Jorge Sinval | Nanyang Technological University (original) (raw)

Papers by Jorge Sinval

Journal of Affective Disorders, 2025

Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) have been linked to poor academic outcomes. Thi... more Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) have been linked to poor academic outcomes. This study explores the relationships among DAS, academic engagement, dropout intentions, and academic performancemeasured by Grade Point Average (GPA)-in medical students. It aims to understand how these factors relate to each other and predict academic performance. Methods: Data were collected from 351 medical students (74.9 % female) through an online survey. The average age was 20.2 years. Psychometric instruments measured DAS, academic engagement, and dropout intentions. Structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships between these variables and their prediction of GPA. Results: DAS was negatively associated with academic engagement (β = − 0.501; p < 0.001) and positively associated with dropout intentions (β = 0.340; p < 0.001). Academic engagement positively predicted GPA (β = 0.298; p < 0.001) and negatively associated with dropout intentions (β = − 0.367; p < 0.001). DAS had a nonsignificant

Journal of Affective Disorders, 2024

Background Burnout is a pervasive issue among medical students, exhibiting a high prevalence that... more Background
Burnout is a pervasive issue among medical students, exhibiting a high prevalence that jeopardizes their academic success and may also predispose them to more severe affective disorders such as depression. This study aims to explore the complex relationships between psychological capital (PsyCap), general social support, educational satisfaction, and burnout, and how these factors collectively influence dropout intentions.

Methods
A non-probabilistic convenience sample was collected through an online survey from first- and second-year medical students at a Faculty of Medicine in Portugal. The survey employed psychometric instruments to measure burnout (BAT-12), social support (F-SozU K-6), PsyCap (CPC-12R), satisfaction with education, and dropout intentions (Screening Instrument for Students At-Risk of Dropping Out). Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the data from 351 participants.

Results
The model demonstrated a significant positive association between burnout and dropout intentions (β = 0.37; p < 0.001), underscoring burnout as a direct correlate of dropout intentions alongside educational satisfaction (β = −0.25; p = 0.003) and PsyCap (β = −0.22; p = 0.005). Higher social support is associated with reduced burnout (β = −0.28; p < 0.001) and increased educational satisfaction (β = 0.22; p = 0.002).

Limitations
The non-probabilistic sampling method prevents the generalization of the findings. The cross-sectional data do not permit the inference of temporal relationships between the studied variables.

Conclusions
These findings emphasize the importance that burnout may have on dropout intentions, and contribute to the understanding of affective syndromes such as burnout in educational settings.

Annals of Psychology, Jan 1, 2024

Higher education can be hugely transformative for students and has an important role in empowerin... more Higher education can be hugely transformative for students and has an important role in empowering human capital, innovation, and society’s social, cultural, and environmental development. The expansion of higher education has promoted access for a more heterogeneous mix of students, but ensuring access does not guarantee academic success. This paper aims to analyse predictors of academic achievement in 447 first-year students in their 1st and 2nd semesters, considering variables including sex, age, parents’ educational level and grades on entering higher education, along with levels of students’ academic engagement and self-efficacy after some weeks at university. Results show statistically significant paths for sex, age, and GPA to 1st-semester achievement, for parent’s educational levels to perceived self-efficacy, for students’ academic engagement to 1st-semester achievement, and 1st-semester achievement to 2nd-semester achievement. Students’ academic engagement also had an indirect effect on the 2nd-semester achievement. The correlation between academic engagement and self-efficacy was positive, strong, and statistically significant. The model explained 35.2% of the variance in 2nd-semester achievement and 15.0% of the variance in 1st-semester achievement. Knowledge about predictors of academic achievement and the importance of engagement and self-efficacy will support timely interventions, promoting success and preventing failure and dropout.

