Roberto Moraes Cruz

Bio: Roberto Moraes Cruz is an academic researcher from Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. The author has contributed to research in topics: Mental health & Population. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 11 publications receiving 22 citations.

Methodological Issues about Affect: A Systematic Review about Assessment Tests of Affect

Abstract: This article aimed to present the psychometric tests used in the assessment of affect in the world by a systematic review. The specific objectives of this paper are: a) to identify the assessment tests of affect internationally; b) to identify the theoretical basis used for the construction of the affect tests; c) to discuss theoretically the measurement of affect. The assessed databases were: periodicos CAPES, Science Direct and Scielo. The data analysis from all the results showed a continuous growing on the affect research field in the last 10 years. Three theoretical basis were identified in the results: the circumplex theory, the positive and negative affect theory and the discrete affects theory. The affect has been measured, in general, with PANAS and single-item scales based on the circumplex, which reflects a tendency in the psychological assessment field of affect.

Measurement of Affect: From Theoretical and Instrumental Perspectives

Abstract: Affect plays a central role in human experience and is related to different psychological variables, such as memory, coping, personality, and self-esteem. It can be characterized as a state of pleasure or discontentment experienced with some degree of activation. This article aims to analyze from theoretical and instrumental perspectives in the measuring of affect. The affect construct went through some constructing over the decades. For Russell, it can be viewed through his circumplex of bipolar and orthogonal dimensions, called valence (pleasure or displeasure) and perceived activation (high or low). By means of systematic revision, 17 measurement instruments about affect were found, which were based, generally, on the choice of adjectives that corresponded to whatever the individual indicated to be feeling at the moment or in unique scales dedicated to a dimension of the construct. It was observed that the effective field is permeated by several measuring instruments and theoretical concepts, which made the measurement of affective spectrum a challenge in terms of methodology. The lack of a definition both operational and constitutive about the affect concept and its distinctions from mood, emotion and other associated variables compromises the theoretical and instrumental development. A contributing factor for the restriction in this development is the utilization of instruments on account of tradition of use, without identifying the reason for continued use. In utilizing a measuring instrument, researchers must recognize that they are agreeing with its theory and thus understand how their knowledge production can contribute to new studies. Finally, the relationship between affect and other external variables is discussed.

The binomial work-health in the transit of Curitiba city.

Abstract: The working activity in traffic of the big cities complex interacts with the environment is often in unsafe and unhealthy imbalance favoring the binomial work - health. The aim of this paper was to analyze the relationship between work and health of taxi drivers in Curitiba, Brazil. This cross-sectional observational study with 206 individuals used a questionnaire on the organization's profile and perception of the environment and direct observation of work. It was found that the majority are male, aged between 26 and 49 years and has a high school degree. They are sedentary, like making a journey from 8 to 12 hours. They consider a stressful profession, related low back pain and are concerned about safety and accidents. 40% are smokers and consume alcoholic drink and 65% do not have or do not use devices of comfort. Risk factors present in the daily taxi constraints cause physical, cognitive and organizational and can affect your performance. It is concluded that the taxi drivers must change the unhealthy lifestyle, requiring a more efficient management of government authorities for this work is healthy and safe for all involved.

Epidemiological and Clinical Predictors of License for Health Care Due to MBD

Abstract: This article aimed to check the association between clinical and epidemiological predictors of sick leave due to mental and behavioral disorders in public servants. Two databases were used: one epidemiological, with demographic and occupational data of public servants from Santa Catarina, enabling prevalence calculations for this population; one clinical, with results from three instruments in a representative sample of 822 servants. The prevalence of epidemiological variables from each sample servant has been associated with their clinical scores (obtained by the instruments), allowing comparisons between clinical and epidemiological predictions. As a result, it was found that regression models covering both clinical and epidemiological variables have explained larger parts of the outcomes’ range (reaching 60.7% of benefits granted). It is concluded, finally, that although psychology and epidemiology are distinct sciences, their remarkable contributions to health complement each other. Such articulation is rare in literature and enhances the psychological tradition of clinical studies. Therefore, it enriches the field in order to promote and protect mental health, as well as to prevent mental disorders, in work environments.

