Pedro Joel Rosa

Burnout constitutes a critical psychological and operational challenge in military environments, with potential implications for well-being and occupational functioning. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy has shown beneficial effects on stress and burnout across different populations; however, little is known about how brief online adaptations are perceived by active-duty military personnel prior to implementation. This qualitative study explored the prospective acceptability of a proposed brief online Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy program and identified perceived implementation considerations within the Portuguese Army. Fifteen participants (11 men and 4 women) took part in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis within a constructivist framework. Five themes were identified: previous experiences with psychological services, prospective acceptability of the proposed program, practical and cultural barriers, conditions for implementation, and preferences regarding format and facilitation. Participants generally viewed the proposed program favorably and identified brevity, confidentiality, scheduling flexibility, digital access, leadership support, and facilitator credibility as potentially important for future implementation, while stigma and workload were perceived as relevant barriers. These findings reflect prospective perceptions rather than actual intervention feasibility or effectiveness. Public Significance Statement: This study identifies key factors influencing how active-duty military personnel perceive a proposed brief online mindfulness-based intervention before implementation.

Background: Sexual distress and sexual pleasure are two clinically distinct parameters used to evaluate sexual dysfunction, alongside psychological distress. Various psychological processes and problems have been implicated in the etiology and maintenance of sexual dysfunction. Two transdiagnostic processes, Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) and Psychological Inflexibility (PI), have been associated with psychopathology. However, knowledge about their effects on sexual health outcomes, namely distress and pleasure, is lacking. Aim: This cross-sectional study investigates whether different profiles related to sexual dysfunction—defined by distress related to sexual function, sexual pleasure, and psychological distress—show distinct patterns of EMS and PI and how these patterns may inform targeted interventions. Methods: Data from 612 participants [Mage = 37.95 years, 77.0% identified as women (n = 471)] were included in our analysis. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify distinct profiles of distress related to sexual function, sexual pleasure, and psychological distress. Later, Bolck–Croon–Hagenaars procedures were employed to identify in-between profile differences across EMS and PI. Outcomes: The outcomes of our study were EMS and PI scores across profiles. Results: Our analysis yielded 3 distinct profiles: Low Distress/High Pleasure, High Distress/Low Pleasure, and Deeply Affected Pleasure profiles, with the latter presenting with greater symptom severity. Sexual pleasure is the indicator that best discriminates the latter profile from the former two. There is a significant increase in various EMS from the Low Distress/High Pleasure to the High Distress/Low Pleasure profile, specifically in those belonging to the domains of Disconnection and Rejection and Impaired Autonomy and Performance. The early maladaptive schema that differs in the Deeply Affected Pleasure profile (when comparing with the High Distress/Low Pleasure profile) is Emotional Deprivation. Psychological Inflexibility differs in these profiles and is more significant in the Deeply Affected Pleasure cluster. Clinical Implications: Sexual pleasure emerges as a relevant factor to consider in clinical evaluation and intervention. Also, targeting EMS and PI might prove beneficial in patients presenting with increased distress related to sexual function and/or diminished sexual pleasure. Strengths and Limitations: This article incorporates both negative (ie, sexual distress) and positive (ie, sexual pleasure) sexual outcomes as components of a sexual dysfunction and our results put sexual pleasure at the center of clinical conceptualization. Various limitations restrict our findings, namely, the characteristics of the sample (mostly highly educated women), the study design (cross-sectional), the non-inclusion of gender, sexual orientation and relational configuration diversity, and the non-inclusion of other determinants of sexual health (eg, relational factors, chronic disease). Conclusion: EMS and PI are associated with distress related to sexual function, sexual pleasure, and psychological distress, as per the profiles presented. Specifically, the Emotional Deprivation schema might be of importance in patients with diminished sexual pleasure.

