RESEARCH GROUP RELATIONSHIPS, CHANGE PROCESSES AND WELLBEING

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1 RESEARCH GROUP RELATIONSHIPS, CHANGE PROCESSES AND WELLBEING Coordinator: Prof. Paula Mena Matos (University of Porto) Monitoring Figure: Prof. Frederick Lopez (University of Houston) Ongoing projects 1. RELATIONSHIPS AMONG RELATIONSHIPS: THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN RELATIONAL CONTEXTS IN CHILDREN S AND ADULTS LIVES This project intends to unravel the dynamic and interdependent relationships between different relational contexts of development for the prediction of dimensions of children s development, such as emotion regulation, prosocial behavior and internalizing and externalizing problems, and dimensions of adult s development, such as parental, job and marital satisfaction. It uses a longitudinal design and a multi-informant approach and collects reports from mothers, fathers, children, and kindergarten teachers, as well as from independent observers. 2. CONTEXTUAL DIMENSIONS, QUALITY OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CAREGIVER AND SELF-DETERMINATION IN ADOLESCENTS UNDER RESIDENTIAL CARE Institutional care in Portugal is a subject rarely addressed, especially in what concerns relational processes underlying the emotional and personal development of adolescents. This project aims to analyse the impact of the nature and the quality of the relationships developed with caregivers on the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and life aspirations of adolescents, in different contextual settings. Also the study intends to identify variables (attachment and emotion regulation) that may contribute for the development of a responsive and sensitive caregiver. A half-longitudinal design will be used and both caregivers and adolescents will report on the quality of relationships, as well as on other variables. This study aims to contribute to discuss the implications of institutional care in Portugal, by creating a model that integrates individual, relational (adolescent-caregiver) and contextual levels of analyses.

2 3. (IM)BALANCE: IMPACT OF WORK-FAMILY CONCILIATION ON PARENTING AND CHILDREN S DEVELOPMENT Based on a systemic and ecological perspective, the main goal of this project is to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the work-family (im)balance complexities, by addressing the effects of WF dynamics, both negative (conflict) and positive (enrichment) work-family interference, on (a) parenting outcomes, (b) parent-child relationship, and (c) children s socioemotional and behavioral outcomes. This project privileges a dyadic and family approach by targeting working couples with preschool children and analyzing crossover effects from one partner to the other and to the child. Concomitantly, we also aim to explore potential moderating and mediating effects of individual and psychosocial variables in the links between workfamily dynamics and parenting, thereby seeking to achieve a more integrated and comprehensive understanding of these relations. Moreover, the longitudinal design of this study will allow an exploration of the changing and fluid nature of how WF dynamics impact parenting processes and children developmental outcomes over time. 4. WORK-FAMILY BALANCE AND COUPLE S EMOTIONAL DYNAMICS The way work and family is reconciled carries major implications for individuals, families and society. It is commonly pointed as a source of strain with detrimental impacts on wellbeing and close relationships. Although socio-structural measures (e.g., leave-policies, flexible jobs, childcare) have been implemented to ease this strain, individuals and families rely, in important ways, on their own resources (e.g., coping strategies, instrumental and emotional support). Understanding how individuals succeed to regulate strain and emotions in response to stressors and how these regulation process impacts family functioning (parent-child relationship and children s development) is a next step for effective preventive interventions. This project uses a mixed method (longitudinal self-report questionnaire and diary methods) and a multi-informant approach to investigate the experience of emotion and of emotion regulation in work-family balance. This complementary approach will provide an empirical basis for outlining guidelines to help practitioners and families dealing with work-family balance issues. 5. CARE: RELATIONAL PROCESSES IMPLICATED IN ADJUSTMENT AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH IN COUPLES FACING BREAST CANCER This project focuses on the attachment and caregiving processes that occur within and between the couples facing women s breast cancer, attending to their potential role in providing better adjustment and posttraumatic growth. We intend to explore these associations dyadically using the Actor Partner Interdependence Model and longitudinally using Latent Change Models. The understanding of the dynamic and idiosyncratic processes underlying particular trajectories of adjustment can provide valuable insight to clinical professionals directing therapeutic interventions into a more personalized and comprehensive approach.

