Weight Loss Strategies in Male Competitors of Combat Sport Disciplines.

Background and objective: The use of suboptimal weight loss strategies in order to reach specific weight ranges as observed in combat sport disciplines can give rise to severe health problems. However, particular aspects regarding management of weight category comparing three sport disciplines remain to be investigated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to obtain information regarding the weight loss strategies that competitors performed before a tournament. Materials and Methods: This article describes the most common dietary-nutritional strategies used by 140 national university male competitors of judo (n = 52), karate (n = 40) and taekwondo (n = 48) in order to achieve a specific weight, according to the rapid weight loss questionnaire (RWLQ) and the EAT-27 questionnaire. Results: Around 50% of participants were not involved in a weight loss process. Among the remaining participants, we considered three periods for weight reduction: less than 1 week (35% in judo, 8% in karate and 19% in taekwondo), less than 1 month (17% in judo, 15% in karate and 26% in taekwondo) and more than 1 month (0% in judo, 5% in karate and 21% in taekwondo). Severe fasting, focused on food/water restriction, was the most commonly used strategy, being more frequent in judo players. Light weight judo practitioners generally lost 2-5 kg before the contest. One third of participants avoided carbohydrate consumption when performing food restriction. Finally, individuals that reduced weight in the last week seemed to develop an unhealthy psychological relationship with food. Conclusion: All these aspects could be particularly relevant, providing information regarding how competitors manage basic nutritional concepts that guide dieting strategies. This information is relevant to prepare future educational interventions in the area of nutrition for competitors, coaches and technical staff.

Positive and negative spontaneous self-talk and performance in gymnastics: The role of contextual, personal and situational factors.

The purpose of this study was to analyse whether contextual (perception of motivational climate and positive and negative spontaneous self-talk in sports), personal (positivity) and situational variables (positive and negative spontaneous self-talk employed in competition and precompetitive anxiety) predict performance in a competition of ensembles of rhythmic gymnastics. 258 female gymnasts between ages14 and 20 (M = 15.24, SD = 1.46) participated in the study, completing pre- and post-competition measures. The results of the path-analysis showed that both the task-involving climate and positivity predicted positive self-talk in sport. This predicted self-confidence which, in turn, positively predicted positive situational self-talk in competition. For its part, the perception of an ego-involving climate positively predicted the use of both negative and positive self-talk in sport. Negative self-talk in sports predicted negative situational self-talk in competition and somatic and cognitive anxiety. In turn, cognitive anxiety positively predicted negative situational self-talk. Finally, performance was positively predicted by positive situational self-talk and negatively by negative situational self-talk. These results explain the functioning of spontaneous self-talk at different levels of generality and its relationship with sports performance.

School Climate, Moral Disengagement and, Empathy as Predictors of Bullying in Adolescents.

Our work aimed to study the relationships between different dimensions of school climate, moral disengagement, empathy, and bullying behaviors (perpetration and victimization). The study sample consisted of 629 students (304 boys and 325 girls) aged 12-14 years (M = 12.55, SD = 0.67). Results showed how different dimensions of school climate predicted moral disengagement, empathy, and victimization, and these, in turn, predicted bullying perpetration. The results show the need to generate favorable educational environments to reduce the levels of moral disengagement and victimization and to increase empathy in students as a strategy to prevent negative consequences related to bullying.

Lack of Correlation between Accelerometers and Heart-Rate Monitorization during Exercise Session in Older Adults.

Aging is increasing worldwide; hence, aging-related health is also more relevant. Well-programmed physical exercise is now an indispensable tool to achieve active aging and preserve older people's health. Such "well-programmed" exercise requires efficient and useful tools to measure the activity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of accelerometers to estimate two different intensities of physical exercise in older people. Thirty-eight subjects (64.5 ± 5.3 years) were measured during two different sessions of physical exercise: one moderate in intensity, the other of low intensity. Heart rate and accelerometry were recorded and analyzed. The results showed that the two variables in the physical exercise sessions were not highly correlated, and that accelerometry did not seem useful to assess low-intensity sessions not based on walking.

Teaching Styles in Physical Education: A New Approach to Predicting Resilience and Bullying.