Previous research has reported a low prevalence of burnout syndrome in the Portuguese Army. However, it did not explore the internal heterogeneity within the army. Since burnout can manifest in qualitatively different ways among army personnel, overall averages may conceal distinct profiles. This study employed latent profile analysis to identify distinct person-centered profiles along the burnout–engagement continuum based on the three dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey. A total of 430 active-duty military personnel completed the instrument and a sociodemographic-organizational questionnaire. Results revealed three profiles: ineffective (33%), engagement (45.6%), and burnout (21.4%). Multinomial logistic regression identified significant predictors of profile membership. Feeling valued by the unit commander strongly increased the likelihood of being in the Engagement profile. Performing ≥ 9 monthly duty shifts significantly raised the odds of being in the Ineffective profile. Older age was a protective factor. These findings highlight the role of recognition, workload, and age in shaping burnout vulnerability in military settings. Public Significance Statement : Nearly one in three Portuguese Army personnel exhibit moderate to high levels of burnout symptoms. This is closely linked to feeling undervalued by leadership, high monthly duty shifts, and younger age. Promoting supportive leadership, recognizing individual contributions, and adjusting workload intensity may help reduce burnout. These actions can foster mental well-being, increase morale, and support long-term operational effectiveness and retention within the military.

Background: Sexual distress is a critical element in diagnosing sexual dysfunction. Recent research using a cross-sectional design has supported the adequacy of a transdiagnostic approach for its understanding. Aim: This exploratory study aimed to investigate the mediating role of repetitive negative thinking between difficulties in emotional regulation and sexual and psychological distress in a community sample. Methods: We used a quantitative longitudinal design with measures including a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale–Short Form, the Persistent and Intrusive Negative Thoughts Scale, the Sexual Distress Scale–Revised, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Outcomes: Data were collected from 64 partnered individuals (85.9% women; age: M = 31.20, SD = 6.46). Results: Correlational analysis across time revealed significant associations among difficulties in emotion regulation (T1 r = 0.37, T2 r = 0.32), repetitive negative thinking (T1 r = 0.30, T2 r = 0.27), psychological distress (T1 r = 0.37, T2 r = 0.55), and sexual distress (all at P < .01). The total effect of difficulties in emotion regulation on sexual distress was found to be positive (β = 0.20, P = .008) after controlling for frequency of sexual activity (r = −0.25, P < .05). Longitudinal mediation analysis indicated a significant negative indirect effect from difficulties in emotion regulation on sexual distress via repetitive negative thinking (β = -0.04, 95% CI [-0.008, -0.001]), suggesting a buffering effect over time on sexual distress. Clinical Implications: These results highlight the significance of recognizing difficulties in emotion regulation and repetitive negative thinking as coping strategies when examining sexual distress, emphasizing the need to explore the putative efficacy of therapeutic interventions focused on addressing these cognitive processes to decrease adverse sexual-related outcomes. Strengths and Limitations: These findings highlight the importance of acknowledging difficulties in emotion regulation and repetitive negative thinking as coping strategies in the study of sexual distress. However, the small sample size and the predominance of women participants limit generalizability. Further research with clinical samples and more diverse populations is needed to better understand the relevance of these aspects in assessment and therapy. Conclusions: The findings imply that repetitive negative thinking may have potentially adaptive effects, indicating a nuanced role in coping strategies within the context of the study.

Burnout, characterized by Emotional Exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DP), and Reduced Personal Accomplishment (PA), is a significant occupational hazard. Although extensively studied in other contexts, its prevalence and predictors among Portuguese military personnel have not been explored. This study investigates burnout prevalence and its sociodemographic and organizational predictors within the Portuguese Army. A total of 437 active-duty personnel completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) alongside sociodemographic and organizational questionnaires. Results revealed that 2.3% of participants exhibited burnout across all dimensions, while 25.2% demonstrated engagement (low scores in all dimensions). High EE, DP, and PA were reported by 35.7%, 13.7%, and 45.5% of respondents, respectively. Logistic regression identified key burnout predictors: feeling undervalued by superiors, being enlisted, and being single significantly increased burnout risk. These findings align with the Job Demands-Resources model, highlighting how low support, high workload, and job insecurity exacerbate burnout, while marital support and stability mitigate it. Despite relatively low burnout prevalence, the study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions. Promoting supportive leadership, recognition, and preventive strategies is essential to improve well-being and operational performance in the military.

