Alfonso Salguero

Physical activity, quality of life and symptoms of depression in community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults.

This study was aimed to investigate in a sample of Spanish elderly whether measures of physical activity are related to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptoms of depression in community dwelling and institutionalized elderly. The sample was a cohort of 436 elderly (234 women and 202 men, aged 60-98 years) from the North of Spain. 58% were community-dwellers and 42% were institutionalized in senior residences. Participants completed measures of physical activity (Yale Physical Activity Survey, YPAS), HRQoL (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey, SF-36) and symptoms of depression (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS). All SF-36 domains, except role-emotional, were significantly correlated with the YPAS activity dimension summary index. Physical function, role-physical, general health and vitality correlated with total time activity, and correlations were observed between weekly energy expenditure and physical function, role physical, vitality and mental health. Depressive symptom scores correlated significantly with the YPAS activity dimension summary index and the weekly energy expenditure. Scores for various domains of the SF-36 and for depressive symptoms significantly differed among less and more active individuals of the same sex and institutionalization category. Differences generally reached a higher extent in institutionalized subjects in comparison to community dwellers. In conclusion, physical activity was related to different domains of both the physical and mental components of HRQoL and to decreased depressive symptoms. Results emphasize the positive effects of physical activity in both community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults.

Motives for Participation in Physical Activity by Brazilian Adults

The present investigation examined the validity and reliability of a questionnaire which assessed motives of Brazilian adults for participation in physical activities, compared motives for participation in walking and fitness programs, and examined differences by sex, age, and education. Participants were 100 men and 138 women, ages 16 to 60 years (M = 30.5, SD = 11.4). Factor analysis identified four factors which were fairly consistent with previous research. Improvement in physical appearance and enjoyment were rated significantly more important reasons for participants in fitness programs than for walkers. Men were more motivated by social experience than women. Young adults rated importance lower in health and fitness and rated enjoyment, social experience, and improvement in appearance of higher importance. Health and fitness were considered more important by participants with more education. These results are consistent with previous research on the factors underlying motives for regular exercise and support the importance of considering differences associated with culture.

Monitoring the effects of training load changes on stress and recovery in swimmers

This study was designed to investigate if monitoring of stress and recovery may be useful to detect overreaching in its early stages and may be used to evaluate effects of changes in training load. Nine swimmers were applied theRecovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) in four different occasions (M1, M2, M3, M4) along a 6-week training period prior to a competition. During the basal training period (M1), recovery scales scored higher than stress scales, being the scalesGeneral well-being, Social recovery andBeing in shape those reaching higher scores. Following the measure corresponding to the second training period (M2), in which training volume reached a maximum, there were significant increases in two stress scales (Injury andEmotional exhaustion), and decreases in three recovery scales (Success, Physical recovery, andSelf-efficacy). Values increased again and did not significantly differ from those corresponding to the first measure during measures M3 and M4, in which there was a decrease in training volume and training time. Only a recovery scale score (Success) increased significantly from period M2 to period M4. When the recovery-stress (total recovery — total stress) state was calculated, it was found that there was a significant decreases in M2, and values progressively increased in measures M3 and M4, with no significant difference from M1. Results obtained indicate that the RESTQ-Sport is able to show significant changes concurrently with training loads. Regular monitoring of stress and recovery by these measures may help to detect overreaching in its early stages.ResumenEl estudio se planteó para valorar si la monitorización del estrés y la recuperación puede resultar útil para la detección de los estadios precoces del sobreentrenamiento a corto plazo y emplearse para evaluar los efectos de los cambios en las cargas de entrenamiento. Se aplicó elRecovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) a nueve deportistas en cuatro ocasiones (M1, M2, M3, M4) a lo largo de un periodo de entrenamiento de 6 semanas previo a la competición. Durante el período de entrenamiento basal (M1), las puntuaciones en las escalas de recuperación alcanzaron valores más elevados que los correspondientes a las escalas de estrés, siendo las escalas deBienestar general, Recuperación Social y Estar en Forma las que presentaban las mayores puntuaciones. Durante el segundo periodo de entrenamiento (M2), en el cual se producía el máximo volumen de entrenamiento, se dieron incrementos significativos en dos escalas de estrés (Lesiones y Agotamiento emocional), y disminuciones en tres escalas de recuperación (Éxito, Recuperación física y Autoeficacia). Los valores aumentaron de nuevo y ya no diferían significativamente de la primera determinación durante los periodos M3 y M4, en los cuales disminuían el volumen y el tiempo de entrenamiento. Solo una escala de recuperación (Éxito) se increamentaba significativamente desde el periodo M2 al periodo M4. Cuando se calculaba la recuperación-estrés (recuperación total — estrés total), se observaba una disminución significativa en M2 e incrementos progresivos en M3 y M4, con valores que ya no diferían significativamente de M1. Los resultados obtenidos indican que el RESTQ-Sport se modifica significativamente en función de la carga de entrenamiento. La monitorización regular del estrés y la recuperación mediante este instrumento puede ayudar a detectar los estadios precoces de sobreentrenamiento a corto plazo.

