Mariana Gonçalves - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Mariana Gonçalves

Research paper thumbnail of Portuguese Validation of the Brief Peer Conflict Scale: Validity, Reliability and Invariance across Gender

Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 2020

Aggression is a multidimensional construct comprised of different forms and functions, the assess... more Aggression is a multidimensional construct comprised of different forms and functions, the assessment of which has important implications for understanding externalizing problems in male and female youth. The main aim of the present study is to examine the psychometric properties of a form and function aggression measure, the Brief Peer Conflict Scale 20 (PCS-20) among a community sample of youth ( N = 470, M = 15.89 years, SD = 1.00 years) from Portugal, divided into females ( n = 213) and males ( n = 257). The original four-factor latent structure of the PCS-20 obtained an adequate fit using confirmatory factor analysis, and strong cross gender invariance was demonstrated. The PCS-20 also demonstrated adequate reliability (measured by the Omega and Alpha coefficients), convergent and discriminant validities, criterion validity, and known-groups validity. Our findings support the use of the PCS-20 among Portuguese juveniles as a short measure of the forms and functions of aggression.

Research paper thumbnail of “Labor Trafficking in Portugal: Victims Perceptions of Formal Support, Post-victimization and Impact.”

Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice, 2021

ABSTRACT This study aims to understand, through victims’ experiences, the impact and subsequent h... more ABSTRACT This study aims to understand, through victims’ experiences, the impact and subsequent help-seeking and support process. The data was collected in institutional settings, through a semi-structured interview, from nine adult sheltered victims of labor exploitation of both sexes – 2 females and 7 males, aged between 42–67 years (M = 56.67; SD = 8.411). Thematic analysis was used, and three main themes emerged: formal support system, post-victimization and impact and traumas during formal support. The support provided to the victim was portrayed as effective and adequate; being able to meet the most basic and immediate needs. The victims trusted the police and the governmental institutions and were able to collaborate with the courts. The implications regarding the help-seeking system and public policy are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of “It takes a community to save a child”: Child trafficking knowledge of the Portuguese community

Journal of Community Psychology, 2021

This study aims to explore the knowledge of the Portuguese community on child trafficking. Throug... more This study aims to explore the knowledge of the Portuguese community on child trafficking. Through an online inventory, with a sample of 492 community members, with a mean age of 40.53 and mostly female (70.7%), participants were more knowledgeable about forms of exploitation, risk and vulnerability factors, the profile of the victims, and the situation in Portugal about child trafficking. On the contrary, they were less knowledgeable about the dynamics of child trafficking. Having a college education, and contacting with the subject through informal or/and formal sources were predictors of a higher level of knowledge of child trafficking. This study reinforces the importance of the community as a whole in fighting child trafficking. To protect children against child trafficking, public policies should prioritize the role of the community. An empowered community can actively contribute to the prevention, signaling, and (re)integration of victims of child trafficking.

Research paper thumbnail of Escala de Crenças Sobre Violência Conjugal (ECV): Versão Brasileira

Psico-USF, 2021

Resumo Este estudo visou traduzir, adaptar e verificar evidências de validade da Escala de Crença... more Resumo Este estudo visou traduzir, adaptar e verificar evidências de validade da Escala de Crenças sobre Violência Conjugal (ECVC), bem como investigou diferenças nos índices de concordância com crenças legitimadoras de violência conjugal, considerando as variáveis gênero, escolaridade e possuir filhos. Os participantes foram adultos brasileiros (N = 1.337), maiores de 18 anos, sendo 66,34% pertencentes ao gênero feminino e 33,65% masculino. Foram realizadas análises fatoriais confirmatórias e exploratórias, e análise de comparação das médias através de uma ANOVA. Os 25 itens da escala apresentaram cargas fatoriais superiores a 0,46. A versão brasileira da escala apresentou estrutura unidimensional. Foi observado que os três indicadores utilizados para avaliar a consistência interna apresentaram valores satisfatórios. Por fim, identificou-se que participantes do gênero masculino, com menor escolaridade e com filhos apresentaram maior concordância com crenças legitimadoras de violênc...

Research paper thumbnail of Dropout from evidence‐based trauma treatment in a community mental health clinic serving victims of interpersonal violence

Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Domestic Violence and COVID-19: what do we know after one year of pandemic?

After one year of COVID-19, it is time to take stock of the evidence base literature developed ar... more After one year of COVID-19, it is time to take stock of the evidence base literature developed around the domestic violence phenomenon during this pandemic. We therefore aim to conduct a scoping review to answer the following question: What is the nature and extent of research on domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic? More specifically, our purpose was to identify (1) which is the impact of covid 19 in domestic violence frequency, gravity, the impact on the victims and in the support provided? (2) gaps in the research and (3) the types of evidence available to inform practice, policy-making, and future research.

