The Risk of Eating Disorders in Adolescent Athletes: How We Might Address This Phenomenon?

Eating disorders are psychiatric and behavioral health pathologies of high complexity and different etiology, which can affect age groups, sexes, and ethnicities indistinctly. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of eating disorders and the possible relation with the sports profile of Colombian adolescent athletes. This was an exploratory cross-sectional quantitative study that used an online form designed with a sociodemographic questionnaire and the EAT-26 scale to determine the eating disorder risk of the object population. A total of 354 adolescent athletes participated. There were 182 men and 172 women and the mean age was 15.59 (range: 10-19 years, SD = 1.938). The participants presented a significantly low risk of eating disorders (21.2%) with no differences in prevalence between both sexes. The risk of eating disorder was related to the result of the last competition (p = 0.01), the type of sport (p = 0.032), the years of sports practice (p = 0.004), and the number of training hours a day (p = 0.011). It is relevant to recognize that adolescents and athletes are vulnerable populations regarding eating disorders. In conclusion, adolescent athletes should be the object of special attention to prevent eating disorders and their consequences on health and sports performance.

Health literacy and pandemic coping in Leisure Time Monitors.

INTRODUCTION: Health literacy allows us to make appropriate decisions about our self-care and to use health services appropriately, therefore, it conditions people's health. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the level of health literacy of leisure time monitors and the influence of self-perception of health in times of pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: We used a cross-sectional observational design with non-probabilistic purposive sampling among leisure time monitors in the Autonomous Community of Galicia (Spain). METHOD: For this purpose, the HLS-EU-Q47 questionnaire measuring health literacy and a questionnaire measuring perception of COVID-19 were used. RESULTS: The results verify that the monitors consider that the pandemic affects their daily life, that it will be a situation that will last for a long time, and they are very worried. The low level of health literacy of the leisure time monitors is also confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, it seems urgent to evaluate the existing training programme and to include health education contents in this programme, given the involvement of leisure time monitors in the training of children and adolescents.

Longitudinal Relationships Between Physical Fitness With Physical Self-Concept and Self-Esteem in Adolescents.

Purpose: Physical fitness has shown to be positively related with young people's general mental health, mainly due to the changes in body composition derived from a regular sportive practice. Thus, the aim of this study was three-fold: 1) to analyze the relationship between physical fitness with the mental health status assessed as physical self-concept and self-esteem, 2) to study whether self-esteem offers longitudinal relationships with physical fitness three months after the first assessment, and 3) to know the most implicated variables of physical fitness in mental health variables. Method: A total of 1441 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years (mean=14.52; standard deviation=1.96 years), being the 49.5 % of them girls, from 4 high schools in Andalusia, Spain, participated in the study. The EUROFIT battery test was administered to the participants, as well as some questionaries to assess the physical self-concept and the self-steem. Physical tests and self-concept were assessed in an only temporal point, while self-esteem was analyzed longitudinally. Results: The results obtained indicated that physical self-concept was related to physical fitness, while self-esteem was especially related to the Course Navette test. Conclusions: These results suggest that having great levels of physical fitness, especially related to aerobic endurance, may help to have higher levels of physical self-concept and self-esteem as components of mental health in Spanish adolescents.

Teamwork Competencies and Their Influence on Health Literacy and Other Health Variables.

The ability to work in a team is a skill of special relevance for multiple facets of life, increasing performance and optimizing the process in any task. This work aimed to study whether teamwork skills were related to different health variables. The sample consisted of 671 military personnel from the Spanish Army. The instrument is composed of the Health Literacy Questionnaire-the Teamwork Skills Questionnaire, and Rosenberg's self-esteem scale. The study concludes that the level of teamwork skills of the military is high, as well as their level of health literacy and their self-perception of health. However, their self-esteem is medium. Teamwork competencies are positively associated with a higher level of health literacy, with a high self-perception of their health, with the level of physical activity and negatively with self-esteem and the number of hospital admissions.

Evaluation of health literacy and its predictive formative factors among Spanish military personnel.

