Composición factorial del cuestionario ABPEF en universitarios mexicanos

El presente estudio pretende indagar si se replican los resultados psicométricos propuestos por Niñerola, Capdevila y Pintanel (2006) para el Autoinforme de Barreras para la Práctica de Ejercicio Físico (ABPEF) en universitarios mexicanos. Participaron un total de 1528 universitarios (edad media = 20.78 ± 2.45 años). La estructura factorial del cuestionario se analizó a través de análisis factoriales confirmatorios, que mostraron que una estructura de cuatro factores es viable y adecuada. Los cuatro factores (imagen corporal, fatiga, obligaciones y ambiente), atendiendo a criterios estadísticos y sustantivos, han mostrado adecuados indicadores de ajuste de fiabilidad y validez. Además, la estructura factorial, las cargas factoriales y los interceptos se consideran invariantes entre deportistas y no deportistas, existiendo diferencias en las puntuaciones entre ambas poblaciones. Futuras investigaciones deberían replicar estos hallazgos en muestras más amplias.The current study aims to search if the psychometric results proposed by Niñerola et al. (2006) for the Barriers for the Practice of Physical Activity Scale (BPPAS) are replicated in Mexican university students. A total of 1528 Mexican university students participated in this study (average age = 20.78 ± 2.45 years). The factor structure of the BPPAS was conducted by confirmatory factor analyses that showed a feasible and adequate fourfactor structure. The four factors (body image, fatigue, obligations, and environment), attending to statistical and susbstantive criteria, have shown fit indices of reliability and validity. Moreover, the factor structure, the standardized regression weights, and the intercepts were considered as invariants between athletic and non-athletic participants, obtaining differences in the factors punctuations. Future research should replicate these findings in wider samples.O presente estudo pretende indagar si poderem-se replicar os resultados psicométricos propostos por Niñerola et al. (2006) para o Autoinforme de Barreiras pala Prática de Exercício Físico (ABPEF) em universitários mexicanos. Um total de 1528 universitários (edade media = 20.78 ± 2.45 anos) participaram no estudo. La estrutura fatorial do questionário investigou-se através de análises fatoriais confirmatórios, que mostraram que uma estrutura de quatro fatores é viável e adequada. Os quatro fatores (imagem corporal, fadiga, obrigações e ambiente), de acordo com critérios estadísticos e substantivos, mostraram indicadores adequados de ajuste de fiabilidade e validez. Ademais, a estrutura fatorial, as cargas fatoriais e os interceptos consideram-se invariantes entre desportistas e não desportistas, existindo diferencias nas pontuações entre ambas povoações. Investigações futuras deveriam replicar estos achados em amostras mais amplias

Academic self-efficacy in first year students college of health sciences

Self-efficacy learning is an important component of learning for college. Academic self-efficacy refers to the degree of confidence that health sciences students could successfully complete on college-task. The purpose of this research lies on the specific characteristics of health sciences students according to their academic self-efficacy by comparing their profiles with students that chose a different discipline. The Academic self-efficacy sample was done to 2089 subjects: 902 women and 1187 men, all of them freshmen students from the different careers at the Autonomous University of Chihuahua who responded to a survey questionnaire, with an average age of 18.23 years (SD = 0.74). This is a quantitative approach with a descriptive survey design type. The results obtained by comparing students of health sciences, with students from other disciplines show that perceived self-efficacy in academic behaviors is very similar each other

Young Mexican physical self – concept gender comparisons

The purpose of the present study was to compare the profiles of physical self-concept between men and women high school Mexican students. A total sample of 709 participants, 324 women and 385 men, aged 13-19 years participated in this study. A quantitative approach with a descriptive and transversal survey design was used. All the participants completed the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire. Results of the one-way multivariate analysis of variance, followed by the one-way univariate analysis of variance, showed that in comparison among women, men obtained higher scores on the health, coordination, activity, sports competence, strength, flexibility, endurance, global physical self-concept and global self-esteem subscales. However, in the body fat and appearance subscales statistically significant differences were not found because of the differences between men and women in their perception of their physical self-concept, these findings suggest that in order to design any intervention for improving the perceived physical self-concept of the students, the variable gender should be taken into accoun

