Sílvia Fraga
Biographic Data
| ID | 3583783 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sílvia Fraga |
| GIVEN NAMES | Sílvia |
| FAMILY NAME | Fraga |
| SIGNATURE | FRAGA S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Universidade do Porto |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5268-7751 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 29 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 19 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 29 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
“Be Mothers as if we Were not Workers, Be Workers as if we Were not Mothers”
Parenthood challenges work–life balance, particularly where traditional gender norms persist. Despite policy advancements, disparities in income and career progression remain, with mothers disproportionately assuming childcare and household responsibilities. This study explored the impact of parenthood on professional and personal life through thirty semi-structured interviews with Portuguese mothers and fathers living in Portugal and seven other…
“Are we still at this point
As researchers and teachers experienced in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, we have witnessed persistent misconceptions about qualitative research (QR) in health-related fields. While quantitative methods are often considered the gold standard, QR remains undervalued and is perceived as less rigorous. This skepticism stems from applying quantitative criteria-such as generalizability and statistical significance-to QR, disregarding it…
Exposure to Domestic Violence and Involvement in Aggressive Behaviors During Adolescence
How Childhood Adversity Impact Well-Being? A Mixed Methods Study in the Generation Xxi Cohort
Combination HIV Prevention Strategies in the Lisbon Cohort of Men who Have Sex with Men
This study aims to examine how HIV prevention tools were used and how they clustered together among men who have sex with men (MSM) testing at a community-based sexual health center in Lisbon, Portugal, from 2014 to 2021. We used data from 16,780 visits from adult cisgender MSM and had an HIV-negative test result at baseline in the Lisbon Cohort of MSM-an open, prospective cohort study conducted at CheckpointLX, a community-based sexual health ce…
Education, occupation and income inequalities in obesity among Portuguese women and men
Socioeconomic inequalities in obesity persist, with obesity being disproportionally concentrated among individuals with lower education, income and less differentiated occupations. Overall, women consistently faced greater inequalities than men
Life-course socio-economic status and its impact on functional health of Portuguese older adults
Functional health is arguably one of the most important health indicators for older adults, because it assesses physical, cognitive and social functions in combination. However, life-course circumstances may impact this multidimensional construct. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between life-course socio-economic status (SES) and different dimensions of functional health in older adults. Data on 821 Portuguese adults a…
Older people are weak”
The results show that respondents link the ageist narratives that exist in our societies to the prevalence and naturalisation of violence against older people, that the risk of abuse increases with the weakening of family support networks, and that abuse is both a manifestation of asymmetrical power relations between victims and perpetrators and a severe violation of human rights. The findings also highlight the need to broaden the concept of vio…
Bias-Motivated Physical or Verbal Violence Among Men Who Have Sex with Men
Introduction Victimization based on sexual orientation or gender identity is a cause for concern. Bias-motivated violence affect not only the individuals targeted but also their communities and societies as a whole. Objective To estimate the proportion of bias-motivated victimization among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and to compare sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and HIV and syphilis test results between victims and …
We’re going to tie you to the chair
This article analyses the experiences and perceptions of a sample of people over 60 about the most frequent type of violence in old age, the risk factors, the offenders and the reactions to abuse. A mixed study was carried out with the sequential application of 677 questionnaires and 45 interviews. The results show that older people are mainly victims of psychological abuse and financial exploitation; the type of abuse varies according to the typ…
How women’s empowerment influences fertility-related outcomes and contraceptive practices
Women’s empowerment could be a crucial step for tackling gender inequality and improve women’s reproductive health and rights in Mozambique. This study aims to examine how different domains of women’s empowerment influence fertility-related outcomes and contraceptive practices in Mozambique. We used the 2015 Demographic Health Survey (DHS) conducted in Mozambique from which a sample of 2072 women aged 15 to 49 years were selected and included in …
Influence of Social Adversity on Perceived Health Status and Depressive Symptoms among Portuguese Older People
This study aims to investigate how exposure to poverty, food insecurity, and abuse at older ages relates to health outcomes. A questionnaire collecting data on sociodemographic and economic characteristics, health status, depressive symptoms, food insecurity, and abuse was administered to a sample of 677 older adults. Logistic regression was used to quantify the association of poverty, food insecurity, and abuse with perceived health status and d…
Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in the First Decade of Life
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a modifiable risk factor for diseases throughout life. This study estimates the prevalence of ACEs in children, addressing associated sociodemographic characteristics and examining the relationship of ACEs with the child's health and behaviors. We used information on 5295 participants at 10 years old, of the birth cohort Generation XXI, established in Porto, Portugal. Children answered a self-administered …
