Asunción Martínez-Martínez

Actividad física, obesidad y autoestima en escolares chilenos: Análisis mediante ecuaciones estructurales

Background: Obesity is a worldwide epidemic disease and a problem for the Chilean society. Aim: To analyze the relationship between physical condition, body mass index (BMI), level of physical activity and self-esteem. Material ad methods: Questionnaires to assess self-esteem (Rosemberg scale) and levels of physical activity (Physical Activity Questionnaire for older Children, PAQ-C) were answered by 515 children aged 10.5 ± 0.5 years from 27 schools of Santiago de Chile. BMI was calculated. Course-Navette test was carried out, vertical jump and hand dynamometry were measured. For statistical analysis, structural equations were used. Results: An acceptable goodness of fit for the models was found. There was a positive relationship between BMI and hand dynamometry, as well as a negative relationship between BMI and maximal oxygen consumption, jumping ability, physical activity and self-esteem. Finally, self-esteem was positively related to physical activity engagement. Conclusions: In these children, self-esteem was related to physical activity variables.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Is Related to Healthy Habits, Learning Processes, and Academic Achievement in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Several studies have shown that following a healthy diet and practicing regular physical activity (PA) are related with multiple health benefits. However, the cognitive and academic implications of these behaviors within adolescents requires further study. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a simple of 1059 adolescents from Spain. The main instruments employed were the Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Test (KIDMED), the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) and the Motivation and Learning Strategies Short Form (MSLQ-SF). Results: Practicing PA for more than three hours per week was related to better dietary habits (p < 0.001) such as increased consumption of vegetables (0.75 ± 0.43 vs. 0.62 ± 0.48), fish (0.67 ± 0.47 vs. 0.58 ± 0.49), cereals (0.85 ± 0.35 vs. 0.77 ± 0.41) and nuts (0.44 ± 0.49 vs. 0.35 ± 0.47). High adherence to a Mediterranean diet (MD) was positively related to elaboration strategies (r = 0.116), organizational strategies (r = 0.109), critical thinking (r = 0.116), self-regulation (r = 0.159), time and study habits (r = 0.160), self-regulation of effort (r = 0.118), and intrinsically orientated goals (r = 0.090) (p < 0.01 for all variables). Practicing PA every week was also related to improvements in several of the measured variables and in addition was related to lower levels of anxiety within the academic environment (r = −0.070; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Given the benefits of eating habits and the practice of PA in the cognitive processes involved in adolescent learning, intervention programs within the educational context are recommended to improve healthy habits.

La elección de la lengua extranjera como titulación universitaria: Expectativas y rasgos de estudio

El objetivo de este estudio es dictaminar cual es el grado mas demandado por alumnos de ultimo curso de Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos de Grado Superior, asi como evaluar la influencia que tienen parametros de genero, rama de estudios, intereses academicos profesionales y motivos en la eleccion de un grado o titulacion de Lengua Extranjera. En este estudio participaron un total de 1.164 estudiantes de Espana, con una edad comprendida entre los 17 y 30 anos (M=18,24 anos; DT= 1,258). Como principales conclusiones de la presente investigacion se extrae que aaproximadamente uno de cada diez son los estudiantes que pretenden estudiar los tres grados de Lengua Extranjera que hay en la Universidad (Grado de Estudios Ingleses, Traduccion e Interpretacion y Primaria Mencion en Lengua Extranjera), siendo las mujeres las que tienen mas intencion de estudiar Grados de Lengua Extranjera, procediendo casi en su totalidad de Bachillerato, caracterizandose por ser altruistas y senalando “el gusto por esta profesion” como motivo mas determinante.espanolLos beneficios que aporta la implicacion familiar en el proceso educativo de los hijos y su repercusion en la calidad de la educacion son hechos ampliamente demostrados. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer posibles agrupamientos de familias, cuyos hijos cursan la etapa de Educacion Infantil, configurados a partir de una serie de variables de participacion familiar y sociodemograficas. Para ello, se conto con 1.953 familias espanolas, a las que se les aplico un cuestionario ad hoc de 66 items, con alta fiabilidad. Tras realizar un analisis cluster, los resultados ofrecieron cuatro perfiles familiares: 1) perfil participativo no normativo, 2) perfil no participativo de nacionalidad no espanola, 3) perfil participativo normativo y 4) perfil no normativo de nacionalidad espanola. El perfil mas difuso es el 2, no hallandose diferencias significativas del resto con este perfil. Asimismo, la magnitud de las diferencias entre algunos perfiles no queda totalmente definida. EnglishThe benefits of the family implication in the educational process of children and its repercussion in the quality of the education are facts widely demonstrated. The aim of this research knew the range of possible groups whose children study in the stage of childhood education, formed from a set of variables of family participation and sociodemographics. Thus, this research counted on the help of 1953 Spanish families by means of a questionnaire ad hoc of 66 items, with high reliability. After further Cluster Analysis, the results show four family profile: 1) participative profile non normative, 2) non participative profile of not Spanish nationality, 3) participative profile normative 4) non normative profile of Spanish nationality. The more diffuse profile is number two, with no significant differences with the rest of the profiles. In addition, the magnitude of the differences between some profiles is not totally defined.