Autoconcepto físico, género y cuidado de la salud en universitarios mexicanos

Esta investigación, mediante modelos de ecuaciones estructurales, analiza los efectos directos e indirectos del género y el cuidado de la salud sobre el autoconcepto físico. La muestra total fue de 938 universitarios mexicanos, con una edad media de 20.46 años (DE=1.83). Los resultados indican que el género y los hábitos saludables son las variables con mayor poder explicativo sobre la competencia motora y el atractivo físico. También destaca la capacidad mediadora del estrés entre los hábitos no saludables y el autoconcepto físico. Futuras investigaciones deberían replicar estos hallazgos en muestras más amplias.This research, through structural equation models, analyze the direct and indirect effects of gender and health care on physical self-concept. The total sample was of 938 Mexican university students, with an average age of 20.46 years (SD = 1.83). The proposed model obtains a satisfactory fit. Being significant the majority of the hypothesized relationships. Gender and healthy habits are the variables with greater explanatory power over motor competence and physical attractiveness. It also emphasizes the mediator capacity of stress between unhealthy habits and physical self-concept. Future research should replicate these findings in larger samples.Nesta pesquisa, mediante modelos de ecuações estricturais, analisa os efeitos direitos e indireitos do gênero e cuidado da saúde sobre o autoconceito físico. Amuestra total foi de 938 universitários mexicanos com uma edade promedio de 20.46 anos (DE=1.83). O modelo proposo consigue um ajuste satisfatório. São significativas a mayoría das relações hipóteseadas. O gênero e hábitos saudáveis são as variáveis com maior poder explicativo sobre a competência motora e atrativo físico. Também sobressai a capacidadae mediadora do stress dos hábitos não saudáveis e do autoconceito físico. Outras investigações deberíam replicar estos achados em mostras maiores

Factorial Structure of the Self-Report of Barriers for Practice of Physical Exercise Among Mexican Non Athlete University Students

The present study intends to investigate if the psychometric results proposed by Niñerola, Capdevila and Pintanel (2006) for the Self-report of Barriers for Practice Physical Exercise (ABPEF) in Mexican university students are replicated. A total of 877 university students (mean age = 20.8 ± 2.5 years) participated. The factorial structure of the questionnaire was analyzed through confirmatory factorial analyzis, which showed that a four factor structure is feasible and adequate. The four factors (body image, fatigue, obligations and environment), according to statistical and substantive criteria, have shown adequate fit indicators of reliability and validity, which correspond to the structure proposed for the original questionnaire. In addition, the results of the factorial analyzis carried out with the subsamples, indicate the existence of strong evidence of the stability of the factorial structure. Further research should replicate these findings in larger samples

Factorial Structure of the Self-Report Barriers for Practice Physical Exercise in Mexican Athletes University Students

The present study intends to investigate if the psychometric results are replicated for the Self-Report of Barriers to the Practice of Physical Exercise (ABPEF) in Mexican athletes university students. A total of 651 university students participated (mean age = 20.8 ± 2.4 years). The factorial structure of the questionnaire was analyzed through confirmatory factor analyzes, which showed that a structure of four factors is viable and adequate. The four factors (body image, fatigue, obligations and environment), based on statistical and substantive criteria, have shown adequate fit indicators of reliability and validity. In addition, the results of the factorial analyzes carried out with the sub-samples indicate the existence of strong evidence of the stability of the factorial structure. Future research should replicate these findings in larger samples

Invarianza Factorial del Cuestionario de Autoconcepto Dimensional AUDIM-M en Hombres y Mujeres Universitarios Mexicanos

The present study analyzes the psychometric properties of the Dimensional Self-Concept Questionnaire (AUDIM-M) in university men and women. The total sample was of 730 participants; 365 women and 365 men, with a means age of 20.55 years (SD = 1.87) and 20.78 years (SD = 1.90) respectively. According to the established psychometric requirements, the confirmatory factor analyzes showed that a four-factor structure (personal selfconcept, physical self-concept, social self-concept and academic self-concept) is viable and suitable for both populations (women and men). In addition, the factorial structure, the factorial loads and the intercepts are considered invariant in the two populations; however, there are differences between the populations for the means of the factors physical self-concept and social selfconcept

Performance of artificial neural networks and genetical evolved artificial neural networks unfolding techniques

With the Bonner spheres spectrometer neutron spectrum is obtained through an unfolding procedure. Monte Carlo methods, Regularization, Parametrization, Least-squares, and Maximum Entropy are some of the techniques utilized for unfolding. In the last decade methods based on Artificial Intelligence Technology have been used. Approaches based on Genetic Algorithms and Artificial Neural Networks have been developed in order to overcome the drawbacks of previous techniques. Nevertheless the advantages of Artificial Neural Networks still it has some drawbacks mainly in the design process of the network, vg the optimum selection of the architectural and learning ANN parameters. In recent years the use of hybrid technologies, combining Artificial Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms, has been utilized to. In this work, several ANN topologies were trained and tested using Artificial Neural Networks and Genetically Evolved Artificial Neural Networks in the aim to unfold neutron spectra using the count rates of a Bonner sphere spectrometer. Here, a comparative study of both procedures has been carried out

Metodología para investigar tendencias espacio-temporales en eventos meteorológicos extremos: caso Durango, México

Se propone una metodología basada en la teoría de valores extremos para investigar cambios espacio temporales en la tendencia a largo plazo de las variables meteorológicas precipitación y temperatura. Se presenta un ejemplo de aplicación para el estado de Durango, México, analizando los máximos anuales de las variables temperatura máxima, temperatura mínima y precipitación ocurridos de 1961 a 2000. Los resultados se presentan en mapas de tendencias de eventos extremos. Para el caso del estado de Durango se observan cambios en el comportamiento de eventos extremos, manifestándose una clara tendencia a la ocurrencia de años más secos y más cálidos en algunas zonas del estado