CIDESD-IPLeiria – Artigos
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- Motivation and intention to remain in swimming training throughout a competitive season: an age-group comparisonPublication . Souza, Luis; Santos, CC; Fernandes, R.J.; Monteiro, Diogo; Costa, Mário J.El presente estudio buscó analizar las variaciones en la regulación motivacional y la intención de continuar en el entrenamiento de natación a lo largo de una temporada competitiva, en función de la edad. Participaron 154 nadadores federados, agrupados en categorías infantil, juvenil, júnior y sénior. La recogida de datos se realizó en tres momentos diferentes de la temporada (diciembre, marzo y junio), utilizando el Cuestionario de Regulación Conductual en el Deporte y tres ítems específicos de intención. Los resultados mostraron que los nadadores más jóvenes mantuvieron altos niveles de motivación autodeterminada, mientras que los grupos juvenil y júnior presentaron mayores fluctuaciones motivacionales y un descenso progresivo en la intención. En contraste, los nadadores sénior manifestaron un incremento en la motivación controlada y una mayor intención de continuar. Estos hallazgos sugieren que la motivación y la intención en la práctica deportiva evolucionan de forma diferenciada según la edad, lo que subraya la necesidad de adaptar las estrategias motivacionales a cada etapa del desarrollo deportivo.
- Wall Drop Punt Kick and Catch (Tripela) Test: More Than Just a Measure of Gross Manipulative CoordinationPublication . Matos, Rui; Amaro, Nuno; Lopes, Nataniel; Susano Jacinto, Miguel Ângelo; Coelho, Luis; Ibáñez, Sergio J.; Estevan, Isaac; Menescardi, Cristina; Monteiro, Diogo; Antunes, RaulPrevious work has shown that the Wall Drop Punt Kick and Catch (Tripela) test has a strong correlation with the manipulative component (the two tests) of the Motor Competence Assessment (MCA) battery, especially for boys. In the present study, our aim was to broadly examine the association between the Tripela test and the six MCA battery’ tests. We recruited 68 children and early adolescents (36 boys; 32 girls; M age = 11.48, SD = 0.73 years) for assessment. Within the entire sample and in boys, the Tripela test significantly correlated with all the six MCA tests (“r” from 0.285 to 0.785 with the entire sample, and from 0.424 to 0.760 with boys). In girls, the Tripela test only correlated with two out of the six MCA tests (0.388 and 0.517). Results suggest that, for boys, the Tripela test may be an appropriate field-based test to assess motor competence. Compared to several MC assessment batteries, Tripela is much less time-consuming and does not require expensive resources. For girls, results are to be taken with care, as only two significant correlations occurred.
- The relationship between coaches’ interpersonal behaviors, basic psychological needs, behavioral regulation, and intentions towards sport persistencePublication . Monteiro, Diogo; Teixeira, Diogo S.; Morales-Sanchéz, Veronica; Chica-Merino, Encarnación; Matos, Rui; Amaro, Nuno; Antunes, Raul; Jacinto, MiguelThis study investigates the relationships between coaches’ need-supportive and need-thwarting behaviors, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, motivation, intentions to continue, and athletes sport persistence. A total of 518 athletes (212 male, 306 female), 18 to 32 years (M = 23.18, SD = 4.19), participated in the study, with participants from football (n = 179), basketball (n = 166), and swimming (n = 173). A structural equation model and a mediation model were performed to understand the associations between motivational factors based on self-determination theory and a 2-year sport persistence assessment. Intentions to continue sport practice accounted for 12% of the variance related to sport persistence in the structural equation model. The mediation model did not reveal any direct effects for need-supportive or need-thwarting behaviors towards sport persistence. However, significant indirect paths were identified in the bright side of the model. Total indirect effect of the need-supportive behaviors in the model was β = .14 (CI95% = .26, .37) while for need-thwarting behaviors was β = −.05 (CI95% = −.11, −.01) towards sport persistence, indicating a positive mediation process. Coaches by being perceived as need-supportive may increase athletes’ intention to continue participating in sport, and consequently sport persistence.
- The Combined Effect of the Mediterranean Diet and Physical Activity on the Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled TrialsPublication . Teixeira, Luíza; Monteiro, Diogo; Matos, Rui; Susano Jacinto, Miguel Ângelo; Antunes, RaulMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global public health challenge, characterized by the coexistence of cardiometabolic risk factors such as abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance. Non-pharmacological strategies, including the Mediterranean diet (MD) and physical activity (PA), have been widely studied for their potential to prevent and manage MetS. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence on the combined effect of MD and PA on MetS components in adults, based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Twenty-two RCTs published between 2018 and 2024 were included, involving 11,478 participants. The interventions ranged from 8 weeks to 3 years and combined adapted or hypocaloric MDs with moderate-to-high-intensity PA, typically including walking, aerobic exercise, or high-intensity interval training (HIIT), performed 3 to 7 times per week. The combined interventions resulted in reductions in body weight (−2.5 to −7.2 kg), body mass index (−0.7 to −2.2 kg/m2), waist circumference (−5.1 to −7.8 cm), and blood pressure (up to −9.0 mmHg systolic and −6.7 mmHg diastolic). Improvements in HDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and insulin sensitivity were also observed. These findings suggest that integrated interventions based on the Mediterranean lifestyle are effective in reducing MetS components and may support future public health strategies.
- Biomechanical and bioenergetical evaluation of swimmers using fully-tethered swimming: A qualitative reviewPublication . Amado, Nuno M.; Morouço, Pedro, G.; Marques, Mário C.; Fernandes, Ricardo J.; Marinho, Daniel A.It is presented a qualitative review of the specialized literature on fully-tethered swimming, with the scopes of summarizing and highlighting published knowledge, identifying its gaps and limitations, and motivate future research. The major research conclusions can be summarized as follows: (i) tethered swimming is a reliable test to evaluate force exerted in water by swimmers; (ii) higher maximum values of force are obtained in breaststroke and butterfly, while average values are higher in front crawl; (iii) tethered forces present moderate to strong relationships with swimming velocity, and associations between forces diminish as swimming distance increases; (iv) 30 s maximal tethered swimming may be used as an adaptation of Wingate test for swimming; (v) differences in stroke mechanics can occur in tethered swimming but there is no evidence to suggest that they affect swimming performance; (vi) Tethered swimming is a valid methodology to evaluate aerobic energy contribution in swimming and recent investigations concluded that it can also provide information on the anaerobic contribution. Based on and stimulated by current knowledge, further research should focus on the following topics: (i) the usefulness of tethered swimming as a valid tool to evaluate other swimming techniques; (ii) differences in force parameters induced by gender or competitive level; (iii) defining accurate variables for estimation of anaerobic power and/or capacity using tethered swimming; (iv) bilateral asymmetries in exerted forces, and corresponding influence of breathing; (v) relative contribution of arms and legs for whole-body propelling forces
- Behavioral regulation in sport questionnaire and sport motivation scale-II: a scale comparisonPublication . Bica, Joana; Susano Jacinto, Miguel Ângelo; Matos, Rui; Amaro, Nuno; Antunes, Raul; Couto, Nuno; Cid, Luis; Forte, Pedro; Monteiro, DiogoIntroduction: This study compared the psychometric properties of two primary instruments for assessing sport motivation based on Self-Determination Theory: the Sport Motivation Scale-II (SMS-II) and the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ). Methods: A cross-sectional analysis evaluated the scales’ internal consistency, factor structure, convergent and discriminant validity, and model fit, which required post-hoc modifications. Measurement invariance and adherence to the theoretical simplex pattern were also tested. Results: The BRSQ demonstrated generally acceptable reliability, while the SMS-II showed deficiencies in its introjected, external, and amotivation subscales. Both scales faced validity challenges in distinguishing adjacent motivational constructs. Although measurement invariance was supported, correlations deviated from the theoretical quasi-simplex pattern. Discussion: The BRSQ appears more robust, but neither scale is flawless. Researchers must select instruments aligned with their specific objectives and interpret scores cautiously due to these psychometric limitations. This underscores the need for refined tools to better capture the dynamic complexity of motivation in sports.
- Physical activity, healthy lifestyle, and subjective wellbeing in people with type 2 diabetes: testing the efficacy of an exercise programPublication . Cid, Luís; Monteiro, Diogo; Mendes, Romeu; Cláudio, Filipa; Bento, Teresa; Susano Jacinto, Miguel Ângelo; Couto, Nuno; Duarte-Mendes, PedroIntroduction: This work aimed to first validate the Portuguese version of the FANTASTIC questionnaire that allowed the assessment of lifestyle behaviors through a sample comprising 562 Portuguese subjects; second, through a quasi-experimental study, we tested the effectiveness of a physical exercise program designed specifically for people with type 2 diabetes based on subjective wellbeing and lifestyle changes. Methods: For 9 months, a total of 31 subjects (14 males and 17 females with type 2 diabetes aged between 58 and 79 years) were involved in a physical exercise program of moderate intensity three times per week for 75 min each session; the program included a combination of aerobic, resistance, agility, balance, and flexibility exercises (Diabetes em Movimento). Results: Regarding the first goal of this study, the results show a reliable factorial solution with nine factors and 27 items from the FANTASTIC questionnaire. With regard to the second goal of this study, the results indicate that subjects involved in the exercise program show significantly improved positive affect, satisfaction with life, physical activity, sleep, stress, and nutrition behaviors, in addition to significantly diminished negative affect. However, these results should be interpreted with some caution as our study did not have a control group and the sample was one of convenience, which limits the capacity of inference of the results. Conclusion: The present results support evidence confirming the positive effects of Physical Exercise through the Diabetes em Movimento® program to foster SWB and promote healthier lifestyle behaviors among T2D subjects. Therefore, we intend to conduct further studies in the future to consolidate the findings of the present study.
- The Impact of an 8-Week Running Technique Program on Linear and Change-of-Direction Speed in Youth Football—A Pilot StudyPublication . Camacho, Diogo; Monteiro, Diogo; Matos, Rui; Amaro, Nuno; Susano Jacinto, Miguel Ângelo; Antunes, RaulIn football, linear speed and change-of-direction speed are fundamental skills for performance in the sport. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of an 8-week running technique program on the variables described in young footballers. Thirty-one athletes participated, 16 in the intervention group (Under-15) and 15 in the control group (Under-17). The intervention group had a mean age of 14.37 ± 0.50 years and the control group had a mean age of 15.80 ± 0.76 years. Both groups underwent two assessments, pre- and post-intervention, performing the 20-m test and the 5-0-5 Agility Test, assessing linear speed and change-of-direction speed, respectively, with timing conducted manually by trained evaluators. The results showed improvements in the intervention group in both tests, with statistically significant differences in change-of-direction speed (right foot: p = 0.010; r = 0.669; left foot: p = 0.05; r = 0.503), while the control group did not show any significant differences in either test, even showing a regression in results. The present study indicates that running technique training, even with a weekly frequency of only one session per week, may contribute to improvements in linear speed (even non-significant) but, especially, in the change of direction of young footballers. These results are important because training can promote more efficient running movement patterns, promoting benefits in terms of sports performance and the prevention of non-contact injuries.
- Effects of a Twelve-Week Complementary Sports Program to Athletics Training on Motor Competence in Children Aged 6 to 10 Years Old—A Study ProtocolPublication . Lopes, Nataniel; Susano Jacinto, Miguel Ângelo; Monteiro, Diogo; Matos, Rui; Ibáñez, Sérgio J.Motor competence (MC) is defined as a global term that describes a person’s ability to be proficient in a wide range of motor acts. Based on this principle, we have created a training program that aims to determine the effect of 12 weeks of enriched athletics sports training with complementary motor activities on MC in children aged between 6 and 10 years old. The subjects will be divided into two groups: (i) the athletics training group (IG_A) that will participate in athletics training three times a week for 12 weeks, with 60 min sessions; and (ii) the athletics training + other activities group (IG_B) that will participate in athletics training twice a week and will have another activity training (gymnastics, handball, swimming, and motor games) for 12 weeks, with 60 min sessions. The two groups will be assessed at baseline and 12 weeks later. The KTK3+ will be used to assess MC. A between–within ANOVA-RM (2 [groups] × 2 [time points]) will be conducted. The results and conclusions of the implementation program will be presented in another study.
- Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs in the Association Between Exercise Goal Content and Subjective Well-Being in Portuguese Older AdultsPublication . Couto, Nuno; Antunes, Raul; Bento, T.; Pereira dos Santos de Sousa Vitorino, Anabela; Monteiro, Diogo; Cid, LuisBackground: This study aimed to examine the association between different exercise goals and their impact on subjective well-being (SWB) variables, namely, positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and satisfaction with life (SWL), as well as to explore the mediating role of basic psychological needs (BPNs) in this relationship within a sample of Portuguese older adults. Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze the association between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation for exercise, basic psychological needs (BPNs), and subjective well-being (SWB) in older Portuguese people. Methods: The sample study constituted 298 individuals (233 females, 65 males), aged between 60 and 90 years (M = 68.43; SD = 6.48). Through model four of the Process macro for SPSS version 3.5, a simple mediation analysis was carried out. Results: The results show that BPNs mediated the relationship between goal content for exercise health management and positive affect (PA) and satisfaction with life (SWL); goal content for exercise skill development and PA; goal content for exercise image, PA, and SWL; and goal content for exercise social affiliation and PA. Conclusions: Thus, we can conclude that BPNs stand out as a relevant mediator in the relationship between goal content for exercise and SWB variables, which reinforces the importance of BPNs in SWB promotion in the older population.