Ergonomics: man in his working environment

Abstract: MURREL, K. F. H. Ergonomics (man in his working environment). London, Chapman and Hall. 496 p.

Escala de afecto positivo y negativo para niños: estudios de construcción y validez

Abstract: El objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar una Escala de Afecto Positivo y Negativo para Ninos. Son presentados dos estudios: de construccion de la escala, asi como de validacion concorrente. Ademas de eso, se ha buscado evaluar el nivel de afecto positivo y negativo de los ninos de esa muestra, asi como verificar posibles diferencias entre sexos, grupos de edad y tipo de escuela. La version final de la Escala de Afecto Positivo y Negativo es compuesta por 34 items, 17 items en cada sub-escala. Los coeficientes Alpha obtenidos para las sub-escalas de Afecto Positivo (0,88) y de Afecto Negativo (0,84) apuntan evidencias de fiabilidad. Analisis Factoriales confirmaron la estructura de la escala a traves de la solucion de dos factores en los dos estudios. La Escala tambien presento buenas evidencias de validacion concorrente. A traves de correlaciones coherentes con las apuntadas por la literatura, los resultados indican que la Escala de Afecto Negativo puede ser utilizada como instrumento de evaluacion de desajuste emocional. El desarrollo de la Escala de Afecto Positivo y Negativo para Ninos incrementa el proceso de elaboracion de instrumentos para que evaluemos el bien estar subjetivo infantil.

Epidemiología, Ciencias Humanas y Sociales y la integración de las ciencias

Abstract: O objetivo do artigo foi abordar o problema da integracao entre epidemiologia e ciencias humanas e sociais no contexto da integracao das ciencias. A epidemiologia, anteriormente ao surgimento da medicina moderna, apresentava uma cosmovisao que concebia processos de saude e doenca integrados a aspectos geograficos, historicos, economicos e sociais. A dissociacao que marcou seu desenvolvimento posterior foi decorrente das concepcoes de corpo e doenca construidas pelas ciencias da vida e medicina moderna. Para pensar a integracao entre ciencias humanas e sociais e epidemiologia, na sua ligacao com a biologia, e necessario interrogar a cisao entre natureza e cultura, inscrita no desenvolvimento das ciencias. O conceito de normatividade vital, proposto por Canguilhem, e a discussao de Bohr sobre as relacoes entre fisica atomica, biologia e unidade do conhecimento sao tratados com a perspectiva de refletir sobre desafios contemporâneos da integracao entre as ciencias.

Exploring the Validity of Methods to Track Emotions Behind the Wheel

Abstract: Emotions accompany us anytime, even while driving. Thereby especially negative emotional experiences influence our driving behavior and the safety on our roads. A psychological intervention to regulate feelings is to track them, e.g. by labeling them along categories. Thus, the aim of this work is to establish an empirical base to guide the development of a system that encourages the driver to label his or her emotions. This involves asking what the relevant emotions are and how they can be validly labeled in the driving context. For this purpose, a driving study was conducted to collect data on emotional experiences in-situ. For the labeling task, three methodological approaches were used: free responses, dimensional emotion rating (DER), and categorical emotion rating (CER). As a result, while DER and CER lack validity due to ambiguity or priming effects, respectively, the free response method has practical limitations. Following, it is recommended to develop an in-car emotion tracker based on CER and use the free response data to determine the appropriate number and naming of categories that cover a significant range of emotions. An initial analysis of the free responses revealed 40 distinct categories of emotional experiences.

Evaluation Method of Vehicle Sound Quality

Abstract: The study of sound quality which is a newly developed research area has become a hot topic and become to attract increasing attention from academia and industries. The description of sound quality, the technique of subjective and objective evaluation, and the way of improving sound quality inside vehicle are outlined. Based on an extensive discussion over the sound quality issues, the progress in sound quality methodologies and evaluation method are reviewed, and the prospects of the future development are introduced and discussed.