Constituent year effect in masters sports: An empirical view on the historical development in US masters swimming

A participation-related constituent year effect, has been found to exist in masters sports in that relatively younger masters athletes (i.e., those in the first or second year of a 5-year age category) participate in competitions significantly more often than relatively older masters athletes (i.e., those in the fourth or fifth year of a 5-year age category). The main purpose of this study was to examine if the participation-related constituent year effect in US masters swimming always existed or if it has developed over time at different historical time periods. Using archived data, participation in the US Masters national short course swimming championships at each of the historical time periods in years 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012 and 2016 were examined as a function of an individual’s constituent year within any 5-year age category and across gender and age. The results indicated the existence of a participation-related constituent year effect for each of the six time periods. In particular, a participation-related constituent year effect seemed to have existed from the inception of organized masters swimming competitions in the US but has developed more strongly over the years especially for males and older-aged masters swimmers. Generally, the tendency to participate at National swimming competitions during the first year of an age category was significantly more pronounced, whereas the tendency of participating during the fifth year of an age category was lower. Findings suggest that the 5-year age categories may not provide an equal competitive opportunity especially for relatively older athletes as for those who are relatively younger, but may encourage more strategic periodized training and participation

Effectiveness of a web platform on university students’ motivation to quit smoking

Objetivo: conhecer a dependência da nicotina e a motivação para parar de fumar em estudantes de Enfermagem e Fisioterapia de uma universidade no sul da Espanha e avaliar o impacto de uma intervenção baseada no uso de tecnologias da informação na motivação para parar de fumar. Método: estudo piloto em duas fases: a primeira transversal e a segunda de intervenção antes-depois. A motivação para parar de fumar foi avaliada usando o questionário Richmond, a dependência da nicotina através do questionário de Fagerström e uma intervenção baseada no uso de uma plataforma online foi realizada para aumentar a motivação para parar de fumar. Estatística descritiva e inferencial foram aplicadas. Resultados: a prevalência de consumo de tabaco foi de 4,33% (n=29). 3,45% dos participantes tinham alta dependência e 6,90%, alta motivação. O nível de motivação não foi alterado após a intervenção (p=0,10). Conclusão: a maioria dos estudantes tem baixo nível de motivação para parar de fumar e dependência física à nicotina. O nível de motivação para parar de fumar não é diferente após a realização da intervenção.Objetivo: conocer la dependencia a la nicotina y la motivación para el cese tabáquico en estudiantes de Enfermería y Fisioterapia de una universidad del sur de España y evaluar el efecto de una intervención basada en el uso de tecnologías de la información en la motivación para el cese tabáquico. Método: estudio piloto de dos fases: la primera transversal y la segunda de intervención antes-después. Se valoró la motivación para dejar de fumar mediante el cuestionario Richmond, la dependencia a la nicotina a través del cuestionario Fagerström, y se llevó a cabo una intervención basada en el uso de una plataforma web para incrementar la motivación del cese tabáquico. Se aplicó estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Resultados: la prevalencia de consumo de tabaco fue del 4.33% (n=29). El 3.45% de los participantes presentó alta dependencia, y el 6.90%, alta motivación. El nivel de motivación no se vio alterado tras la intervención (p=0.10). Conclusión: la mayor parte de los estudiantes tiene un nivel bajo de motivación para dejar de fumar y de dependencia física a la nicotina. El nivel de motivación para el cese tabáquico no es diferente tras realizar la intervención.Objective: to know the dependence on nicotine and the motivation to quit smoking in Nursing and Physiotherapy students of a university in the South of Spain, and to evaluate the impact of an intervention based on the use of information technologies on the motivation to quit smoking. Method: a pilot study in two phases: the first being cross-sectional and the second, a before-and-after intervention. The motivation to quit smoking was assessed by means of the Richmond questionnaire, and the dependence on nicotine through the Fagerström questionnaire; additionally, an intervention was performed based on the use of a web platform to increase motivation to quit smoking. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Results: the prevalence in the use of tobacco was 4.33% (n=29). 3.45% of the participants had a high level of dependence; and 6.90%, a high level of motivation. The level of motivation did not change after the intervention (p=0.10). Conclusion: most of the students have low levels of motivation to quit smoking and of physical dependence to nicotine. The level of motivation to quit smoking does not change after performing the intervention