Research paper thumbnail of Violência na intimidade: Crenças da comunidade Africana Lusófona residente em Portugal

PSICOLOGIA, 2021

Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar as crenças da comunidade luso-africana, residente em P... more Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar as crenças da comunidade luso-africana, residente em Portugal, sobre a violência na intimidade. Os participantes (n=70) responderam a um questionário online, adaptado da Escala de Crenças sobre a Violência Conjugal. Os resultados apontaram para uma reduzida legitimação da violência, na intimidade, sendo a “pequena” violência a mais legitimada. Os participantes do sexo masculino, sem contacto com a problemática e que avaliaram os episódios como “não graves” apresentaram maior legitimação da violência. Os participantes de zonas urbanas e os residentes há mais tempo em Portugal apresentavam uma menor tolerância à violência. Dos participantes, 17.3% admitiu ter experienciado violência na intimidade, sendo maioritariamente do sexo feminino. Esta investigação visa contribuir para uma maior consciencialização sobre o tema, para a transformação progressiva dos discursos sobre violência na intimidade e para o desenvolvimento de ações político-legais...

Research paper thumbnail of It takes a community to save a child": Child trafficking knowledge of the Portuguese community

Journal of community psychology, 2021

This study aims to explore the knowledge of the Portuguese community on child trafficking. Throug... more This study aims to explore the knowledge of the Portuguese community on child trafficking. Through an online inventory, with a sample of 492 community members, with a mean age of 40.53 and mostly female (70.7%), participants were more knowledgeable about forms of exploitation, risk and vulnerability factors, the profile of the victims, and the situation in Portugal about child trafficking. On the contrary, they were less knowledgeable about the dynamics of child trafficking. Having a college education, and contacting with the subject through informal or/and formal sources were predictors of a higher level of knowledge of child trafficking. This study reinforces the importance of the community as a whole in fighting child trafficking. To protect children against child trafficking, public policies should prioritize the role of the community. An empowered community can actively contribute to the prevention, signaling, and (re)integration of victims of child trafficking.

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring Human Trafficking Victimization Experiences in Portugal

Victims & Offenders, 2021

ABSTRACT This study aims to access the experience of the victims of human trafficking, during rec... more ABSTRACT This study aims to access the experience of the victims of human trafficking, during recruitment, exploitation, and identification phases. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview, resulting in a clinical-forensic sample of nine adult victims of both sexes – two females and seven males, aged between 42 and 67 years (M = 56.67; SD = 8.411). Data analysis was done using thematic analysis and allowed to reinforce the dynamics of trafficking in human beings, concerning victims and traffickers (e.g., the deception in the recruitment phase) and dynamics of exploitation (e.g., entrapment strategies). This study was able to provide novelty concerning the hetero identification of the victims by community members. Despite the control strategies employed by the traffickers, some victims were identified and reported by neighbors to competent authorities. This should be considered as it may be indicative that educational campaigns are having an effect by enhancing the victims’ identification.

Research paper thumbnail of Intimate Partner Homicide in Portugal: What Are the (As)Symmetries Between Men and Women?

European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 2020

Overview of GPU usage while solving different engineering problems, comparison between CPU and GP... more Overview of GPU usage while solving different engineering problems, comparison between CPU and GPU computations and overview of the heat conduction problem are provided in this paper. The Jacobi iterative algorithm was implemented by using Python, TensorFlow GPU library and NVIDIA CUDA technology. Numerical experiments were conducted with 6 CPUs and 4 GPUs. The fastest used GPU completed the calculations 19 times faster than the slowest CPU. On average, GPU was from 9 to 11 times faster than CPU. Significant relative speed-up in GPU calculations starts when the matrix contains at least 400 2 floating-point numbers.

Research paper thumbnail of Adverse Lifelong Experiences in Portuguese People Living With HIV

Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Intimate partner homicide: victims and the dynamics of victim – perpetrator relationship

Annals of Medicine, 2021

This research points to an association between the existence of positive experiences in the infan... more This research points to an association between the existence of positive experiences in the infant-juvenile phase and the development of empathy in adulthood. Some studies corroborate our results, demonstrating that the experiences in the first stages of life will have long-term repercussions on their social-emotional development [3]. Since empathy and positive experiences interfere in child development, that's important to promote, reinforce and safeguard these experiences throughout the stages of the life cycle.