Adverse Childhood Events and Health Biomarkers
Background: This systematic review aimed to summarize evidence reporting epigenetic and/or neuro-immuno-endocrine embedding of adverse childhood events (ACEs) in children, with a particular focus on the short-term biological effect of those experiences. Methods: A search was conducted in PsycINFO®, PubMed®, Isi Web of Knowledge and Scopus, until July 2019, to identify papers reporting the short-term biological effects of exposure to ACEs. Results…
Social Support and Cognitive Impairment
(1) Background: In an ageing society, social relationships may benefit cognitive performance with an impact on the health of older people. This study aims to estimate the effect of different social support sources on the risk of cognitive impairment in a sample of older Portuguese people. (2) Methods: From the Portuguese EpiPorto cohort study, we followed a sample of participants with 60 to 85 years ( N = 656) between 2009 and 2015 (4.63 mean yea…
A multidimensional perspective of the relation between social isolation and depression among Portuguese older adults
We aimed to explore how different social isolation components were associated with depression among older adults in Portugal. We analysed data collected through structured questionnaires in 2017 from 643 Portuguese adults aged 60 and over. Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (Short-Form). Social isolation was operationalised using objective indicators - living alone, marital status, leisure activities - and subjective ind…
Special Report
Funded by the European Commission Horizon2020 programme, the Lifepath research consortium aimed to understand the impacts of socioeconomic inequalities on the biology of healthy ageing. The main research questions included the impact of inequalities on health, the role of behavioural and other risk factors, the underlying biological mechanisms, the efficacy of selected policies, and the general implications of our findings for theories and polici…
Indoor hygrothermal conditions and quality of life in social housing
Knowledge about HIV, HBV and HCV modes of transmission among pregnant women in Nampula – Mozambique
The assessment of pregnant women's knowledge about modes of infections transmission is essential to tailor programs to their needs. This study aimed to assess knowledge about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among pregnant women in Nampula - Mozambique, a high-risk area for sexually transmitted infections. At their first antenatal visit, women were invited to participate and data were collec…
Social Capital in Transition(s) to Early Adulthood
Social capital captures the value of relationships. Although research has examined social capital among adults, comparatively little attention has been paid to social capital among young adults—particularly from a longitudinal and mixed-methods perspective. As social capital predicts educational achievement, employment, and psychosocial well-being, it is an important construct to study alongside youth transition(s). Following a Bourdieusian appro…
Socioeconomic status and the 25 × 25 risk factors as determinants of premature mortality
A Scoping Review on Studies of Cyberbullying Prevalence Among Adolescents
This descriptive scoping aims to understand how the prevalence of cyberbullying has been estimated across studies. A systematic scoping review of cyberbullying empirical studies was conducted by using three bibliographic databases to search for papers published between January 2004 and August 2014. A protocol was defined to identify the relevant papers. Papers selected were included in a data sheet developed by the authors to record specific find…
Socioeconomic differences in children’s growth trajectories from infancy to early adulthood
BACKGROUND: Height is regarded as a marker of early-life illness, adversity, nutrition and psychosocial stress, but the extent to which differences in height are determined by early-life socioeconomic circumstances, particularly in contemporary populations, is unclear. This study examined socioeconomic differences in children's height trajectories from birth through to 21 years of age in four European countries. METHODS: Data were from six prospe…
The chronicity and severity of abuse among older persons by country
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate chronicity (frequency) in different abuse types (e.g. psychological) and overall abuse (all abuse types) by severity (minor, severe, total) in seven European cities, and scrutinize factors associated with high chronicity levels (frequency on the median and higher) in psychological and overall abuse by severity. Design/methodology/approach – The study design was cross-sectional. The sample cons…
Interpersonal Violence Among Immigrants in Portugal
Uso de tabaco por estudantes adolescentes portugueses e fatores associados
OBJETIVO: Descrever o uso de tabaco e identificar os seus determinantes em estudantes adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, tendo sido avaliadas 1.052 meninas e 984 meninos de 13 anos de idade matriculados em escolas públicas e privadas da cidade do Porto, Portugal. A proporção individual de participação foi de 77,5%. O adolescente e o seu responsável preencheram um questionário sobre informações sociodemográficas e de comportamento em suas …
Socioeconomic differences in children’s growth trajectories from infancy to early adulthood
BACKGROUND: Height is regarded as a marker of early-life illness, adversity, nutrition and psychosocial stress, but the extent to which differences in height are determined by early-life socioeconomic circumstances, particularly in contemporary populations, is unclear. This study examined socioeconomic differences in children's height trajectories from birth through to 21 years of age in four European countries. METHODS: Data were from six prospe…
