Personality and motivation of physical activity in adolescent girls: effects of perceived parental support and social physical anxiety.

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between personality and motivation for physical activity while introducing perceived parental support and social physical anxiety in adolescent girls (N = 318, Mage: 16.19 ± 0.51 years). The present study was a retrospective correlational study that was conducted to analyze of a path model. Dark triad traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy, student's motivation for physical activity, social physique anxiety, and participants' perceptions of parents' behaviors were measured. The findings indicated that psychopathy and Machiavellianism were directly and indirectly associated with motivation for physical activity, but Narcissism could only directly predict the motivation for physical activity. Also, need-thwarting (the most), need-supportive and social physical anxiety could predict motivation for physical activity. This model of the result suggests that among adolescent girls, dark triad personality could, directly and indirectly, predict motivation with need-supportive and need-thwarting and also social physical anxiety. It seems that the sense of importance and more attention to oneself in adolescent girls, which exists in the narcissistic personality, can directly lead to more motivation for physical activity. Also, the duplicitous ways of Machiavellian people in pursuing their motives were confirmed in this research.

Does body mass index distinguish motor proficiency, social and emotional maturity among adolescent girls?

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate whether different body mass index (BMI) groups could serve as a distinguishing factor for assessing motor proficiency and social and emotional maturity in adolescent girls. METHODS: 140 girls ranging from 12 to 14.5 years old were selected from the schools of Tabriz city, Iran. After their height and weight were measured to calculate body mass index, they completed the following questionnaires: Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of motor proficiency, Second Edition,Vineland Social Maturity Scale, and Emotional Maturity scale. RESULTS: normal-weight girls had a meaningful advantage against overweight and underweight participants in the gross motor factor of motor proficiency (p = 0.004), but there wasn't a meaningful difference in the fine motor p = 0.196) and coordination factors (p = 0.417). Also, social maturity showed an advantage of normal and underweight adolescent girls in the self-help dressing factor (p = 0.018), while the locomotion skills (p = 0.010) factor revealed a better performance of normal weight and overweight groups over underweight adolescents. No significant differences were observed in the emotional maturity subscales (p = 0.63) between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that BMI has a direct influence on adolescents' gross motor proficiency and social maturity.

Relationships between training load and wellbeing measures across a full season: a study of Turkish national youth wrestlers.

The two aims of this study were: (i) to analyse the correlations between weekly acute workload (wAW), chronic workload, acute/chronic workload rate (wACWR), training monotony and strain and the weekly (w) reports of delayed onset muscle soreness, wFatigue, wStress, wSleep quality, and the Hooper indicator (wHI); (ii) to analyse the relationships between early, mid and end preparation season (PS) and the full PS. Ten elite young wrestlers participated in this study. The subjects who were included in this research were wrestlers participating in competitions organized by the National Turkish Wrestling Federation. The subjects were monitored for 32 weeks and were divided into three time periods: early PS, W1 to W11; mid PS, W12 to W22; and end PS, W23 to W32. Very large correlations were found for wAW and wACWR with wFatigue and wHI during end PS. Also, the same workload parameters were significantly correlated with wStress (r = 0.66; P = 0.03), wSleep (r = 0.78; P = 0.004), and wHI (r = 0.72; P = 0.01) during mid PS. The results of this study offer new perspectives for specialists regarding the perceived level of load and the variations of wellbeing during a PS at the level of elite young wrestlers.

Reliability levels of motor competence in youth athletes.

