Emotions as Predictors of Life Satisfaction among University Students

Emotional management is a decisive factor in building stimulating environments for the comprehensive development of individuals. In this study, 338 students enrolled in education degrees (n = 338), with an average age of 22.88 years (±5.50), participated. The following instruments were used: Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEI-S), Trait Meta Mood Scale 24 (TMMS 24) and Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQi-C). The objective was to determine the complementarity of certain dimensions of EI that predict greater life satisfaction based on the multivariate statistics of structural equations. The multi-group model obtained good structural validity (χ 2 = 103,729; RMSEA = 0.078; GFI = 0.917; CFI = 0.942; IFI = 0.943). In addition, significant correlations were found between life satisfaction and all dimensions were included in the emotional intelligence instruments used (p < 0.01). In terms of gender, we found that women had higher scores in all EI dimensions, in contrast to life satisfaction, where men had higher scores. The findings suggest the importance of working emotions in future educators to become satisfied and effective professionals

Pedagogical Coordination in Secondary Schools from a Distributed Perspective. Adaptation of the Distributed Leadership Inventory (DLI) in the Spanish Context

Introduction: Leadership as the second factor in school improvement needs potential leaders to be effective. Method: The present study aimed to know the potential capacity of leaders in Spanish secondary schools through the adaptation of the DLI questionnaire to Spanish. To accurately adapt this questionnaire, the present research group conducted content validity processes in 2017, using the Delphi Method, in which eight experts from the Spanish Network for Research into Leadership and Academic Improvement were invited to participate (RILME). As part of a pilot test, preliminary tools were administered to 547 participants from secondary schools in Granada and Jaén (Spain). Results: The present study reports on the adaptation of the DLI instrument within the Spanish context. Acceptably high values were obtained in the analysis of reliability and internal consistency, suggesting that this item can be reliably utilised for the exploration of the dynamics of internal functioning in secondary education and the evaluation of the distribution of leadership characteristics. Conclusions: The pilot study highlights how heads of studies and department heads are potential leaders, making it easier to set up and sustain educational projects in schools.Spanish Government FPU14/0505

Correlation between the Need for Cognitive Closure and Narrative Creativity in Secondary Education

(1) Background: The present study analyzed the need for cognitive closure and narrative creativity in adolescents. The aim was to demonstrate a strong relationship between narrative creativity and the need for cognitive closure. We analyzed a group of participants by applying a lie scale integrated with the Need for Closure Scale to detect potential relationships between students that entered the lie scale group (discarded) and those that were not discarded by exploring the following variables: gender, school type, group condition, and narrative creativity. (2) Methods: The instruments used were the Need for Closure Scale and the Test of Creative Imagination for Young People, PIC-J. Students of English as a foreign language in the 3rd year of secondary education from two schools were selected based on their availability to participate in the project. The students were aged 14 to 16 with a non-probabilistic sampling value of N = 117. (3) Results: Results show a negative correlation between narrative creativity and the need for cognitive closure. The need for cognitive closure is mainly manifested in two of its five dimensions: order and predictability. In addition, the group analysis of the lie scale revealed a higher tendency of male students to be less likely to respond truthfully. Meanwhile, the percentage of participants in the lie scale group was higher in rural schools. (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, students who do not belong to the lie scale group seem to have more creativity than students in the lie scale group, while students in the lie scale group have a lower final course grade than students in the non lie scale group

An Explanatory Model of the Relationships between Physical Activity, Social Support and Screen Time among Adolescents

Effective physical activity studies are necessary to understand how factors involved in physical activity mediate behaviour. Therefore, more reliable explanatory models can be generated in order to design effective actions to promote physical activity. The study had two aims: (1) to develop an explanatory model to identify and establish the relationships between physical activity, social support and screen time among adolescents; and (2) to contrast the explanatory structural model by means of a multi-group analysis according to sex. The study design was cross-sectional with descriptive and correlational analysis. The research was carried out with a representative sample of adolescents from the province of Soria (mean age 14.06 +/- 1.27 years). The instruments used were: Four by One-Day Physical Activity Questionnaire, Parent Support Scale and Peer Support Scale. The results show that social support had a negative relationship with screen time (r = -0.178; p <= 0.001); males had a positive relationship between physical activity and screen time (r = 0.118; p <= 0.05); and peer support had more influence on social support than parental support. In conclusion, the proposed model was effective in triangulating the relationships between physical activity, social support and screen time in a novel way, while allowing us to discriminate these results according to participants' sex

Effective leadership of the leadership from the perspective of the rest of the faculty

El ejercicio del liderazgo escolar, a lo largo de la historia de España, ha estado marcado por la escasez de candidatos y por el desempeño de un liderazgo burocrático, basado fundamentalmente en la gestión administrativa del Centro. En la actualidad se requiere de otra modalidad de liderazgo, no sólo por los grandes cambios que ha habido en nuestra sociedad, sino más bien porque las funciones de los equipos directivos han ido evolucionando según las necesidades de los centros escolares. Para que esta función se ejerza con más eficiencia, y cómo no, también con más eficacia, se requieren unas cualidades profesionales y personales para cumplir dicha misión. Un equipo directivo eficaz será quien, en su conducta y en sus relaciones interpersonales, refleje un verdadero compromiso con quienes les acompañan en sus quehaceres diarios y, también, hacia dónde enfocan el desarrollo de su liderazgo, es decir, el rumbo que le marcan a la institución escolar que dirigenThe exercise of school leadership, throughout the history of Spain, has been marked by the shortage of candidates and by the performance of a bureaucratic leadership, based fundamentally on the administrative management of the school. Nowadays, another type of leadership is required, not only because of their daily chores and, also, where they focus the development of their leadership, that is, the direction that they mark to the school they lea

