Motives for exercising and associations with body composition in Icelandic adolescents

The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the motives that lead Icelandic teenagers to engage in physical exercise and the possible associations with variables of their body composition. For this purpose, the Self-Report of Reasons for the Practice of Physical Exercise questionnaire (AMPEF) was administered to 387 students (54% boys and 46% girls, Mage = 13.38 years) from Reykjavik (Iceland). The results reveal the subscales Revitalization and Enjoyment, Strength and Endurance, Challenge and Competition as the main motives for exercising among the participants. Boys score higher in all subscales than girls except for Revitalization and Enjoyment. Associations between the motive Weight Management and Appearance, and BMI and Fat % levels were found. It can be concluded that the participants’ physical exercise practice is based on the feelings and experiences they perceive in the sports practice process

Estudios sobre la condición física saludable: una revisión bibliográfica hasta el año 2005

El presente trabajo pretende hacer un recorrido histórico sobre la evolución de las mediciones de condición física y condición física saludable. La revisión bibliográfica se centra en los estudios realizados hasta el año 2005 en varios países como, Alemania, Bélgica, Luxemburgo, Polonia, EE.UU. y España. En la actualidad todavía hace falta pruebas y criterios más unificados para poder realizar con cierto rigor científico estudios comparativos entre distintos países.The present paper intends to make a historical journey on the evolution of the measurements of physical fitness and health-related fitness. The literature review then focuses on studies realized until 2005 in several European countries such as, mainly in Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, USA and Spain. At present we still need more evidence and unified criteria in order to realize with some scientific rigor comparative studies between different countries

Relación de las emociones y la actividad física dentro de la teoría de la conducta planificada

This paper aims to extend the model of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by adding emotional variables to increase predictive power of physical activity (PA). In this study with 175 adolescents (M age = 18.5 years, SD = 1.5; 57% women), we analyzed a traditional model (based on TPB) and the extended model with the variable "emotions" through structural equation modeling. The results provided a high level of fit (RMSEA = .05) for the analyzed models and a considerable increase in the total explained variance with 14% for the extended model in predicting PA. This result suggests expanding the traditional model for predicting the practice of PA that considers only cognitive parameters, with the variable "emotions". Finally it outlines the implications of the findings for future research.El presente trabajo pretende ampliar el modelo de la Teoría de la Conducta Planificada (TCP) mediante la adición de variables emocionales para aumentar su fuerza predictiva de la práctica de actividad física. En este estudio con 175 adolescentes (M edad = 18.5 años, DT = 1.5; 57% mujeres), se comprobó el modelo tradicional de la TCP y un modelo ampliado con la variable "emociones" mediante modelos de ecuaciones estructurales. Los resultados ofrecen un alto grado de ajuste (RMSEA = .05, para sendas estructuras) en los modelos analizados, y muestran un aumento considerable de la varianza total explicada con un 14% para el modelo ampliado en la predicción de la práctica de actividad física. Este resultado sugiere extender el modelo tradicional para la predicción de la práctica de actividad física que sólo considera parámetros cognitivos, con la variable "emociones". Finalmente, se esbozan las implicaciones de los resultados para futuros trabajos de investigación

Healthy lifestyle: relationship between mediterranean diet, body composition and physical fitness in 13 to 16-years old icelandic students

Childhood and adolescent obesity are currently among the greatest challenges for public health. Physical activity, physical fitness, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), representing powerful indicators of healthy lifestyles, are shown as determinant factors in the prevention and treatment of obesity. The aim of the present study has been to analyse the relationship between health-related physical fitness components, body composition, and adherence to MD in 387 Icelandic adolescents of 13–16-years old (54% boys). The ALPHA Fitness Test was used to measure physical fitness and body composition. The KIDMED questionnaire was used to assess the adherence to MD among participants. Associations between variables were tested according to gender and age using linear regression models and analysis of variance. Participants with high/medium adherence to MD showed significantly higher endurance scores in both the boys and the girls. Gender differences were found. The boys in high/medium MD categories had significantly lower fat percentages and ran a 4 × 10 m sprint faster than the girls. The girls scored higher than the boys in endurance and speed-agility tests. It can be concluded that a high and medium adherence to MD is associated with high and very high endurance in both the girls and the boys