Research paper thumbnail of Questionário de competências culturais para profissionais de ajuda (QCC-PA)

Psychologica, 2019

Objetivo: adaptar e validar o Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument para avaliar as competênc... more Objetivo: adaptar e validar o Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument para avaliar as competências culturais dos profissionais de ajuda. O questionário foi selecionado tendo em conta três critérios, nomeadamente: i) o processo de construção do mesmo, na sua versão original, com base numa revisão aprofundada da literatura e dos instrumentos existentes para avaliar o constructo; ii) os indicadores de ajustamento do modelo da validação do instrumento; iii) a adequabilidade e a possibilidade de adaptação aos contextos que se pretendiam avaliar, particularmente junto de profissionais de ajuda a vítimas. Método: a tradução e adaptação do questionário obedeceram às guidelines internacionais neste domínio e a validação foi conduzida com 313 profissionais de ajuda agrupados em três domínios profissionais: área social, área da saúde e área criminal. Resultados: as análises fatoriais exploratória e confirmatória permitiram identificar, para esta amostra e com bom ajustamento psicométrico (e...

Research paper thumbnail of Child trafficking, comprehensive needs and professional practices: A systematic review

Children and Youth Services Review, 2020

Abstract Introduction Human trafficking is a crime that affects adults but also children and youn... more Abstract Introduction Human trafficking is a crime that affects adults but also children and youngsters, who are subjected to extreme violence and inhumane conditions. Associated with their immaturity, the inability to protect themselves and the difficulty accessing support systems make them even more vulnerable, creating conditions for traffickers to abuse and control them. It is crucial that professionals from several areas (education, health, protection and social services, justice) who come in contact with child trafficking be prepared to do the necessary screening, needs assessment, and act according to international recommendations. Aim This systematic review of the literature aims to know the professionals’ practices and their understanding of comprehensive needs when working with victims of child trafficking. Methodology Six databases were consulted: Sage, Science Direct, WebScience, PubMed, Scopus and Psycinfo (Ovid). From the analysis of the results, 17 studies were selected. This systematic review followed the protocol based on PRISMA recommendations. Results All studies selected in this systematic review were developed in the last decade (2010–2018), in 14 different countries. The participants were professionals from education, health, protection and social services, justice fields and/or stakeholders in child trafficking or/and other professionals (e.g., religious leaders). The studies used mainly a qualitative methodology, using semi-structured interviews in the data collection. The results presented in those studies were organized into two main categories of analyses: comprehensive needs and professional practices. Regarding comprehensive needs, when working with child trafficking, professionals identified that it is necessary to pay attention to the specific needs of the victims, the needs in terms of the functioning of institutions and human resources, the needs in the macro-societal level and finally the importance of investing in scientific research. Based on the results, it was also possible to organize professional practices, according to international recommendations, into (in)adequate, barriers and difficulties faced. Discussion and conclusion Professionals who have contact with child victims of trafficking must act according to their needs. Thus, an efficient practice refers to a collaborative action assumed by a multidisciplinary team, which should integrate into their work a culturally sensitive posture, trauma-informed care and victim-centered approach. For that, professionals must receive specialized qualifications and training. This work may have implications for scientific research, public and institutional policies, but mainly for professionals’ education and practices when dealing with this phenomenon, from screening to the (re)integration of the trafficked children into society.

Research paper thumbnail of Men Victims of Stalking in Portugal: Predictors of Help-Seeking Behaviours

European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 2021

Stalking is commonly perceived as a gendered crime, predominantly affecting women as victims. How... more Stalking is commonly perceived as a gendered crime, predominantly affecting women as victims. However, males can also be victims of this crime. Research has found that men may experience different types of behaviours and their coping and help-seeking may be unique due to individual, interpersonal, sociocultural factors and traditional gender stereotypes that shape perceptions about the seriousness of the crime and whether and/or where victims seek help. Nevertheless, no research has linked these findings to male victims of stalking. Therefore, the present study used a subsample of Portuguese men ( n = 76), with a mean age of 40.49 ( DP = 18.14), who self-identified as victims of stalking. The objectives were to analyse their experiences of victimization, namely behaviours, dynamics, impact and help-seeking. Moreover, another major goal of the current study was to develop a model to predict the circumstances under which male victims of stalking seek help. Results revealed that when male stalking victims search for help, it is more likely they are dealing with a higher diversity of stalking behaviours and experiencing a greater negative impact on their lives. These findings have important implications for practitioners and underlines macro-level social recommendations for raising awareness about this underreported phenomenon.

