Introduction: Developmental studies, especially dedicated to the study of brain and cognitive maturation and reorganisation during adolescence, have increasingly highlighted the role of the developmental trajectory of the prefrontal cortex and selfregulation skills as modulating factors in young people's involvement in risky behaviours, namely alcohol and other substance use (e.g. Chassin, 2015; McClelland et al., 2018). Self-regulation seems to mediate the success of an individual's behaviour, particularly when significant changes occur in their life, such as the changes inherent in the pandemic situation due to COVID-19 (Zinchenko et al., 2020). The rapid changes resulting from the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, where social isolation stands out as a measure of prevention and control of the disease, has naturally caused a potential increase in the vulnerability of young people to adopt risky behaviours. Therefore, this study aims to explore the role of self-regulation in the adoption or maintenance of risk behaviours during the pandemic, in a sample of young university students in Portugal. Methodology: One hundred and sixty-four young Portuguese university students aged between 18 and 42 (97 women; 67 men; mean age: 20.55 years ± 3.32) completed an online survey to assess self-regulation and unhealthy behaviours during the second year of the pandemic (May 2021-2022). Self-regulation was assessed using the Portuguese version of the Self-Regulation Questionnaire (Brown et al., 1999; Almeida & Behlau, 2017). Two instruments were used to assess risk behaviours, the ASSIST - Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (WHO ASSIST Working Group, 2002; Henrique et al., 2004) and the AUDIT-C - Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (quick version) (Fonte & Mota-Cardoso, 2013; Cortés-Tomás et al., 2016). The relationship between self-regulation capacity and the adoption or maintenance of risk behaviours was assessed using a structural equation model (SEM). Results: The effect of self-regulation on risk behaviours is significant and negative (β = - 0.261; p =0.008). Higher scores on the self-regulation scale predict lower scores on the scales that assess risk behaviours. Conclusions: These results suggest that self-regulation is a predictor of the adoption/maintenance of risk behaviours in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, since young people with lower levels of self-regulation were more involved in risk behaviours.
Date of Award | 22 Dec 2023 |
---|
Original language | Portuguese |
---|
Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
|
---|
Supervisor | Sónia da Silva Sousa (Supervisor) & Joana Rodrigues Rato (Co-Supervisor) |
---|
- Covid-19
- Social isolation
- Self-regulation
- Risk behaviours
- Adolescence
- Youth
- Mestrado em Neuropsicologia
Autorregulação e comportamentos de risco em jovens universitários em contexto de pandemia por Covid-19
Belo, R. M. V. D. M. C. (Student). 22 Dec 2023
Student thesis: Master's Thesis