The main objective of this study was to analyze student-perceived teaching styles' power to predict students' resilience and the emergence of bullying behaviors in physical education class. A total of 537 students of both sexes, between 11 and 15 years of age, from primary and secondary schools in the province of Alicante (Spain), participated in the study. The design of the study was cross-sectional. The results showed that bullying was positively predicted by students' perceptions of a more controlling style and negatively by a greater perception of an autonomy-supportive style in physical education classes. Victimization was negatively predicted by greater resilience and positively by students' perception of a teacher's more controlling style. Finally, the mediation analysis showed that the perception of autonomy support indirectly and negatively predicted victimization, with resilience acting as a mediator. These findings provide useful information for physical education teachers interested in preventing bullying, and have important practical implications about the teaching style recommended for this purpose.

Predicting Bullying through Motivation and Teaching Styles in Physical Education.

From the theoretical framework offered by the self-determination theory, the objective of the study was to test a predictor model of bullying behaviors based on the physical education teacher's supportive style, the students' satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and self-determined motivation. A total of 608 students of both sexes, between 11 and 15 years of age, from primary and secondary schools in the province of Alicante (Spain) voluntarily completed questionnaires to measure each of the variables under study. The design of the study was cross-sectional. The results showed that the autonomy supportive style positively predicted the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, which, in turn, positively predicted self-determined motivation towards physical education. The latter negatively predicted bullying perpetration and bullying victimization. The controlling style presented inverse relationships to those of the autonomy supportive style. These results are in line with the positions of the self-determination theory and underline the potential responsibility of physical education teachers in the struggle against bullying, and how, by supporting autonomy and avoiding a controlling style, they can help reduce bullying perpetration and victimization.

Associations Between Self-Determined Motivation, Team Potency, and Self-Talk in Team Sports.

The current study aimed to evaluate the determinant factors of athletes´ internal positive self-talk that might lead to decreased anxiety and increased performance. The sample consisted of 191 male and female athletes ranging in age from 14 to 35 years old. They played soccer, volleyball and basketball and they were cadets (43%), juniors (29.6 %) and adults (27.4%). Results showed that satisfaction of the basic psychological needs was the strongest predictor of positive self-talk or positive thoughts during competition. Specifically, perception of autonomy was the strongest predictor, because it positively predicted concentration, control of anxiety and instructions, followed by perception of competence, which positively predicted confidence. Finally, team sports coaches should promote perception of autonomy and competence in their athletes, with the aim of enhancing more positive self-talk in competition, which may promote a better performance.

Trunk Stability, Trunk Strength and Sport Performance Level in Judo.

Although trunk muscle function has been suggested to be a determinant of judo performance, its contribution to high-level performance in this sport has been poorly studied. Therefore, several tests were used to assess the differences in trunk muscle function between 11 international and 14 national level judo practitioners (judokas). Trunk strength and endurance were assessed using isokinetic tests and core stability was assessed using two protocols: 1) sudden loading, to assess trunk responses to unexpected external perturbations; 2) stable and unstable sitting, to assess the participants' ability to control trunk balance. No differences between groups were found for trunk flexor isokinetic strength, trunk responses against lateral and posterior loading and trunk control while sitting. However, international level judokas showed significantly higher trunk extensor isokinetic strength (p <0.05) and lower trunk angular displacement after anterior trunk loading (p <0.05) than national level judokas. Few and low (r < 0.512) significant correlations were found between strength, endurance and stability parameters, which suggests that trunk strength and endurance are not limiting factors for trunk stability in competitive judokas. These results support the importance of trunk extensor strength and trunk stability against forward perturbations in elite judo performance.

Correction: Trunk Stability, Trunk Strength and Sport Performance Level in Judo.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156267.].

EATING DISORDERS AND DIET MANAGEMENT IN CONTACT SPORTS; EAT-26 QUESTIONNAIRE DOES NOT SEEM APPROPRIATE TO EVALUATE EATING DISORDERS IN SPORTS.

