Life satisfaction among Spanish children and adolescents participating in Physical Education.

Life satisfaction has been determined as a cognitive indicator of subjective wellbeing, a term that acquires vital relevance during adolescence as a protective factor against numerous psychological, mental and social disorders. Therefore, the objectives of this study are: (1) to evaluate differences in life satisfaction as a function of gender and school environment in Spanish children and adolescents; and (2) examine the possible associations between life satisfaction and age and/or body mass index (BMI) of the student body. For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was carried out with 723 students (aged 6 to 18 years) in which the "Satisfaction with life Scale" was applied, consisting of 5 items that measure self-perception of life satisfaction. Nonparametric statistics (Mann-Whitney U test) were used to explore differences in scores according to sex and school environment, in addition to Spearman's Rho test to identify associations between scale scores and students' age and BMI. Significant differences were obtained in terms of sex in favor of the male gender, and between the two environments of the centers in favor of the rural ones. In addition, the two variables explored (age and BMI) showed significant inverse associations with life satisfaction levels. Therefore, educational interventions and policies must take this information into account to design and develop actions aimed at improving this cognitive factor.

Emotional regulation and self-perceived quality of life in high-performance mountain sports athletes.

Emotional regulation is an indispensable capacity for human beings, so that alterations in it can lead to the appearance of psychological, social and/or cognitive disorders. Therefore, possessing adequate emotional strategies is intimately related to the quality of life that a person presents. In this sense, high-level athletes suffer constant setbacks and frustrations due to the performance of their sporting activity, in addition to continuous modifications of their daily life activities. Thus, the objective of this research is to explore the emotional regulation and self-perceived quality of life of high-level athletes in mountain sports, analyzing the possible influences of gender, demographic location, body mass index and age. Fifty-four athletes belonging to the High Performance Technification Center of Cáceres (Extremadura, Spain) completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, as well as the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the WHOQOL-BREF. The Shapiro-Wilkins test was used to analyze the normality of the variables collected and nonparametric statistics were used since the assumption was not met. Both gender and demographic location showed significant differences in the dimensions of the two questionnaires. Likewise, age was associated with the dimensions of both scales, but not body mass index, which was only associated with self-perceived quality of life. In addition, the stepwise linear regression model predicted self-perceived quality of life with a value of 60% across self-culpability, gender body mass index and planning. Therefore, it appears that gender, demographic location, age and body mass index could exert modifications on the levels of emotional regulation and self-perceived quality of life of high-level mountain athletes.

Assessment of multidimensional self-concept in the area of physical education: validation of a scale.

Introduction: Self-concept is a person's perception of him/herself and how he/she performs in different situations. This aspect must be developed during the formative stages and Physical Education is a fundamental area due to its enormous methodological possibilities. Aim: Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the factor structure and reliability of an instrument that allows to analyze the multidimensional self-concept of high school students in the context of Physical Education. Method: The sample consisted of 1,155 secondary school students from public schools in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, Spain. After the exploratory and confirmatory analyses, a structure composed of 30 items divided into 5 factors was. Results: This design showed excellent goodness-of-fit indices as well as good internal reliability indicators (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.76 - 0.88). Conclusion: Therefore, this scale can be considered as a tool to assess the self-concept of high school students in a quick and easy way.

Prospective Teachers' Knowledge of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents.

Over the past few years, organizations around the world have tried to reach different populations with recommendations about physical activity (PA), due to this subject playing an important role in the phases of intention development and in preparation for it. Thus, the knowledge of future educators in the fields of health and PA is of vital importance when improving the levels of the latter in students. The objective of this research is to determine what knowledge future teachers have about health and PA, examining possible disparities according to the gender, age, and level of physical exercise of the participants. In addition, the psychometric properties of the instrument used were explored. A total of 321 Colombian university students from the Faculty of Education between the ages of sixteen and thirty-five participated in this study, providing sociodemographic information by filling out the CUAFYS-A questionnaire. Significant differences were found in the scale items according to sex and self-perception of being physically active. Also, the findings revealed a single-factor structure with nine items that had satisfactory reliability (α = 0.71; CR = 0.72) and excellent goodness-of-fit indices (RMSEA = 0.055 (90% CI (0.3, 0.8), RMSR = 0.02, CFI = 0.935, NNFI = 0.912, CMIN/DF = 1.97). Therefore, strategies and campaigns to promote PA knowledge in prospective teachers should be tailored according to gender and PA levels. Similarly, the CUAFYS-A questionnaire can be considered a valid and reliable instrument to identify the PA knowledge of future educators.

A scientometrics analysis of physical activity and transcranial stimulation research.

