Percorrer por autor "Coelho, Carlos M."
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- Development of the short and super-short version of the Emergency Reaction QuestionnairePublication . Zsido, Andras N.; Dias, Pedro; Coelho, Carlos M.Emergencies are sudden, life-threatening situations that challenge individuals' ability to respond effectively. The Emergency Reaction Questionnaire (ERQ) is a measure widely used to assess individual differences in emergency behavior; however, its 30-item length may limit its utility in certain contexts. Consequently, in this study, we aimed to develop two abbreviated versions of the ERQ: a short form retaining the original factor structure, and a super-short form that still captures the two core dimensions of readiness and helplessness. We used Item Response Theory to evaluate the psychometric properties of ERQ items and reduce the length of the scale on a large community sample (N=1448). We assessed external validity on a subsample of participants (N=415). Our results showed that the 16-item short and 6-item super-short forms effectively preserved the psychometric robustness of the original ERQ. Both versions successfully differentiated participants, with readiness scales exhibiting a normal distribution and helplessness scales clustering at the extremes. External validity analyses confirmed positive associations between readiness scores and sensation seeking, while helplessness scores were positively correlated with anxiety and trauma sensitivity. These findings align with theoretical frameworks of defensive behavior and support the utility of the ERQ short forms for assessing adaptive and maladaptive responses to emergencies. The ERQ short forms provide versatile tools for a variety of settings, including large-scale screening, disaster preparedness education, and resilience training programs.
- Psychometric properties and further validation of the emergency reaction questionnaire in a sample of Portuguese adultsPublication . Dias, Pedro; Coelho, Carlos M.; Zsido, Andras N.Emergencies and disasters are abrupt, unexpected, dangerous events often traumatic. Individuals differ in the way they respond to this kind of adverse experience, depending on varied factors. This study used the Emergency Reaction Questionnaire (ERQ) to assess defensive mechanisms, feelings, and thoughts during emergency and disaster-related situations. The main objective of the present study was to confirm the factor structure and provide further support to the validity of the ERQ on a Portuguese sample. Here we replicated previous findings in showing that people who are more prone to react in an organized way in emergencies tend to have lower anxiety levels and a greater tendency for sensation seeking. We also found that females score lower than males; that ERQ specific readiness scores slightly increase with age and people who have risky jobs or routinely engage in extreme sports scored higher on the ERQ scales (meaning they act more readily and organized in an emergency). The ERQ and its Portuguese version show to be a psychometrically sound and valid measurement of emergency behavior, able to assess individual differences in the way people perform during various emergencies, and can be used in future research and in practice for screening or measuring training efficiency.
- Reduced sense of danger following two years of COVID-19: fear inoculation or growing recklessness?Publication . Coelho, Carlos M.; Suttiwan, Panrapee; Jaroenkajornkij, Nisara; Araújo, Ana S.; Dias, Pedro; Carvalho, Célia B.; Zsido, Andras N.The COVID-19 pandemic led to sudden changes in many people's lives, due to the risky and unpredictable nature of the disease and the consequences of public policies aimed at controlling its spread. As the pandemic progressed, people became more aware of what to do, and restrictions were relaxed. Our aim was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals' psychological reactions and to examine differences due to long-term exposure between the start of the pandemic in early 2020 and the lifting of restrictions in mid-2022. We used an anonymous online survey at two different points in the COVID-19 pandemic - early 2020 and mid-2022 - and collected data from two independent samples of Portuguese individuals (194 in 2020 and 220 in 2022). Measures of the psychological impact of trauma, emergency response, anxiety and sensation seeking were collected. Participants reported significantly lower levels of negative effects of COVID-19, anxiety and sensation seeking in 2022 compared to 2020. The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals appears to have gradually decreased between 2020 and 2022.