Impact of emotional intelligence on adherence to the Mediterranean diet in elementary education school students. A structural equation model

Background. Adolescence is one of the stages where a large number of physical, psychological and emotional changes occur, the latter playing a key role in adherence to a healthy dietary pattern. Taking into account the above, this research reflects the objectives of developing an explanatory model of the incidence of attention, clarity and emotional repair on adherence to the Mediterranean diet and to contrast the structural model through a multigroup analysis based on Mediterranean adherence to this dietary pattern. Methods. To this end, a comparative descriptive cross-sectional study has been carried out with 293 students from the third cycle of primary education. The instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire, the KIDMED test and the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24). Results. Students who show low adherence to the Mediterranean diet have a negative association with the repair of negative emotions. Participants who show a medium adherence to the Mediterranean diet, it is observed that they have a negative relationship with emotional clarity, while students who claim to have a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet show positive relationships with each of the constructs that make up emotional intelligence

Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity, Family Support, Peer Support, and Screen Time: An Explanatory Model

It is important to investigate how the different factors of physical activity and screen time influence each population group in order to design effective proposals for health promotion. This study aims to: (1) create an explanatory model to establish the relationships between moderatevigorous physical activity time, screen time, family support, and peer support of adolescents in the region of Soria (Spain); (2) contrast the explanatory structural model according to the intensity of physical activity. A representative sample of 694 adolescents, aged 12–17 years, from the region of Soria was selected. The Four by One-Day Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Parent Support Scale, and the Peer Support Scale were administered. The data were treated according to a structural equation model to demonstrate the relationships between the study variables. The Chi-square pvalues and standardised fit indices (CFI, NFI, IFI, TLI, and RMSEA) were appropriate. Moreover, acceptable parameters were obtained in the general equations. The theoretical model is useful to explain the relationships between moderate-vigorous physical activity, family support, peer support, and screen time. In addition, models that differentiate between moderate and vigorous physical activity independently are also useful. Peer support plays a particular role relative to physical activity time, and family support plays a specific role regarding screen time

School Principals in Spain: Interplay of Leaders, Teachers and Context

This paper analyzes the Spanish school principal figures and their future patterns of leadership and development, according to educational policies in Europe. The first part presents a comprehensive overview of the situation of school principals in Spain, according to the Spanish policy; in the second part, its real practice in a secondary school is evidenced based on the results of a conducted research. The tensions and dilemmas currently faced by school principals in Spain will be analyzed: pedagogical leadership versus management-oriented principals. The interviews carried out reveal the meaning that the different agents give to “leadership”. A climate of trust and collaboration has been established between the management team, middle leaders and teaching staff, necessary conditions for the development of a shared school project and ensure its sustainability for achieve school improvement.This research was funded by Ministry of Education, grant number FPU2014/05050

The interplay between academic performance, emotional intelligence, and self-concept as predictors of violent behavior in higher education: a multi-group structural equation modeling

Higher education is a focus of increasing violent behavior. The evidence suggests an obsession to achieve the best academic performance in order to access working life. This research aims to develop an explanatory model of violent behavior and its relationship with self-concept and emotional intelligence according to in relation to their academic performance. A sample of 932 Spanish undergraduate students participated in the multi-group structural equation modeling. Findings revealed that students who have a higher academic performance have problems to control and regulate their emotions, showing signs of direct and indirect violence. Moreover, it was found that that emotional intelligence and self-concept have a direct influence on episodes of violent behavior, with academic performance being a key component affecting each variable. The present study provides some implications and suggests some avenues for future research

Use of public spaces for the practice of physical activity: Influence of sociodemographic variables in adults

De acuerdo a los resultados de diferentes estudios, la utilización para la práctica deportiva de espacios públicos (EP) con respecto a otro tipo de espacios se ha ido incrementando en los últimos años. En este trabajo se analizan las preferencias de uso de los diferentes lugares y espacios de práctica de actividad física (AF) en la ciudad de Sevilla, el perfil sociodemográfico de las personas que utilizan los EP y la asociación o no entre las variables estudiadas. Estudio descriptivo de frecuencias y porcentajes (prueba inferencial Chi-cuadrado) y correlacional mediante prueba no paramétrica Rho de Spearman; realizado sobre una muestra de 1002 sujetos con edad ≥ 18 años. Muestra estratificada por cuotas de edad, género y distrito municipal, con un nivel de confianza del 95,5%. Resultados: Los lugares de práctica más utilizados son los EP. Hay una mayor utilización de estos espacios por hombres con edades entre 45-64 años. Existe una correlación positiva entre AF en EP y género (r=,170; p≤.01) y AF en EP e intervalo de edad (r=,159; p≤.01). Se puede concluir que existen diferencias en la preferencia de uso de diferentes espacios de práctica deportiva. En la utilización de EP hay diferencias significativas en función del género y la edad, así como asociaciones entre esta variable de AF y las variables sociodemográficas de género, edad y ocupación laboral.According to the results of different studies, the use of public spaces (PS) for sports with respect to other types of spaces has been increasing in recent years. In this work we analyze the preferences of use of different places and spaces of practice of physical activity (PA) in Seville, the sociodemographic profile of people who use PS and the association or not between the variables studied. It’s a descriptive study, frequencies and percentages (Chi square inferential test) and correlational by Spearman’s nonparametric Rho test. Study carried out on 1002 subjects who are over 18 years old. Sample stratified by age, gender and municipal district quotas, with a confidence level of 95,5%. Results: The most used practice sites are PS. There is a positive correlation between PA in PS and gender (r =,170; p≤.01) and AF in PS and age interval (r =,159; p≤.01). It can be concluded that there are differences in the preference of use of different sports practice spaces. In the use of PS there are significant differences according to gender and age, too there are associations between this variable and the sociodemographic variables, gender, age and occupation