Promoting Physical Exercise Participation: The Role of Interpersonal Behaviors for Practical Implications

he number of people engaging in physical exercise has been decreasing every year. These behaviors are known to be related with non-communicable chronic diseases and to drastically increase premature morbidity and mortality. Since “the lack of motivation” has been pointed out as one of the main reasons for not engaging in physical exercise, several theoretical and empirical studies have been conducted aimed at understanding what influences behavior regulation. According to literature, gym exercisers who perceive exercise instructors as supportive are more likely to maintain physical exercise participation over the long-run. Supporting autonomy, competence, and relatedness should be carefully considered when interacting with health club clients as a way to promote more autonomous motivation. Overall, it seems that exercise instructors should foster a supportive environment for gym exercisers, in order to encourage exercise as a habitual behavior.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Behavioral Regulation Sport Questionnaire: Gender and Sport Invariance in Portuguese Athletes

Versão depositada: post-printThis study aimed to analyze measurement invariance of the Behavioral Regulation Sports Questionnaire (BRSQ) across the gender and four different sports. In addition, we examined nomological validity via basic psychological needs satisfaction. Participants totaled 1,812 Portuguese athletes (1,220 males and 592 females; aged 15–59 years, Mage ¼ 17.72, SD ¼ 5.51) from football (n ¼ 596), basketball (n ¼ 273), swimming (n ¼ 800), and parasport (n ¼ 143). The BRSQ measurement model was invariant across the gender and these four sports. The scale confirmed nomological validity in that satisfaction of the basic psychological needs positively predicted autonomous forms of motivation and negatively predicted more controlled motivation and amotivation as suggested by self-determination theory. In light of this evidence for BRSQ construct validity, composite reliability, nomological validity, and invariance across the gender and four different sports, this scale is a useful tool for the coaches of the aforementioned sports in their efforts to evaluate their athletes’ motivation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

SIG Contribution in the Making of Geotechnical Maps in Urban Areas

The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has spread to several science areas, from oceanography to geotechnics. Its application in the urban mapping was intensified in the last century, which allowed a great development, due to the use of geographic database, new analysis tools and, more recently, free open source software. Geotechnical cartography struggle with a permanent and large environment re-organization in urban area, due to new building construction, trenching and the drilling of sampling wells and holes. This creates an extra important and largest volume of data at any pre-existence geological map. The main problem results on the fact that the natural environment is covered with buildings and communications system. The purpose of this work is to create a viable geographic information base for geotechnical mapping through a free GIS computer program and open source, with non-traditional cartographic sources, giving preference to open platforms. QGIS was used as software and "Google Maps", "Bing Maps" and "OpenStreetMap" were applied as cartographic sources using the "OpenLayers plugin" module. Finally, we also pretend to identify and delimit the degree of granite's change and fracturing areas using a "Streetview" platform. This model has cartographic input which are a geological map study area, open cartographic web archives and the use of "Streetview" platform. The output has several layouts, such as topography intersection (roads, borders, etc.), with geological map and the bordering area of Guarda Urban Zone. The use of this platform types decrease the collect data time and, sometimes, a careful observation of pictures that were taken during excavations may reveal important details for geological mapping in the study area.The author would like to thank to the Research Unit for Inland Development (UDI) and Scientific Units GeoBioTec (Aveiro University) by the conceded supports. This work is sponsored by FEDER funds through the Operational Programme Competitiveness Factors - COMPETE and National Funds by FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/GEO/04035/2013

Lower limb dynamic activity significantly reduces foot skin perfusion: exploring data with different optical sensors in age-grouped healthy adults