Research paper thumbnail of Lifetime Victimization: Identifying Frequency and Emotional (Dis)Adjustment Among Portuguese and Immigrant Women

Victims & Offenders, 2020

ABSTRACT The authors sought to identify the lifetime trajectories of multiple victimized women, t... more ABSTRACT The authors sought to identify the lifetime trajectories of multiple victimized women, the emotional adjustment and resilience. They used a convenience sample of 120 women (35 Portuguese natives and 85 immigrants). The results documented the high frequency of different types of victimization (e.g., psychological, physical, discrimination, stalking) experienced by native and immigrant women, especially in adulthood, with few significant differences between the two groups. In addition to having been victims in adulthood, native women reported victimization in at least two phases of life, childhood and adolescence, with high rates of revictimization throughout life. The immigrants presented different trajectories of victimization, with 41% reported being a victim for the first time in adulthood in the host country. The interaction of ethnicity, unemployment, and educational level represents greater vulnerability to victimization. Women that had complex and multiple patterns of victimization (being victim of more types of violence during life) presented worse psychological maladjustment. However, the total resilience mediates the relationship between the multiple victimization experience and the symptomatology. The empirical, professional, and political implications of the results are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Mental health of multiple victimized immigrant women in Portugal: Does resilience make a difference?

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 2020

ABSTRACT Multiple victimization and their impact on the mental health of immigrant women have bee... more ABSTRACT Multiple victimization and their impact on the mental health of immigrant women have been understudied. This paper assesses the relationship between multiple victimization and the emotional maladjustment of immigrant women in Portugal. Data were collected from a sample of 107 immigrant women via a set of questionnaires that assessed the victimization experience, psychological maladjustment, and resilience. The main objective was to analyze the role of resilience in the mental health of multiple victimized immigrant women in Portugal. The results showed that 78.5% of immigrant women in Portugal reported experiencing at least one type of victimization during life (66.4% experienced multiple victimization and 12.1% single victimization), 45% displayed psychological maladjustment and 14% suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Unemployment, low socioeconomic status and a higher number of types of victimization experienced constituted risk factors for mental health problems. A mediation model found that there is an indirect effect of the total index of victimization in psychological maladjustment, mediated by resilience. The results suggest a complex relationship between victimization and emotional maladjustment, combining individual, interpersonal, structural and social factors. The implications for practice are discussed, not only regarding the risk intervention, but also the empowerment of immigrant women.

Research paper thumbnail of Sleep and women intimate partner victimization: prevalence, effects and good practices in health care settings

Research paper thumbnail of “Who are the Victims, Who are the Traffickers?” University Students’ Portrayals on Human Trafficking

Victims & Offenders, 2020

ABSTRACT Although human trafficking is a widely studied phenomenon, there is a lack of perception... more ABSTRACT Although human trafficking is a widely studied phenomenon, there is a lack of perceptions toward its victims and offenders. The purpose of this study is to analyze Portuguese university students’ portrayals of victims and traffickers. This study included 199 participants that answered an internet survey The participants’ mean age was 23.23 (SD = 6.24) years, with most of the participants being women (65%). Thematic analysis was used to determine dominant themes and subthemes. The results revealed three main themes: Victim portrayal and victimization dynamics; Traffickers portrayals and criminal dynamics; Trafficking dynamics. The participants reported, commonly, the socioeconomic status of the victim as an important reason to be trafficked. In the student’s perception, this enables the traffickers to be aware of the victim’s life conditions and, therefore, they are lured with false promises of a better life. Despite that, 17% of the participants sustained an undifferentiated victim and trafficker portrayal and 6% of them revealed that they had no knowledge of human trafficking and underlying causes. The implication for future research, practice and public policy (preventive and informative campaigns, disclosure of human trafficking victimization situations) are addressed.

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding the criminal justice process in human trafficking cases in Portugal: factors associated with successful prosecutions

Crime, Law and Social Change, 2019

The overall number of convictions for human trafficking is still very low. In order to understand... more The overall number of convictions for human trafficking is still very low. In order to understand the barriers and gaps to human trafficking prosecutions and convictions, it is pertinent to analyse the criminal justice processes at different stages of the criminal procedure. This study aims to respond to that gap by identifying the cases that initiated criminal justice procedure for the crime of human trafficking in Portugal, through the analysis of 30 records of criminal cases for human trafficking elapsed in Portugal between 2007 and 2015. The results showed that the majority of cases (71%) were filled after the criminal investigation phase, and only 2% of all cases were convicted for human trafficking. The analysis allowed to identify the factors of effectiveness and ineffectiveness shaping legal outcomes and also, the relevance of the victim cooperation in the different stages of criminal justice processes (e.g., police investigation, trial).