Social Capital in Transition(s) to Early Adulthood
Social capital captures the value of relationships. Although research has examined social capital among adults, comparatively little attention has been paid to social capital among young adults—particularly from a longitudinal and mixed-methods perspective. As social capital predicts educational achievement, employment, and psychosocial well-being, it is an important construct to study alongside youth transition(s). Following a Bourdieusian appro…
A multidimensional perspective of the relation between social isolation and depression among Portuguese older adults
We aimed to explore how different social isolation components were associated with depression among older adults in Portugal. We analysed data collected through structured questionnaires in 2017 from 643 Portuguese adults aged 60 and over. Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (Short-Form). Social isolation was operationalised using objective indicators - living alone, marital status, leisure activities - and subjective ind…
Uso de tabaco por estudantes adolescentes portugueses e fatores associados
OBJETIVO: Descrever o uso de tabaco e identificar os seus determinantes em estudantes adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, tendo sido avaliadas 1.052 meninas e 984 meninos de 13 anos de idade matriculados em escolas públicas e privadas da cidade do Porto, Portugal. A proporção individual de participação foi de 77,5%. O adolescente e o seu responsável preencheram um questionário sobre informações sociodemográficas e de comportamento em suas …
Impact of Socio-Demographic Factors on HIV Testing Among African Immigrants in Portugal
P1-424 Lifetime school failure and physical fighting at 17 years of age
Objective To evaluate the association between school grade retention and physical fighting among adolescents. Methods We evaluated 1687 adolescents, part of EPITeen population-based cohort of urban adolescents, at 13 and 17 years of age. At both study waves, socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics were obtained by self-completed questionnaires. School failure was considered as the school grades retention reported by adolescents. Physica…
Interpersonal Violence Among Immigrants in Portugal
Consumo de substâncias ilícitas por adolescentes portugueses
OBJETIVO: Descrever a prevalência de consumo de drogas ilícitas em adolescentes e os motivos que os levam a experimentá-las. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 2.499 adolescentes de 17 anos, com base numa coorte designada por EPITeen, iniciada em 2003/2004 com adolescentes nascidos em 1990 que estudavam nas escolas públicas e privadas da cidade do Porto, Portugal. Foi realizada nova avaliação em 2007/2008, sendo recuperados 1.716 adolescentes (79,4%…
The chronicity and severity of abuse among older persons by country
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate chronicity (frequency) in different abuse types (e.g. psychological) and overall abuse (all abuse types) by severity (minor, severe, total) in seven European cities, and scrutinize factors associated with high chronicity levels (frequency on the median and higher) in psychological and overall abuse by severity. Design/methodology/approach – The study design was cross-sectional. The sample cons…
Socioeconomic status and the 25 × 25 risk factors as determinants of premature mortality
A Scoping Review on Studies of Cyberbullying Prevalence Among Adolescents
This descriptive scoping aims to understand how the prevalence of cyberbullying has been estimated across studies. A systematic scoping review of cyberbullying empirical studies was conducted by using three bibliographic databases to search for papers published between January 2004 and August 2014. A protocol was defined to identify the relevant papers. Papers selected were included in a data sheet developed by the authors to record specific find…
Socioeconomic differences in children’s growth trajectories from infancy to early adulthood
BACKGROUND: Height is regarded as a marker of early-life illness, adversity, nutrition and psychosocial stress, but the extent to which differences in height are determined by early-life socioeconomic circumstances, particularly in contemporary populations, is unclear. This study examined socioeconomic differences in children's height trajectories from birth through to 21 years of age in four European countries. METHODS: Data were from six prospe…
Indoor hygrothermal conditions and quality of life in social housing
Knowledge about HIV, HBV and HCV modes of transmission among pregnant women in Nampula – Mozambique
The assessment of pregnant women's knowledge about modes of infections transmission is essential to tailor programs to their needs. This study aimed to assess knowledge about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among pregnant women in Nampula - Mozambique, a high-risk area for sexually transmitted infections. At their first antenatal visit, women were invited to participate and data were collec…
Social Capital in Transition(s) to Early Adulthood
Social capital captures the value of relationships. Although research has examined social capital among adults, comparatively little attention has been paid to social capital among young adults—particularly from a longitudinal and mixed-methods perspective. As social capital predicts educational achievement, employment, and psychosocial well-being, it is an important construct to study alongside youth transition(s). Following a Bourdieusian appro…
Special Report
Funded by the European Commission Horizon2020 programme, the Lifepath research consortium aimed to understand the impacts of socioeconomic inequalities on the biology of healthy ageing. The main research questions included the impact of inequalities on health, the role of behavioural and other risk factors, the underlying biological mechanisms, the efficacy of selected policies, and the general implications of our findings for theories and polici…