Health literacy (HL) is an aspect that has been widely studied. However, in the military population there are hardly any studies on the influence of educational variables. Knowing the level of health literacy of military professionals is important as it has an impact on adequate health decision making, avoids the abuse of health services and makes it possible to ask for help when needed, especially in aspects related to mental health. The aim of this study was to measure the level of literacy, as well as its association with other training variables in a sample of military personnel. The study was carried out in 695 military personnel of the Spanish Army. A cross-sectional observational design was used, using a survey with the HLS-EU-Q47 scale. Among the results, it stands out that the level of health literacy of the military is high compared to the rest of the population. The results showed that the level of HL does not seem to be influenced by the level of languages, nor by the degree they hold, nor by experiences abroad. On the other hand, it was observed that the performance of professional internships and work in multidisciplinary teams, extracurricular training, does influence the level of HL, especially in the dimension related to health promotion. This fact seems to mean that the military have learned during these experiences to keep abreast of health-related issues, to understand, to value and to form a considered opinion on health-related information.

Relationship between Physical Fitness and Cyberbullying Patterns (Cybervictimization and Cyberperpetration) in Spanish Adolescents.

(1) Background: Cyberbullying is a growing problem among adolescents, and deeper knowledge of this phenomenon could facilitate the implementation of adequate prevention and intervention strategies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between victimization and aggression patterns in cyberbullying and physical fitness levels in Spanish adolescents. (2) Methods: A total of 741 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years from two high schools in Andalusia, Spain (mean = 14.52 ± 1.96 years; 50.9% girls, 49.1% boys) participated in the study. The participants underwent the EUROFIT battery test and completed the Spanish version of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (ECIPQ) scale. T-test, bivariate correlations and a linear regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. (3) Results: The study results indicated positive relationships between cyberbullying patterns, especially cybervictimization, and age, as well as several physical fitness measures, including BMI, sit-ups, sit-and-reach, and handgrip tests. On the other hand, cyberperpetration was positively related only to age and the specific grip strength test. Further statistical analysis revealed that cybervictimization was primarily influenced by age, while cyberperpetration was mainly influenced by age and performance in a functional test (sit-and-reach). (4) Conclusions: Cyberbullying roles, both as victims and aggressors, may not be strongly influenced by isolated physical fitness factors. Thus, in order to reach a more comprehensive understanding and better explanations of individual involvement in cyberbullying behavior, future studies should analyze psychological and social factors along with the variables considered in this study.

Understanding the Characteristics of At-Risk Youths in Guatemala: Evidence from a Sports for Human Development Program.

Guatemala is a multiethnic and multicultural country that has suffered from poverty and violence. Sports can serve as tool to foster development across the country; however, there is limited research on the use of sports as a tool for promoting broader social benefits in Guatemala. The purpose of this study was to compare sports and the health and physiological characteristics of at-risk youths in Guatemala. The research objectives were achieved through a quantitative approach and the participation of 90 youths involved in an educational organization through sports and 91 youths who have not been influenced by any organization. The results showed that urban at-risk youths involved in a sports for education organization develop more self-esteem; they have higher levels of physical activity than their peers who are not involved in an educational organization; the socioemotional competencies of self-regulation and motivation are higher in urban areas; empathy is higher in men than in women; the level of the self-perception of health is lower and health literacy higher. However, the at-risk youths who are not involved in an educational organization showed that their self-regulation was higher, and the level of health literacy was higher for all factors. This was through a set of attitudes and skills as a result of their historical development and sociocultural strategies transmitted from generation to generation to foster health and physical activity.

Relationship between Sports and Personal Variables and the Competitive Anxiety of Colombian Elite Athletes of Olympic and Paralympic Sports.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety is one of the most complex and the most studied constructs in psychology, and it is extremely frequent in high-level sportsmen and women. The main goal was to study the influence of sex, age, type of sport, sport modality, other professional occupation, and competitive level on the competitive anxiety symptoms and self-confidence of elite athletes. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with Colombian elite athletes who were members of the "Support to the Excellence Coldeportes Athlete" program. The total population studied included 334 Colombian elite athletes: mean age 27.10 ± 6.57 years old with 13.66 ± 6.37 years practicing his/her sports modality. The precompetitive anxiety symptoms of the participants were assessed using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2R (CSAI-2R). RESULTS: Men showed higher levels of self-confidence than women. Younger athletes had a higher cognitive and somatic anxiety. The athletes of individual sports had a higher mean somatic anxiety than those of collective sports. The higher-level athletes had lower values of cognitive and somatic anxiety and higher levels of self-confidence. Finally, the values of anxiety symptoms positively correlated with each other, and negatively correlated with self-confidence. CONCLUSION: Individualised psychological intervention programs adapted to elite athletes are needed, considering the divergent results found in various variables of scientific interest.

Initial Motivations for Choosing Teaching as a Career.