BACKGROUND: The search for alternatives to improve physical performance is rising, and in recent years has been focused on the brain. No bibliometric study analyzing research on physical activity (PA) and transcranial stimulation has been found in the scientific literature. Aims: To provide an overview of the existing scientific research on PA and transcranial brain stimulation in healthy and sports participants, using a bibliometric analysis and graphic mapping of the references in the field. To do this, we analyze annual publication trends in this area, identifying the most productive and cited authors, journals and countries with the highest number of publications, and the most cited documents and keywords. METHODS: Those publications related to this area, published in journals indexed in the web of science main collection were retrieved and analyzed using the traditional laws of bibliometrics. RESULTS: A total of 305 documents were found. Annual publications followed an exponential growth trend (R2 = 94.2%); with A. J. Pearce (9 documents) is the most productive coauthor and M.C. Ridding, H. Theoret and M. Lassonde as the most prominent (with 5 most cited papers). The USA (67 papers) and the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (12 papers) were the most productive country and journal respectively. The paper "Action anticipation and motor resonance in elite basketball players" was the most cited paper and "transcranial magnetic stimulation" was the most used keyword. CONCLUSION: There are extensive research networks throughout the world, with the USA leading the production. Publications on the issue are of high interest in the scientific community as an exponential increase in publications over the last few years was found. The contribution of these findings is to offer a complete picture of the relationship between PA and transcranial brain stimulation in healthy individuals and athletes. Therefore, this comprehensive analysis provides fruitful information for sports researchers and policymakers to make future correct decisions about how to better design and implement training interventions in these groups of individuals.

Bullying and Self-Concept, Factors Affecting the Mental Health of School Adolescents.

Bullying is an aggressive and repetitive behavior, where one person or several people physically, socially, or emotionally harm a vulnerable person and provokean imbalance of power in a school setting. Several factors such as age, sex, school performance, psychological factors, and ethnicity have been associated with bullying and more are being sought. Thus, the objectives of this study were as follows: (1) analyze the differences in bullying (victimization and aggression) and self-concept (academic, social, emotional, family, and physical) with respect to sex, school location, and educational level among Spanish adolescents; (2) explore the associations of bullying and self-concept with these sociodemographic dimensions. A cross-sectional study was designed with a total of 1155 participants (between 12 and 18 years old); there were 48.8% boys and 51.2% girls, where 75.9% studied compulsory secondary education (CSE) and 24.1% Baccalaureate, and 31.9% were students from rural schools and 68.1% were from urban schools. Medium and inverse correlations were shown between victimization and self-concept at the general level, for both sexes, both types of school, and both educational stages. For the aggression dimension, the correlations with self-concept were inverse at the general level (low), in girls (low), in rural students (medium), and in compulsory secondary education students (medium). For academic self-concept and family self-concept, the associations were medium and inverse with bullying in all variables. For emotional self-concept the correlation with bullying was direct and medium in all variables; in physical self-concept, the correlations with bullying were inverse in almost all variables except in boys. Self-concept may be a protective factor for bullying and interventions should aim at adolescents building a positive multidimensional self-concept that prevents and protects them from bullying either as aggressor or victim.

Children's Influence on Their Parents' Satisfaction with Physical Activity in Nature: An Exploratory Study.

Physical activity in nature has several benefits as it is important for good health, offering physical, social, psychological or even ecological benefits. Nevertheless, in order to maintain adherence to this practice, high levels of satisfaction with the practice are necessary. The objective of this study is to explore whether children's characteristics influence parental satisfaction with physical activity in nature, analyzing possible differences according to the gender and age of their children. Two hundred and eighty parents responded to two sociodemographic questions in addition to the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), which consists of 16 items. The normality of the data was determined using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Subsequently, nonparametric tests were used to analyze the variables of gender and age in the items, dimensions and total scores of the questionnaire. Statistical differences were found in some of the positive items, which varied according to the age of the children. However, no significant differences were found in the items with respect to the children's gender or when examining the dimensions or total score of the questionnaire based on both variables. Likewise, age did not show significant correlations with the dimensions and the total score of the questionnaire. Consequently, this study indicates that a child's age may influence parents' positive perceptions of the enjoyment of physical activity in nature. Similarly, the gender of the child does not seem to influence these perceptions.

Attitudes towards Peers with Disabilities among Schoolchildren in Physical Education Classes.