This study aimed to analyze the reliability of the tests included in the motor competence assessment (MCA) battery and compare the effects of the number of trials per test. Thirty female volleyball players (14.6 ± 1.3 years of age) were tested. The participants performed two or three trials of each test. Intra-class correlation (ICC) was calculated, and a paired sample t-test analyzed the variations between trials (1st vs. 2nd vs. 3rd). Results revealed a significant difference between the first and the second trials for jumping sideways [t(29) = -4.108, p < 0.01], standing long jump [t(29) = -3.643, p < 0.01], and shuttle run [t(29) = -3.139, p < 0.01]. No significant result was registered in the shifting platforms, ball throwing and kicking between the first and second trials. Hence, any difference was recorded between the second and third trial. High ICC values were registered in lateral jumps, among the three repetitions of ball kicking and ball throwing, and between the last two repetitions of shuttle run. Almost perfect values were recorded for the shifting platforms and standing long jump. Nevertheless, there seems to be a learning effect between the first and the second repetition-no differences were registered only considering the two manipulative tests. In conclusion, except for jumping sideways, the MCA tests are reliable and only need to be performed two times instead of three.

Body image perception and body composition in early adolescents: a longitudinal study of an Italian cohort.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a sensitive period of life in which everyone faces physical and psychological changes. No longitudinal studies considering changes in body image perception and body composition in Italian adolescents have been carried out. The aims of this study were to evaluate the longitudinal change in body composition and weight status in a sample of Italian students of both sexes over the 3 years of middle school and to analyse the influence of these parameters on the perception and satisfaction of one's own body image. METHODS: Sixty-four males and seventy females were followed longitudinally from 11 to 14. Age at first measurement was 11.8 ± 0.3 yrs. in males and 11.9 ± 0.3 yrs. in females, then the students were measured again after 1 year and 2 years. Anthropometric measurements were collected and body composition was assessed by skinfolds. Maturity status was detected by age at menarche in females and by estimated age at peak height velocity in males; sports practice was assessed by a questionnaire. Body Silhouette Charts were used to assess body image perception. The degree of body image dissatisfaction and improper perception of weight status were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied. RESULTS: Height, sitting height, leg length, and weight increments were higher in males than in females, and in both sexes the sitting height increment was higher than that of leg length. Skinfold thicknesses and percentage of body fat, showed a decrease in males and an increase in females over the 3 years. About 90% of the sample practiced sport during the 3 years. No significant variations in body image perception were observed among repeated measures but significantly differences were observed between sexes. Although the girls showed a lower incidence of overweight and obesity than boys, girls had a higher dissatisfaction than males. Males were less accurate in one's perception of one's own weight status. CONCLUSIONS: The changes in body composition observed in the sample of the present study were in accordance with their maturity stage. An increase in parameters connected with adiposity is observed in females and a decrease in males. Body image perception did not seem to change with growth, but associations were found between body image perception and BMI and sex. Monitoring body image perception in young adolescents, especially in females and in overweight/obese subjects, is a priority to prevent nutritional disorders.

Effect of Heel-First Strike Gait on Knee and Ankle Mechanics.

Background and Objectives: Acquiring knowledge about the magnitude and direction of induced joint forces during modifying gait strategies is critical for proper exercise prescription. The present study aimed to evaluate whether a heel-first strike pattern during gait can affect the biomechanical characteristics of ankle and knee joints among asymptomatic people. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study performed in the biomechanics laboratory, 13 professional healthy male athletes walked on an instrumented walkway under two walking conditions. For the normal condition, subjects were instructed to walk as they normally would. For the heel-first strike condition, subjects were instructed to walk with heel-first strike pattern and increase heel contact duration as much as possible. Then, knee and ankle joint range of motions and moments, as well as vertical ground reaction force was measured by the Kistler force plate and Vicon motion analysis system. Results: Knee flexion angle at the initial contact and during stance phase was significantly lower when increasing the heel strike pattern. In addition, the mean values of the knee external rotation and adductor moments during heel strike condition were lower than those in normal walking. Further, the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) during mid-stance increased significantly during heel-first strike pattern compared to the value in normal gait pattern. Conclusions: The modification of gait pattern including heel-first strike pattern can reduce the mechanical load applied to the knee, while improving the extensibility of gastro-soleus muscle complex.

Changes in Muscle Contractile Properties after Cold- or Warm-Water Immersion Using Tensiomyography: A Cross-Over Randomised Trial.

