New technologies and well-being
To understand how can psychologists make use of new technologies to better promote psychological well-being and promote the development of soft skills, that will enable students to better cope with the transition to the workplace, is an area of interest.
Web Project: Toolbox College student
Under a Thesis Project of the Master in Informatics Engineering(+) at Universidade da Madeira, we developed an interactive system - meant to be used by college students as a tool to better face the challenges of the academic journey and to promote psychological wellbeing (i.e. learning how to manage anxiety, how to study better...).
The pilot version of this project combined the work of psychologists from the Counselling Service of Universidade of Madeira (that developed all the psicoeducative materiais) and the one of Engineering student, under supervision. Undergraduates (enrolled in mathematics, psychology, engineering,...) had also a major contribution throughout the development of the platform, while sharing their insights in focus groups (2016-2018). [Check for more informations here].
Between 2019 and 2020, our team was responsible for designing and implementing a study to evaluate the efficacy of this particular tool in helping students manage anxiety.
Related Publications:
Soares, L., Silva, C., & Lucas, C. V. (2023). Toolbox: Technology Anxiety Resource for University Students [Preprint]. Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202306.0452.v1
Lucas, C. V., Santos, W., Soares, L., Baras, K. & Oliveira, F. (2018, setembro). “ToolBox: Estudante Universitário” - Plataforma Web Interativa. Sessão de Poster apresentado no 4º Congresso da Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses, Braga, Portugal.
Supporting Students' Mental Health and Academic Success
The use of technology to promote soft skills in college students and to support student’s mental health and academic success is one of the projects that I had the privilege to collaborate.
Mendes, D. C. G., De Almeida, Y. A. D. S. G., Lucas, C. V., Soares, L., & Bermúdez I Badia, S. (2023). A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Feasibility of a Science-Based Game Called Symphony to Alleviate Depression Symptoms. Em G. A. Papadopoulos, A. Achilleos, E. Pissaloux, & R. Velázquez (Eds.), ICT for Health, Accessibility and Wellbeing (Vol. 1799, pp. 147–161). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29548-5_10
Other related Publications:
Faria, C., Coelho, C., Lucas, C. V., Oliveira, F., Soares, L. & Vasconcelos, S. (2014). How can psychologists use social networks to reach community? RUMOS - Revista Científica da Universidade do Mindelo, 1 (1-2).
Oliveira, F., Lucas, C. V., & Soares, L. (2010). Solidão e padrões de utilização da internet em estudantes universitários, in Livro de Actas do I Congresso Nacional de Apoio Psicológico no Ensino Superior: Modelos e Práticas. RESAPES, Universidade de Aveiro, 20-21 May 2010, pp. 558-563. ISBN: 978-972-789-311-9.