All children, including those living with disabilities, have the right to be provided with Inclusive Education (IE) together with appropriate support in scholarly settings. A key factor for educational inclusion is peers' attitudes towards disabilities, which impact disabled students' social participation and learning. Physical Education (PE) classes represent an opportunity for students with disabilities to get psychological, social, health, and educational benefits. This study aimed to assess Spanish students' attitudes regarding their peers with disabilities during PE lessons and to explore possible differences between gender, school location, and age group. The sample consisted of 1437 students from public schools in Extremadura (Spain) from the primary and secondary stages. Participants completed the Attitude towards Students with Disabilities in Physical Education (EAADEF-EP) Questionnaire. The Mann-Whitney U test was carried out to establish differences in scores according to sex, school location, age group, and correlations between age and item scores using the Spearman's Rho test. The results displayed significant differences in the total and item scores considering sex and centre location, with good reliability values (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86). The EAADEF-EP Questionnaire has proven to be a quick, easy, and inexpensive tool to assess attitudes. Girls and participants whose school was in a rural setting had better attitudes towards inclusion. This study's results highlight the importance of carrying out educational actions and programs to improve students' attitudes towards their peers with disabilities considering the influences of the studied variables.

Gender Differences in Adventure Tourists Who Practice Kayaking in Extremadura.

Adventure tourism is among the sectors that has experienced the greatest growth in participation in recent years. In addition, it provides a unique opportunity to generate different benefits for rural populations as well as for the preservation of their environment. The objective of this study was to analyze gender differences in the profile, estimated expenditure, perception of economic impact and satisfaction of adventure tourists visiting the Valle del Jerte (Extremadura, Spain) for kayaking activities. The sample was composed of 511 tourists who kayaked in the Valle del Jerte. Gender differences were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test in continuous variables and Pearson's chi-square test in categorical variables. The predominant profile of the kayaking tourist is Spanish, married, employed, with university education, lives with their partner with children at home, chooses a rural home for accommodation, travels with companions, uses their own car for transportation, spends 550 euros on average, has good perceptions of the economic impact of the activity on the destination and is satisfied with the kayak service received. This information is relevant for public and private organizations as well as for the local community to be able to offer services more oriented to the tourist who engages in these activities, as well as to attract more tourists.

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Associations between Depression and Anxiety, Medication Use for These Diseases and Physical Activity Level in Spanish People with Hypertension.

Hypertension (HTN) has a high prevalence in the overall population, affecting people's mental health. Physical Activity (PA) has proven to be an effective tool to improve mental health. This study analyzed the associations between Depression and Anxiety prevalence, medication use for these disorders (antidepressants and anxiolytics) and Physical Activity Level (PAL) in people with HTN. A cross-sectional study was conducted with data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 (ENSE2017) with a final sample of 3228 individuals over 15 years of age with HTN who resided in Spain. Data normality was assessed through the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Associations between Depression and Anxiety prevalence, antidepressant and anxiolytic use and PAL were studied using a chi-square test. Possible differences between Depression and Anxiety prevalence and medication use according to the PAL were analyzed with a z-test for independent proportions. Depression or Anxiety and antidepressant and anxiolytic use odds ratios (OR) were calculated for every PAL group, taking the "Very Active" group as a reference. Risk factors were evaluated using multiple binary logistic regression. Dependency relationships were found between Depression and Anxiety prevalence, antidepressant and anxiolytic use and PAL (p < 0.001). The Inactive group displayed the highest prevalence and medication use according to their PAL (p < 0.05). Higher ORs for Depression or Anxiety and pharmacological treatments used were also found in the Inactive group compared to the other PAL groups.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the OPQOL-Brief.

BACKGROUND: Ageing and its consequences on quality of life is one of the main issues to be addressed by public organizations; therefore the development of tools for its evaluation is a priority issue to orientate lines of action. Therefore, the objective of this research is to carry out cross-cultural adaptation and present the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Older People's Quality of Life Questionnaire-Brief (OPQOL-Brief). METHODS: a cross-cultural adaptation was carried out together with a process of translation and back-translation of the scale. The OPQOL-Brief and a sociodemographic questionnaire were administered to 120 older adults aged over 65 from a healthcare setting in the region of Extremadura. RESULTS: the exploratory analysis revealed a factor structure through a matrix of polychoric correlations divided in two intercorrelated factors, consisting of 12 items and with excellent sample adequacy indices (KMO = 0.846'; Bartlett test = 1268.1; p = 0.000). Then, the confirmatory factor analysis established the definitive model with exceptional goodness-of-fit indices (NNFI = 0.99; CFI = 0.99; CMIN/DF = 0.96; Ρ (χ2) = 0.22; RMSEA = 0.037 and RMSR = 0.040). Finally, Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega for internal consistency reported good values of 0.830 and 0.851, respectively. CONCLUSION: our findings show that the OPQOL-Brief exhibits a solution with 12 elements and related constructs, providing stable goodness-of-fit indicators as well as good and remarkable consistency ratings.