Research paper thumbnail of Portuguese Validation of the Brief Peer Conflict Scale: Validity, Reliability and Invariance across Gender

Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 2020

Aggression is a multidimensional construct comprised of different forms and functions, the assess... more Aggression is a multidimensional construct comprised of different forms and functions, the assessment of which has important implications for understanding externalizing problems in male and female youth. The main aim of the present study is to examine the psychometric properties of a form and function aggression measure, the Brief Peer Conflict Scale 20 (PCS-20) among a community sample of youth ( N = 470, M = 15.89 years, SD = 1.00 years) from Portugal, divided into females ( n = 213) and males ( n = 257). The original four-factor latent structure of the PCS-20 obtained an adequate fit using confirmatory factor analysis, and strong cross gender invariance was demonstrated. The PCS-20 also demonstrated adequate reliability (measured by the Omega and Alpha coefficients), convergent and discriminant validities, criterion validity, and known-groups validity. Our findings support the use of the PCS-20 among Portuguese juveniles as a short measure of the forms and functions of aggression.

Research paper thumbnail of “Labor Trafficking in Portugal: Victims Perceptions of Formal Support, Post-victimization and Impact.”

Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice, 2021

ABSTRACT This study aims to understand, through victims’ experiences, the impact and subsequent h... more ABSTRACT This study aims to understand, through victims’ experiences, the impact and subsequent help-seeking and support process. The data was collected in institutional settings, through a semi-structured interview, from nine adult sheltered victims of labor exploitation of both sexes – 2 females and 7 males, aged between 42–67 years (M = 56.67; SD = 8.411). Thematic analysis was used, and three main themes emerged: formal support system, post-victimization and impact and traumas during formal support. The support provided to the victim was portrayed as effective and adequate; being able to meet the most basic and immediate needs. The victims trusted the police and the governmental institutions and were able to collaborate with the courts. The implications regarding the help-seeking system and public policy are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of “It takes a community to save a child”: Child trafficking knowledge of the Portuguese community

Journal of Community Psychology, 2021

This study aims to explore the knowledge of the Portuguese community on child trafficking. Throug... more This study aims to explore the knowledge of the Portuguese community on child trafficking. Through an online inventory, with a sample of 492 community members, with a mean age of 40.53 and mostly female (70.7%), participants were more knowledgeable about forms of exploitation, risk and vulnerability factors, the profile of the victims, and the situation in Portugal about child trafficking. On the contrary, they were less knowledgeable about the dynamics of child trafficking. Having a college education, and contacting with the subject through informal or/and formal sources were predictors of a higher level of knowledge of child trafficking. This study reinforces the importance of the community as a whole in fighting child trafficking. To protect children against child trafficking, public policies should prioritize the role of the community. An empowered community can actively contribute to the prevention, signaling, and (re)integration of victims of child trafficking.

Research paper thumbnail of Escala de Crenças Sobre Violência Conjugal (ECV): Versão Brasileira

Psico-USF, 2021

Resumo Este estudo visou traduzir, adaptar e verificar evidências de validade da Escala de Crença... more Resumo Este estudo visou traduzir, adaptar e verificar evidências de validade da Escala de Crenças sobre Violência Conjugal (ECVC), bem como investigou diferenças nos índices de concordância com crenças legitimadoras de violência conjugal, considerando as variáveis gênero, escolaridade e possuir filhos. Os participantes foram adultos brasileiros (N = 1.337), maiores de 18 anos, sendo 66,34% pertencentes ao gênero feminino e 33,65% masculino. Foram realizadas análises fatoriais confirmatórias e exploratórias, e análise de comparação das médias através de uma ANOVA. Os 25 itens da escala apresentaram cargas fatoriais superiores a 0,46. A versão brasileira da escala apresentou estrutura unidimensional. Foi observado que os três indicadores utilizados para avaliar a consistência interna apresentaram valores satisfatórios. Por fim, identificou-se que participantes do gênero masculino, com menor escolaridade e com filhos apresentaram maior concordância com crenças legitimadoras de violênc...

Research paper thumbnail of Dropout from evidence‐based trauma treatment in a community mental health clinic serving victims of interpersonal violence

Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Domestic Violence and COVID-19: what do we know after one year of pandemic?

After one year of COVID-19, it is time to take stock of the evidence base literature developed ar... more After one year of COVID-19, it is time to take stock of the evidence base literature developed around the domestic violence phenomenon during this pandemic. We therefore aim to conduct a scoping review to answer the following question: What is the nature and extent of research on domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic? More specifically, our purpose was to identify (1) which is the impact of covid 19 in domestic violence frequency, gravity, the impact on the victims and in the support provided? (2) gaps in the research and (3) the types of evidence available to inform practice, policy-making, and future research.