Muscle contractile properties in clinical practice are often measured using either subjective scales or high-cost, inaccessible equipment. In this randomised cross-over study, we aimed to explore the use of tensiomyography (TMG) to assess changes in muscle contractile properties after cold- and warm-water immersion. The muscle contractile properties of the biceps femoris (BF) were assessed using TMG in 12 healthy active men (mean age 23 ± 3 years, Body Mass Index 22.9 ± 1.3 kg/m2) before and after a 20-min warm- or cold-water immersion over a period of 40 min. Muscle displacement (Dm) and contraction time (Tc) were registered as the main variables of the study. There was a significant condition by time interaction for Dm (p < 0.01). Post hoc analysis showed that, compared to the baseline, there was an increase in Dm 40 min after warm-water immersion (p < 0.01) and a decrease at 10 min after cold-water immersion (p < 0.01). No significant effect was found for Tc. Our results indicate that muscle contractile properties are affected by water temperature and time after the immersion; therefore, these factors should be taken into account when water-immersion is used as a recovery strategy.

Preliminary Results of an Exercise Program After Laparoscopic Resective Colorectal Cancer Surgery in Non-Metastatic Adenocarcinoma: A Pilot Study of a Randomized Control Trial.

Performing physical exercise after a colorectal cancer diagnosis is associated with lower mortality related to the tumor itself. In order to improve physical recovery after elective surgery, there are no specific exercise protocols after discharge from the hospital. The purpose of this study is to show the preliminary results of an exercise program after colorectal cancer surgery. Six patients with non-metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma addressed to respective laparoscopic were randomly assigned to a mixed supervised/home-based exercise program for six months and compared to a control group without exercise. To assess the effectiveness of the program, functional and body composition parameters were evaluated. Three months after surgery, the exercise group increased flexibility (p < 0.01, ES = 0.33), strength of lower limbs (p < 0.01, ES = 0.42) and aerobic capacity (p < 0.01, ES = 0.28). After surgery, the six patients experienced a significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) and free fat mass. More specifically, fat mass reached the lowest values, with a concomitant increase in cell mass after six months (p < 0.01, ES = 0.33). This did not occur in the control group. Colorectal cancer treatment induces a reduction in physical function, particularly during the first six months after treatment. A mixed exercise approach appears promising in countering this process after colorectal cancer surgery.

Comparison of the effect of teaching games for understanding, sport education, combined and linear pedagogy on motor proficiency of children with developmental coordination disorder.

Introduction: The prevalence of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is increasing and it has been shown that the main problem of children with DCD is their low motor proficiency. Therefore, it is important to find a way to improve motor skills in these children. Thus, this study aimed to compare the effect of teaching games for understanding (TGFU), sport education (SE), combined (TGFU and SE), and linear pedagogy (LP) on motor proficiency of children with DCD. Methods: In this regard, among 7-year-old children in Turkey, 80 children were selected voluntarily and by evaluating the MABCD-2 test. These children were randomly placed in four-LP (control), SE, TGFU, and combined (SE-TGFU) groups and practiced futsal exercises for 16 sessions under the supervision of coaches specific to each method. BOT-2 short-form test was used to evaluate motor proficiency. Results: The results of the analysis of the covariance test showed that the group effect is significant, and the results of the post hoc LSD test showed a significant difference between the LP with SE, LP with TGFU, LP with combination, SE with TGFU, SE with combination and TGFU with combination groups (p = <0.001). Discussion: Based on the results of this study, the combined method is the best compared to other methods. Generally, combining games as an important activity in childhood with SE that emphasizes improving the child's self-esteem is a method that can solve the movement competence that is the main problem of DCD children and lead them to continue physical activity.

Effects of short-term pre-competition weight loss on certain physiological parameters and strength change in elite boxers.

BACKGROUND: Athletes in certain sports aim to gain an advantage by competing in a lower body mass class instead of competing in their own body mass class. This study aims to reveal certain physiologic and strength changes in elite male boxers who lost body mass rapidly before the competition. METHODS: 30 thirty boxers who were aged between 19-24 years and having a mean age of 7.4 years participated in the study. To evaluate the effect of short-term dietary intake interventions on body composition and muscle strength before the competition, boxers were divided into three groups: control (C), exercise+diet1 (E+D1) and exercise+diet2 (E+D2) groups. The dietary habits of the participants were controlled and they participated in the training program. The data of the study consisted of variables such as body mass, height, regional muscle mass, body fat percentage, biceps and femur bicondylar circumference measurements before the competitions. Isometric strength measurements of knee extensors and flexors and shoulder internal and external rotators were also recorded. RESULTS: Physiologic parameters such as body mass change, BMI level, body fat percentage and leg muscle ratios of E+D2 were significantly decreased compared to C and E+D1 groups. Furthermore, submaximal and maximal strength production in knee extensors and flexors as well as shoulder internal and external rotators were significantly decreased in E+D2 compared to C and E+D1 groups. CONCLUSION: The tendency to lose body mass quickly in a short of time may give the desired results in terms of BMI, body mass and fat percentage, but it may cause strength losses in boxers during the competition period.

Psychophysiological Adaptations to Exercise Training in COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Many COVID-19 patients display adverse symptoms, such as reduced physical ability, poor quality of life, and impaired pulmonary function. Therefore, this systematic review is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of physical exercise on various psychophysiological indicators among COVID-19 patients who may be at any stage of their illness (i.e., critically ill, hospitalized, postdischarge, and recovering). Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from 2019 to 2021. Twenty-seven studies, which assessed a total of 1525 patients, were included and analysed. Results: Overall, data revealed significant improvements in the following parameters: physical function, dyspnoea, pulmonary function, quality of life (QOL), lower limb endurance and strength, anxiety, depression, physical activity level, muscle strength, oxygen saturation, fatigue, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), lymphocyte, leukocytes, and a fibrin degradation product (D-dimer). Conclusions: Physical training turns out to be an effective therapy that minimises the severity of COVID-19 in the intervention group compared to the standard treatment. Therefore, physical training could be incorporated into conventional treatment of COVID-19 patients. More randomized controlled studies with follow-up evaluations are required to evaluate the long-term advantages of physical training. Future research is essential to establish the optimal exercise intensity level and assess the musculoskeletal fitness of recovered COVID-19 patients. This trial is registered with CRD42021283087.

The impact of enriched environments on cerebral oxidative balance in rodents: a systematic review of environmental variability effects.

Introduction: The present review aimed to systematically summarize the impacts of environmental enrichment (EE) on cerebral oxidative balance in rodents exposed to normal and unfavorable environmental conditions. Methods: In this systematic review, four databases were used: PubMed (830 articles), Scopus (126 articles), Embase (127 articles), and Science Direct (794 articles). Eligibility criteria were applied based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study (PICOS) strategy to reduce the risk of bias. The searches were carried out by two independent researchers; in case of disagreement, a third participant was requested. After the selection and inclusion of articles, data related to sample characteristics and the EE protocol (time of exposure to EE, number of animals, and size of the environment) were extracted, as well as data related to brain tissues and biomarkers of oxidative balance, including carbonyls, malondialdehyde, nitrotyrosine, oxygen-reactive species, and glutathione (reduced/oxidized). Results: A total of 1,877 articles were found in the four databases, of which 16 studies were included in this systematic review. The results showed that different EE protocols were able to produce a global increase in antioxidant capacity, both enzymatic and non-enzymatic, which are the main factors for the neuroprotective effects in the central nervous system (CNS) subjected to unfavorable conditions. Furthermore, it was possible to notice a slowdown in neural dysfunction associated with oxidative damage, especially in the prefrontal structure in mice. Discussion: In conclusion, EE protocols were determined to be valid tools for improving oxidative balance in the CNS. The global decrease in oxidative stress biomarkers indicates refinement in reactive oxygen species detoxification, triggering an improvement in the antioxidant network.