DEVELOPMENT OF A SPANISH VERSION OF THE PARTICIPATION MOTIVATION INVENTORY FOR YOUNG COMPETITIVE SWIMMERS

The present study examined the validity of a Spanish version of the Participation Motivation Inventory, modified for swimming by Gould, Feltz, and Weiss in 1985, and investigated whether young swimmers differing in sex and age vary in their objectives for participation. Swimmers (204 boys and 224 girls, ranging in age from 8 to 22 years) were administered the inventory. Factor analysis with varimax rotation identified seven factors fairly consistent with previous research. Differences were found across age and sex. Females placed greater emphasis than males on Friendship and Fun and indicated lower importance rating to Status. Younger children (8–10 years) rated Fun/Friendship, Competition/Skills, Significant Others, and Status significantly higher in importance than did the other age groups.

Relationship Between Resilience and Coping Strategies in Competitive Sport

Resilience is important in sport performers to withstand the pressure they experience. This study analyzed the relationship among resilient qualities and coping strategies in 235 Spanish athletes (126 males, 109 females; M age = 20.7 yr) who practiced different sports (79.1% team sports, 20.9% individual sports). They were evaluated at the beginning of the last competitive mesocycle and after an important competition. Coping strategies and level of resilient qualities were measured by the Coping Inventory for Competitive Sport and the Resilience Scale. There was no significant difference in resilience scores between evaluations performed during the last mesocycle or competition. A significant increase occurred in the scores for emotion-oriented and distraction-oriented coping during competition. Resilience scores correlated positively to task-oriented coping and negatively to disengagement- and distraction-oriented coping during both periods. Analysis of variance indicated that athletes with high individual resilient qualities reached higher scores in task-oriented coping, using to a lower extent disengagement- and distraction-oriented coping. Results obtained suggest that resilient characteristics may associate in athletes to the use of more potentially adaptative coping strategies.

Motivos para a participação esportiva em nadadores brasileiros

No presente estudo se analisaram os motivos para a participacao esportiva de nadadores de competicao brasileiros. Na investigacao participaram 425 esportistas (138 mulheres e 287 homens), com idades compreendidas entre 11 e 25 anos, pertencentes as categorias Mirim, Petiz, Infantil, Juvenil, Junior e Adulto, e aos niveis competitivos Local, Regional e Nacional. Os sujeitos responderam a versao portuguesa do Oregon Swimming Questionarie de Brodkin e Weiss (1990). Os principais motivos para a pratica se relacionam com a necessidade de desenvolver novas habilidades motoras e melhorar a saude, a necessidade de socializacao e a cooperacao entre iguais, todos eles de carater intrinseco. Os homens dao maior importância ao fator forma fisica. Ao aumentar tanto a categoria competitiva como o nivel competitivo se aumenta a importância outorgada ao fator competicao, o que se pode atribuir a pressao crescente do ambiente competitivo. Nossa investigacao pode contribuir para uma melhor compreensao dos motivos reais para a pratica da natacao de competicao e para um melhor conhecimento de aspectos importantes da natacao esportiva, tais como o burnout e a retirada precoce.