Research paper thumbnail of Violência na intimidade: Crenças da comunidade Africana Lusófona residente em Portugal

PSICOLOGIA, 2021

Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar as crenças da comunidade luso-africana, residente em P... more Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar as crenças da comunidade luso-africana, residente em Portugal, sobre a violência na intimidade. Os participantes (n=70) responderam a um questionário online, adaptado da Escala de Crenças sobre a Violência Conjugal. Os resultados apontaram para uma reduzida legitimação da violência, na intimidade, sendo a “pequena” violência a mais legitimada. Os participantes do sexo masculino, sem contacto com a problemática e que avaliaram os episódios como “não graves” apresentaram maior legitimação da violência. Os participantes de zonas urbanas e os residentes há mais tempo em Portugal apresentavam uma menor tolerância à violência. Dos participantes, 17.3% admitiu ter experienciado violência na intimidade, sendo maioritariamente do sexo feminino. Esta investigação visa contribuir para uma maior consciencialização sobre o tema, para a transformação progressiva dos discursos sobre violência na intimidade e para o desenvolvimento de ações político-legais...

Research paper thumbnail of It takes a community to save a child": Child trafficking knowledge of the Portuguese community

Journal of community psychology, 2021

This study aims to explore the knowledge of the Portuguese community on child trafficking. Throug... more This study aims to explore the knowledge of the Portuguese community on child trafficking. Through an online inventory, with a sample of 492 community members, with a mean age of 40.53 and mostly female (70.7%), participants were more knowledgeable about forms of exploitation, risk and vulnerability factors, the profile of the victims, and the situation in Portugal about child trafficking. On the contrary, they were less knowledgeable about the dynamics of child trafficking. Having a college education, and contacting with the subject through informal or/and formal sources were predictors of a higher level of knowledge of child trafficking. This study reinforces the importance of the community as a whole in fighting child trafficking. To protect children against child trafficking, public policies should prioritize the role of the community. An empowered community can actively contribute to the prevention, signaling, and (re)integration of victims of child trafficking.

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring Human Trafficking Victimization Experiences in Portugal

Victims & Offenders, 2021

ABSTRACT This study aims to access the experience of the victims of human trafficking, during rec... more ABSTRACT This study aims to access the experience of the victims of human trafficking, during recruitment, exploitation, and identification phases. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview, resulting in a clinical-forensic sample of nine adult victims of both sexes – two females and seven males, aged between 42 and 67 years (M = 56.67; SD = 8.411). Data analysis was done using thematic analysis and allowed to reinforce the dynamics of trafficking in human beings, concerning victims and traffickers (e.g., the deception in the recruitment phase) and dynamics of exploitation (e.g., entrapment strategies). This study was able to provide novelty concerning the hetero identification of the victims by community members. Despite the control strategies employed by the traffickers, some victims were identified and reported by neighbors to competent authorities. This should be considered as it may be indicative that educational campaigns are having an effect by enhancing the victims’ identification.

Research paper thumbnail of Intimate Partner Homicide in Portugal: What Are the (As)Symmetries Between Men and Women?

European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 2020

Overview of GPU usage while solving different engineering problems, comparison between CPU and GP... more Overview of GPU usage while solving different engineering problems, comparison between CPU and GPU computations and overview of the heat conduction problem are provided in this paper. The Jacobi iterative algorithm was implemented by using Python, TensorFlow GPU library and NVIDIA CUDA technology. Numerical experiments were conducted with 6 CPUs and 4 GPUs. The fastest used GPU completed the calculations 19 times faster than the slowest CPU. On average, GPU was from 9 to 11 times faster than CPU. Significant relative speed-up in GPU calculations starts when the matrix contains at least 400 2 floating-point numbers.

Research paper thumbnail of Adverse Lifelong Experiences in Portuguese People Living With HIV

Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Intimate partner homicide: victims and the dynamics of victim – perpetrator relationship

Annals of Medicine, 2021

This research points to an association between the existence of positive experiences in the infan... more This research points to an association between the existence of positive experiences in the infant-juvenile phase and the development of empathy in adulthood. Some studies corroborate our results, demonstrating that the experiences in the first stages of life will have long-term repercussions on their social-emotional development [3]. Since empathy and positive experiences interfere in child development, that's important to promote, reinforce and safeguard these experiences throughout the stages of the life cycle.