3 Also this project intends to explore the relational and emotional mechanisms involved in a supportive-expressive intervention with women with breast cancer, within a randomized controlled trial. 6. CHRONIC PAIN IN COUPLE DYADS The current study aims at proposing and testing empirically a comprehensive model of couple (in)congruence on ratings of patients pain impact, as well as variables associated to that (in)congruence from individuals with chronic pain (ICPs) and spouses, in dyads in which one member suffer from non-malignant chronic pain. Research on that field is particularly relevant given the possible relationships of (in)congruence with spouses responses to pain and ICPs health outcomes. A quantitative and qualitative approach is proposed, based on self-report measures and semi-structured interviews completed by ICPs and spouses, in order to elucidate (inter)personal contexts of chronic pain. 7. EMOTION REGULATION AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS: RESEARCH AND INTERVENTION This research project has a developmental psychopathology framework. It focuses on the study of two main control processes emotion regulation (analyzing positive emotion regulation and over-regulation of negative emotions) and executive functions (studying parenting and parents and children executive functions) and their relation to normative and psychopathological developmental trajectories throughout the lifespan. Simultaneously, it also features the study of group prevention programs aiming at developing one or both of these control processes: Socio-emotion developmental program for preschoolers based on the Paths program (Domitrovich, Greenberg, Kusché, Cortes, 2004); the Resilience Builder Program for Children and Adolescents (Alvord, Zucker, and Grados, 2011); and the Affect Regulation Training for adults (Berking & Whitley, 2014). 8. RELATIONAL DYNAMICS, EMOTION REGULATION PROCESSES AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS This research project aims to explore the relational and emotion regulation dynamics associated with the emergence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in adolescents and young adults. We intend to explore the extent to which childhood adverse experiences and early attachment with the primary caregivers are reflected in the configuration of emotion (dys)regulation mechanisms, in the quality of romantic attachment, and in turn, in violence within relationships intimacy. We also intend to explore the neurophysiological and neuropsychological correlates of emotion (dys)regulation associated with early attachment and adversity experiences, as well as with IPV. 9. EMOTIONAL STATES RELATED TO PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY OR INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS Studies related to stress, namely occupational stress (burnout) and posttraumatic stress, both studied among professional groups related with rescue

4 situations (e.g., first responders, firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel) or occupational stress (burnout) among educational or health personnel. Protective factors, vulnerability factors and consequences of stress will be studied, as well as coping with emotional high demands experienced by those professionals, using virtual or real training situations or intervention programs related with stress management, especially during critical incidents. Studies related to emotions, especially emotional facial recognition of basic emotions by persons with mental diseases or incapacities (e.g., schizophrenia, autism, depression) using avatars and 3D stimuli, and emotion elicitation using experimental designs (e.g., films, pictures) or real work situations (e.g., disaster, catastrophes, critical incidents). 10. BODY IMAGE AND WELL BEING This line of research involves the investigation of the factors which influence body image development, its impact on health-related behaviors, and the ways in which body dissatisfaction can be alleviated. In particular, this research project is linked to interpersonal variables that influence body image satisfaction, the body in age and the aging process, or cosmetic surgery and body satisfaction. 11. PSYCHOLOGY STUDENT S DEVELOPMENT This research studies the factors that influence the professional competence of FPCEUP graduates. This study intends to explore the relationship of adult attachment style and the development of empathy during the graduation years. Other variables will be explored, like personality, the expectations of or the specialization area, grades, motivation for the Psychology graduation, age, place of residence during classes, etc. 12. TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION AND EMOTIONAL DAMAGE: OUTCOME AND CHANGE PROCESS RESEARCH The work-in-progress in the Laboratory of Research in Psychotherapy includes (1) outcome studies on psychological interventions, preferably following a design based on randomized clinical trials; and (2) studies about the change process, focusing on potential moderators and mediating variables. For the period , the following specific studies will be highlighted: (a) assessing the implementation of a stepped care model of treatment of depression within primary care services, also including a task-shifting dimension; (b) conclusion of a randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of two treatment modalities for depression (emotion-focused therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy); (c) studies on psychological interventions in situations of emotional damage; (4) studies on the integration of new ICT (information and communication technologies ) tools in the fight against depression.

