Motivation to learn: an international multilevel study on student autonomy and teacher emphasis on content usefulness / Motivación para aprender: un estudio internacional multinivel sobre la autonomía de los estudiantes y el énfasis de los docentes en la utilidad del contenido

En la educación superior, pocos estudios relacionan factores contextuales en la clase, como el énfasis del profesor en la utilidad del contenido y las características motivacionales de los estudiantes. El objetivo fue probar un modelo multinivel sobre la relación entre el énfasis del docente en la utilidad del contenido durante la clase, la autonomía de los estudiantes y, a su vez, la motivación para aprender. Participaron 3033 estudiantes universitarios matriculados de 1º a 4º grado de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, de universidades de España (N = 602), Portugal (N = 469), México (N = 1177), Chile (N = 372), y Brasil (N = 413). Se realizó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales multinivel, en el que los participantes respondieron preguntas sobre el énfasis del profesor en la utilidad del contenido de la clase, la autonomía y la motivación para aprender. Se hipotetizó que el énfasis del profesor en la utilidad del contenido predecía la autonomía del estudiante que, por su vez, predecía la motivación para aprender. Los resultados, a nivel grupal e individual, indican que el énfasis del docente en la utilidad del contenido predijo la autonomía del estudiante, y la autonomía predijo la motivación para aprender.(AU)

Teacher autonomy support is related to improved student learn-ing. In higher education, few studies relate classroom contextual factors, such as teacher emphasis on content usefulness, and students' motivational characteristics. The aim was to test a multilevel model about the relation between the extent of teachers’ emphasis on the usefulness of class con-tent with student autonomy, and, in turn, on motivation to learn. The par-ticipants were 3033 university students enrolled from 1st to 4th grade of Sciences of the Physical Activity and Sport, from universities in Spain (N = 602), Portugal (N = 469), Mexico (N = 1177), Chile (N = 372), and Brazil (N = 413). A multilevel structural equation model was performed, in which participants answered questions about the teacher's emphasis on the use-fulness of class content, basic psychological need for autonomy, and moti-vation to learn. At the group and individual levels, the hypothesis is that the teacher's emphasis on the usefulness of class content predict the stu-dent autonomy, in turn, student autonomy predicts student motivation to learn. Results found at the group level and at the individual level the strength of teacher emphasis on class content predicted student autonomy; student autonomy predicted student motivation to learn.(AU)

Hypothalamic neuronal activation in non-human primates drives naturalistic goal-directed eating behavior.

Maladaptive feeding behavior is the primary cause of modern obesity. While the causal influence of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) on eating behavior has been established in rodents, there is currently no primate-based evidence available on naturalistic eating behaviors. We investigated the role of LHA GABAergic (LHAGABA) neurons in eating using chemogenetics in three macaques. LHAGABA neuron activation significantly increased naturalistic goal-directed behaviors and food motivation, predominantly for palatable food. Positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance spectroscopy validated chemogenetic activation. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the functional connectivity (FC) between the LHA and frontal areas was increased, while the FC between the frontal cortices was decreased after LHAGABA neuron activation. Thus, our study elucidates the role of LHAGABA neurons in eating and obesity therapeutics for primates and humans.

Predicting Accelerometer-Assessed Estimates of Adolescent's Multidimensional Physical Activity: A Self-Determination Theory Approach.

Based on the tenets in self-determination theory, a dual-process model of motivational processes was tested to predict accelerometer-assessed estimates of adolescents' light physical activity (LPA), moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary time. Here, we hypothesized that (a) perceptions of psychological need support for exercise would be positively associated with LPA and MVPA and negatively associated with sedentary time via exercise-related psychological need satisfaction and autonomous exercise motivation and (b) perceptions of psychological need thwarting for exercise would be negatively associated with LPA and MVPA and positively associated with sedentary time via exercise-related psychological need frustration and controlled exercise motivation. Adolescents (N = 338; 234 female) age 11-15 years (M = 12.75, SD = .90) wore an ActiGraph accelerometer for 8 days and completed questionnaires pertaining to the self-determination-theory variables. Results showed psychological need support to indirectly and positively predict LPA and MVPA via psychological need satisfaction and autonomous exercise motivation. Although directly predictive of need frustration and indirectly predictive of controlled motivation and amotivation, the hypothesized effects from psychological need thwarting to the behavioral outcomes were nonsignificant. The current findings highlight the important role that need-supportive environments play in facilitating autonomous exercise motivation and behavior by being conducive to exercise-related psychological need satisfaction.