Physical Education Teachers' Perception of Teaching Effectiveness Related to Gender and Center Location in the Community of Extremadura.

Teacher effectiveness (TE) is defined as a set of strategies implemented by the teacher to ensure the multidimensional development of students. This effectiveness has usually been evaluated by students, department heads or parents, but not by one of the fundamental elements of the educational process, the teacher. In the current study, the aim is to understand the self-assessed teaching effectiveness of Physical Education (PE) teachers in the Community of Extremadura, finding differences according to the gender of the teacher and the location of the center. Significant differences were found in the scores of both the items and the dimensions that make up the questionnaire, regarding variables such as gender and location of the center. Similarly, we found worrying values regarding the use of technology and the evaluation of teachers and students, so these findings should serve to open new lines of action to develop measures to improve teaching effectiveness depending on the educational context. Therefore, this research is considered a first step in the analysis of the perceptions and needs of the teaching job from the point of view of a PE teacher in Extremadura.

Validation of a Questionnaire to Analyze Teacher Training in Inclusive Education in the Area of Physical Education: The CEFI-R Questionnaire.

Inclusive education is a right that has captured the attention of public institutions, researchers, and teaching professionals around the world. The beliefs and perceptions of teachers are a fundamental axis in knowing the state of these professionals regarding this ethical principle, allowing them to develop and implement different strategies. This study aims to explore the reliability and factor structure of the Evaluation of Teachers' Preparation for Inclusion (CEFI-R) questionnaire among physical education teachers. The sample consisted of 789 Spanish in-service teachers who completed the questionnaire to assess their readiness for inclusion in this subject. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses as well as reliability testing were carried out. A factor structure with four dimensions (conception of diversity, methodology, support, and community participation) was obtained. These dimensions consisted of 17 items with good and excellent goodness-of-fit values. In addition, a high reliability was obtained (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.71-0.93). Therefore, the CEFI-R could be considered a valid and reliable tool to analyze physical education teachers' perceptions of their preparedness for inclusive education.

Influence of Educational Specialty on Perceptions towards Corporal Expression of Prospective Teachers.

Most educators overlook the importance of corporal expression, even though it has been shown to have various advantages for children of all ages. In the teaching-learning process, teacher views and beliefs are crucial because they have a significant impact on students. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to analyze the existing differences in the perceptions of future teachers towards corporal expression according to their gender and educational specialty. A total of 437 aspiring Spanish instructors participated in the sample, selected by the convenience sampling method, and answered the Questionnaire to Assess Perceptions of Corporal Expression in Future Spanish Teachers to gauge their understanding of and preparation for corporal expression via Google Forms. The Mann-Whitney U test was employed to evaluate the possible differences between the diverse items and factors according to gender and educational specialty. The results displayed good perceptions of corporal expression throughout the sample, finding significant differences in most items and all the dimensions when education specialty is considered. Nevertheless, gender variables did not seem to mediate those perceptions. Therefore, university degrees oriented to education must include the same amount of content related to corporal expression to ensure adequate initial training regardless of the stage of education at which the teachers develop their academic activity.

Differences in the Perception Regarding Inclusion Preparation among Teachers at Different Educational Stages.

Inclusive education is fundamental, consisting of enabling all students, irrespective of their characteristics, to receive appropriate education and actively participate in school life. Teachers play an important role in this regard; thus, this study aims to analyze teachers' perceptions regarding their preparation for inclusion by assessing possible differences depending on the educational stage (early childhood, primary, or secondary education). A total of 1098 Spanish teachers, from Extremadura, responded to three dichotomic answers about their inclusive education preparation perception and the Evaluation of Teachers' Inclusion Readiness (CEFI-R) questionnaire, a 19-item tool composed of four dimensions: (1) conception of diversity, (2) methodology, (3) support, and (4) community participation. Pearson's chi-square test was used to assess differences between the dichotomous questions and educational stage; Kruskal-Wallis was used to determine whether the educational stage conditioned the CEFI-R dimensions responses, and the Spearman rho was used to test the association between age groups and the CEFI-R dimensions. Statistical differences were found between secondary education and preschool education and primary education teachers in the dimensions (1) conception of diversity, (2) methodology, and (3) support. Significant differences in dimension (4) community participation between preschool education teachers and secondary and primary education teachers were found.

Evaluation of Attitudes toward Corporal Expression in Primary School Students: Validation and Psychometric Properties of a Questionnaire.