Nutrients, 2023

University students are a vulnerable population to the development of disordered eating, such as ... more University students are a vulnerable population to the development of disordered eating, such as food addiction (FA) and grazing. FA is an emerging concept characterized by an intense desire to eat hyper-palatable foods. Grazing is characterized by the repetitive and unplanned ingestion of food throughout a period of time. Both FA and grazing have been associated with increased scores of negative urgency (NU) and difficulties in emotion regulation (ER). This study aims to evaluate the frequency of FA and grazing in a university population and to test the direct, total, and indirect effects-via FA-of ER and NU on repetitive eating and compulsive grazing. A total of 338 participants responded to a set of psychological measures assessing these variables. Thirty-six (10.7%) participants met the criteria for FA diagnosis and 184 (54.4%) presented grazing. Confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable fit indexes for the model tested (χ 2 (1695) = 3167.575; p < 0.001; CFI = 0.955; NFI = 0.908; TLI = 0.953; SRMR = 0.085; RMSEA = 0.051; CI 90% (0.048; 0.053); P[RMSEA ≤ 0.05] = 0.318) and suggested that FA partially mediated the effect of difficulties in ER and NU on grazing, specifically on compulsive grazing. The results indicate that individuals with difficulties in ER and impulse control under negative emotions are more likely to engage in grazing if food addiction scores are higher. These results highlight the importance of assessing these variables, particularly in at-risk populations such as university students.

International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2023

Objective: The Repetitive Eating Questionnaire (Rep(eat)-Q) is a brief self-report measure develo... more Objective: The Repetitive Eating Questionnaire (Rep(eat)-Q) is a brief self-report measure developed to assess grazing behavior-an understudied problematic eating behavior associated with eating disorder psychopathology and poor weight management. This study aimed to adapt and test the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Rep(eat)-Q in a Brazilian community sample. Method: We used the International Test Commission guidelines for the adaptation of psychological measures between cultures. Participants were recruited from the community and on a university campus and completed a set of questionnaires including the Rep(eat)-Q, psychological measures, and sociodemographic data.

BMC Medical Education, 2022

Introduction The influence of burnout, academic engagement, and their interaction in dropout inte... more Introduction
The influence of burnout, academic engagement, and their interaction in dropout intention among medical students should be further studied. Current research shows its consequences are relevant, however, there is little understanding on burnout and academic engagement moderation in dropout intention. The current study tested a model that relates the effects of coping strategies, social support satisfaction, general distress on academic engagement, burnout, and dropout intention, on medical students.

Methods
Through an online survey a non-probabilistic sample of one Medical Faculty's 1st- and 2nd-year students was recruited. Cross-sectional data were collected using psychometric instruments (Maslach Burnout Inventory – Student Survey, Social Support Satisfaction Scale for College Students, Brief COPE Scale for College Students, University Student Engagement Inventory, and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale), sociodemographic and academic variables, and analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Results
532 students (76% response rate) enrolled in the study. Latent variables structural model presented a satisfactory fit to the data and confirmed the expected negative path between burnout and dropout intention (βDI<-SB=0.430; p<.001) and the latent moderation burnout x engagement (βDI<-SB*SE=-0.218; p<.001).

Conclusion
Academic engagement attenuates the impact of burnout on dropout intention, working as a protective factor. Social support satisfaction and adaptive coping are associated with increased levels of academic engagement, and general distress and maladaptive coping are associated with burnout. Medical Schools should develop interventions to prevent dropout intention, tackle students' stress and academic challenges, and develop their academic engagement levels.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022

The Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) has been gaining increased attention as a sound and innovative ... more The Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) has been gaining increased attention as a sound and innovative instrument in its conceptualization of burnout. BAT has been adapted for several countries, revealing promising validity evidence. This paper aims to present the psychometric properties of the Brazilian and Portuguese versions of the BAT in both the 23-item and 12-item versions. BAT's validity evidence based on the internal structure (dimensionality, reliability, and measurement invariance) and validity evidence based on the relations to other variables are the focus of research. A cross-sectional study was conducted with two non-probabilistic convenience samples from two countries (N = 3103) one from Brazil (nBrazil = 2217) and one from Portugal (nPortugal = 886). BAT's original structure was confirmed, and it achieved measurement invariance across countries. Using both classic test theory and item response theory as frameworks, the BAT presented good validity evidence based on the internal structure. Furthermore, the BAT showed good convergent evidence (i.e., work engagement, co-worker support, role clarity, work overload, and negative change). In conclusion, the psychometric properties of the BAT make this freely available instrument a promising way to measure and compare burnout levels of Portuguese and Brazilian workers.

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021

ObjectivesThis is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:... more ObjectivesThis is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows:To compare the effectiveness of different individual interventions in recovery from work.

5. References Burnout is a response to a long stressfully work conditions (Maslach, Schaufeli, & ... more 5. References Burnout is a response to a long stressfully work conditions (Maslach, Schaufeli, & Leiter, 2001). It includes three dimensions: Emotional Exhaustion represents the lack of emotional, moral and psychological resources (Vicente, Oliveira, & Marôco, 2013); Depersonalization means an emotional detachment with stakeholders; and Personal Accomplishment is related with a decrease of the feelings of pleasure and professional efficacy (Marôco & Tecedeiro, 2009). Burnout symptoms are more frequent in specific jobs, like firefighters, because this kind of professionals are exposed to more stressful conditions than others (Cherniss, 1980). Firefighters need particular attention in terms of psychological support and counseling (Lourel, Abdellaoui, Chevaleyre, Paltrier, & Gana, 2008). Their job context needs various kinds of rescues and puts them in potentially stressful circumstances. With this kind of work some professionals can develop mental disorders (Bennett et al., 2005). The...

Introduction Anchoring vignettes are used in order to attempt the improvement of validity in scal... more Introduction Anchoring vignettes are used in order to attempt the improvement of validity in scales with rating responses. In the lasts years this method has been used in several fields and with different kinds of samples. It consists in rate other people or situations in the same categorical scale that the respondent will answer for one’s own situation. Then, the respondent answers for his own situations will be rescaled based on the answers for the vignettes on that dimension. One of the instruments that uses anchoring vignettes is SENNA, a self-report measure of personality traits with emphasis in the socioemotional skills. Objective The aim of this study was to explore SENNA’s anchoring vignettes in a Brazilian adults sample. Design The sample was composed by 2002 Brazilian citizens, completed a 53 items version of SENNA. T-student and one-way ANOVA tests were made to compare anchoring vignettes between genders, race, employment condition, age and region. Results In our sample 5...

6. Referencias O engagement no trabalho e determinado por uma forte identificacao com o trabalho ... more 6. Referencias O engagement no trabalho e determinado por uma forte identificacao com o trabalho e por elevados indices de energia, sendo caracterizado pelo vigor, dedicacao e absorcao. O vigor consiste traduz-se em elevados niveis de energia e resistencia mental durante o trabalho, enquanto a dedicacao se manifesta atraves de uma forte envolvencia no trabalho e a absorcao se reflete num estado de total concentracao (Bakker, Schaufeli, Leiter, & Taris, 2008). A qualidade dos instrumentos de avaliacao utilizados na area da Psicologia da Saude exige um continuo aprimoramento no sentido de favorecer a qualificacao de propostas interventivas. A Utrech Work Engagement Scale (UWES; Schaufeli & Bakker, 2009; Schaufeli, Salanova, Gonzalez-Roma, & Bakker, 2002) mostra-se adequada enquanto escala de avaliacao do envolvimento dos trabalhadores no trabalho, podendo tornar-se num instrumento relevante para a qualidade das acoes institucionais na area da Saude, caso adequadamente adaptada ao cont...

Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2021

Objective Within the football and futsal refereeing context, even though referees work within tea... more Objective Within the football and futsal refereeing context, even though referees work within teams, there is very little research considering the implications of team dynamics. In response, this study starts to address this gap in the literature by investigating the moderating effect of mental models on the relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and perceptions of team adaptation within the exciting context of professional and national football and futsal refereeing. Design We obtained online questionnaires from 339 active football and futsal referees within the National and Professional league at two distinct points (April and May) within the football season. Results Self-efficacy beliefs were positively associated with perceptions of team adaptation (only for football referees). Mental models were positively associated with team adaptation. Likewise, the moderation between mental models and self-efficacy beliefs was positively associated with perceptions of team adaptation. H...

Assiste-se atualmente a mudancas na relacao do trabalhador com o seu trabalho, que, em conjunto c... more Assiste-se atualmente a mudancas na relacao do trabalhador com o seu trabalho, que, em conjunto com a recente crise economica mundial levou ao aumento dos fluxos migratorios de trabalhadores, nomeadamente entre paises com afinidades historicas sociais e culturais, como e o caso de Portugal e Brasil. Este estudo pretende adaptar transculturalmente varios instrumentos e testar um modelo teorico, comum aos dois paises, que relaciona o impacto de variaveis psicologicas na percecao de saude ocupacional e consequente influencia na performance, presentismo e absentismo em organizacoes dos dois paises. Para tal efetuou-se a adaptacao de instrumentos uteis para os investigadores e profissionais de organizacoes brasileiras e portuguesas. O modelo ilustra o impacto que um grupo de variaveis psicologicas (satisfacao no trabalho, qualidade de vida no trabalho, instabilidade no emprego, abertura perante mudanca organizacional, clima organizacional) podem ter na percecao de saude ocupacional (saud...

The existence of disorders in the mother-infant relationship may affect both maternal mental heal... more The existence of disorders in the mother-infant relationship may affect both maternal mental health and child development. Several factors have been associated with these disorders, including environmental factors (psychosocial variables) and genetic factors, specifically related to maternal oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). The aim of this study was to investigate the possible interactions between genetic and environmental factors in the mother-infant relationship, assessed by the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ). A total of 1,057 Brazilian mothers completed assessments of mother-infant relationship, stress, depression, psychiatric symptoms and socioeconomic indicators using standardized instruments and were genotyped for OXTR rs53576 and rs2254298. To test our causal model, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used by means of a two-step approach. The goodness-of-fit of the measure model (step 1) and of the causal model (step 2) were evaluated with the quality indexes: χ2/df;...

Introduction Likert-type scales are commonly used as the base for self-report tests. Thus, respon... more Introduction Likert-type scales are commonly used as the base for self-report tests. Thus, response styles have an important role in the scores and validity of the instruments. Response styles are the person differential functioning it can cause variance in total scores without being related to the intended construct. One of the goals of anchoring vignettes is to control responses styles, in order to increase the comparability of the scores. Objective The aim of this study was to explore SENNA’s anchoring vignettes in a Brazilian sample of students. Design The sample was composed by a total of 24605 Brazilian students from the Rio de Janeiro state. The students fulfilled SENNA 5 th (70 items), 10 th and 12 th (104 items) grades. T-student/ANOVA tests were used to compare between the different reference groups. Results A total of 58.2% of them were women, 6.0% were in 5 th grade, 58.9% in 10 th and 35.1% in the 12 th grade. For gender, vignettes scores showed small differences (maxim...

Sustainability, 2021

Several studies have identified a work environment that promotes inclusiveness as asignificant pr... more Several studies have identified a work environment that promotes inclusiveness as asignificant predictor of affiliative organizational citizenship behavior or OCB (such as helping),whereas not much research has focused on inclusion and challenging OCB (i.e., voice). Moreover, noprevious studies have explored the above-mentioned relationship in the light of self-determinationtheory (SDT), given that social exchange theory has traditionally been used as the main explanatorymechanism. Therefore, the aim of the present research was to test the mediating role of basicpsychological needs satisfaction in the relationship between inclusion climate, promotive voiceand prohibitive voice. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires administered to246 employeesof an international company operating in the service industry. Structural equationmodelling was used to analyze the data utilizing R software. Results showed that satisfaction ofthe needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness partially mediated the relationship betweeninclusion climate and promotive and prohibitive voice, therefore supporting the idea that socialexchange might not be the only determinant for employees to engage in voice behavior. Mostimportantly, those findings underline how a truly inclusive workplace needs to fulfil its employees’basic needs of behaving volitionally, feeling effective and connecting meaningfully; this wouldmotivate the workers to voice their suggestions and concerns.