Testing the concurrent validity and reliability of a lipowise digital skinfold caliper to assess muscle mass in healthy young adults.

The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of a novel tool to assess skinfolds and to compare the muscle mass measured through dual-x-ray-absorptiometry (DXA) and estimated using the Lee equation from the values of the skinfolds and girths in a healthy young adult population. Methods: The present study followed a cross-sectional design, including 38 participants, with 27 males (22.04 ± 5.20 years) and 11 females (21.55 ± 2.39 years). The measurement protocol included a DXA evaluation, basic measurements of body mass and stature, eight skinfolds with two skinfold calipers of different brands (Harpenden and Lipowise), and three girths. The order in which the skinfold calipers were used was randomized. The muscle mass was then calculated using the formula established by Lee et al. Results: No significant differences were found between the two skinfold calipers considering all the outcomes (p > 0.05). The correlation coefficients were between 0.724 and 0.991, which suggest very-large to nearly perfect correlations. The correlations performed revealed that muscle mass estimated from DXA is nearly perfectly correlated with both muscle mass estimated from the data obtained with the Harpenden skinfold caliper (r = 0.955) and muscle mass estimated from the data obtained with the Lipowise skinfold caliper (r = 0.954). From the results, we conclude that Lipowise caliper is an accurate skinfold caliper and it can be an alternative tool for the technician that need to assess body fat or muscle mass in precise, valid and time efficient evaluation. It should be noted that the caution to use skinfold calipers interchangeable with each other when evaluating skinfolds remains a necessity and is advisable to perform the measurements with the same brand and model of skinfold caliper when the purpose is to perform follow-up assessments.

Mass media pressure on physical build, psychological well-being and physical-healthy profile. An explanatory model in adulthood.

Background: The pressure exerted by the media on mental image, psychological well-being and the physical-dietary sphere is of vital interest in understanding human behavioral patterns at different stages of development. The present research reflects the objectives of developing an explanatory model of the associations between media pressure and physical build on psychological well-being, physical activity and the Mediterranean diet and testing the structural model using a multi-group model according to participants' stage of adulthood development. Methods: A descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 634 participants aged between 18 and 65 years (35.18 ± 9.68). An ad hoc socio-demographic questionnaire, Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questtionnaire-4, Psychological Well-Being Scale, Predimed questtionnaire and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form were used for data collection. Results: Participants in early adulthood show higher scores for media pressure and for pressure on physical build. It is also observed that participants in middle adulthood show higher scores for psychological well-being and physical activity levels. Conclusions: In conclusion, it can be seen that there are a large number of physical, physical-health and psychological differences in each of the phases of adulthood.

The Effects of Combining Aerobic and Heavy Resistance Training on Body Composition, Muscle Hypertrophy, and Exercise Satisfaction in Physically Active Adults.

This study investigated the effects of combined aerobic and heavy resistance training on the variables of body composition, muscle hypertrophy, and exercise satisfaction in physically active adults in comparison with heavy resistance training only (predominantly designed for hypertrophy). Twenty-two healthy male adults between the ages of 18 and 35, who had limited previous experience with muscle resistance training, participated in the intervention program while maintaining their physical activity level. The participants were randomly allocated into two groups: the resistance training group (control group) and the combined training group (experimental group), which involved both resistance training and aerobic training. Aerobic training consisted of 30 min aerobic interval training sessions three times a week with a total of 8 min work bouts in each at 60-70% of heart rate reserve (HRR). The intervention training program lasted for eight weeks. Resistance training consisted of a 3-day muscle group split (2-3 exercises per muscle group, 8 sets per muscle group, 6-12 repetition maximum (RM). Upon completion, body composition, muscle hypertrophy, and exercise satisfaction were analyzed using the mixed-design ANOVA. Variables selected for this study as markers of body composition responded differently to the different interventions and time; however, some trends were not statistically significant. Overall, it is not possible to state unequivocally that one training modality was superior to another in the body composition cluster, for significant improvements were observed within the groups from pre- to post-interventions, but no significant differences were observed between the resistance training and combined training groups, while, both interventions showed improvement with time in some variables of muscle hypertrophy. Compared to baseline, the exercise satisfaction post-intervention improved within the groups. From pre- to post-testing, both resistance and combined training groups improved exercise satisfaction (p < 0.05 in both groups). However, there was no significant difference in exercise satisfaction observed between the resistance training and combined training groups after the training intervention (p > 0.05).