INTRODUCTION: there is a growing concern in the appearance of eating disorders in athletes, especially those that practice sports grouped into weight categories. This affects the way athletes eat, using frequently unhealthy strategies to control weight, especially during the pre-competition period. AIM: this study analyses the prevalence of contact sports athletes in developing eating disorders, and how a controlled diet plan can reduce this risk. At the same time, it evaluates the use of the EAT-26 questionnaire to detect such disorders. METHODS: a randomized frequency study was performed on 244 athletes (158 men, 86 women), who were separated into two groups: those that followed a diet plan given by a nutritionist, and a control group on a free diet. The athletes completed an EAT-26 questionnaire while participating in the University-level National Championships. RESULTS: the free diet group scored significantly higher on the questionnaire. Also, the female athletes controlled diet group scored significantly higher than their male counterparts. DISCUSSION: the results of the questionnaire indicate that an adequate nutritional program circumvents the use of unhealthy habits to control body weight and therefore avoids developing particular eating disorders. EAT-26 questionnaire does not seem the most appropriate tool to detect these disorders.

Introducción: existe una preocupación creciente por los desórdenes alimentarios en deportistas, especialmente en aquellos que practican deportes agrupados en categorías de peso. Esto afecta a la manera de comer de los deportistas, usando con frecuencia estrategias no saludables para control del peso, en especial en periodo precompetitivo. Objetivo: este estudio analiza la prevalencia de desórdenes alimentarios en deportistas de deportes de contacto, y cómo una planificación dietética controlada puede reducir el riesgo. También valora el uso del cuestionario EAT-26 para detectar dichos desórdenes. Métodos: ha sido realizado un estudio aleatorizado de frecuencias en 244 deportistas (158 varones, 86 mujeres), que fueron separados en dos grupos: los que seguían un plan dietético proporcionado por un nutricionista y un grupo control con una dieta libre. Los participantes rellenaron el cuestionario EAT-26 mientras participaban en los Campeonatos Universitarios Nacionales. Resultados: el grupo con dieta libre puntuó con valores más altos en el cuestionario. Al mismo tiempo, las deportistas que seguían una dieta controlada puntuaron de forma significativa en el cuestionario respecto a los varones del mismo grupo. Discusión: los resultados del cuestionario indican que una adecuada planificación nutricional evita el uso de hábitos poco saludables para controlar el peso corporal, evitando desarrollar desórdenes alimentarios particulares. El cuestionario EAT-26 no parece la herramienta más apropiada para detectar estos desórdenes.

Evaluación de las propiedades psicométricas de la escala de satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas básicas en general con adultos españoles / Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the scale of satisfaction of basic psychological needs in general with spanish adults

Los postulados de la teoría de la autodeterminación defienden que para lograr una motivación más positiva y el bienestar es necesario satisfacer las necesidades psicológicas básicas: autonomía, competencia y relación. Para medir la satisfacción de estas necesidades en la vida, se ha creado la Escala de Satisfacción de las Necesidades Psicológicas Básicas en General (BNSG-S). Sus propiedades psicométricas han sido analizadas recientemente, aunque sólo con muestras de estudiantes universitarios. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar su validez y fiabilidad con una muestra de adultos españoles. En el estudio participaron 399 personas (202 hombres y 197 mujeres), con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 65 años. Los resultados del análisis factorial confirmatorio dieron apoyo a la validez de un modelo reducido de 16 ítems y efecto de método en los ítems negativos. La estructura factorial fue invariante por sexo y edad. Además, se obtuvieron valores adecuados de fiabilidad y estabilidad temporal. El análisis de las evidencias de validez externa mostró que la satisfacción de las tres necesidades psicológicas básicas se asociaba positivamente con la motivación autodeterminada hacia la actividad física y la satisfacción con la vida. Estos resultados dan apoyo a la utilización del instrumento en el contexto español.

The postulates of self-determination theory advocate the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence and relatedness) to achieve more positive motivation and well-being. The Basic Needs Satisfaction in General Scale (BNSG-S) was created to measure the satisfaction of these needs in life. Its psychometric properties have recently been analyzed, although only with samples of college students. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the validity and reliability of the BNSG-S with a sample of Spanish adults. Three hundred ninety-nine people (202 men and 197 women), aged between 18 and 65, participated in this study. The results of confirmatory factor analysis support the validity of a reduced model of 16 items and a negative-worded method effect. The factor structure was invariant across gender and age. It was also obtained acceptable values of reliability and temporal stability. The analysis of external validity evidences showed that the satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs was positively associated with self-determined motivation towards physical activity and satisfaction with life. These results support the utilization of the instrument in the Spanish context.