Maria João Alvarez

Health Education (e.g., healthy eating, sleep behavior, oral health, physical activity)
Sexual Risk Behaviors  (HIV, condom use, sex education)
Gender Studies (sexual double standard, gender violence campaigns)
Program Evaluation

CRUSh Casual Relationship Upshots for Sexual Protection (2018-2022), PI (Funded by FCT PTDC/PSI-GER/28530/2017)

Analysis of gender violence prevention campaigns: 2000-2025 , team member (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, 407745/2023-8)

Rodrigues, D., Carvalho, A. C., de Visser, R., Lopes, D., Alvarez, M.-J. (accepted). Do different sources of sexuality education contribute differently to sexual health and well-being outcomes? Examining sexuality education in Spain and Portugal. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships DOI: 10.1177/02654075241249172.

Amaro, H., Alvarez, M.-J., Ferreira, J. A., & Pereira, C. (2024). Development and evidence of validity of the New Sexual Double Standard Scale. Current Psychology, 43(11), 9692-9708. DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-05025-x.

Luz, R., Alvarez, M.-J., Godinho, C., Pegado, A., & Pereira, C. (2023). Multiple casual sex scripts: Shared beliefs about behavior among Portuguese emerging adults. International Journal of Sexual Health, 35(1), 105-122. DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2023.2172512.

Alvarez, M.-J., Pegado, A., Luz, R., & Amaro, H. (2023). Still striving after all these years: Between normality of conduct and normativity of evaluation in casual relationships in college students. Current Psychology, 42(13), 10645–10655. DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02344-9.

Sequeira, M., Pereira, C., & Alvarez, M.-J. (2023). Predicting physical activity in breast cancer survivors: The Health Action Process Approach at the intrapersonal level. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30(6), 777-789. DOI: 10.1007/s12529-022-10140-3.

Pegado, A., Alvarez, M.-J., Roberto, M. (2023). The role of behaviour-change theory in sleep interventions with emerging adults (aged 18-29 years): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sleep Research, 32(5), e13887. DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13877.

Amaro, H., Alvarez, M.-J., & Ferreira, J. A. (2022). Sexual gender roles and stereotypes and the sexual double standard in sexual satisfaction among Portuguese college students: An exploratory study. Psychology & Sexuality, 13(5), 1350-1365. DOI: 10.1080/19419899.2022.2039271.

Alvarez, M.-J., Pereira, C. R., Godinho, C., & Luz, R. (2021). Clear-cut terms and culture-sensitive characteristics of distinctive casual sexual relationships in Portuguese emerging adults. Sexuality & Culture, 25(6), 1966-1989. DOI: 10.1007/s12119-021-09859-0.

Moreno, F., Alvarez, M.-J., Ayllón, E., & Fernández Villanueva, I. (2020). Campaigns against Intimate Partner Violence toward women in Portugal 2000-2011: Types of prevention and target audiences. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 29(7), 876-895. DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2019.1637990.

Araújo, M., Alvarez, M.-J., Godinho, C. A., & Roberto, M. S. (2019). An eight-month randomized controlled trial on the use of intra-oral cameras and text messages for gingivitis control among adults. International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 17(3), 202-213. DOI: 10.1111/idh.12391.

Godinho, C., Alvarez, M.-J., & Lima, L. (2016). Emphasizing the losses or the gains: Comparing situational and individual moderators of framed messages to promote fruit and vegetable intake. Appetite, 96(1), 416-425. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2015.10.001.

Carvalho, T., Alvarez, M.J., Barz, M., & Schwarzer, R. (2015). Preparatory behavior for condom use among heterosexual young men: A longitudinal mediation model. Health Education & Behavior, 42, 92-99. DOI: 10.1177/1090198114537066.

Godinho, C., Alvarez, M.-J., Lima, L., & Schwarzer, R. (2014). Will is not enough: Coping planning and action control as predictors of fruit and vegetable intake. British Journal of Health Psychology, 19, 856-870. DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12084.

casual sexual relationships;
emergent adults;
sexual scripts;