Analysis of Self-Perceived Physical Fitness of Physical Education Students in Public Schools in Extremadura (Spain).

Adolescence is a stage of crucial physiological and psychological changes within the individual's life cycle, where fitness work is important. With self-perception being crucial in relation to adolescent health and well-being, a positive perception of fitness is directly related to increased practice or higher level of physical activity (PA). Thus, the aims were: (1) to analyze, with the Visual Analogue Fitness Perception Scale for Adolescents (FP VAS A), the self-perceived physical fitness (PF) of high school students, (2) to investigate if there are differences according to sex and school location, and (3) to study the correlations between the items of the FP VAS A with age and body mass index (BMI). For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was designed with a total of 961 participants, 48.8% boys and 51.2% girls in secondary education, where 31.9% studied in rural schools and 68.1% in urban schools. The FP VAS A scale was used to assess self-reported PF. Regarding the results, there were statistically significant differences between sexes (p < 0.001), with boys showing higher scores than girls in all the items of the FP VAS A scale, with the exception of global flexibility. Inverse, mean and significant correlations were established between BMI and self-perceived overall PF (r = -0.202; p < 0.001), cardiorespiratory endurance (r = -0.226; p < 0.001) and movement speed (r = -0.268; p < 0.001). Between age and self-perceived cardiorespiratory endurance (r = -0.138; p < 0.001) an inverse, mean and significant correlation was also observed. In conclusion, boys showed a better self-perception of PF than girls for all physical abilities, with the exception of flexibility. School location was not shown to influence students' self-perceived PF. In addition, most of the self-perceived PF abilities for overall fitness correlated inversely with BMI.

Descriptive Study of Attitudes towards Corporal Expression in Physical Education Students in a Region of Spain.

(1) Background: In recent years, there has been increasing interest in understanding the factors that determine students' attitudes and interest in learning. The information that can be extracted from students' attitudes is essential for teachers to plan their classes to capture their attention and promote learning. Thus, this study aimed to determine whether there were significant differences between the genders in the perception of students from Extremadura towards Corporal Expression (CE) in Physical Education (PE) classrooms. (2) Methods: A single-measure descriptive and correlational cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 889 PE students in the Compulsory Secondary Education (CSE) stage from public schools in Extremadura, Spain, participated in the study; the subject had a mean age of 14.58 (SD = 1.47) and a BMI of 20.63 (SD = 3.46). Variables related to gender, age, height, and weight of the participants and a questionnaire on attitudes towards Corporal Expression were included. (3) Conclusions: Girls showed a more positive perception of the CE contents of the PE subject than boys; the latter showed a greater indifference to and a lower preference for these contents compared to other contents of the subject. On a general level, participants valued CE with a certain degree of positivity regarding its formative and educational usefulness and the expression of feelings and emotional self-management, and the pupils agreed with the methods and means used by the teacher to transmit the learning of CE.

Attitudes of Non-Disabled Pupils towards Disabled Pupils to Promote Inclusion in the Physical Education Classroom.

Inclusive education for disabled people is becoming increasingly important globally. Improving the factors that support the inclusion of people with disabilities in education is one of the main objectives. In addition to teachers, another major factor is how the attitudes of students without disabilities affect those with disabilities, which should be considered in maintaining an inclusive classroom climate. The aim of the study was to analyse the attitudes of non-disabled students towards the inclusion disabled students in Physical Education (PE) and to investigate differences according to gender and school location. A total of 805 girls and boys participating in PE in public secondary schools (12-18 years old) in Extremadura were analysed through the AISDPE (Attitudes towards the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in PE) questionnaire. The results show students without disabilities have positive attitudes towards the inclusion of students with disabilities. The majority were female. No significant differences were found regarding the location of the school. There are positive attitudes towards the inclusion of students with disabilities in the PE classroom, but these could be improved, especially in aspects more related to cognitive factors. For this, it is necessary for teachers to provide their students with the necessary tools and knowledge to better understand the possibilities and difficulties presented to students with disabilities, thus promoting a more inclusive classroom.

Inclusive Education in Primary and Secondary School: Perception of Teacher Training.

INTRODUCTION: Inclusive education is one of the main objectives of the educational system toward achieving equal opportunities among students. To this end, teacher training plays an important role in the different educational stages. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the perceived readiness of teachers for inclusive education and to see the differences in primary and secondary education. METHODS: A total of 961 active teachers from public schools, 53.3% Primary and 46.7% Secondary Education, were analyzed by means of a questionnaire on Teachers' perceptions about their preparation for inclusive education and the CEFI-R instrument. RESULTS: There are statistically significant differences between the two stages in the first questionnaire (question 1: p = 0.03; question 2: p < 0.01 and question 3: p < 0.01) and also, in 3 of the four CEFI-R dimensions, with the primary score being higher. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that there is a large percentage of teachers who believe that their initial training is insufficient to deal with student diversity. In addition, most of them state that continuous training has helped them to improve inclusive education and that they would be willing to attend training courses on inclusion, although in secondary school, the predisposition is lower than in high school. On the other hand, teachers of both educational stages show a mostly favorable attitude according to the CEFI-R, being higher in primary than in secondary school. In this sense, the public administration has work to do.

Does Physical Activity Reduce the Risk of Perceived Negative Health in the Smoking Population?