La resiliencia en el deporte: fundamentos teóricos, instrumentos de evaluación y revisión de la literatura

El constructo de resiliencia, definido como la capacidad de hacerfrente y adaptarse, de manera positiva, a las situaciones altamente estresantes,ha sido estudiado desde hace mas de 60 anos, sin embargo, pareceque solo en estas ultimas dos decadas ha suscitado un justificado y especialinteres por parte de la Psicologia del Deporte y del Ejercicio. Es poresto que, cada vez mas, crece la demanda por articulos que sean capaces decompilar toda esta novedosa informacion. Nuestra investigacion, por tanto,persigue el objetivo general de revisar los avances entorno a la resiliencia enel contexto deportivo, tratando de ofrecer una vision integradora, actualizaday sintetica de la conceptualizacion del termino y de los resultados delas investigaciones realizadas hasta el momento. De manera mas especifica,tambien se muestran los instrumentos de evaluacion mas referenciados y lasposibles lineas de investigacion a seguir entorno al constructo. Como conclusion,esta revision subraya los descubrimientos mas interesantes sobre laresiliencia y otros factores psicologicos y/o de rendimiento, facilitando laelaboracion de estrategias de intervencion para la optimizacion del resultadodeportivo y aporta una vision holistica del constructo y de sus perspectivasde investigacion futuras.

Actividad física y salud percibida en pacientes con enfermedad coronaria

La enfermedad coronaria es una de las principales causas de morbilidad y mortalidad en el mundo y se asocia con importantes consecuencias emocionales y sociales. La actividad fisica parece ralentizar el inicio y la progresion de las enfermedades cardiovasculares pero tambien presenta beneficios sobre la salud psicosocial. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo el analisis de la relacion entre la practica de actividad fisica y la calidad de vida, el bienestar psicologico y la depresion en pacientes con enfermedad coronaria. La muestra estaba compuesta por 275 personas, con edades entre 54 a 98 anos. Se aplico un Cuestionario Sociodemografico, el Cuestionario de Salud SF-36, la Escala de Depresion Geriatrica (GDS), la Escala de Bienestar Psicologico (EBP) y el Cuestionario de Actividad Fisica de Yale (YPAS). Los resultados obtenidos pusieron de manifiesto que la practica de actividad fisica se asociaba en pacientes con enfermedad coronaria a una mejora en las distintas escalas del Cuestionario de Salud SF-36 y en la Escala de Depresion Geriatrica, confirmando su importancia para el mantenimiento de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en estos pacientes.

Exercise Addiction in Practitioners of Endurance Sports: A Literature Review

Practice of endurance sports/activities has gained most devotees over recent decades, thanks to its capacity to maintain and improve health. However, their characteristics and accessibility have facilitated the emergence of addictive behaviors. Excessive practicing can lead to adverse physical and psychological effects seriously prejudicial to health, to the extent that individuals are unable to control this behavior. Recognizing that exercise addiction is still a controversial concept, the aim of the present review is to analyze the state of research into addictive exercise behaviors, specifically centering on running and endurance sports. To this end, a search covering article written in English and dated from 2010 onward was carried out in the Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and EBSCOhost databases. Of a total of 2,675 articles in the four databases, 25 were eligible for the final review. The studies reviewed confirmed that excessive practice could encourage the appearance of addictive behaviors and health problems. Most research has reported no age or sex differences in exercise dependence among endurance sport practitioners; however, obsessive passion and dedication to sports activities may be predictors for addiction to exercise. Owing to terminological confusion and the variety of tools used to measure addiction, figures for prevalence differ widely among studies, with values quoted ranging from 3 to 42%. Furthermore, it is clear that there are problems in delimiting, defining and diagnosing this sort of behavior, which has led to addiction to exercise not yet being considered a behavioral disorder.