Este manuscrito objetiva relatar etapas de desenvolvimento e evidências iniciais de validade de uma escala de gestão por competências. Foram realizados dois estudos: um de desenvolvimento e outro de investigação de evidências. No Estudo 1, foram entrevistadas seis lideranças de uma organização pública; realizada análise documental, e análise de conteúdo por 14 juízes especialistas, resultando em uma versão preliminar da escala com 20 itens. No Estudo 2, para evidências baseadas na estrutura interna e consistência interna, participaram, por aplicação on-line, 1.041 trabalhadores de diferentes setores, divididos aleatoriamente para análises fatoriais exploratórias (n = 521) e confirmatória (n = 520). O modelo final apresentou estrutura bifatorial composta por 14 itens distribuídos nos fatores “estrutura/processos” e “efetividade”, com índices de ajuste satisfatórios. Conclui-se que a escala é promissora para uso em pesquisas sobre gestão por competências no serviço público, recomendando-se a continuidade dos estudos para aprofundamento das evidências de validade.
Abstract This study investigates the effectiveness of large language models (LLMs) in classifying items that evaluate the Big Five personality dimensions, focusing on performance variations across traits and comparing local and cloud-based models. Five Natural Language Processing (NLP) models were used to classify 385 personality items, employing three levels of detail in prompt design. The results indicate that larger generative models, such as ChatGPT-4o and Gemini 1.5 Pro, outperformed smaller models in terms of accuracy, both for the five personality factors and overall. However, the Llama 3.1 model, run locally, showed adequate results for judge-based analyses, offering a viable alternative for those prioritizing data privacy. The study highlights the potential of LLMs as complementary tools in the development of psychological assessment instruments.
Abstract The Brazilian graduate study context heavily emphasizes scientific research. In this scenario, it is necessary to measure relevant variables. This study aims to present validity evidence for the Self-Efficacy Scale for Scientific Research in a sample of Brazilian stricto sensu postgraduate students. A total of 444 stricto sensu postgraduate students participated, divided into two random groups for exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The final model of 5 factors and 25 items showed good fit indices [χ2/df = 2.39; CFI = .91; GFI = .97; RMSEA = .079; SRMR = .055]. Convergent validity was evaluated through Pearson correlation analysis with the New General Self-Efficacy Scale. Discriminant validity was evaluated using the Heterotrait-Monotrait Matrix. The scale proved to be a reliable and suitable instrument for measuring self-efficacy for scientific research.
Abstract The work of psychologists in healthcare systems requires innovations in practice and continuous adjustments to meet institutional and social demands. This study aimed to characterize sociodemographic and professional training profiles and to analyze professional practices, expectations and perceptions of psychologists working in healthcare. A convenience sample (N=451) of Brazilian psychologists completed an online questionnaire, and their responses were subjected to descriptive and inferential analyzes. Most participants (81.4%) were women, graduated from private institutions (65.6%), held postgraduate degrees (73.4%) and worked in public healthcare services (56.3%). Professional practices were diversified, particularly among postgraduates and supervisors; patients´ reception, individual psychological care, and guidance for family members/caregivers prevailed. Positive expectations and perceptions of work in healthcare predominated among researchers and supervisors. In conclusion, although they operate in diverse ways, challenges persist in communication and interdisciplinary work, with implications for public health policies. The data can support curricular improvement in health education.
Abstract Reading and mathematical skills are among the fundamental objectives of education at all levels, from Elementary to Higher Education. However, the increasing reliance on digital technologies for information processing and calculation may be altering how these essential abilities are cultivated and sustained. Mastery of these basic skills is also linked to the expression of other, more specialized professional competencies. This study aimed at characterizing the relationship between proficiency in reading and mathematics and the manifestation of administrative problem-solving competencies among Higher Education students. A total of 946 Administrative Sciences undergraduate students took part in the study. Reading, mathematical and administrative problem-solving competencies were assessed using standardized instruments developed and validated by expert judges. The results confirmed positive and significant correlations between mastery of basic academic skills and the manifestation of management-related problem-solving competencies.
Abstract This study analyzes the themes and methodology of the joint research of the Brazilian National Association for Research and Postgraduate Studies in Psychology working group - Autism Spectrum Disorder: Research in Health and Education, over its 10 years of existence. This is a documentary study using data collected from the group’s biannual reports. Results revealed a total of 64 collaborative research projects, covering a variety of topics (e.g., early identification, cognitive and behavioral assessment, and evidence-based interventions). The target population has been mostly children, adolescents, and families, revealing a gap in studies with adults. Quantitative and cross-sectional studies are the most widely used methodology in the health field, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies. The conclusion is that the group’s intellectual production reflects, in part, the expansion of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) research in the country, with implications for national public policies.