The objective of the study is to verify the reliability and validity of the Factors Influencing Teaching Choice, as well as to determine the teaching of Early childhood and Primary education students' motivations and perceptions for the choice of this degree. The sample consisted of 262 student teachers aged between 18 and 27 (83.2% female and 16.8% male). According to degree, 54.2% of the participants were enrolled in Early Childhood Education and 45.8% in Primary Education. The instrument used in the study was the Factors Influencing Teaching Choice, FIT-Choice Scale, adapted to Spanish by Gratacós and López-Jurado. Results evidenced the high reliability and validity of the scale that is similar to the original model, presenting 12 motivational factors and 6 perceptions. The main reasons that lead to choose teaching profession, despite gender differences, are: having influence in the educational children's process, the intrinsic value of the qualification, the fact that this profession contributes socially, or working with children. Also, students consider that teaching is a demanding profession and they are satisfied with the degree choice. The most important factors influencing the choice of education degree are intrinsic motivations and perceptions as the vocation, in contrast to external reasons such as economic incentives or social recognition.

Influence of Personal, Academic, Social, and Level of Physical Activity Variables on Emotional Intelligence.

In the diverse and complex society in which we live, the support that an appropriate emotional intelligence can provide to adolescents to achieve a satisfactory, balanced, and peaceful coexistence is increasing. The aim of this research was to determine whether personal, academic, and social variables influenced emotional intelligence in adolescent populations. A descriptive-inferential study was carried out with 964 students of compulsory secondary education (M = 14.18; SD = 1.28), applying the emotional intelligence scale Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24). The results show better emotional attention in boys who practice physical exercise and have good social skills; better emotional clarity in girls who practice physical exercise and have good social skills; and better emotional repair in girls under 13 years of age, who practice physical exercise, have a good academic record and good social skills. In conclusion, a solid and specific knowledge of the personal, academic, and social variables that may influence the development of emotional intelligence in the adolescent period allows helping students in the prevention or modification of undesirable aspects they may have in their relationships with society.

Physical and Cognitive Functioning of Institutionalized Elderly People in Rural Areas. Preventive Actions Using Physical Activity and Music Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive geriatric evaluation should include a functional and cognitive assessment to guide the intervention of interdisciplinary teams. The aim of this study was to analyze the physical capacities of institutionalized elderly people and to describe the preventive actions of physical activity and music therapy as non-invasive preventive pharmacological treatments given their importance for the cognitive and functional performance of elderly people. An observational and descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. The participants in the study were 109 elderly people institutionalized in three residential centers with a mean age of 83.41 years (SD = 8.72). FINDINGS: Most of the residents had very impaired physical faculties. However, cognitive impairment was not very high. Most residents (55.04%) had some form of dementia and/or high blood pressure (54.12%) followed by pathologies such as diabetes (27.52%), heart failure (17.43%), Parkinson's disease (9.17%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (8.25%). There were no differences in cognitive or physical capacity among the residents according to sex, age, or education and only those who had worked in the service sector had less cognitive capacity than those who had worked in the agricultural sector or as housewives. APPLICATIONS: Facilitate the creation and development of programs based on physical activity and music therapy in residential centers that can prevent and improve pathologies on the elderly.

Age as a determining variable in the practice or abandonment of physical exercise among young people.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have reported a gradual decline in the practice of physical exercise with age, confirming high dropout rates in the adolescent period. The aim of this study was to investigate the motivation or barriers that lead to greater or lesser adherence to physical exercise among children and adolescents. METHODS: In this study, 1,081 individuals volunteered to participate [239 children (age: 10.89 ± .66 years) and 842 adolescents (age: 14.9 ± 1.75 years)]. For this purpose, we used the Self-Report on Motivation for Exercising (AMPEF) and Self-Report on Barriers to Exercising (ABPEF) questionnaires. RESULTS: The most significant motivational factors in the practice of physical exercise (in both children and adolescents) are competition, social recognition and challenge (t = -16.02, p < .001), prevention and positive health (t = 5.24, p < .001) and affiliation, fun and well-being (t = -19.54, p < .001), while the barriers focus on fatigue and laziness (t = -13.20, p < .001) and body image and physical-social anxiety (t = -5.71, p < .001). It is also observed that adolescents showed significantly higher motivation than children and greater presence of barriers in the practice of physical exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The age is a determining variable to include in preventive and intervention programs for the practice of physical exercise.

Socio-Emotional Skills in Adolescence. Influence of Personal and Extracurricular Variables.

Social-emotional skills have been an important object of study in recent years due to their relationship with academic, personal and professional success. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between these skills and different influential variables. The participants had a mean age of 14.18 years. The instruments used were the Social Emotional Competence Questionnaire (SECQ) and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PACQ-A). Generally, the results indicated gender differences and no influence of age. Those who engaged in after-school activities scored higher on social awareness. In addition, artistic and musical extracurricular activities were associated with social-emotional skills, whereas sports activities were not. It was also found that the physical activity index was not related to socioemotional factors, except in self-awareness and in a negative way. It is necessary to analyse the quality of the extracurricular programmes offered and the training of the professionals in charge of their development. It also seems important to take into account the gender perspective in competence work, increasing self-management in girls and relationship management in boys.

Influence of the Perception of Barriers in Practice of PA in Adolescents: Explanatory Model.

BACKGROUND: Sedentarism is an important risk factor for non-communicable diseases. To avoid it, it is necessary to establish the barriers which influence a low level of practice of Physical Activity. METHODS: This study, conducted with 833 students, aims to describe a model to explain the barriers determining the level of practice of Physical Activity in adolescents according to age, school year, BMI and gender. The inclusion of the analyzed barriers followed the tetra-factorial model: Body image/physical and social anxiety; Tiredness/laziness; Responsibilities/lack of time and Environment/facilities. RESULTS: The barriers to Physical Activity in adolescents are fatigue and sloth, and temporary obligations. The barrier that least influences the practice of Physical Activity is the environment and body image. It is determined that the subjects with the lowest Physical Activity index were those with a high fatigue and laziness score and higher age. The level of physical activity of this population is medium (95% CI, 2.8274-2.9418). CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to overcome tiredness or apathy towards the practice of Physical Activity, especially in those under 16 years of age.

Attention to Diversity in Compulsory Secondary Education.

The attention to pupil diversity is still considered one of the main issues to solve in the current educational system. The objective of the study was to establish and analyze the differences between the knowledge and the use of ordinary and extraordinary measures in the attention to diversity from the point of view of compulsory secondary education teachers. A descriptive study was performed with a quantitative methodology, making use of a 452-teacher sample (Mean: 47, Standard Deviation: 8.42) using a survey. The results show a better understanding and frequency of use of the ordinary measures compared to the extraordinary ones. Results also maintain that among the most used we found the adequacy of the didactic planning as well as the support of the therapeutic pedagogy and language and auditory specialist. Moreover, the analysis reveals that the CMOEAD (ordinary and extraordinary measures for the attention to diversity) survey possesses psychometric properties which support its use in further studies. In conclusion, a better knowledge and use of ordinary and extraordinary measures in attention to diversity enables a forward leap in the quality and equity for pupils.

[Evaluation of food habits and physical activity in Galician students]. / Evaluación de los hábitos de alimentación y actividad física en escolares gallegos.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: obesity causes millions of deaths each year. Its high prevalence in children and adolescents from southern European countries, including Spain, is associated with the new food preferences and decreased physical activity. Objective: to evaluate diet quality and physical activity in Galician schoolchildren in order to assess if modifying the current intervention strategies in lifestyles is required. Methods: in the present study, 662 students from the south of Galicia were studied (9-17 years). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as adiposity indicator. The dietary pattern was evaluated through the Kidmed test and physical activity with PAQ-C. The sample was stratified by BMI according to Cole international standards. Data were analysed with the SPPS software. Results: fifty-six per cent of children are at high risk of overnutrition or need to improve their nutrition. The average adherence to the Mediterranean diet was low (7.64 ± 2.28), worsening with age and adiposity significantly. The average level of physical activity was moderate (3.02 ± 0.74) and it was lower in girls and adolescents; 58% showed a low-moderate level of physical activity. Quality diet was positively correlated with physical activity and negatively with BMI. Conclusions: Galician students showed a diet and physical activity risky pattern according to international/national recommendations. After several years of awareness campaigns and lifestyle interventions, improving their diet and increasing physical activity is still necessary.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: la obesidad causa millones de muertes anuales. Su elevada prevalencia en niños y adolescentes de países del sur de Europa, entre ellos España, se asocia con las nuevas preferencias alimentarias y la disminución de actividad física. Objetivos: evaluar la calidad de la dieta y la práctica de actividad física en escolares gallegos para valorar la necesidad de modificar las estrategias actuales de intervención en estilos de vida. Métodos: se estudiaron 662 niños de Galicia (9-17 años). Se calculó su índice de masa corporal (IMC) como indicador de adiposidad. El patrón alimentario se evaluó con el cuestionario Kidmed y la actividad física con el PAQ-C. Se estratificó la muestra en función del IMC de acuerdo con los estándares internacionales de Cole. Los datos se analizan con el paquete SPSS. Resultados: el 56% de los escolares están en riesgo elevado de malnutrición por exceso o necesitan mejorar su alimentación. La adherencia media al patrón alimentario mediterráneo fue baja (7,64 ± 2,28), empeorando significativamente con la edad y la adiposidad. El nivel de actividad física medio fue moderado (3,02 ± 0,74), significativamente menor en niñas y adolescentes. El 58% mostraron un nivel bajo-moderado de actividad física. La calidad de la dieta se correlacionó positivamente con la actividad física y negativamente con el IMC. Conclusiones: los escolares gallegos presentaron un patrón alimentario y de actividad física de riesgo en relación con las recomendaciones nacionales/internacionales. Tras varios años de campañas de concienciación e intervenciones sobre estilos de vida, continúa siendo necesario mejorar la dieta y aumentar la práctica física-deportiva.

Gender Differences in Motivation and Barriers for The Practice of Physical Exercise in Adolescence.

A total of 852 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age were evaluated (M = 14.86, SD = 1.67), randomly selected among a population of secondary school and Baccalaureate students. We applied an "ad hoc" questionnaire on sociodemographic data and the Self-Report of Reasons for the Practice of Physical Exercise (AMPEF) and Self-Report of Barriers to the Practice of Physical Exercise (ABPEF) questionnaires. The results obtained show a prevalence of competition, social recognition, and challenge as motivational factors, and fatigue or laziness as barriers to physical exercise among adolescents. With respect to gender, boys show a greater presence of motivations towards doing physical exercise, while girls show more barriers. In conclusion, the motivational factors and barriers interact and support each other for a better predisposition towards physical exercise.

[Disturbance of the voice in teachers]. / Perturbación de la voz en docentes.

OBJECTIVE: The voice in the academic context is a determining factor in the life of the teaching staff. The objective of this study was to evaluate the index vocal inability of in-service teachers and check your involvement the occupational conditions. METHODS: For it, a descriptive-inferential study is done of cross-section to 480 teachers (average age: 45.14 ± 9.22), applying the questionnaire of vocal disability index (HIV-30). Using descriptive statistical techniques (mean and standard deviation) and inferential techniques (ANOVA). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.23.0. RESULTS: When applying the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30) evidenced that teachers present a moderate vocal disability (41.2 rating), with increased risk in physical ability and own vocal function. Moreover, it was found that gender, educational stage, teaching load, antique, daily and weekly hours, student ratio and level of noise in the classroom, significantly affect the disturbance of the voice. It also shows more presence of dysphonia in teachers who perceive a progressive worsening of her voice throughout the day or week, and is absent in the work due to disorders of the voice. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, teachers attributed their laryngeal discomfort mainly to factors of the teaching context.

OBJETIVO: La voz en el contexto académico es un factor determinante para el profesorado. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el índice de incapacidad vocal de los docentes en ejercicio y comprobar su afectación según sus condiciones personales y ocupacionales. METODOS: Para ello se realiza un estudió descriptivo-inferencial de corte transversal a 480 docentes (media de edad: 45,14 ± 9.22), aplicando el cuestionario de índice de incapacidad vocal (VHI-30). Se emplearon técnicas estadísticas descriptivas (media y desviación típica) e inferenciales (ANOVA). El análisis estadístico se realizó con el software SPSS v.23.0. RESULTADOS: Al aplicar el Voice Handicap Index (VHI-30) se evidencio que los docentes presentan una incapacidad vocal moderada (puntuación 41,2), con mayor riesgo en su capacidad física y la propia función vocal. Además, se encontró que el sexo, la etapa educativa, la carga docente, la antigüedad, las horas lectivas semanales y diarias, el ratio del alumnado y el nivel de ruido en el aula, repercuten significativamente en la perturbación de la voz. También se manifestó una mayor presencia de disfonía en los docentes que percibían un empeoramiento progresivo de su voz a lo largo del día o semana y se habían ausentado en el trabajo debido a afecciones de la voz. CONCLUSIONES: El profesorado atribuye sus molestias laríngeas fundamentalmente a factores del contexto docente.