A Model Proposal for Developing a Solution and Determining the Administrative Problems of Hospitals in Turkey: The BUY Model.

Background and Purpose: This study was conducted in line with the request of the senior management of a hospital. The objective of the current research is to identify managerial problems through the relationship between health employees' perceptions of organizational justice, trust in the manager and the organization, and job satisfaction; develop a solution proposal over the relationships between these variables and motivation variables; and present a model proposal (BUY Model) as a result. Methods: The study sample is comprised of 673 employees. The study data were collected online using a questionnaire consisting of five scales. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistical methods, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. Results: The findings obtained from the study showed that the participants' perceptions of organizational justice, trust in the manager and the organization, job satisfaction and motivation were generally at a moderate level. The study also determined that trust in the manager and the organization had a partial mediation effect on the effect of organizational justice on job satisfaction and the variables of trust in the organization, organizational justice, and trust in the manager, respectively, and especially, the job satisfaction variable also affected motivation. Conclusion: The BUY model was developed to identify problems related to the management of healthcare human resources and solve these problems. Considering the importance of the concepts of job satisfaction and motivation in terms of employee performance, health service quality, and patient satisfaction, it is thought that the developed model will benefit managers of health institutions in increasing the job satisfaction and motivation levels of health employees.

Motivations matter: moral and health-related motives indirectly relate to differential psychological health indicators among vegetarians.

Due to rising popularity of vegetarianism in recent years, research interest has surged in examining the relationship between vegetarianism and psychological health. However, given inconsistent findings in prior research, the answer to whether practicing vegetarianism is associated with better or worse psychological health is still elusive. The present investigation aimed to demonstrate that vegetarians are not homogeneous in terms of psychological experiences, such that it is crucial to consider the motives behind vegetarians' dietary choice when examining their psychological health. In a survey study with 266 vegetarians and 104 omnivores, it was shown that health vegetarians displayed higher levels of disordered eating as compared to moral vegetarians and omnivores. Mediation analyses further revealed that, among vegetarians, health motivation was positively correlated with disordered eating tendencies, indirectly linking it with poorer psychological health; moral motivation was positively correlated with prosocial behavior, which in turn predicted better psychological health. These findings have implications for understanding the psychological health of vegetarians with different dietary motives and for developing interventions to promote their psychological health.

The association of job training duration and risk of depression among wage workers: an analysis of the mediating factors.

Background: Research on job training and job satisfaction has been conducted from various perspectives. Job training is thought to be associated with job satisfaction, which is known as an important factor for depression among workers. We hypothesized that job training duration could influence depression through potential mediators (job satisfaction, motivation to work, and work engagement). Methods: This study encompassed participants from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), conducted between 2020 and 2021. To show the relationships between demographic or occupational characteristics and risk of depression, a χ2 test was conducted. The association between job training duration, potential mediators, and risk of depression was analyzed by constructing multiple logistic regression models. The mediating effects of potential mediators on job training duration and risk of depression was evaluated with flexible mediation analysis with weighting-based methods. Results: The final study population consisted of 25,294 participants. Longer job training duration significantly decreased risk of depression after adjusting for confounders. In the group that received the longest job training duration (≥ 10 days), compared with the group without job training, the odds ratio (OR) for high risk of depression was 0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.54). Each three potential mediators showed statistically significant indirect effects and direct effect. Although indirect effects were not strong compared to direct effect, motivation to work had the strongest mediating effect in this study, with an OR of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.92-0.95). Conclusions: Job training duration was found to have a statistically significant negative association on the risk of depression, and three mediators partially mediating this effect. Although the mechanism was unknown, our findings suggest that job training has a positive influence on workers' mental health. Furthermore, by suggesting the possibility of other pathways existing between job training and depression, we provide directions for future research.