Genetic Polymorphisms and Their Impact on Body Composition and Performance of Brazilians in a 105 Km Mountain Ultramarathon.

Although the studied polymorphisms affect muscular proteins, aerobic adaptations, and recovery, their influence on the anthropometric variables and performance in ultramarathon runners is still poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the influence of ACTN3 R577X, ACE I/D, and CK MM A/G NcoI polymorphisms on the changes in the anthropometric variables and running time of 105 km mountain runners, in which 22 male Brazilian elite athletes (35.9 ± 6.5 years) were evaluated. Genotyping of the R577X (RR, RX, and XX), ACE I/D (DD, ID, and II), and CK MM A/G Ncol (AA, AG, and GG) polymorphisms was performed using the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique with DNA extracted from saliva. Body composition was determined via bioimpedance. Pre- and post-race weight differences were observed on athletes with the AA genotype (77.1 ± 5.9 kg; 74.6 ± 5.6 kg) compared with those with the AG genotype (74.5 ± 8.0 kg; 68 ± 5.1 kg) (p = 0.02; p = 0.02). The RR genotype showed a correlation between BMI and running time (R = 0.97; p = 0.004). The genotype II showed a correlation with % fat and fat mass concerning running time (R = 0.91; p = 0.003; R = 0.99; p < 0.0001). The AA genotype was associated with post-race weight and lean mass loss, while the RR genotype correlated with BMI, and the genotype II correlated with % body fat and fat mass in relation to times in the 105 km mountain ultramarathon.

Factors Associated with Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Levels in High School Students.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between anxiety, depression, and stress levels with physical activity level and academic performance in high school students; secondly, this study aims to relate and compare anxiety, depression, and stress levels with physical activity level and academic performance. This is a quantitative, descriptive, and comparative cross-sectional study, which evaluated 443 high school students (48% female; 15.13 ± 1.59 years) belonging to the Maule region, Chile. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Questionnaire (DASS-21) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were applied. Academic performance was consulted on language, mathematics, and overall grade point average. The results indicate that vigorous physical activity (OR = 0.504; p = 0.017) and high academic performance in mathematics (OR = 0.597; p = 0.027) are associated with a reduced risk of depression. In turn, there is a significant inverse correlation between physical activity with anxiety (r = -0.224; p = 0.000), depression (r = -0.224; p = 0.000) and stress (r = -0.108; p = 0.032), while the performance of mathematics is inversely correlated with depression (r = -0.176; p = 0.000). On the other hand, significant differences (p < 0.05) between anxiety, depression, stress levels, and grade point average were found, with females exhibiting higher scores than males. In conclusion, greater vigorous physical activity and scoring above average in mathematics performance are protective factors against depression.

The relationships between ACTN3 rs1815739 and PPARA-α rs4253778 gene polymorphisms and athletic performance characteristics in professional soccer players.