5 13. FACTORS OF DEPRESSION AND EXPERIENCE OF DISABILITY IN ADULTS WITH IRREVERSIBLE VISION LOSS There is sound evidence that depression is the most frequent psychological comorbidity in adults with irreversible vision loss (IVL). According to a recent systematic review, little is still known about which factors regulate depression over time in these patients. Moreover, recent studies raised the hypothesis of psychological variables such as self-identification with impairment, mindfulness and emotion regulation, being important factors of depression in adults with IVL. Our study main aim is to test the hypothesis of such variables being factors of depression over time in these patients. Additionally we want to explore other variables as factors of depression and the experience of IVL over time. To fulfil our study s aims, we will carry out two longitudinal mixedmethods studies targeting adults with IVL at two periods of the adjustment: recent onset of IVL; and three or more years after IVL. We expect new guidelines for clinical practice and research on IVL. 14. ATTACHMENT, COUNTERTRANSFERENCE AND MENTALIZATION: THE IMPACT OF THERAPIST, CLIENT AND DYADIC DIMENSIONS ON PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC PROCESS AND CHANGE Working as a secure base, the therapist often becomes a focus for attachment-related worries, defenses, and projections from clients, resulting in relational pressures that elicit therapist s responses likely to confirm and replicate previous conflicts and relational patterns in the therapeutic context. Therapist s ability to become aware of and resist this confirmatory pull is expected to favor the corrective emotional experience, thus enhancing the therapeutic process and outcomes. In this project, we want to study elaboration of countertransference experience, measured as therapist s mentalization of countertransference and hypothesized to mediate and/or moderate relations between individual and dyadic dimensions (client and therapist attachment security, client personality organization, client-therapist attachment match and countertransference intensity) and measures of therapeutic process and outcome. Therapeutic dyads working within different theoretical orientations will be studied over time with respect to individual, relational and clinical dimensions. 15. AGING AND WELL BEING The goal of this line of research is to identify individual, social and economic determinants of a healthy, self-determined and satisfied ageing. Its intends to contribute for the development of prevention programs to improve the quality of life in middle and old age and takes on essential sociopolitical topics (i.e., voluntary engagement, job situation of older workers, anticipation of need of care). We will collect data indicators of mental health (mood, anxiety, neurocognition, etc ), physical health and independence (biochemical indicators, blood tests, chronic diseases, etc.), psychosocial development (ego integrity and emotional expertise, personality), interpersonal relationships (attachment relationships), social stereotypes of aging, life satisfaction, subjective well-being, socioeconomic influences (life contexts,

6 communities neighborhood, incomes, etc) and sociodemographic variables (age, sex, literary qualifications, parents age, religion, daily activities). 16. MINDFULNESS AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY INVESTIGATING NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF MINDFULNESS ON OLDER ADULTS Executive Functions (EF) play a key role for healthy cognitive ageing. Our project aims to explore the positive effects of Mindfulness Practices (MP) on EF in older adults. We intend to conduct a longitudinal randomised active controlled study, where 120 healthy older adults randomly allocated to two groups of equal size will engage in an 8-week mindfulness training program (experimental group) or in an 8-week brain gym training program (active control group) and have their EF assessed pre and post interventions and in an 6-month follow-up. The effects of MP on EF will be evaluated by means of behavioural and electrophysiological event-related potential analysis. We expect to find significantly better correlates of improved executive performance after the mindfulness intervention compared to brain gym intervention, and a persistence of these gains over 6 months. This project will offer an innovative and crucial contribution for understanding potentially neuroprotective effects of MPs.