Adverse Childhood Events and Health Biomarkers
Background: This systematic review aimed to summarize evidence reporting epigenetic and/or neuro-immuno-endocrine embedding of adverse childhood events (ACEs) in children, with a particular focus on the short-term biological effect of those experiences. Methods: A search was conducted in PsycINFO®, PubMed®, Isi Web of Knowledge and Scopus, until July 2019, to identify papers reporting the short-term biological effects of exposure to ACEs. Results…
Social Support and Cognitive Impairment
(1) Background: In an ageing society, social relationships may benefit cognitive performance with an impact on the health of older people. This study aims to estimate the effect of different social support sources on the risk of cognitive impairment in a sample of older Portuguese people. (2) Methods: From the Portuguese EpiPorto cohort study, we followed a sample of participants with 60 to 85 years ( N = 656) between 2009 and 2015 (4.63 mean yea…
A multidimensional perspective of the relation between social isolation and depression among Portuguese older adults
We aimed to explore how different social isolation components were associated with depression among older adults in Portugal. We analysed data collected through structured questionnaires in 2017 from 643 Portuguese adults aged 60 and over. Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (Short-Form). Social isolation was operationalised using objective indicators - living alone, marital status, leisure activities - and subjective ind…
How women’s empowerment influences fertility-related outcomes and contraceptive practices
Women’s empowerment could be a crucial step for tackling gender inequality and improve women’s reproductive health and rights in Mozambique. This study aims to examine how different domains of women’s empowerment influence fertility-related outcomes and contraceptive practices in Mozambique. We used the 2015 Demographic Health Survey (DHS) conducted in Mozambique from which a sample of 2072 women aged 15 to 49 years were selected and included in …
Influence of Social Adversity on Perceived Health Status and Depressive Symptoms among Portuguese Older People
This study aims to investigate how exposure to poverty, food insecurity, and abuse at older ages relates to health outcomes. A questionnaire collecting data on sociodemographic and economic characteristics, health status, depressive symptoms, food insecurity, and abuse was administered to a sample of 677 older adults. Logistic regression was used to quantify the association of poverty, food insecurity, and abuse with perceived health status and d…
Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in the First Decade of Life
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a modifiable risk factor for diseases throughout life. This study estimates the prevalence of ACEs in children, addressing associated sociodemographic characteristics and examining the relationship of ACEs with the child's health and behaviors. We used information on 5295 participants at 10 years old, of the birth cohort Generation XXI, established in Porto, Portugal. Children answered a self-administered …
Life-course socio-economic status and its impact on functional health of Portuguese older adults
Functional health is arguably one of the most important health indicators for older adults, because it assesses physical, cognitive and social functions in combination. However, life-course circumstances may impact this multidimensional construct. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between life-course socio-economic status (SES) and different dimensions of functional health in older adults. Data on 821 Portuguese adults a…
Older people are weak”
The results show that respondents link the ageist narratives that exist in our societies to the prevalence and naturalisation of violence against older people, that the risk of abuse increases with the weakening of family support networks, and that abuse is both a manifestation of asymmetrical power relations between victims and perpetrators and a severe violation of human rights. The findings also highlight the need to broaden the concept of vio…
Bias-Motivated Physical or Verbal Violence Among Men Who Have Sex with Men
Introduction Victimization based on sexual orientation or gender identity is a cause for concern. Bias-motivated violence affect not only the individuals targeted but also their communities and societies as a whole. Objective To estimate the proportion of bias-motivated victimization among cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and to compare sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics and HIV and syphilis test results between victims and …
We’re going to tie you to the chair
This article analyses the experiences and perceptions of a sample of people over 60 about the most frequent type of violence in old age, the risk factors, the offenders and the reactions to abuse. A mixed study was carried out with the sequential application of 677 questionnaires and 45 interviews. The results show that older people are mainly victims of psychological abuse and financial exploitation; the type of abuse varies according to the typ…
“Are we still at this point
As researchers and teachers experienced in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, we have witnessed persistent misconceptions about qualitative research (QR) in health-related fields. While quantitative methods are often considered the gold standard, QR remains undervalued and is perceived as less rigorous. This skepticism stems from applying quantitative criteria-such as generalizability and statistical significance-to QR, disregarding it…
Exposure to Domestic Violence and Involvement in Aggressive Behaviors During Adolescence
Medicine (19 works) · Psychology (14 works) · Demography (11 works) · Environmental health (11 works) · Sociology (10 works) · Psychiatry (9 works) · Gerontology (8 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (8 works) · Social Psychology (8 works) · Poison control (7 works)