Helder Miguel Fernandes

Continuum de Auto-Determinação: validade para a sua aplicação no contexto desportivo

Self-Determination Continuum: validity for its application in the sport’s context. Intrinsic motivation and associated benefits has been one of the main investigation areas in Sport Psychology. However, the same is not denoted for the knowledge as behaviors are intrinsically regulated and internalized by individuals. The purpose of the present study is to define the validity of the self-determination’s continuum application (Deci & Ryan, 1985) in the Physical Education context. A sample of 1099 students (544 girls and 555 boys) with an average age of 14.66±0.75 years old answered an adaptation and translation of the Goudas, Biddle and Fox (1994) questionnaire that measures the motivational types delimited in the continuum. Structural equation modeling procedures evidenced empiric support for the self-determination’s continuum use in the understanding of the way students intrinsically regulate their behavior in this context. Some lines of intervention are suggested considering the obtained results.

Preliminary Analysis of the Psychometric Properties of Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being in Portuguese Adolescents

This article presents a set of research studies that aim to adapt Carol Ryffs scales of psychological wellbeing (SPWB) and to analyze its psychometric properties in adolescents. The first two studies focused on the reliability and factorial validity of different Portuguese short versions of SPWB, revealing measurement models inadequacies and low internal consistency. In the third study we developed a shortened version (30 items), taking into account the application of psychometric criteria suggested by van Dierendonck (2005). The scales of this version revealed better reliability and adequate goodness of fit indices for the six-factor model, as proposed by Carol Ryffs PWB theory. Although further research focused on the psychometrical properties reanalysis of this shortened version of SPWB is needed, this article provides a contribution to the research and intervention on positive mental health during adolescence.

Vigorexia e níveis de dependência de exercício em frequentadores de academias e fisiculturistas

INTRODUCTION: Currently, good appearance is a synonym to success, health and determination. So as to, the modern society overwhelms the individuals to follow beauty stereotypes. The heritage of this capitalist and selfish society is the psychological appearance disorders and the psychological dependence associated with them. Among these, we can mention vigorexy and exercise dependence. OBJECTIVES: I) to compare vigorexy levels and exercise dependence among gym goers and bodybuilders, II) to corelate the variables on physical practice (time of practice, weekly frequency and sessions time) to the frequency dimensions of vigorexy and exercise dependence; and, III) to compare vigorexy levels according to the exercise dependence groups (dependent or in risk, not symptomatic dependent and not asymptomatic dependent). METHODS: The sample was composed of 151 male gym goers (27.66 ± 6.54- year-old and 27.56 ± 5.03 BMI) and 25 bodybuilders (30.80 ± 5.54-year-old and 26.72 ± 4.24 BMI). The participants answered the Exercise Dependence Scale and the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory. The statistical analysis involved descriptive, univariated normality, comparative and correlational analyses. RESULTS: The main results were: I) absence of differences between gym goers and bodybuilders concerning vigorexy levels and exercise dependence, II) training session time is positively correlated with most of the dimensions of the exercise dependence, and, III) the group classified as dependent or in risk reveals medium superior levels of vigorexy. CONCLUSION: Lastly, it was found that both in bodybuilders and gym goers, the higher the vigorexy level, the higher the exercise dependence wit this correlation is higher in bodybuilders.

The CSAI-2: An Examination of the Instrument's Factorial Validity and Reliability of the Intensity, Direction and Frequency Dimensions with Brazilian Athletes

The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2) has been a widely used instrument for the assessment of anxiety in sport but within limited cultural contexts. Conceptual issues as well as concerns about the psychometric properties of the measure have resulted in questions surrounding its use. The purposes of the present study were (a) to examine the factorial validity and reliability of the CSAI-2, including the intensity, direction, and frequency dimensions with a Brazilian sample; (b) to investigate the inter-scale correlations among the three measured dimensions and between the original and the reduced scales; and (c) to examine the properties of the CSAI-2 within a novel cultural context. A sample of 334 athletes (245 male, 89 female) completed the CSAI-2 questionnaire 1hr prior to competition. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted that contrasted the proposed model with competing models. These results provided support for a reduced measurement model (CSAI-2R; 16 items) that was comprised of three factors (cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety and self-confidence). The pattern of inter-scale associations revealed correlated, but not identical, factors. Correlations between the original and the reduced scales were high. In conclusion, these results provide evidence that the CSAI-2R (16 items) has good psychometric properties for all response dimensions within a Brazilian cultural context and is a valid competitive state anxiety and self-confidence measure when used immediately prior to competition.

Análise factorial confirmatória do TEOSQp

The present research assessed the reliability, factorial validity and measurement invariance (by gender) of the Portuguese version of TEOSQ -Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (Fonseca & Biddle, 2001). Data were collected from 1010 physical education students with a mean age of 15.42 ( SD=1.91). Factorial and invariance measurements were tested via confirmatory factorial analysis. Results supported internal consistency for the two proposed subscales (task and ego). Based on modification indices and theoretical justification the TEOSQ p was reduced to 12 items with better goodness-of-fit indices for the oblique model. The results of gender invariance did not provide full empirical support to the multi-group equivalence assumption, being suggested that TEOSQ p does not measure in the same way goal orientations for boys (orthogonal model) and girls (oblique model). In light of these results, conceptual, empirical and practical issues were discussed.