Factors affecting safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists in northeastern Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in Thailand and is the result of intensive inappropriate and unsafe use of pesticides. This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to determine the factors affecting safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists in northeastern Thailand. METHODS: The study sample included 427 farm plant agriculturists in Loei Province, northeastern Thailand. Individuals were randomly selected by a multistage random sampling technique. The following data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 8 parts: (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) knowledge about pesticide use, (3) perceived severity of impact from pesticide use among farm plant agriculturists, (4) perceived susceptibility to pesticide use, (5) perceived self-efficacy in the modification of safe pesticide-use behaviors, (6) perceived outcome of the modification of safe pesticide-use behaviors, (7) social support, and (8) safe pesticide-use behaviors. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and multiple regression analyses were employed for data analysis. RESULTS: The majority of participants (79.4%) had high scores for safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists (scores of 112-150). Factors that significantly affected safe pesticide-use behaviors included knowledge about pesticide use (ß = 0.282), social support (ß = 0.217), reading information from pesticide labels before pesticide use (ß = 0.207), perceived self-efficacy (ß = 0.186), female sex (ß = -0.140), rice farmer status (ß = 0.129), corn farmer status (ß = 0.127), perceived susceptibility (ß = 0.126), having received information from the internet (ß = -0.124), and perceived severity (ß = -0.098). Together, these 10 factors were found to explain 32.5% of the safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that there is a need to increase the number of promotional activities related to the safe use of pesticides through social support and training, with the aim of increasing the overall level of knowledge, perceived self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, and modification of the perceived impact severity of pesticide use. Thus, relevant agencies should promote and support the safe use of pesticides by farm plant agriculturists. This study revealed that the factors affecting safe pesticide-use behaviors among farm plant agriculturists included knowledge about pesticide use, social support, reading pesticide container labels, perceived self-efficacy in the modification of pesticide-use behaviors, sex, rice farmer status, corn farmer status, perceived susceptibility to pesticide use, having received information from the internet, and perceived severity of impact from pesticide use.

Modern software and physical education: can online training enhance gym training?

BACKGROUND: This study discusses the effectiveness of a 12-week intervention aimed at improving squat jump and sprint performance among second-year sports students. METHODS: The students were randomly divided into experimental (n = 89) and control (n = 92) groups. In addition to gym training, students of the experimental group also underwent online PE training. The students' performance in Squat Jumps, 30 m sprint, and Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER), as well as their situational motivation, were assessed before and after the intervention. Furthermore, the students assessed their physical activity weekly using self-reports. RESULTS: The implementation of online training has positively impacted intrinsic and identified motivation, as well as external regulation; however, it was less effective in reducing amotivation compared to traditional gym-based training. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study contribute to the data synthesis on the expediency of using modern software in physical education.

Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Motivation for Healing Scale in Patients with Cancer.

Introduction: This study was conducted to develop and validate a Motivation for Healing Scale (MHS) in Cancer. Methods: in this methodological study, the MHS draft was developed based on the approach of Waltz and colleagues using existing scales and concept analysis. The psychometric features, including face validity (qualitative and quantitative), content validity (qualitative and quantitative), structural validity (exploratory and confirmatory factors), and construct validity (convergent and discriminant validity) were assessed. Finally, the reliability was evaluated using internal consistency, and stability. Results: Based on the results of the qualitative phase, an initial item pool was generated with 55 items, Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on the data collected from 404 patients. 25 Items were excluded during the psychometric evaluation phases. Reliability assessment and internal consistency assessment revealed that Cronbach's alpha value of the 25-item MHS was 0.912. The results of intraclass correlation coefficient (0.93, 95% CI: 0.86- 0.96) showed the stability was strong. Conclution: The 25-item MHS is a valid and reliable scale for the assessment of motivation for healing in patients with cancer.

Psychological differences and similarities between vegans, prospective vegans, and vegetarians. Motivation, knowledge, vegan literacy - and cheese.

Introduction: Although vegan and vegetarian diets and lifestyles differ significantly from each other, among other things, notably in their respective consequences regarding animal welfare and their ecological impact, vegans and vegetarians are often grouped together and usually compared to omnivores in psychological research. Considering that vegans and vegetarians often share similar motives for their lifestyle choices, namely animal and environmental issues, the question arises why similar motives lead to different conclusions and correspondingly different behaviors, most notably, of course, that vegetarians consume animal-derived foods such as cheese or milk while vegans do not consume animal-derived products (e.g., food, cosmetic products). This is why this study explored the psychological differences between vegans, vegetarians, and prospective vegans - the latter group being located in an intermediate, transitionary position. Focusing on the motivational, affective and cognitive components of dietary transition and participants' adherence to eating patterns, reasons for said patterns, possible hinderances to becoming vegan, the role of participants' social environments, and the impact of various misconceptions regarding the feasibility of a vegan diet in everyday life were all explored. Methods: An observational study was conducted via online questionnaire (1420 participants). Results: Significant differences were found between vegans, prospective vegans, and vegetarians, especially concerning their knowledge of issues pertaining to their respective lifestyles. Discussion: The critical role of knowledge is invoked as an explanation as to why vegans and vegetarians display different behaviors although they share a similar motivation. Thus, in this study the concept of vegan literacy is introduced. Additionally, the distinctive role of cheese is explored, discussing possible indications of its potentially addictive nature and, consequently, the importance of cheese as a hindering factor for pursuing a vegan diet.

Cannabinoid type-1 receptor signaling in dopaminergic Engrailed-1 expressing neurons modulates motivation and depressive-like behavior.

The endocannabinoid system comprises highly versatile signaling functions within the nervous system. It is reported to modulate the release of several neurotransmitters, consequently affecting the activity of neuronal circuits. Investigations have highlighted its roles in numerous processes, including appetite-stimulating characteristics, particularly for palatable food. Moreover, endocannabinoids are shown to fine-tune dopamine-signaled processes governing motivated behavior. Specifically, it has been demonstrated that excitatory and inhibitory inputs controlled by the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1) regulate dopaminergic neurons in the mesocorticolimbic pathway. In the present study, we show that mesencephalic dopaminergic (mesDA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) express CB1, and we investigated the consequences of specific deletion of CB1 in cells expressing the transcription factor Engrailed-1 (En1). To this end, we validated a new genetic mouse line EN1-CB1-KO, which displays a CB1 knockout in mesDA neurons beginning from their differentiation, as a tool to elucidate the functional contribution of CB1 in mesDA neurons. We revealed that EN1-CB1-KO mice display a significantly increased immobility time and shortened latency to the first immobility in the forced swim test of adult mice. Moreover, the maximal effort exerted to obtain access to chocolate-flavored pellets was significantly reduced under a progressive ratio schedule. In contrast, these mice do not differ in motor skills, anhedonia- or anxiety-like behavior compared to wild-type littermates. Taken together, these findings suggest a depressive-like or despair behavior in an inevitable situation and a lack of motivation to seek palatable food in EN1-CB1-KO mice, leading us to propose that CB1 plays an important role in the physiological functions of mesDA neurons. In particular, our data suggest that CB1 directly modifies the mesocorticolimbic pathway implicated in depressive-like/despair behavior and motivation. In contrast, the nigrostriatal pathway controlling voluntary movement seems to be unaffected.

Association between abusive supervision and nurses' withholding voice about patient safety: the roles of impression management motivation and speak up-related climate.

BACKGROUND: Abusive supervision by the nurse manager significantly influences nurses' withholding voice about patient safety. The role of impression management motivation and speak up-related climate is crucial in understanding their connection. This study aimed to explore the relationship between abusive supervision, impression management motivation, speak up-related climate, and withholding voice about patient safety. METHODS: This cross-sectional study employed a convenience sampling method to recruit 419 clinical nurses from Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang Province, China, between 1 November 2022 and 31 January 2023. The study adhered to the STROBE checklist. Abusive supervision and impression management motivation were assessed using the Chinese versions of the Abusive Supervision Scale and the Impression Management Motivation Scale, respectively. Withholding voice about patient safety and speak up-related climate were identified using the Chinese version of the Speaking Up about Patient Safety Questionnaire. RESULTS: Nurse leaders' abusive supervision (ß=0.40, p<0.01) and nurses' impression management motivation (ß=0.10, p<0.01) significantly and positively influenced nurses' withholding voice about patient safety. We introduced impression management motivation as a mediating variable, and the effect of abusive supervision on nurses' withholding voice decreased (ß from 0.40 to 0.38, p< 0.01). Nurses' speak up-related climate played a moderating role between abusive supervision and impression management motivation (ß= 0.24, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Abusive supervision by nursing leaders can result in nurses withholding voice about patient safety out of self-protective impression management motives. This phenomenon inhibits nurses' subjective initiative and undermines their proactive involvement in improving patient safety, and hinders the cultivation of a culture encouraging full participation in patient safety, which should warrant significant attention.

Training the next generation of community-engaged physicians: a mixed-methods evaluation of a novel course for medical service learning in the COVID-19 era.

BACKGROUND: Medical school curricula strive to train community-engaged and culturally competent physicians, and many use service learning to instill these values in students. The current standards for medical service learning frameworks have opportunities for improvement, such as encouraging students to have more sustainable and reciprocal impact and to ingrain service learning as a value to carry throughout their careers rather than a one-time experience. PEDS 220: A COVID-19 Elective is a Stanford University course on the frontlines of this shift; it provides timely education on the COVID-19 pandemic, integrating community-oriented public health work to help mitigate its impact. METHODS: To analyze our medical service learning curriculum, we combined qualitative and quantitative methods to understand our students' experiences. Participants completed the Course Experience Questionnaire via Qualtrics, and were invited to complete an additional interview via Zoom. Interview transcripts were analyzed using an interactive, inductive, and team-based codebook development process, where recurring themes were identified across participant interviews. RESULTS: We demonstrate through self-determination theory that our novel curriculum gives students valuable leadership and project management experience, awards strong academic and community-based connections, and motivates them to pursue future community-engaged work. CONCLUSIONS: This educational framework, revolving around students, communities, and diversity, can be used beyond the COVID-19 pandemic at other educational institutions to teach students how to solve other emergent global health problems. Using proven strategies that empower future physicians to view interdisciplinary, community-engaged work as a core pillar of their responsibility to their patients and communities ensures long-term, sustainable positive impact. TRIAL REGISTRATION: N/A.

The Relationship between Live Sports Learning and Exercise Behavior in College Students: A Serial Mediation Model.

Physical exercise is crucial to the development of students' physical and mental health. This study explored the relationship between live sports learning and college students' exercise behaviors, and the mediating roles of exercise motivation and exercise commitment, aiming to provide theoretical bases for the future that explain the mechanism of live sports learning in exercise behaviors, as well as practical guidance for the promotion of positive physical exercise behaviors in college students. In total, 1189 college students from China volunteered to complete questionnaires. The results showed that live sports learning positively predicted college students' exercise behavior and that live sports learning was able to affect exercise behavior through the mediating roles of exercise motivation and exercise commitment, with specific mediating paths including the two independent mediating paths and a serial mediating path of exercise motivation and exercise commitment. This study confirmed, for the first time, on live sports learning in the process of promoting exercise behavior. It is suggested that educators instruct college students to regulate their participation in live sports learning and to cultivate healthy exercise motivation and exercise commitment, which is an effective way to facilitate college students' practice of physical activity.

Effects of Yachting Motivation on Yachting Satisfaction and Re-Yachting Intention.

It is clear that yachting tourists are motivated to spend their leisure time at sea. However, few studies have determined the relationship between tourists' motivation and satisfaction with yachting, and re-yachting intention. Furthermore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among yachting motivation, yachting satisfaction, and re-yachting intention. More specifically, this study sought to examine whether yachting motivation influenced yachting satisfaction, and determine if re-yachting intention was affected by yachting motivation. In order to analyze the data for this study, a total of 240 questionnaires were distributed to yachting tourists at three private yacht club operators, utilizing the convenient sampling method. A total of 219 usable questionnaires were analyzed for this study, while 21 questionnaires were discarded due to incompletion of the survey. Data were analyzed with multiple regression analysis using SPSS version 27.0. The results revealed that entertainment, stress reduction, and family/friends were positively and significantly related to yachting satisfaction. However, socializing and external ostentation did not contribute to yachting satisfaction. Secondly, the results indicated that entertainment, socializing, and stress reduction had a positive and significant effect on re-yachting intention. Conversely, external ostentation and family/friends had no significant influence on re-yachting intention. It is necessary for yacht club business operators to recognize the yachting motivation of the participants. It is also recommended that appropriate marketing strategies are implemented to increase yachting tourism, which would possibly influence yachting satisfaction and re-yachting intention.

Sex Differences in Sexual Motivation in Humans and Other Mammals: The Role of Conscious and Unconscious Processes.

In self-report questionnaires, men report higher scores than women on variables such as desire for sex, frequency of sexual thoughts, number of sex partners, etc. Based on this, men are considered to have a higher level of sexual motivation than women. However, retrospective self-reports may be unsuitable for estimations of the inherent level of sexual motivation. We review data on automatic (unconsciously controlled) responses and measures of implicit motivation during exposure to sexual stimuli. These responses and measures are inaccessible to willful manipulations and make it possible to determine whether the sex difference in answers to questionnaires is replicated when volitional response manipulations are unlikely. We complement the human data with observations from some rodent and non-human primate species. The attentional resources allotted to stimuli with sexual relevance as well as genital responses to such stimuli are similar in men and women. Measures of implicit motivation also fail to detect any sex difference. Finally, the frequency of masturbation is superior in female infants before the age at which social expectations begin to determine behavior. Neither in rodents nor in non-human primates is there any clear-cut evidence for sex differences in motivation. It seems that males and females are similar with regard to the intensity of sexual motivation. The responses to questionnaires may be affected by social learning of sexual scripts and/or the inferior quality of sexual experiences in women, among other things.

The Effect of Induced Regulatory Focus on Frontal Cortical Activity.

The motivation-direction model has served as the primary framework for understanding frontal cortical activity. However, research on the link between approach/avoidance motivation and left/right frontal cortical activity has produced inconsistent findings. Recent studies suggest that regulatory systems may offer a more accurate explanation than the motivational direction model. Despite being regulatory systems, the relationship between regulatory focus and frontal cortical activity has received limited attention. Only one experimental study has explored this connection through correlational analysis, yet it lacks causal evidence. The present study aimed to address this gap by manipulating regulatory focus and measuring frontal cortical activity in 36 college students. Our results revealed that induced promotion focus led to increased left frontal cortical activity, whereas induced prevention focus led to increased right frontal cortical activity. These findings enhance our physiological understanding of regulatory focus and offer a deeper explanation of how regulatory focus influences alterations in psychology and behavior.

Can Positive Social Contact Encourage Residents' Community Citizenship Behavior? The Role of Personal Benefit, Sympathetic Understanding, and Place Identity.

Identified as an increasingly pivotal aspect, the benevolent extra-role characteristic of community citizenship behavior contributes to destination development efficiency and social cohesion. Based on the egoistic-altruistic motivation framework, this study investigated three motivations that propel residents to exercise community citizenship behaviors in a positive social contact context, namely self-focused, other-focused, and place-focused motivation. A conceptual model combined with positive contact, personal benefit, sympathetic understanding, place identity, and community citizenship behavior was developed and tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) through data from 366 residents in Kaifeng, China. The findings showed that of the three motivations for community citizenship behaviors, place identity contributed the most, and personal benefits failed to predict community citizenship behaviors. Furthermore, sympathetic understanding with tourists was most fostered by residents from the perception of positive contact with tourists. These findings offer a novel theoretical framework for scholarly investigation and provide practical insights for tourism managers regarding strategies to influence residents' community citizenship behavior.

Psychometric Properties of a Short Academic Motivation Scale (SAMS) in Medical Students.

Background: Medical education represents a complex field of study, influenced by various psychological, demographic, and contextual factors. Academic motivation, essential for educational success, has been linked to critical decisions in medical careers and can be modulated by contextual elements such as socioeconomic and geographical environments. The theory of self-determination has provided a solid framework for understanding the multidimensional nature of motivation. Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Short Scale of Academic Motivation among Peruvian medical students. Methods: Using an instrumental design, the factorial structure, reliability, and gender invariance of the SAMS-S were assessed. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to validate the scale's structure based on seven dimensions. Additionally, reliability was assessed through Cronbach's alpha coefficient and omega coefficient, and gender invariance was determined through multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The Peruvian version of the SAMS-S showed a good fit in the CFA with satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices. However, challenges in discriminant validity among certain dimensions were detected, suggesting the presence of a second-order factor. The proposed second-order model yielded an adequate fit (χ2 = 198.26, df = 70, CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.08 [90% CI: 0.07-0.1], SRMR = 0.07), validating the factorial structure of the SAMS-S. The scale's reliability and its subscales were within acceptable ranges. Furthermore, the gender invariance of the SAMS-S was confirmed at all levels, from configural to strict. Conclusions: The second-order model of the SAMS-S presents as a valid and reliable tool for measuring academic motivation among medical students in Peru. Its robustness and adaptability make it relevant for future research in similar educational contexts and can serve as a basis for interventions aimed at improving academic motivation in this specific group.

Adaptation and Validation of the 3 × 2 Achievement Goals Questionnaire in a Population of Athletes.

(1) Background: Sport goals, although widely recognised as crucial for motivation and performance in sport, are multifaceted and can be difficult to measure directly. The present research aims to validate the 3 × 2 achievement goals questionnaire of Mascret in Spanish in a population of athletes. (2) Method: By using a latent factor approach, it is possible to identify the underlying dimensions of these goals and to better understand how they are structured. For this purpose, this questionnaire has been translated and compared with the life satisfaction scale. An exploration of the multifaceted nature of sport goals has been carried out using structural equation modelling. A total of 580 athletes (463 males and 216 females, M = 21.5, SD = 2.36) from different sport disciplines and from 12 autonomous communities in Spain participated in the research. (3) Results: The results show that the questionnaire presents a high scale reliability and that all items contribute significantly to the internal consistency of the scale. (4) Conclusions: The adaptation of this scale to the Spanish population of athletes can be a valid and useful tool to measure and understand motivation and goals in the sport context.