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- Psychosocial Risk and Engagement in Early Childhood Professionals: Insights from a Regional Portuguese StudyPublication . São João, Ricardo; Mendes, NéliaIntroduction: The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work recognizes psychosocial risks in the workplace as a major threat to workers' health and safety. Work engagement has emerged as a strong predictor of performance and productivity. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate these concepts among professionals from the Local Early Intervention Teams (LEI) of the National Early Childhood Intervention System (SNIPI) within the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Subcommittee (SCRLVT), who are often exposed to high work demands. This study aimed to identify psychosocial risks and engagement levels, analyze variations according to sociodemographic and professional characteristics, examine differences across engagement dimensions, and explore the relationship between psychosocial risks and engagement. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 468 professionals from the ELIs of SCRLVT during November and December 2024, using an online questionnaire comprising three instruments: a sociodemo-graphic questionnaire, the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire III (COPSOQ III), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9), both validated for the Portuguese population. Psychosocial risk and work engagement levels were assessed, as well as their correlation. Additionally, associations between sociodemo-graphic and professional variables and these constructs were analysed. Finally, post hoc analysis was performed to compare the domains of UWES-9. Results: The response rate was 22.20% (n=103), with a predominantly female sample. High psychosocial risk levels were found in cognitive (90.29%) and emotional demands (81.55%). Health and well-being domains showed moderate risk, while others exhibited low risk. Overall work engagement was moderate, with Absorption standing out at a high level (M = 4.46). Post hoc tests revealed significant differences between Dedication and Vigor (p = 0.005). A significant negative correlation was found between global psychosocial risk and engagement (p < 0.001; ρ = -0.536), with relevant associations with sociodemographic and professional variables. Conclusions: This study identified a significant relationship between psychosocial risks and work engagement among ELI professionals at SCRLVT, with higher risks associated with lower engagement. Positive aspects, such as the perceived meaning of work and high Absorption levels, were also highlighted. Macro, organizational, and individual-level measures are suggested to promote well-being and engagement. This research is pioneering within this professional group and contributes to the validation of COPSOQ III in Portugal, despite limitations such as a low response rate and the scarcity of comparable studies.
- Psychosocial risk and engagement in early childhood professionals Insights from a regional portuguese studyPublication . São João, Ricardo; Mendes, NéliaThe European Agency for Safety and Health at Work recognizes psychosocial risks in the workplace as a major threat to workers' health and safety. Work engagement has emerged as a strong predictor of performance and productivity. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate these concepts among professionals from the Local Early Intervention Teams (LEI) of the National Early Childhood Intervention System (SNIPI) within the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Subcommittee (SCRLVT), who are often exposed to high work demands. This study aimed to identify psychosocial risks and engagement levels, analyze variations according to sociodemographic and professional characteristics, examine differences across engagement dimensions, and explore the relationship between psychosocial risks and engagement.
- Statistical Approach to the Efficacy of Individual Cognitive Stimulation in Alzheimer's Disease : The Added Value of Meta-Regression and Subgroup AnalysisPublication . São João, Ricardo; Henriques, Susana JustoIntroduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, accounting for approximately 60–70% of all cases. Its prevalence is expected to double by 2050, potentially affecting over half a million people in Portugal. Cognitive stimulation is a recommended psychosocial intervention for individuals with AD. To assess the effectiveness of such interventions, repeated-measures ANOVA or mixed linear models (MLMs) are commonly used. Methods: Data were drawn from a multicenter randomized controlled trial with a repeated-measures experimental design (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up). Assessments were conducted at three time points: before the intervention (baseline, T0), immediately after its completion (T1), and 12 weeks later (follow-up, T2). Global cognitive functioning, memory, and executive function were assessed using standardized instruments. The 'moderate' and 'moderately severe' of the Alzheimer's Disease Severity classification were considered. The standardized mean difference (SMD), adjusted using Hedges’ g method, was calculated to estimate the direction and magnitude of the effect between the experimental and control groups. Effects were presented using forest plots, and heterogeneity across outcomes was assessed using the I², τ², and Q-test statistics. In cases of low heterogeneity, the analysis was complemented with meta-regression models and subgroup analyses. Results: Low heterogeneity was observed across group assessments (I² = 23.1%; τ² = 0.035; Q-test p-value = 0.22), leading to subgroup analysis and meta-regression to compare effects across severity levels. Subgroup analysis revealed a significant positive effect in the experimental group (0.4848, 95% CI [0.2222; 0.7474], p <0.001). The meta-regression model, using severity level as an explanatory variable and SMD as the response variable, showed an intercept of 0.48 and a coefficient of -0.6891 (95% CI [-1.0911; -0.2872], p<0.001). Conclusions: This study demonstrated a significant difference between the two severity levels, suggesting that disease severity may moderate the intervention's effectiveness. The proposed statistical approach offers a viable alternative to standard models (ANOVA and MLM) in studies involving two or more experimental groups. These findings may potential clinical relevance for evaluating the effectiveness of non-pharmacolo- gical interventions and strategies designed to promote cognitive health in older adults with dementia.