Abstract The invisibility of grief within Black communities is reinforced by historical stereotypes. Therefore, this study aims to understand the grief of Black people who have lost family members. Qualitative exploratory research was conducted with ten Black individuals who had lost family members. The interviews followed a semi-structured script and were analyzed using IRaMuTeQ software. The results, with an 84.30% utilization of the textual corpus, produced five Descending Hierarchical Classes: (1) Losses and Justice; (2) Resilience and Grief: Family and Race; (3) Memory and Resistance; (4) Love and Gratitude; and (5) Grief and Struggle. It is concluded that Black grief is multifaceted, marked by racism and social pain, exacerbated by police violence and medical neglect, and characterized by limited space for emotional validation and identity resistance.
Abstract: Bullying and cyberbullying impact students’ health and development. This study aimed to synthesize and critically evaluate the effectiveness of antibullying interventions. An umbrella review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Five databases were consulted, and all the articles retrieved and identified were exported to the Rayyan platform. The review process was conducted using a multi-stage approach. Methodological quality and risk of bias assessments were performed using the ROBIS tool. Data were analyzed descriptively and exploratively. The corpus reviewed consisted of 12 articles. The intervention programs utilized a variety of methods or strategies. In terms of effects and heterogeneity, it was found that all the student interventions reviewed showed potential to reduce the occurrence of these phenomena. The identification of the effects of antibullying interventions can facilitate decision-making thus helping to address the issues thereof.
Abstract This study examined psychosocial factors associated with the mental health of workers and volunteers engaged in response activities related to the May 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A total of 185 participants completed online versions of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Using an inferential design, the data were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The results indicated that work demands were positively associated with stress (ẞ = 0.40, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.309, 0.590]), whereas interpersonal relationships were negatively associated with depression (ẞ = -0.33, p < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.388, -0.128]). The findings highlight the importance of favorable work relationships in strengthening resilience and mitigating the adverse psychological effects of disaster contexts. These findings underscore the relevance of implementing interventions in future disaster settings aimed at strengthening psychosocial support and promoting adaptive coping strategies among workers and volunteers.
Abstract Considering that Brazilian research in Environmental Psychology is largely concentrated within the 50º Working Group of the National Association for Research and Post-Graduate Studies in Psychology (GT-50), the current study analysed materials and practices produced by its members which were aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in order to understand their contribution towards healthy societies in Brazil. The authors organized the practices and materials into five thematic sections, analyzed them through a healthy society framework and discussed current and potential contributions towards the framework components: people, places, products, planet. The main findings indicate progress in equity, community spaces, eco-behaviours, and nature-based solutions. Gaps include targeting commercial determinants of environment and health, macro-scaling urban governance barriers, explicit ties to global targets, and scaling individual-level outcomes to systemic policy changes. Methodological limitations are presented towards the choice to focus on GT-50 and theoretical critiques on SDG principles and practices are produced.
Abstract The evaluation of training effectiveness is a relevant topic for organizations. This study aimed to describe the construction and verify the evidence of psychometric validity of the Scale of Impact of In-Depth Job Training for School Managers (Impacto do Treinamento no Trabalho em Profundidade para Gestores Escolares, ITPGE), aimed at measuring managerial skills in basic education. The instrument was developed based on observable instructional objectives extracted from a hybrid training course for school principals. A total of 248 principals from the public school system in São Paulo participated in the study. Descriptive and confirmatory factor analyses were performed, indicating a structure composed of three factors: People and Team Management (9 items; α=.92), Pedagogical Management (10 items; α=.89), and Administrative Management (5 items; α=.86). The results demonstrate statistical validity and internal consistency. The scale contributes to the evaluation of professional skills of school managers, offering support for development practices and continuing education policies.
Abstract Males dominate suicide death rates across all age groups. The aim of this study was to investigate suicidal ideation and its associated factors in male adolescents. We assessed a total of 424 adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years, from primary and secondary schools. The instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Conceptions of Masculinity Scale/CMS, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale for Adolescents/EDAE-A, and the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation Scale/BSSI. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 26.4%, which is considered to be high. The factors associated with the adjusted model were single-parent family structure and shared custody, symptoms of mild and moderate, severe, and extremely severe depression and anxiety. It is recommended that parents and schools be made aware of the need to work on the subject in order to promote prevention in identifying signs of suicidal behavior among adolescents.
Abstract This article examines aspects of the current grammar of unease among school-age adolescents and university students, a problem evident in increasing rates of psychological distress, suicide attempts, and school and university dropout in Brazil and Argentina. This work stems from the articulation of psychoanalysis, education, and social bond, aiming to explore intersections with sociopolitical dynamics and their implications for the educational field in these two Latin Americans countries. We seek to identify the ways in which educational discontent and the psychological suffering of adolescents and young people are linked to the dissolution of ties with the Other and to the absence of political imagination. We discuss concepts related to psychological constitution during adolescence and reflect on the effects of the current acceleration of time in producing unease among students. Our analysis contributes to develop potential strategies for teacher training in both schools and universities.