Research paper thumbnail of Questionário de competências culturais para profissionais de ajuda (QCC-PA)

Psychologica, 2019

Objetivo: adaptar e validar o Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument para avaliar as competênc... more Objetivo: adaptar e validar o Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument para avaliar as competências culturais dos profissionais de ajuda. O questionário foi selecionado tendo em conta três critérios, nomeadamente: i) o processo de construção do mesmo, na sua versão original, com base numa revisão aprofundada da literatura e dos instrumentos existentes para avaliar o constructo; ii) os indicadores de ajustamento do modelo da validação do instrumento; iii) a adequabilidade e a possibilidade de adaptação aos contextos que se pretendiam avaliar, particularmente junto de profissionais de ajuda a vítimas. Método: a tradução e adaptação do questionário obedeceram às guidelines internacionais neste domínio e a validação foi conduzida com 313 profissionais de ajuda agrupados em três domínios profissionais: área social, área da saúde e área criminal. Resultados: as análises fatoriais exploratória e confirmatória permitiram identificar, para esta amostra e com bom ajustamento psicométrico (e...

Research paper thumbnail of Child trafficking, comprehensive needs and professional practices: A systematic review

Children and Youth Services Review, 2020

Abstract Introduction Human trafficking is a crime that affects adults but also children and youn... more Abstract Introduction Human trafficking is a crime that affects adults but also children and youngsters, who are subjected to extreme violence and inhumane conditions. Associated with their immaturity, the inability to protect themselves and the difficulty accessing support systems make them even more vulnerable, creating conditions for traffickers to abuse and control them. It is crucial that professionals from several areas (education, health, protection and social services, justice) who come in contact with child trafficking be prepared to do the necessary screening, needs assessment, and act according to international recommendations. Aim This systematic review of the literature aims to know the professionals’ practices and their understanding of comprehensive needs when working with victims of child trafficking. Methodology Six databases were consulted: Sage, Science Direct, WebScience, PubMed, Scopus and Psycinfo (Ovid). From the analysis of the results, 17 studies were selected. This systematic review followed the protocol based on PRISMA recommendations. Results All studies selected in this systematic review were developed in the last decade (2010–2018), in 14 different countries. The participants were professionals from education, health, protection and social services, justice fields and/or stakeholders in child trafficking or/and other professionals (e.g., religious leaders). The studies used mainly a qualitative methodology, using semi-structured interviews in the data collection. The results presented in those studies were organized into two main categories of analyses: comprehensive needs and professional practices. Regarding comprehensive needs, when working with child trafficking, professionals identified that it is necessary to pay attention to the specific needs of the victims, the needs in terms of the functioning of institutions and human resources, the needs in the macro-societal level and finally the importance of investing in scientific research. Based on the results, it was also possible to organize professional practices, according to international recommendations, into (in)adequate, barriers and difficulties faced. Discussion and conclusion Professionals who have contact with child victims of trafficking must act according to their needs. Thus, an efficient practice refers to a collaborative action assumed by a multidisciplinary team, which should integrate into their work a culturally sensitive posture, trauma-informed care and victim-centered approach. For that, professionals must receive specialized qualifications and training. This work may have implications for scientific research, public and institutional policies, but mainly for professionals’ education and practices when dealing with this phenomenon, from screening to the (re)integration of the trafficked children into society.

Research paper thumbnail of Men Victims of Stalking in Portugal: Predictors of Help-Seeking Behaviours

European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 2021

Stalking is commonly perceived as a gendered crime, predominantly affecting women as victims. How... more Stalking is commonly perceived as a gendered crime, predominantly affecting women as victims. However, males can also be victims of this crime. Research has found that men may experience different types of behaviours and their coping and help-seeking may be unique due to individual, interpersonal, sociocultural factors and traditional gender stereotypes that shape perceptions about the seriousness of the crime and whether and/or where victims seek help. Nevertheless, no research has linked these findings to male victims of stalking. Therefore, the present study used a subsample of Portuguese men ( n = 76), with a mean age of 40.49 ( DP = 18.14), who self-identified as victims of stalking. The objectives were to analyse their experiences of victimization, namely behaviours, dynamics, impact and help-seeking. Moreover, another major goal of the current study was to develop a model to predict the circumstances under which male victims of stalking seek help. Results revealed that when male stalking victims search for help, it is more likely they are dealing with a higher diversity of stalking behaviours and experiencing a greater negative impact on their lives. These findings have important implications for practitioners and underlines macro-level social recommendations for raising awareness about this underreported phenomenon.

