Alfonso Javier García

Felicidad y actividad física en personas mayores

espanolEl principal objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la felicidad -presente y pasada- de personas mayores de 65 anos, asi como la relacion que la practica de Actividad Fisica pudiera tener con ella. Los participantes cumplimentaron voluntariamente un cuestionario de datos sociodemograficos, el Cuestionario de actividad Fisica General en version espanola y la Escala de Felicidad. Los resultados muestran que la felicidad actual de los mayores es inferior a la felicidad pasada. Ademas, se demuestra que la practica actual de actividad fisica incide en la felicidad de los mayores, siendo mas felices aquellos mas activos en esta etapa de su vida. Finalmente, haber estado implicado en la practica de actividad fisica en algun momento del ciclo vital (en el pasado, en el presente o de manera continua) esta relacionado con un nivel mayor de felicidad que haber tenido un estilo de vida sedentario, los mecanismos gracias a los cuales la practica de actividad fisica tiene este papel protector de la felicidad estan por determinar. Este papel protector de la actividad fisica ha de ser tenido en cuenta en el diseno de los programas de promocion e intervencion en el envejecimiento activo y positivo de la poblacion. EnglishThe overall objective of this study was to explore the relationship between past and present happiness and physical activity among people over 65 years old. Participants voluntarily completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the the Spanish version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Happiness Scale. The results show that the participants are less happy now than they were in the past. Furthermore, the current practice of physical activity leads to an increase in happiness, the happiest individuals being those who are the most active at this stage of life. Finally, being involved in physical activity at some point in the life cycle (past, present, or continuously) is associated with a higher level of happiness than that associated with a sedentary lifestyle. The mechanisms involved in the protective role of happiness remain to be determined. The protective role of physical activity has to be taken into account in the design of programs and interventions promoting active and positive aging.

Customer 360° Method: Assessment of Customers in Fitness Centres

The efficient management of sports organisations requires a cycle of three stages. The first is an adequate planning of activities, human resources, events and all systems that can be planned in a coordinated way prior to implementation. The second is the implementation of proposed and planned actions. The third is the evaluation and analysis of the executed actions. Whilst in current sports management the first two stages are usually covered successfully, the third process is often ignored, so organisational health and success are limited. The Customer 360° Method (C360-M) guides and facilitates this process of analysis through four pillars: (a) evaluation of the variables required according to the type of customer, (b) creation of reports according to the type of customer, (c) analysis and identification of improvement possibilities by customer type and (d) implementation and follow-up of strategies designed for the improvement of each type of customer. The analysis includes the top five types of customers and processes: potential customers, external customers, internal customers, former customers, business customers and processes. Thus, for each type of customer, the C360-M examines different decision-making aspects for the organisation through validated and reliable instruments, so that at all times it is possible to evaluate what is really susceptible to improvement. This systematisation of the evaluation allows the manager to close the management cycle and the organisation to progress in the future planning and execution.

Coping strategies in Spanish older adults: a MIMIC model of socio-demographic characteristics and activity level.

ABSTRACT Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the combined effect of socio-demographic characteristics and activity level on coping strategies and to test which of these variables has a greater impact on coping. Method: A sample of 243 men and women aged 55–99 years old was selected from different elderly activity centers in Granada, Spain, using a convenience sampling. Associations between eight coping strategies measured by Coping Strategies Inventory and the above mentioned variables were examined using a Multiple Indicator and Multiple Causes model. Results: Age was negatively related with problem solving, express emotions and social support. Activity level was positively related with problem solving, cognitive restructuring, express emotions and social support and it was negatively associated with social withdrawal. Gender only predicted the scores in self-criticism and living alone was related with higher emotional expression. Participation in creative activities, attending University for the third age and practicing physical exercise were related with differences in the use of several coping strategies. Conclusions: There is a complex relationship between socio-demographic characteristics, activity level and the coping strategies used by the elderly. It is important to understand this relationship in order to identify older adults who use ineffective coping, and to subsequently include them in intervention programs to improve their coping abilities.