Abstract The Zulliger test, inspired by the Rorschach method, is widely used in Brazil to assess personality, cognition, and emotional aspects, particularly in contexts requiring quick evaluations. Recent adaptations, such as the R-Optimized administration based on the (Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS), aim to enhance its validity and psychometric properties. We examined whether controlling the number of responses (3-5 per card) in the Zulliger test leads to an increase in distorted form responses (FQ-). A total of 64 adults participated (Mage = 32.9 years, SD= 10.8; 57.8 % women), with analyses conducted using repeated-measures ANOVA and paired t-tests. The result (F(1, 63) = 3.60, p= .015, ηp²= .07) showed no clinically significant increase in FQ-, indicating that the R-Optimized administration does not pathologize results. These findings reinforce the effectiveness of controlling the number of responses, highlight the need for updated normative data, and support adopting R-Optimized instructions which strengthen the reliability of the Zulliger test in psychological assessments.
Abstract In Brazil, a supposed cordiality in social relations has led to a specific expression of racism in which laughter is often used as a mediator. This work analyses the relations between humour and racism in two studies. The first study involved 150 participants (63.8% female, M = 23.93 years, SD = 8.08), and the second, 35 people (67.6% female, M = 25.20 years, SD = 8.55). The results suggest that while participants predicted they would be very upset and defend the victim if they were present in the situation depicted (Study 1), they showed little emotional concern and no reaction when actually present at the scene (Study 2). These findings demonstrate the discrepancy between what people say they would do and what they actually do, contributing to a better understanding of the expressions and perpetuation of racism through humour.
Abstract Promoting functional family relationships during adolescence is an important need, underscoring the relevance of programs designed to foster positive parenting for this population. This study aimed to describe parenting and coparenting among parents of adolescents before and after participation in an intervention program. The sample consisted of 22 participants (20 mothers and 2 fathers) who completed the Brazilian version of the Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS), the Inventário de Estilos Parentais (IEP; Parenting Styles Inventory) at both pretest and posttest, as well as a sociodemographic questionnaire at baseline. Following the eight-session online group intervention and subsequent quantitative analysis, most participants obtained parenting style scores classified as excellent or good. In addition, mean scores in the positive dimensions of coparenting increased after the intervention. These findings highlight the importance of providing parents and caregivers with information on the specific characteristics of adolescence to strengthen family bonds and promote healthy parent-child relationships.
Abstract this research’s objective was to investigate whether the evaluation of the professional performance of university professors (variable operationalized as perceived fairness of the grade received) is influenced by the independent variables: (a) participant’s gender, (b) professor’s gender, (c) type of major that they teach, and (d) and the grade given to the students by professors. Two studies were conducted. Study 1 (N = 384), with a predictive-correlational design, and Study 2 (N = 376), with an experimental design. Both studies had university students as participants. Taken together, the results indicate that gender is related to perceived fairness of grades given by professors, and this effect varies depending on the type of professional context. These results point to gender inequality in university teaching and indicate that women are still perceived as different from men, especially in contexts considered “male.”
Abstract Building bonds is a strategic relational technology for mental health care in Primary Health Care, which remains a challenge when dealing with severe psychological distress patients. We analyzed how bonds are and how they are formed between users with severe mental suffering, their families, and Family Health Teams in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Through qualitative research, thirteen open interviews with Primary Health Care workers, users with severe psychological distress, and their families were conducted and analyzed inductively by dialectical hermeneutic method. We identified some elements that permeate these bonds, such as precarious resources in the health network, the preponderance of the use of psychotropic drugs, the primacy of biomedical logic, and the stigma related to madness. Strengthening bonds between patients, their family members, and Primary Health Care workers can advance Psychiatric Reform. As a limitation of this research, there is a need to expand dialogue with patients and family members on this topic.
Abstract The psychosomatic approach requires valid instruments to assess physical symptoms influenced by psychological factors. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and examine the validity evidence of the Brazilian version of the Psychosomatic Symptoms Scale (PSS-BRA). A total of 546 Brazilian adults participated (age range: 18-76 years, M = 38.7; SD = 13.5). Confirmatory Factor Analysis indicated that a seven-factor oblique structure provided the best fit for both frequency and severity scales, with satisfactory internal consistency (α and ω = .52-.93). The scale demonstrated sex invariance and positive correlations with anxiety symptoms, clinical diagnoses, and self-reported pain levels. These findings provide evidence of factorial validity, convergent validity, and reliability of the PSS-BRA. Overall, the instrument is psychometrically robust and suitable for clinical screening and preventive health interventions in Brazil.