Background/Objectives: Self-objectification theory posits that objectification of people’s bodies, as a synonym for self-worth, translates into body surveillance and dissatisfaction, which has a negative impact on both social and emotional adjustment. According to empirical data based on cognitive models, body dissatisfaction translates into cognitive distraction during sexual activity, affecting sexual response. However, the association of body dissatisfaction with other sexual outcomes, such as satisfaction and distress, in heterosexual men is understudied in comparison to women. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional, and correlational study used a convenience sample of 597 heterosexual males with a mean age of 35.52 (SD = 8.78) obtained through a web survey. Results: Results suggested that cognitive distraction mediated the association between body dissatisfaction, sexual distress, and satisfaction. A moderating effect of age was found, detecting a decrease in the mediated effect of cognitive distraction as men aged, reinforcing the idea of age as a protective factor. Conclusions: Our study further supports cognitive models that are useful to understand sexual outcomes and not merely sexual function and reinforce the existence of heterosexual men’s body dissatisfaction and its detrimental effects, suggesting that health practitioners should assess this phenomenon in a context related to sexual health.

The growing need for societies to adopt a more ecological and sustainable mindset highlights the importance of instruments such as the 15-item New Ecological Paradigm Scale (NEP Scale). The scale measures the individuals’ endorsement of an ecological worldview, contrasting with the perspective of human dominance and exemptionalism. This study aimed to validate the European Portuguese version of the NEP Scale using a cross-validation approach. The total sample, consisting of 511 participants (56.4% women; aged between 18-73 years old), was split into two halves, with the first half used to perform an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to refine the scale, and the second half to perform a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA revealed a 14-item two-factor latent structure, which was subsequently confirmed through CFA (CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.97; RMSEA = 0.04; SRMR = 0.06). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha (α) and McDonald’s omega (ωs), with factor 1 (Ecocentrism; α = .88; ωs = .87), and factor 2 (Anthropocentrism; α = .80; ωs = .81) showing strong internal consistency. Significant moderate correlations between both NEP Scale dimensions and the Ecologically Conscious Consumer Behavior (ECCB) scale (r1 = .383; r2 = .313) provided convergent evidence for construct validity. The correlation between NEP dimensions was .70, indicating an acceptable discriminant validity. This study adds to the evidence of the European Portuguese version of NEP being a valid, reliable, and valuable tool for assessing environmental orientation within Portuguese-speaking samples. Moreover, average NEP scores showed that the Portuguese are akin to a pro-ecological worldview (M = 3.72, SD = 0.68), specially among young women with low income.

Background: Food aesthetics influences affective dimensions (valence and arousal) and subsequent emotional and behavioural responses in images presented in more traditional form, almost rustic in some cases, to the signature dishes of haute cuisine. However, the visual impact of images of haute cuisine dishes on consumers’ affective and emotional responses compared to traditional dishes is still understudied. Methods: We recorded electrodermal activity, ocular movements and self-report affect of 35 volunteers while they performed a picture viewing paradigm using images of haute cuisine food, traditional food, and non-food. Additionally, the moderating role of age was examined. Results: Our results showed that subjects had higher feelings of pleasure and arousal toward images of food (haute cuisine and traditional dishes) compared to non-food images. However, no difference in self-report affect, physiological and behavioural responses was found between haute cuisine and traditional dishes. Interestingly, a moderating effect of age was revealed, reporting that younger participants had greater feelings of pleasure and shorter eye-to-screen distance towards traditional food than haute cuisine. Conclusions: As a whole, our findings suggest that food aesthetics could at least partially affect consumers’ affective and emotional responses. Interestingly, physiological responses to food pictures seemed to be relatively independent of approach/avoidance motivational states, supporting the assumption that traditional visual restaurant menus with attractive images might be insufficient for eliciting intense positive emotions. This study also contributes to advancing the understanding of the role that age plays in emotional impact when images of haute cuisine dishes are presented to consumers.