The content of corporal expression, usually forgotten by some teachers, has been shown to have favorable effects on the physical, social, and psychological health of students at all levels of education. Likewise, students' attitudes should be positively influenced in the school environment in order to improve the teaching-learning process of the different contents taught. The purpose of this study was to provide the factor structure and validity of a questionnaire used to gauge pupils' attitudes toward corporal expression. The sample consisted of 709 students in the last cycle of primary school from schools in the region of Extremadura (Spain). Reliability testing as well as confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were conducted. The findings revealed a factor structure with three dimensions composed of 30 items with high reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85-0.90) and good and exceptional goodness-of-fit values. As a result, the questionnaire can be seen as a quick and simple instrument to use in analyzing students' attitudes toward corporal expression and enabling stakeholders to take action to support it.

Sex and Rural/Urban Centre Location as Determinants of Body Image Self-Perception in Preschoolers.

Body image and self-perception are highly related to psychological health and social well-being throughout the lifespan. Body image problems can lead to pathologies affecting the quality of life. Thus, it is essential to analyse perceived self-image from an early stage. This study aimed to assess body image and dissatisfaction in preschoolers, analyzing possible differences depending on sex (boy/girl) and school location (rural/urban). The sample consisted of 304 preschoolers from Extremadura (Spain) between three and six years of age. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to evaluate the differences in scores according to sex and centre location. The results showed significant differences in the body shape perception depending on the student's sex, with females showing higher scores in their Body Mass Index (BMI). However, females showed greater body dissatisfaction than their male counterparts, with greater disagreement between their perceived and desired figures. Actions and programmes to promote children's healthy body image need to be implemented with consideration for differences between the sexes.

Psychomotor Skills Activities in the Classroom from an Early Childhood Education Teachers' Perspective.

Psychomotricity is a tool that allows the development of different capacities, skills and corporal abilities of people. Currently, it is included in early childhood education programmes due to its importance in children's development, but, even so, it is not always given the role they deserve. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of early childhood education teachers towards the needs and current state of psychomotor skills in the educational context of Extremadura schools and compare the information provided by teachers that work in rural and urban areas. A questionnaire was administered using a tablet and a Google Forms application. The sample consisted of 216 teachers, selected using a non-probability sampling method based on coexistence sampling. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to determine the relationships between the different items and dimensions according to the location of the school, and Spearman's Rho test was used to find out if there is any relationship between the age of the teachers and their responses in the different dimensions. The results showed that psychomotor skills do not receive the place they deserve, with insufficient material and facilities, inadequate training, few sessions and inappropriate programming, together with the rest of the components of the cycle. Therefore, it can be concluded that it is necessary to include psychomotor skills in the training of teachers and that the centres should be concerned about providing teachers with the necessary material and spaces for their work.

Associations between Body Image and Self-Perceived Physical Fitness in Future Spanish Teachers.

Body image is a complex construct related to how each person perceives their own body and how they value it. Physical fitness and physical activity are factors that can influence the perception of a better or worse body image. This study aimed to identify the potential associations between body image and physical fitness self-perception in future Spanish teachers, analysing possible sex-related differences. A total of 278 Spanish university students answered the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Questionnaire and the International Fitness Scale, having an average age of 22 years, of which 40% were men and 60% were women. Nonparametric techniques (Spearman's Rho test) were used as the data did not fit normality. The findings showed associations between body image and perceived physical fitness, confirming differences between the sexes. Correlations were found between the first three dimensions of the Multidimensional Body Self Relations and the International Fitness Scale, with sex-related differences being more significant in women than in men, and between the physical abilities self-assessed by the International Fitness Scale (except flexibility) and the dimensions of the Multidimensional Body Self Relations (except Dimension 4). Since body image influences well-being and conditions the time spent exercising, public health organisations and universities should design supports to improve master students' body image through physical activity programmes, education and sex-specific individualised attention.

Satisfaction with Physical Activity among Students in the Last Cycle of Primary Education in Extremadura.

Satisfaction with physical activity during Physical Education classes leads to improved health and adherence to future healthy lifestyle habits, in addition, higher levels of physical activity have also been widely associated with higher academic achievement in primary school. To find out how satisfied Extremadura students are with the physical activity they perform, a questionnaire was distributed with different items related to positive and negative feelings they may feel during the practice. The differences between the items of the questionnaire and the total median scores according to sex and center location were analyzed and found to be present in all the items that refer to positive feelings. Additionally, the relationship between age and the mean score obtained through the questionnaire was evaluated, without discovering any significant correlations. The results showed that students are generally satisfied with the physical activity they practice in their classes and that this has benefited their academic performance.