BACKGROUND: Smoking is associated with poor health status. Increased prevalence of multiple diseases has been found in populations of smokers and ex-smokers. Physical activity (PA) could reduce the negative effects of smoking. AIMS: To analyze the relationships between smoking and self-perceived health and between PA level and self-perceived health, according to the relationship with smoking in the Spanish population. To calculate the risks of perceiving negative health in relation to smoking, according to the PA level of the population. HYPOTHESIS: A higher level of PA reduces the risk of perceiving negative health in the Spanish smoking population. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional study with data from 17,708 participants, 15-69 years old, interviewed in the Spanish National Health Survey 2017. Intergroup differences were studied. Odds ratios (OR) and relative risks (RR) and their confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for negative self-perceived health. A Spearman's rho correlation study was performed between the variables of interest. RESULTS: Dependency relationships were found between self-perceived health and PA levels, in both genders and in different relationships with smoking (x2 < 0.001). Inactivity was related to higher prevalences of negative health perception (p < 0.05) in all groups analyzed. Inactive smokers (OR: 6.02. 95% CI: 3.99-9.07. RR: 5.24. 95% CI: 3.56-7.73) presented increased risks of negative health perception compared to people with low/medium PA levels, similarly found in other relationships with tobacco. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the PA level of the smoking population could reduce the negative effects on their perceived health. Medium and high PA levels reduce the risk of negative health perception in the Spanish population, both in smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Associations between Physical Activity Level, Depression, and Anxiety in Smokers and Ex-Smokers.

Introduction: depression and anxiety is one of the most relevant public health problems. The link between smoking and depression has been demonstrated. Regular physical activity (PA) could act as a protector against mental health diseases. Objectives: (1) to explore the prevalence of depression and anxiety in relation to sex and to the condition of smoker and ex-smoker, (2) to study the differences in prevalence proportions according to the frequency and level of PA, and (3) to calculate the probability of presenting depression or anxiety according to the frequency and level of PA. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted, based on data extracted from the 2014 and 2020 Spanish European Health Survey and the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey. The sample included 9524, 7813, and 9079 participants, respectively. Descriptive analysis was performed (comparisons using a Chi-square test and z-test for independent proportions). Probability odds ratios of anxiety and depression were calculated according to PA. Results: women had a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety than men (p < 0.001−0.003). Higher levels of prevalence were observed in inactive people versus very active or active people (p < 0.001). Inactive people had a higher risk of depression and anxiety compared to very active people. Conclusion: inactive smokers and ex-smokers had higher levels of prevalence of depression and anxiety than active and very active people. Physical inactivity could increase the risk of suffering these mental disorders in this population. This could affect women more than men.

Physical Activity Reduces the Risk of Developing Diabetes and Diabetes Medication Use.

Diabetes is a global public health challenge, exerting a large socioeconomic burden on healthcare systems. This study aimed to explore Diabetes prevalence and Diabetes medication use in diabetics regarding sex, age group, Physical Activity Level (PAL) and Body Mass Index (BMI) by studying possible differences and calculating the risks of developing Diabetes and Diabetes medication use in the population according to their PAL. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data extracted from the Spanish National Health Survey (ENSE2017). The sample was finally composed of 17,710 participants. A descriptive analysis was performed to characterise Diabetes prevalence and Diabetes medication use (Chi-square test and a z-test for independent proportions). Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated for Diabetes prevalence and Diabetes medication use according to the participants' PAL. Both the Diabetes and Diabetes medication use was higher in men than in women, increasing with age and BMI, and decreasing with increasing PAL (p < 0.001). Higher prevalence levels were observed in the inactive group versus very active or active people (p < 0.001). Inactive people had a higher risk of Diabetes and use of Diabetes medication risk compared to the very active and active groups. Prevalence decreased the higher the PAL both in men and women.

Concurrent Validity and Reliability of a Novel Visual Analogue Fitness Perception Scale for Adolescents (FP VAS A).

INTRODUCTION: Self-reported physical fitness (PF) provides an accurate measure of PF, specifically for young people. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is one of the most used psychosocial measurement methods. The main arguments in favor of VAS are its ease of use and comprehension, particularly for less educated participants. There are some scales that assess self-perception of PF, but the VAS presented in this study covers a higher range of responses and a number of variables than other already validated measures. AIMS: The aim was to determine the concurrent validity of the Visual Analogue Fitness Perception Scale for Adolescents (FP VAS A) (Sub-study 1) and check its reliability (Sub-study 2). METHODS: Anthropometric and body composition measurements were performed, as well as PF tests (manual dynamometry, Course Navette, 4 × 10 m, and sit and reach). The International Fitness Scale (IFIS) and FP VAS A were used to assess self-reported PF. RESULTS: Two sub-studies were carried out: in sub-study 1 a total of 67 students (26 males and 41 females aged 12-16 years) participated. The results showed a significant direct correlation between the level of PF and self-perception of PF (IFIS and FP VAS A), with the FP VAS A obtaining a higher correlation with PF (r = 0.444 to 0.666) than the IFIS and PF (r = 0.154 to 0.557). In sub-study 2 (test-retest of the FP VAS A), a total of 217 students (120 males and 97 females aged 12-17 years) participated. It showed a moderate reliability for all items; the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was between 0.800 and 0.870, and kappa values ranged from 0.622 (endurance) to 0.458 (flexibility). In addition, Cronbach's α for the total was 0.860. CONCLUSION: This study showed good validity and reliability for the FP VAS A in adolescents.