Research paper thumbnail of Lifetime Victimization: Identifying Frequency and Emotional (Dis)Adjustment Among Portuguese and Immigrant Women

Victims & Offenders, 2020

ABSTRACT The authors sought to identify the lifetime trajectories of multiple victimized women, t... more ABSTRACT The authors sought to identify the lifetime trajectories of multiple victimized women, the emotional adjustment and resilience. They used a convenience sample of 120 women (35 Portuguese natives and 85 immigrants). The results documented the high frequency of different types of victimization (e.g., psychological, physical, discrimination, stalking) experienced by native and immigrant women, especially in adulthood, with few significant differences between the two groups. In addition to having been victims in adulthood, native women reported victimization in at least two phases of life, childhood and adolescence, with high rates of revictimization throughout life. The immigrants presented different trajectories of victimization, with 41% reported being a victim for the first time in adulthood in the host country. The interaction of ethnicity, unemployment, and educational level represents greater vulnerability to victimization. Women that had complex and multiple patterns of victimization (being victim of more types of violence during life) presented worse psychological maladjustment. However, the total resilience mediates the relationship between the multiple victimization experience and the symptomatology. The empirical, professional, and political implications of the results are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of Mental health of multiple victimized immigrant women in Portugal: Does resilience make a difference?

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 2020

ABSTRACT Multiple victimization and their impact on the mental health of immigrant women have bee... more ABSTRACT Multiple victimization and their impact on the mental health of immigrant women have been understudied. This paper assesses the relationship between multiple victimization and the emotional maladjustment of immigrant women in Portugal. Data were collected from a sample of 107 immigrant women via a set of questionnaires that assessed the victimization experience, psychological maladjustment, and resilience. The main objective was to analyze the role of resilience in the mental health of multiple victimized immigrant women in Portugal. The results showed that 78.5% of immigrant women in Portugal reported experiencing at least one type of victimization during life (66.4% experienced multiple victimization and 12.1% single victimization), 45% displayed psychological maladjustment and 14% suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Unemployment, low socioeconomic status and a higher number of types of victimization experienced constituted risk factors for mental health problems. A mediation model found that there is an indirect effect of the total index of victimization in psychological maladjustment, mediated by resilience. The results suggest a complex relationship between victimization and emotional maladjustment, combining individual, interpersonal, structural and social factors. The implications for practice are discussed, not only regarding the risk intervention, but also the empowerment of immigrant women.

Research paper thumbnail of Sleep and women intimate partner victimization: prevalence, effects and good practices in health care settings

Research paper thumbnail of “Who are the Victims, Who are the Traffickers?” University Students’ Portrayals on Human Trafficking

Victims & Offenders, 2020

ABSTRACT Although human trafficking is a widely studied phenomenon, there is a lack of perception... more ABSTRACT Although human trafficking is a widely studied phenomenon, there is a lack of perceptions toward its victims and offenders. The purpose of this study is to analyze Portuguese university students’ portrayals of victims and traffickers. This study included 199 participants that answered an internet survey The participants’ mean age was 23.23 (SD = 6.24) years, with most of the participants being women (65%). Thematic analysis was used to determine dominant themes and subthemes. The results revealed three main themes: Victim portrayal and victimization dynamics; Traffickers portrayals and criminal dynamics; Trafficking dynamics. The participants reported, commonly, the socioeconomic status of the victim as an important reason to be trafficked. In the student’s perception, this enables the traffickers to be aware of the victim’s life conditions and, therefore, they are lured with false promises of a better life. Despite that, 17% of the participants sustained an undifferentiated victim and trafficker portrayal and 6% of them revealed that they had no knowledge of human trafficking and underlying causes. The implication for future research, practice and public policy (preventive and informative campaigns, disclosure of human trafficking victimization situations) are addressed.

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding the criminal justice process in human trafficking cases in Portugal: factors associated with successful prosecutions

Crime, Law and Social Change, 2019

The overall number of convictions for human trafficking is still very low. In order to understand... more The overall number of convictions for human trafficking is still very low. In order to understand the barriers and gaps to human trafficking prosecutions and convictions, it is pertinent to analyse the criminal justice processes at different stages of the criminal procedure. This study aims to respond to that gap by identifying the cases that initiated criminal justice procedure for the crime of human trafficking in Portugal, through the analysis of 30 records of criminal cases for human trafficking elapsed in Portugal between 2007 and 2015. The results showed that the majority of cases (71%) were filled after the criminal investigation phase, and only 2% of all cases were convicted for human trafficking. The analysis allowed to identify the factors of effectiveness and ineffectiveness shaping legal outcomes and also, the relevance of the victim cooperation in the different stages of criminal justice processes (e.g., police investigation, trial).