, Felice; Miguel, Isabel
    O Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire – Short Form (Robinson, Mandleco, Olsen & Hart, 2001) é um questionário utilizado para avaliar os estilos parentais de pais e mães de crianças em idade escolar, cujas qualidades psicométricas estão bem estabelecidas internacionalmente. Com o objectivo de apresentar a versão portuguesa deste instrumento, o questionário foi aplicado a uma amostra de 344 pais e mães com filhos a frequentar o 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. A sua estrutura, evidenciada graças ao recurso à técnica de modelação de equações estruturais (análise factorial confirmatória), revelou-se semelhante à original: multidimensional e hierárquica, formada por factores de primeira e segunda ordem, que diferenciam os estilos parentais democrático, autoritário e permissivo, bem como as respectivas dimensões. Em termos gerais, os resultados finais revelam um bom ajustamento do modelo teórico aos dados. A consistência interna apresenta, igualmente, valores próximos da versão original, podendo ser considerada satisfatória.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Positivar a velhice: um programa de intervenção com pessoas idosas
    2019 - Jorge Miguel, Silva; Miguel, Isabel; Fernandes, Sandra; Araújo, Alexandra M.
    Esta comunicação tem como objetivo descrever a implementação de um programa de intervenção psicológica com pessoas idosas. Este programa, designado “Positivar a Velhice”, foi construído com base na revisão da literatura e nos princípios da psicologia positiva, abrangendo cinco variáveis da psicologia positiva: felicidade subjetiva, bem-estar psicológico, satisfação com a vida, qualidade de vida e afetos positivos e negativos. O programa de intervenção inclui um conjunto de 16 sessões grupais, divididas em três módulos. A implementação do programa decorreu em duas instituições privadas, localizadas na região norte de Portugal. O número de participantes foi de 23 idosos institucionalizados, com idades compreendidas entre os 61 e 93 anos. O principal objetivo deste artigo consiste na apresentação do programa de intervenção, nomeadamente, no que diz respeito à sua fundamentação teórica e pressupostos, estrutura e áreas de intervenção, conteúdo das sessões e respetivos objetivos e estratégias de ação. No final, são ainda apresentados alguns resultados relativos à avaliação do programa de intervenção, inseridos num estudo no âmbito de uma Dissertação de Mestrado em Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde, permitindo concluir que a intervenção surtiu efeitos positivos no grupo de intervenção, quanto às variáveis qualidade de vida, bem-estar psicológico e satisfação com a vida.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Teacher professional development in higher education: The impact of pedagogical training perceived by teachers
    2023-03-15 - Miguel, Isabel; Fernandes, Sandra; Abelha, Marta; Araújo, Alexandra M.
    This paper aims to analyze the impact of a pedagogical training program aimed to promote teacher professional development in a higher education institution in Portugal. Based on a mixedmethods approach, the study evaluates the satisfaction of 36 higher education teachers with the pedagogical training program offered and discusses its impact on teachers’ perceptions of teaching practices, conceptions, and professional development. The results from the questionnaires applied to participants, including multiple choice questions and open-ended answers, indicate high satisfaction with the implemented training program. Based on this case study, the authors discuss the implications of findings for teacher professional development and identify key characteristics for the design of successful pedagogical training programs in higher education.
  • PublicationRestricted Access
    Is age an issue? Psychosocial differences in perceived older workers’ work (un)adaptability, effectiveness, and workplace age discrimination
    2022-12-15 - Humboldt, Sofia von; Valentim, Joaquim Pires; Costa, Andrea; Low, Gail; Leal, Isabel; Miguel, Isabel
    The aging population in the developed world has implied increasing age diversity in the workforce of organizations. Consequently, mutual perceptions about one’s coworkers and age discrimination are becoming increasingly important. This study aims to explore how perceptions about older workers’ work (un)adaptability, work effectiveness, and workplace age discrimination vary according to participants’ psychosocial factors, such as age group, gender, education level, and work sector. This study included a sample of 453 workers in Portugal, diverse in terms of age, gender, education level, and work sector. Four different instruments were used: (a) a sociodemographic questionnaire; (b) an older workers’ Work Adaptability scale; (c) an older workers’ Work Effectiveness Scale and; (d) the Workplace Age Discrimination Scale (WADS). Results: Middle-aged and older participants perceive older workers as more adaptable than younger participants. The oldest group of participants perceives older workers to be more workeffective and experience the highest levels of age discrimination in the workplace, when compared to the other age groups. Also, participants with lower levels of education tend to perceive higher levels of workplace age discrimination, when compared to participants with high school and higher education. Conclusions: Generational perceptions in the workplace are perceived by workers differently, hence organizations should implement age management strategies to address age discrimination, particularly due to the increasing proportion of older workers.