The perception of the autonomy supportive behaviour as a predictor of perceived effort and physical self-esteem among school students from four nations

Grounded in self-determination theory (SDT), this study tested a model of motivational sequence in which perceived autonomy support from teachers in a physical education (PE) context predicted the perceived effort and physical self-esteem via self-determined motivation in school students. School students aged 12 to 16 years from Estonia (N = 816), Lithuania (N = 706), Hungary (N = 664), and Spain (N = 922) completed measures of perceived autonomy support from PE teachers, need satisfaction for autonomy, competence, relatedness, self-determined motivation, perceived effort and physical self-esteem. The results of the structural equation model (SEM) of each sample indicated that the students’ perceived autonomy support from the teacher was directly related to effort and indirectly via autonomous motivation, whereas physical self-esteem was related indirectly. Confirmatory factor analyses and multi-sample structural equation revealed well-fitting models within each sample with the invariances of the measurement parameters across four nations. The findings support the generalizability of the measures in the motivational sequence model to predict perceived effort and physical self-estee

Características de la práctica de actividad físico-deportivo de los estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación

Con esta investigación se pretende conocer la práctica de actividad físico-deportiva de los estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de Sevilla, así como las principales características de la misma. La muestra (N=409) está compuesta por estudiantes de grado, primer y segundo ciclo de esta Facultad (±4.8%; 95%CI). Para la obtención de datos se aplicó un cuestionario estructurado en 5 bloques, del cual se han seleccionado algunos ítems para esta investigación. Dicho instrumento fue validado por varios expertos en la materia y se han realizado diversas pruebas estadísticas con el paquete SPSS V.15, calculándose la fiabilidad del instrumento a través del coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach (.78). Los datos obtenidos revelan una tasa de práctica del 62,19%. El alumnado prefiere actividades deportivas de carácter recreativo y orientadas al mantenimiento de la forma física y la mejora de la salud. Existe bastante similitud entre las actividades que el alumnado realiza a través de la Universidad y fuera de la misma. Además, suelen realizar AFD todo el año, durante toda la semana o de lunes a viernes, especialmente en horario de tarde. Combinan la práctica en solitario con la compañía de amigos y compañeros y se decantan por la práctica en espacios públicos y por las instalaciones públicas y privadas.The aim of this research is to know about students´ physical activity from Faculty of Education of University of Seville, and its characteristics. The sample (N=409) is constituted for students from the different degrees of this Faculty (±4.8%; 95%CI). A specific questionnaire, built to that effect, was used to obtain dates. This instrument was validated by different experts on this area of studies, and statistic tests was done to check its reliability (Alpha Cronbach: .78) using SPSS V.15. The main results showed that 62.19% of students do physical activity regularly. Students prefer recreational activities or exercise aimed at being fit or watching health instead competitive games. Activities done by students inside University are very similar to activities done out of this. They also do exercise during all academic year, preferably along the all week or from Monday to Friday, and especially in the afternoon. This group usually practice with friends, classmates or workmates, but lonely too, and they prefer public areas and public or private sport facilities for their sport practic

Práctica deportiva y opinión del alumnado sobre el Servicio de Actividades Deportivas en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación (Universidad de Sevilla)

El objetivo de este artículo es conocer la práctica de actividad físico-deportiva de los estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de Sevilla, así como recabar información acerca del conocimiento y la opinión del alumnado sobre el Servicio de Actividades Deportivas de la Universidad. La muestra está compuesta por 409 estudiantes y el nivel de confianza obtenido es del 95% con un error muestral máximo del 3%. Para la obtención de datos se aplicó un cuestionario validado por varios expertos en la materia y cuya consistencia interna es de .781 (valor del coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach). Se realizaron análisis factoriales y descriptivos para el tratamiento de datos con el programa estadístico SPSS 15.0. Los datos obtenidos revelan que un porcentaje considerable del alumnado desconoce el Servicio de Actividades Deportivas de la Universidad, no se encuentra satisfecho con la promoción deportiva y destaca la necesidad de acercar la práctica deportiva al centro.The aim of this paper is to know about student’s physical activity from Faculty of Education of University of Seville, and also obtain some information about their knowledge and opinion about University sports services. The sample is constituted for 409 students (±3%; 95%CI). A specific questionnaire, built to that effect, was used to obtain dates. This instrument was validated by different experts on this area of studies, and statistic tests was done to check its validity and reliability, (factor analysis and Alpha Cronbach: ,781), using SPSS 15.0. The main results showed that an important percentage of students did not know about University sports services, were not satisfied with sport promotion and they thought it was necessary to bring sport closer to the Facult