BACKGROUND: Current research on athletic performance focuses on genetic variants that contribute significantly to individuals' performance. ACTN3 rs1815739 and PPARA-α rs4253778 gene polymorphisms are variants frequently associated with athletic performance among different populations. However, there is limited research examining the pre-and post-test results of some variants of athletic performance in soccer players. Therefore, the presented research is to examine the relationships between the ACTN3 rs1815739 and PPARA-α rs4253778 gene polymorphisms and athletic performance improvement rates in adaptations to six weeks of training in elite soccer players using some athletic performance tests. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-two soccer players between the ages of 18 and 35 voluntarily participated in the study. All participants were actively engaged in a rigorous six-day-a-week training program during the pre-season preparation period. Preceding and following the training program, a battery of diverse athletic performance tests was administered to the participants. Moreover, Genomic DNA was extracted from oral epithelial cells using the Invitrogen DNA isolation kit (Invitrogen, USA), following the manufacturer's protocol. Genotyping was conducted using real-time PCR. To assess the pre- and post-test performance differences of soccer players, the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was employed. RESULTS: Upon analyzing the results of the soccer players based on the ACTN3 genotype variable, it was observed that there were no statistically significant differences in the SJ (Squat Jump), 30m sprint, CMJ (Counter Movement Jump), and DJ (Drop Jump) performance tests (p > 0.05). However, a statistically significant difference was identified in the YOYO IRT 2 (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 2) and 1RM (One Repetition Maximum) test outcomes (YOYO IRT 2: CC, CT, and TT, p = 0.028, 0.028, 0.008, 0.000, respectively; 1RM: CC, CT, and TT, p = 0.010, 0.34, 0.001, respectively). Regarding the PPARA-α genotype variable, the statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the SJ, 30m sprint, CMJ, and DJ performance tests (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, a statistically significant difference was observed in the YOYO IRT 2 and 1RM test results (YOYO IRT 2: CC, CG p = 0.001, 0.020; 1RM: CC, p = 0.000) CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated significant enhancements in only YOYO INT 2 and 1RM test outcomes across nearly all gene variants following the six-day-a-week training program. Other performance tests, such as the 30m sprint, SJ, CMJ, and DJ tests did not exhibit statistically significant differences. These findings contribute novel insights into the molecular processes involving PPARA-α rs4253778 and ACTN3 rs1815739 that underpin enhancements in endurance (YOYO INT 2) and maximal strength (1RM) aspects of athletic performance. However, to comprehensively elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the association between these polymorphisms and athletic performance, further investigations are warranted. It is thought that the use of field and genetic analyses together to support each other will be an important detail for athletes to reach high performance.

Are there differences between Mediterranean diet and the consumption of harmful substances on quality of life?-an explanatory model in secondary education regarding gender.

Background: Adolescence is a key life stage in human development. It is during this stage of development that healthy and physical behaviors are acquired that will last into adulthood. Gender differences in the acquisition of these behaviors have been observed. This research aims to (a) study the levels of Mediterranean diet adherence, quality of life and alcohol and tobacco consumption as regarding the gender of the participants and (b) study the effects of the variable adherence to the Mediterranean diet, alcohol consumption and tobacco consumption on quality of life as a function of the gender of the participants. Methods: A non-experimental, cross-sectional, exploratory study was carried out in a sample of 1,057 Spanish adolescents (Average Age = 14.19; Standard Deviation = 2.87). Results: The comparative analysis shows that the male teenagers shows a higher Mediterranean diet adherence compared to the male adolescents (p ≤ 0.05) and a higher consumption of alcoholic beverages (p ≤ 0.05). On the contrary, adolescent girls show a higher consumption of alcoholic beverages than male participants (p ≤ 0.05). The exploratory analysis indicates that for boys, alcohol consumption has a beneficial effect on the quality of life of adolescents (ß = 0.904; p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: In this case, participants show differences in the levels of Mediterranean diet adherence, consumption of harmful substances and quality of life according to gender. Likewise, there are different effects between the variables according to gender. Therefore, gender is a key factor to consider during adolescence.

Which Dark Personality Traits Could Predict Insomnia? The Mediated Effects of Perceived Stress and Ethical Judgments.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dark personality traits and insomnia by considering the mediated effects of perceived stress and ethical judgments. This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 464 university athlete students from individual and team sports. Dark Triad Scale (DTS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Moral Content Judgment in Sport Questionnaire (MCJSQ) were used. Significant correlation coefficients were observed between the dark personality traits and other variables. Regression analysis showed that psychopathy (about 19%) and ethical judgments (about 16%) could predict insomnia. It was shown that among dark personality traits, psychopathy along with ethical judgments could predict insomnia.