Factorial Validity and Invariance of the GHQ-12 Among Clinical and Nonclinical Samples

The purpose of this study was to examine the internal reliability, factorial validity, and measurement invariance of a Brazilian–Portuguese version of the General Health Questionnaire–12 (GHQ-12) across clinical and nonclinical groups. The clinical sample consisted of 228 chronic hemodialysis patients (41.7% female), with a mean age of 48.23 (SD = 16.02) years, whereas the nonclinical sample comprised 350 university students (59.1% female), with a mean age of 21.15 (SD = 2.04) years. Initial model fit comparison of 16 factor structures reported in the literature, through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), provided mixed results. Additional revisions based on CFA modification indices demonstrated that a reduced (8-item) one-factor model with three error covariances provided the best fit to the data in both samples (comparative fit index > .98 and root mean square error of approximation < .05) and acceptable internal reliability estimates (>.70). Pearson’s correlations between the original and the reduced scale was .96 for both samples. Multigroup analysis supported partial strong measurement equivalence across groups. Latent mean differences showed an expected higher factor mean for the clinical sample. Overall results demonstrated that the 8-item one-factor of the GHQ-12 showed good psychometric properties in both samples and provided preliminary support for meaningful comparisons of factor means across clinical and nonclinical groups.

Propriedades psicométricas do CSAI-2 em atletas brasileiros

The purpose of the study was to examine the reliability, factorial validity evidence, invariance (by gender, type of sport and competitive level) and evidence of convergent validity of the CSAI-2. The total sample consisted of 375 athletes (284 males and 91 females). For evidence of convergent validity, the sample consisted of 163 athletes (115 males and 48 females). The athletes responded to the instruments (CSAI-2 and reduced version of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory - STAI) an hour before starting competitions. The results showed reliability (α > .70) and good indices of fit (CFI = .959, GFI = .942 and RMSEA = .044) for the reduced model of 17 items (CSAI-2R). The invariance and the evidence of convergent validity were supported. The Brazilian reduced version of CSAI-2 showed good psychometric properties, supporting its use in Brazilian athletes.

Factor structure and reliability of the depression, anxiety and stress scales in a large portuguese community sample

The purpose of the present study was to assess the factor structure and reliability of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) in a large Portuguese community sample. Participants were 1020 adults (585 women and 435 men), with a mean age of 36.74 (SD = 11.90) years. All scales revealed good reliability, with Cronbachs alpha values between .80 (anxiety) and .84 (depression). The internal consistency of the total score was .92. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the best-fitting model (*CFI = .940, *RMSEA = .038) consisted of a latent component of general psychological distress (or negative affectivity) plus orthogonal depression, anxiety and stress factors. The Portuguese version of the DASS-21 showed good psychometric properties (factorial validity and reliability) and thus can be used as a reliable and valid instrument for measuring depression, anxiety and stress symptoms.

Effects of resistance exercise order on the number of repetitions performed to failure and perceived exertion in untrained young males.

Abstract Exercise order is an essential variable of resistance training (RT) programs which is usually related to repetition performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of different resistance exercise order on the number of repetitions performed to failure and related ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Thirteen male adolescents (age: 14.46 ± 1.39 years, body height: 165.31 ± 12.75 cm, body mass: 58.73 ± 12.27 kg, estimated body fat: 21.32 ± 2.84%), without previous experience in RT, performed four resistance exercises: incline leg press (ILP), dumbbell lunge (DL), bench press (BP) and lying barbell triceps extension (TE) in two sequences - Sequence A (SEQA): ILP, DL, BP and TE; sequence B (SEQB): ILP, BP, DL and TE. The exercise sequences were performed in a randomized crossover design with a rest interval of 72h between sessions. Within-subjects analysis showed significant differences in the number of repetitions performed to failure in both sequences, but not in the RPE. Post-hoc tests revealed significant decrements in the number of repetitions from the first to the remaining exercises in both sequences. However, pairwise comparisons did not indicate significant differences between the same exercises performed in different sequences. In conclusion, the results of the current study in adolescents suggest that the main exercises should be performed at the beginning of the RT session.

Order Effects of Combined Strength and Endurance Training on Testosterone, Cortisol, Growth Hormone, and IGF-1 Binding Protein 3 in Concurrently Trained Men

Abstract Rosa, C, Vilaça-Alves, J, Fernandes, HM, Saavedra, FJ, Pinto, RS, and dos Reis, VM. Order effects of combined strength and endurance training on testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone, and IGF-1 binding protein 3 in concurrently trained men. J Strength Cond Res 29(1): 74–79, 2015—Concurrent training (CT) has been widely used in fitness centers to simultaneously optimize cardiovascular and neuromuscular fitness, and induce a high-energy expenditure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of 2 different orders of CT on hormonal responses in concurrently trained men. Fourteen men (mean ± SD: 24.7 ± 5.1 years) were randomly divided into 2 groups: endurance training followed by strength (ES, n = 7) and strength training followed by endurance (SE, n = 7). Serum concentrations of testosterone, cortisol, growth hormone, and IGF-1 binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) were measured before and after both training orders. A significant interaction between exercise order and time was only found in the IGFBP-3 levels (p = 0.022). The testosterone and IGFBP-3 concentrations significantly increased in the ES group after the exercise trainings (57.7 ± 35.1%, p = 0.013 and 17.0 ± 15.5%, p = 0.032, respectively) but did not change significantly in the SE group (15.5 ± 36.6%, p = 0.527 and −4.2 ± 13.9%, p = 0.421, respectively). Conversely, cortisol and growth hormone concentrations significantly increased in both ES (169.2 ± 191.0%, p = 0.021 and 13,296.8 ± 13,009.5%, p = 0.013, respectively) and SE (92.2 ± 81.5%, p = 0.017 and 12,346.2 ± 9714.1%, p = 0.001, respectively) groups compared with baseline values. No significant correlations were found between the changes in the hormonal concentrations. In conclusion, these results suggest that immediately postexercise testosterone and IGFPB-3 responses are significantly increased only after the ES order. Therefore, an ES training order should be prescribed if the main focus of the training intervention is to induce an acute postexercise anabolic environment.