Choosing Higher Education for Senior High School and Upper Education Students

espanolRecibido 10 de marzo de 2015 • Corregido 11 de octubre de 2015 • Aceptado 17 de noviembre de 2015La eleccion de titulacion universitaria para el proximo curso es un tema de interes para los estamentos educativos de educacion superior, pues permiten dictaminar que tipo de estudiantes acceden a los diversos grados universitarios; asimismo entre los factores que inciden de manera concisa estan las calificaciones o el perfil personal, por tanto, planteamos el siguiente estudio con los objetivos de determinar las titulaciones mas demandadas tanto con limitacion, como sin ella, de alumnado de ultimo curso de bachillerato y ciclos formativos de grado superior de Granada, asi como describir las caracteristicas academicas y sociodemograficas, y evaluar la influencia que tienen las calificaciones academicas, rama de estudios y genero en la eleccion de grado universitario. Participaron un total de 1.164 estudiantes de ultimo curso de bachillerato y ciclos formativos, lo cual permitio el registro y evaluacion de las variables antes mencionadas. Los resultados mostraron que las titulaciones de medicina, magisterio e ingenierias son las mas demandadas sin limitacion de ningun tipo, mientras que con limitacion cambia medicina por enfermeria, asimismo estudiantes de ultimo curso de Granada tenian una nota media de notable, los varones se decantan mas por los ciclos formativos y presentan peores calificaciones y las mujeres por el bachillerato, con notas medias ligeramente superiores, quedando constatada la influencia que tienen las calificaciones academicas, rama de estudios y el genero en la eleccion de titulacion con limitacion o sin esta, asi ellas se postulan por su caracter mas altruista en grados de ciencias de la salud y sociales con notas mas altas, mientras que los estudiantes masculinos prefieren titulaciones mas tecnicas con peores calificaciones. EnglishChoosing a university degree for next year is a topic of interest for educational levels of higher education, since they allow to decide what kind of students access the different university degrees; also among the factors that affect concisely are qualifications or personal profile, therefore we propose the following study with the objective to determine the most popular degrees with limitation, as without it, of senior high school and upper education students of Granada, as well as describe the academic and socio-demographic characteristics, and evaluate the influence academic qualifications, branch of studies and gender have in choosing college degree. A total of 1,164 students in last year of high school and upper education students participated, which allowed the recording and evaluation of the variables mentioned above. Results showed that medicine, teaching and engineering degrees are the most in demand without any kind of limitation, while with limitation it changes medicine for nursing, also senior students from Granada had a remarkable average note, males opt more for upper education training and show worse grades and women choose bachelor with slightly higher average grades, verifying the influence academic qualifications, branch of studies and gender have in choosing a degree with or without limitation. Thus, due to its more altruistic nature, female students postulate in health science and social degrees, with higher grades, while male students prefer more technical qualifications with worse grades.