Introduction: The human lower limb is widely used as a model to study in vivo microcirculatory physiology and pathophysiology. It is a preferential target for critical comorbidities (overweight, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease). Movement and activity are consistently regarded as beneficial, but the related adaptive physiology is still poorly understood. Our goal was to better identify the foot microcirculatory changes after a regular walking gait activity in healthy subjects of different ages. Methods: Twelve healthy participants of both sexes, with normal BMI and Ankle-Brachial Index, were selected and grouped according to age - group I (21.0 ± 1 y.o.) and group II (55.8 ± 3 y.o.). The protocol involved 2 phases of 5-min duration each - phase 1, a static standing position, and phase 2, 5-min walking with a comfortable pace on a pre-established circuit. Perfusion changes were assessed in the dorsal region of both feet before (baseline, phase 1) and after (phase 2) the gait period by noninvasive optical technologies - laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), photoplethysmography, and polarized spectroscopy (PSp). Comparative statistics were performed with a 95% confidence level. Results: All instruments detected asymmetric nonsignificant perfusion between right and left feet during rest in all participants with values in females consistently lower than men. Older participants exhibited lower baseline values than the younger group. Gait evoked a perfusion reduction in all participants relative to phase 1 detected with all technologies, with statistically significant changes recorded with LDF (group I, p = 0.033, and group II, p = 0.028) and PSp (group II, p = 0.041). Furthermore, LDF revealed that gait significantly reduced perfusion velocity in the older group (p = 0.003). Corresponding changes in the younger group were present but discrete. Recovery to baseline levels was also slower in the older group. Discussion/Conclusions: Our results confirm that perfusion is age-dependent and demonstrate the clinical relevance of simple dynamic activities such as gait. This reduction of the dorsal foot perfusion occurs in-depth, being more pronounced with the movement intensity, suggesting a wide application potential in early diagnostics as for rehabilitation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Enjoyment as a Predictor of Exercise Habit, Intention to Continue Exercising, and Exercise Frequency: The Intensity Traits Discrepancy Moderation Role

Given the need to explore the factors that can account for a better understanding of the intention-behavior gap in exercise practice in health club settings, and considering the emergence of hedonic assumptions related to exercise adherence, this cross-sectional study aimed to test the moderation effect of the intensity traits agreement/disagreement in three relevant outcomes of exercise enjoyment: exercise habit, intention to continue exercising, and exercise frequency. A sample consisted of 273 exercisers (male = 127; Mage = 36.21; SD = 11.29) enrolled in nine health clubs who voluntarily fulfilled a battery of questionnaires. All analyses were performed using SPSS v. 23.0/PROCESS v. 3.5. The results of the study presented a moderation effect of exercise intensity traits agreement on three relevant enjoyment outcomes: exercise habit, intention to continue exercising, and exercise frequency. No relevant results emerged from intensity traits disagreement. The results suggest that assessing and tailoring exercise prescription and supervision in order to customize exercise intensity may influence future exercise participation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Can Interpersonal Behavior Influence the Persistence and Adherence to Physical Exercise Practice in Adults? A Systematic Review

Objective: Motivation seems to be a fundamental indicator of long-term physical exercise adherence. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) argues that social environment plays a central role in the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, which might directly affect the quality of one’s motivation. Individuals who appear to be more self-determined tend to persist longer at certain behaviors. Therefore, this body of work intends to analyze the relationship between motivational variables and behavioral outcomes in the exercise context, having as theoretical background the Self-Determination Theory. Methods: This systematic review was conducted through an electronic search on Web of Science, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO. Data such as instruments, main predictors and results were collected from studies published between 1985 and 2018. A total of 35 empirical studies were considered for a detailed analysis. Results: Results showed the relevance of autonomy support performed by exercise professionals, as well as the major contribution that these behaviors have toward the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, besides the inherent benefits of developing more autonomous regulations. According to the literature, few studies have analyzed interpersonal thwarting behavior and the way this relates to basic psychological needs’ frustration. Nether less, there seems to be a negative relationship between less self-determined regulations and exercise practice. Conclusion: Despite the existence of numerous cross-sectional studies that demonstrate positive correlations between SDT and behavioral outcomes in the exercise context, longitudinal research that analyzes all six dimensions of interpersonal behaviors and their relationship with persistence and adherence to exercise proves to be crucial. However, according to this review, interventions based on SDT appear to be fundamental when it comes to promote the maintenance of a long-term exercise practice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Produção e o emprego industrial no Brasil e o impacto da abertura comercial (1990-2008)