Location of Active Faults using Geomorphic Indices in Eroded Landscapes, South Taranaki, New Zealand

South Taranaki region has a number of active faults that show surface expression in the younger and harder materials near the coast and central volcanoes of the North Island, but these traces finish abruptly inland when they cross into older, heavily eroded, mudstone and sandstone. Current methods to locate surface evidence of active faults (i.e. geomorphic interpretation of stereographic aerial photography) are not fully successful in this region. Erosion occurs here at a greater rate than surface rupture of faults which causes the removal of surface expression, and/or dense tree cover obscures surface expression. International studies of tectonic activity in eroded landscapes have identified geomorphic indices as useful reconnaissance tools to locate active faults. This research applies geomorphic indices to the Taranaki region for the first time. Four indices are tested; stream length-gradient index, stream channel sinuosity, hypsometry and drainage basin asymmetry. Results are obtained by applying the indices to four freely available national Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) of differing resolutions. This allowed comparison between DEMs, providing the ability to test DEM quality and at what scale geomorphic indices could be applied to these freely available data. Results show that the geomorphic indices used can identify changes to the equilibrium state at a catchment and stream channel scales. However, the myriad of physical processes occurring at a range of temporal scales within this area make identification of a tectonic signature a challenging task. Conclusive examples of tectonic processes are evident and analysis suggests that these examples are likely to be due to recent or large fault ruptures. There are many areas where a tectonic influence to the equilibrium state of a stream or catchment can be inferred. These areas could then be targeted for detailed geophysical or ground based geological studies. Furthermore, the comparison of results from the four DEMs highlights a range of issues with DEM collection methods and resolution. This study concludes that geomorphic indices can provide an effective method to locate evidence of recent and large faulting events. However, this type of analysis is hindered by the resolution of available digital elevation data

The Relationship Between Motor Competence, Body Composition, Handgrip Strength and Sports Participation Among Icelandic Adolescents

Motor competence can affect participation in sports and physical activity among adolescents. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between motor competence, body composition, handgrip strength (HGS) and sports par ticipation in 13-16 years old adolescents, as well as to examine gender differences. Data for 177 boys and 153 girls were collected and analysed. Body composition was assessed by measuring height, weight, waist circumference, body fat percent age (FAT%), and calculating body mass index (BMI). Motor competence was determined by using the Movement Assessment Battery test (MABC-2) which consists of eight tasks that measure aiming and catching, balance, and manual dexterity. Handgrip strength was assessed by using hand dynamometer and the question about sports participation was retained from a detailed questionnaire for the current study. The results of the study show that girls have better motor competence in the 13-, 14- and 15-year-old age groups (13 years girls: 10.3, boys: 8.7; 14 years girls: 10.3, boys: 9.2; 15 years girls: 10.1, boys: 8.6, respectively), but there was no significant difference between the genders in the 16-year-old age group (girls: 9.6, boys: 9.0, respectively). HGS had a positive correlation with FAT% (r=0.5, p<0.05) and waist circumference in 13- year-old girls (r=0.5, p<0.05), BMI in boys age of 16 (r=0.3, p<0.05), and FAT% (r=0.4, p<0.05) and MABC-2 in girls 16-years old (r=0.6, p<0.05). Participation in organized sports activities was the most important factor when predicting motor competence in 13- to 16-year old adolescents (t=3.7, p<0.05). Future studies should consider the development of gender differences from a long-term per spective, and in that sense, longitudinal studies could give better explanations