http://hdl.handle.net/10071/2101 2026-05-24T19:12:39Z http://hdl.handle.net/10071/37262 Título próprio: From Portuguese colonial representations to racist endorsement: Investigating correlational and causal paths Autoria: Meuer, F.; Guerra, R.; Madeira, F.; Valentim, J. P. Resumo: Dominant social representations of history play a central role in shaping how societies interpret the past and regulate intergroup relations in the present. Yet empirical evidence on how historical narratives causally influence racist beliefs remains limited. Drawing on the Social Representations of History framework, the present research examines how dominant and counter-representations of colonial history relate to the endorsement of biological and cultural racism. Focusing on the Portuguese context, where colonial history is often narrated through a positive and benevolent lens grounded in the ideology of Luso-tropicalism—the belief that Portuguese colonialism was uniquely tolerant and benign—we investigate both correlational and causal pathways linking these representations to racist attitudes. In Study 1 (N = 216), using data from CRONOS-2, part of the European Social Survey Round 10, we show that endorsement of Luso-tropicalist beliefs predicts higher levels of both biological and cultural racism, above and beyond age and education. In Study 2 (N = 220), we experimentally manipulated representations of colonial history using three conditions: a positive representation derived from a textbook, a negative representation, and a neutral control. Results indicate that biological racism was significantly lower when colonial history was presented in a negative frame compared to a combined positive and neutral representation, while no significant differences emerged for cultural racism. Together, findings from Study 1 and Study 2 provide novel evidence that counter, negative representations of colonial history can attenuate racist beliefs. By integrating correlational and experimental evidence, this research contributes to broader debates on social representations of history as political projects with enduring consequences for contemporary intergroup relations. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10071/37259 Título próprio: Re-entries into residential care: An ecological perspective from professionals views Autoria: Marques, C.; Baptista, J.; Magalhães, E. Resumo: The objective of this study was to gain insight into the phenomenon of re-entries into Residential Care (RC) facilities from the perspective of professionals within the Child Protection System (CPS). The present study, guided by the bio-ecological model, sought to examine the consequences of re-entry, the factors that contribute to its occurrence, and potential improvements to be made to the CPS to prevent re-entry. Twenty female professionals (aged 26–54) from child protection agencies and RC facilities participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis yielded 14 themes and 42 subthemes. The findings suggest the deleterious effects of re-entry on children and youth, families, and the CPS itself. These impacts are attributed to factors spanning multiple levels, including the children and youth (e.g., mental health problems), the family (e.g., lack of parenting skills), and the CPS (e.g., inadequate supervision). Proposed strategies for the prevention of re-entries include the implementation of comprehensive assessments prior to the discharge of children and youth from care facilities, the provision of ongoing intensive interventions with parents in natural settings both before and after the removal of the children and youth from the family home, and the undertaking of preparatory work with the children and youth person themselves, with a view to equipping them with the skills and knowledge required to manage expectations and behaviours upon their return home. This study highlights the complexity of re-entries into residential care and emphasises the need for further investigation. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10071/37220 Título próprio: Comparative exploration of media models and euthanasia coverage in Portugal and the United Kingdom Autoria: Costa, B. F.; Bernardes, S. F.; Azevedo, J. Resumo: Purpose. To conduct a comparative analysis of news coverage of euthanasia in Portugal and the United Kingdom between 2016 and 2024, identifying structural and cultural differences derived from their respective media models. Methodology. A content analysis was applied to 1,731 news items published on the digital platforms of Expresso, Público, The Guardian, and The Telegraph. Variables examined included authorship, journalistic genre, length, topic, geographical scope, use and role of sources, and degree of explanation and contextualisation. Statistical tests with 5,000 bootstrap samples were employed. Results and Conclusions. Portuguese media relied more on news agencies and focused on political and national topics, but no significant differences were found in the average number of stories or in the level of contextualisation and terminological explanation. The findings partially support Hallin and Mancini’s (2004) media systems models and Hanitzsch’s (2007) theory of journalistic cultures, indicating that thematic sensitivity and professional routines may relativise systemic structures. Singularities. The study provides a replicable empirical and comparative framework that integrates macro (media systems) and meso (journalistic cultures) levels to understand how structural and cultural factors shape the coverage of ethically sensitive issues. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10071/37196 Título próprio: Strengthening memory: The impact of resistance training on cognitive health in aging and cognitive impairment Autoria: Ennahli, K.; Miguel, D. Resumo: This review examines resistance training (RT) as a pathway for preserving declarative memory in later life, addressing a critical gap in the literature where RT has been largely subsumed under general physical activity despite its distinct neurobiological profile. We aimed to clarify whether RT uniquely supports declarative memory vulnerable to healthy aging, mild cognitive impairment, and early neurodegenerative pathology. We conducted a multilevel synthesis of evidence from randomized controlled trials, neuroimaging studies, electrophysiology, and molecular research examining RT effects on memory, brain structure, network connectivity, and underlying biological mechanisms. Particular attention was given to hippocampal subfields, default-mode and fronto-hippocampal networks, and exercise-responsive neurotrophic, vascular, metabolic, and inflammatory pathways. Across modalities, converging evidence indicates that RT attenuates hippocampal and precuneus atrophy, preserves white-matter integrity, strengthens functional connectivity within memory networks, and enhances neural efficiency indexed by oscillatory and event-related electrophysiological markers. Biologically, RT reliably increases insulin-like growth factor-1 and improves insulin sensitivity, endothelial function, and inflammatory balance, creating a plastic milieu that supports hippocampal resilience. Cognitive benefits are most consistent in mild cognitive impairment, with parallel improvements in mood, functional independence, and quality of life. These findings position RT as a scalable, cost-effective intervention that compares favorably with other intervention modalities. Progressive RT should be considered a core component of prevention and care strategies for cognitive aging, with implications for clinical practice, community programs, and public health policy. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z