Analisou-se a liberalização comercial, o nível de emprego e a produção industrial no período entre 1990 e 2008. Em 1980, o Modelo de Substituição de Importações (MSI) sofreu com os efeitos retardados de três grandes choques adversos que estrangularam a balança de pagamentos gerando estagflação. Era evidente o MSI tinha se esgotado. O modelo adotado em 1990, o Modelo do Consenso de Washington, prega a liberalização comercial e financeira como base para uma economia de fundamentos macroeconômicos sólidos. Seus princípios foram postos em prática no Brasil através da PICE. Em relação à indústria, o período entre 1990 e 2008 foi um período de ganho extraordinário de produtividade. A relação entre produção industrial e desemprego total mostrou-se positiva entre 1990 e 2008, como prediz a Lei de Okun adaptada ao estudo da indústria. O Teorema SS demonstrou que para se incentivar o setor agropecuário deve-se facilitar a importação de maquinário e para incentivar o setor industrial deve-se tornar a mão-de-obra mais produtiva e barata. O Modelo de Blanchard demonstrou como os sindicatos de trabalhadores reagem diante das mudanças estruturais da economia. Durante a liberalização econômica e sob um quadro de crises externas, a força dos sindicatos se reduziu em relação à década de 1980. Como o processo de liberalização econômica trouxe consigo uma elevação do desemprego natural, os sindicatos perderam a força para defender eficientemente os interesses dos trabalhadores. O governo Lula marcou uma melhora nos indicadores de emprego e produção industrial. Não há como negar que a economia estável foi a melhor herança que o governo passado deixou para a gestão Lula. No entanto, sabe-se hoje, que o custo da política de estabilização e da liberalização comercial da década de 1990 poderia ter sido menor, caso o medo de se repetir os fracassos observados no próprio histórico e de outros países, quando sob pressão das crises econômicas internacionais, não tivesse levado a medidas extremas de contenção de demanda.

The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (Paces) as a Two-Dimensional Scale: Exploratory and Invariance Analysis

The current study aims to examine the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) as a two-dimensional scale assessing two correlated but distinct dimensions of enjoyment. In total, 277 individuals (female = 108) aged between 18 and 53 years (M = 35.66; SD = 7.42) participated in the study. The unidimensional model solution displayed good fit. However, the exploratory structural equation modelling specification considering two correlated but distinct dimensions of enjoyment showed a better fit. This study was the first attempt to examine the possible existence of two dimensions within the eight-item PACES measure. The distinct aspect of the current research is to emphasize the complex and constant process of instrument validation. Scales should be viewed as a continuous process, and future methodological procedures will increase our understanding of instrument examination with more innovative statistical approaches.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The relationship between past exercise behavior and future exercise adherence: A sequential mediation analysis

The present study explored the mediation role of past exercise adherence, self-reported frequency and intentions in the association between past experience and future exercise adherence. In total, 431 exercisers (female = 216; male = 215) aged 18 and 64 years, engaged in fitness activities such as group fitness classes and resistance training, were included in the analysis. Serial mediation procedures were employed to examine the direct, indirect, and total indirect effects among variables. The predictor variable and all mediators displayed a positive and significant association with future six-month adherence. Past six-month exercise adherence displayed the most significant association with future six-month adherence. The sequential indirect path from exercise experience → past six-months adherence → self-reported frequency → intentions future six-months adherence displayed a positive and significant effect (β = .19 [CI95% = .09, .31]), presenting a partial mediation effect. Past behaviour is the most significant predictor of future adherence, and thus interventions should be based on promoting consistent exercise frequency. Professionals working in the fitness centre context can identify possible dropouts based on their past behaviour and intentions to be physically active in the future.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Did You Enjoy It? The Role of Intensity-Trait Preference/Tolerance in Basic Psychological Needs and Exercise Enjoyment

Promoting exercise regimens that aim at enhancing the quality of individuals’ subjective exercise experience can be challenging. Given the recent theoretical contributions regarding the possible interaction of exercise intensity-traits and several motivational variables, as well as their potential value for exercise adherence, the objective of this study was to examine the mediation role of basic psychological needs in the relationship between preference for and tolerance of exercise intensity and enjoyment. This cross-sectional study comprised a total of 160 exercisers (Mage = 34.12, SD = 9.23, 73 males) enrolled in several health clubs. All analyses were performed using SPSS v. 23.0/PROCESS v. 3.4. The results indicate that intensity-traits presented positive associations with enjoyment, and negative associations with all of needs frustration variables. A mediation role of needs frustration emerged in the intensity traits and enjoyment associations that was analyzed according to relatable theoretical considerationsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio