Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms in Spanish adolescents: results from the EHDLA study.

Depression and anxiety are prevalent and disabling conditions among adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms in adolescents. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 698 adolescent students from a region of Spain (mean age of 13.9 ± 1.5 years; 56.2% girls). Adherence to the MD was evaluated with the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents (KIDMED). Mental health symptoms were measured with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Logistic regression models were performed, including a wide range of potential confounders. Compared to individuals with low adherence to the MD, those with moderate and high adherence had lower odds of experiencing depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.24-0.65 and OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.20-0.55, respectively), which were statistically significant even after adjustment. No significant associations were found regarding anxiety or stress symptoms. Therefore, according to our results, higher adherence to the MD is inversely related to having depressive symptoms among adolescents, regardless of socioeconomic, anthropometric, and lifestyle factors. Considering the deleterious effects of mental health problems in youths, further research on the role of nonpharmacological strategies for the prevention and treatment of depressive symptoms in adolescence is essential.

The moderating role of recreational substance use in the association of Mediterranean diet with academic performance among adolescents.

No study has examined the potential moderating role of recreational substance use in the relationship between the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and academic performance. The aim of this study was to test the potential moderating role of recreational substance use (i.e., alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) in the association of adherence to the MedDiet with academic performance among adolescents. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 757 adolescents (55.6% girls) aged 12-17 years from the Valle de Ricote (Region of Murcia). The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Teenagers (KIDMED). Recreational substance use (i.e., tobacco, alcohol, cannabis) was self-reported by adolescents. Academic performance was assessed by the school records at the end of the academic year. The relationship between adherence to the MedDiet and academic performance was moderated by both tobacco and alcohol use (for grade point average and all school records). In conclusion, higher adherence to the MedDiet was related to greater academic performance in adolescents, but recreational substance use could moderate this association.

Cognitive and personality differences between adolescents with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND: The relationships between cognitive and personality profile in teenagers with and without ADHD were assessed. METHOD: Two groups of teenagers, one with ADHD (N = 135; mean age = 13.93) and another group without ADHD (N = 199, mean age = 14.29) were evaluated using the K-BIT and 16PF-APQ tests. RESULTS: In cognitive variables, the results revealed that the ADHD group returned higher scores in the Matrices subtest and the IQ test. In personality variables, the group with ADHD exhibited higher scores in Tough-Mindedness and lower scores in Self-Control than the group without the disorder. The canonical correlation analysis applied to each group revealed a differing pattern of interrelationships between the cognitive-personality variables in the two groups. In adolescents with ADHD, we observed that higher scores in cognitive variables were associated with a more extroverted personality and less self-control, while in adolescents without ADHD, higher scores in cognitive variables were associated with less tough-mindedness and lower levels of self-control. CONCLUSIONS: The cognitive and personality variables of adolescents with and without ADHD differ. These results will be useful for establishing a cognitive and personality profile for this section of the population. The educational implications of the study are under discussion.

Anticipated synchronization in human EEG data: Unidirectional causality with negative phase lag.

Understanding the functional connectivity of the brain has become a major goal of neuroscience. In many situations the relative phase difference, together with coherence patterns, has been employed to infer the direction of the information flow. However, it has been recently shown in local field potential data from monkeys the existence of a synchronized regime in which unidirectionally coupled areas can present both positive and negative phase differences. During the counterintuitive regime, called anticipated synchronization (AS), the phase difference does not reflect the causality. Here we investigate coherence and causality at the alpha frequency band (f∼10 Hz) between pairs of electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes in humans during a GO/NO-GO task. We show that human EEG signals can exhibit anticipated synchronization, which is characterized by a unidirectional influence from an electrode A to an electrode B, but the electrode B leads the electrode A in time. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first verification of AS in EEG signals and in the human brain. The usual delayed synchronization (DS) regime is also present between many pairs. DS is characterized by a unidirectional influence from an electrode A to an electrode B and a positive phase difference between A and B which indicates that the electrode A leads the electrode B in time. Moreover we show that EEG signals exhibit diversity in the phase relations: the pairs of electrodes can present in-phase, antiphase, or out-of-phase synchronization with a similar distribution of positive and negative phase differences.

Efectos psicológicos de la práctica del Método Pilates en una muestra universitaria / Psychological effects of the practice of Pilates Method in a university sample

El propósito general de esta investigación fue comprobar los posibles efectos psicológicos de la práctica del Método Pilates y, en particular, las consecuencias sobre el grado de ansiedad experimentado. Éste es un método de entrenamiento físico enfocado a la mejora de la higiene postural y del bienestar psicológico, altamente recomendado en la actualidad por los profesionales sanitarios, tanto para personas con patologías diagnosticadas como con fines preventivos. Hasta el momento se han comprobado los beneficios físicos y psicológicos asociados a la práctica regular de actividad física. Sin embargo, se han realizado pocos estudios sobre los efectos concretos del Método Pilates. En el presente trabajo se examinó la ansiedad (estado y rasgo) en un grupo sedentario y otro grupo practicante habitual de este método (estudiantes, personal y usuarios de las instalaciones deportivas de la Universidad de Murcia, España). Para evaluar la ansiedad se utilizó el Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo (STAI) de Spielberger, Gorsuch y Lushene (2002). Se discuten las repercusiones que los resultados de este trabajo pueden tener en la promoción de la salud en el ámbito universitario y su contribución a la salud pública

The overall purpose of this research was to test the possible psychological effects of the practice of Pilates and, in particular, the effect on the degree of anxiety experienced. This is a method of physical training aimed at improving postural hygiene and psychological well-being, highly recommended today by health professionals, both for people with diagnosed diseases and for preventive level. So far, the physical and psychological benefits associated with regular physical activity practice have already been demonstrated. However, only a few studies have investigated the specific effects of the Pilates Method. This paper examined the anxiety (state and trait) in a sedentary group and in another group of usual practitioners of this method (staff, students, and users of sports facilities at the University of Murcia, Spain). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) of Spielberger, Gorsuch and Lushene (2002) was used to assess anxiety. The implications that the results of this work can have from the perspective of health promotion in the university are discussed, as well as its contribution to public health

Relación entre actividad física, depresión y ansiedad en adolescentes / Relationship between physical activity, depression and anxiety in adolescents

El objetivo principal de esta investigación ha sido valorar la relación entre la depresión y ansiedad (como indicadores de salud psicológica) y el nivel de actividad física en la adolescencia. Con este propósito, se administró el Inventario de Depresión de Beck (BDI), el Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo (STAI) y el Inventario de Actividad Física Habitual para Adlescentes (IAFHA), en una muestra de estudiantes españoles de bachillerato. Desde la perspectiva de las Instituciones Promotoras de Salud (IPS), los resultados del presente trabajo sugieren la importancia de promocionar una actividad física regular en niveles preuniversitarios, de manera que los adolescentes adquieran lo más tempranamente posible hábitos de vida saludables, antes de su incorporación a la vida universitaria (AU)

The main goal of this study was to determine the relationship between depression and anxiety (as indicators of psychological health status) and the level of physical activity in adolescence. For this purpose, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Habitual Physical Activity Inventory for Adolescents (IAFHA) were used with a sample of high school Spanish students. From the point of view of Health Promoting Institutions (IPS), the results of this work suggest the importance of promoting regular physical activity in pre-university levels, so that youths to adopt healthy habits as early as possible, before their incorporation into university life (AU)

Influencias de la personalidad materna sobre el estilo conductual infantil: implicaciones para la atención temprana / The influence of maternal personality traits on infant behavioural style: implications for early intervention

El propósito de la presente investigación ha sido estudiar la relación existente entre la personalidad de la madre y las reacciones temperamentales que presenta su hijo ante estímulos físicos y sociales. Para este propósito, empleamos una muestra constituida por 38 bebés y sus respectivas madres. Todos los bebés nacieron a término, sin complicaciones pre ni postnatales y pertenecían a un nivel socioeconómico medio. Las madres cumplimentaron el Cuestionario de Personalidad 16PF de Cattell en el último trimestre de embarazo. A los 9 meses de edad, los bebés fueron sometidos a diferentes situaciones de laboratorio en las que se enfrentaban a personas y objetos con el fin de que exhibieran su tono emocional, nivel de actividad y vocalizaciones. Los resultados indicaron que existía una relación predictiva significativa entre la extroversión materna y el nivel de actividad, tono emocional y vocalizaciones mostradas por sus hijos cuando eran enfrentados a personas y objetos. (AU)