Public PhD Defense of Micaela Pinheiro

Micaela Pinheiro, a PhD candidate in the Doctoral Program in Psychology, will defend the thesis titled "Resilience of adolescents in residential care: from risk to protection". The public defense is scheduled for May 7, 2025, 10:00 at Sala de Provas, B327 (Building 4) of Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon. And online: https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/7441410132

Changes on room and Zoom link may be updated at Iscte's website.

Abstract:

Young people in residential care are a vulnerable group with significant psychological and behavioral difficulties because of their past traumatic experiences. As such, research on this population has focused on the factors that explain mental health difficulties, overlooking resilience trajectories. This dissertation aimed to identify the protective factors associated with the psychological health of adolescents in residential care anchored in the Resilience Portfolio Model. Five studies were implemented, including (1) a systematic review of the protective factors for psychological health of adolescents in residential care, (2) a meta-analysis of the protective factors that produce the largest effect size in adolescents’ psychological health, (3) a qualitative study with adolescents, and (4) a qualitative study with care workers, both focused on their perspectives about the resilience concept and protective factors associated with psychological health, and (5) a quantitative study, based on multi-informants (i.e., adolescents and professionals) and different measures (i.e., self-report and tasks) to identify protective factors of mental health. Overall, the findings of these studies suggest that self-regulation, coping strategies, and staff and family support are positively associated with adolescents’ psychological health in residential care and that psychological health is more than the absence of symptoms. These studies highlight the importance of both individual and contextual variables in the resilience in residential care, which may inform practice, research, and policy in this field. 

Members of the jury:

• Maria Manuela Calheiros (Universidade de Lisboa)

• Maria Barbosa Ducharne (Universidade do Porto)

• Francisco Simões (Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa)

• Eunice Magalhães (Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa)