Life Quality Research Centre

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Portuguese adults’ concerns on the return to indoor sports practice after confinement due to COVID-19 pandemic -mitigation strategies proposals

Publication . Matos, Rui; Amaro, Nuno; Antunes, Raul; Rosa, Marlene

This study aimed to get an insight of Portuguese adult people concerns about returning to physical activity and sports practice at indoor sports facilities, after confinement due to COVID-19’ pandemic. Subsequently, an additional approach to the traditional mitigation strategies was to be proposed. Methods: A total of 173 Portuguese practitioners on indoor physical activity or sports before pandemic participated in this study. A questionnaire asking how much concerned (1 –nothing, to 5 –completely) would they be on different contexts and aspects related to this return was applied. Results: respondents were considerably concerned about this theme, especially with touching on common surfaces and proximity to others. Although considerable concerned if having to travel by public transport to the training facility, using locker rooms and with features of the sports’ practice itself, the former received the highest concerns. Additionally, we have suggested modifying some objects (or creating others) that may allow their use with body parts other than hands -an important contagion source -and exploiting the possibility of using intermediate instruments on objects and sports equipment manipulation, preventing users from touching their surfaces directly. Conclusion: touching on common surfaces and proximity to others revealed high degrees of concern on the return to indoor sports practice after confinement due to COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside the rules of personal distancing, respiratory etiquette and surfaces hygiene, it is suggested that sports practitioners, whenever possible, use alternative body parts and intermediate instruments that avoid direct contact of hands with surfaces and sport objects.Cita: Matos, R.; Amaro, N.; Antunes, R.; Rosa, M.(2021).Portuguese adults’ concerns on the return to indoor sports practice after confinement due to COVID-19 pandemic -mitigation strategies proposals. Cuadernos de Psicología del Deporte,21(2), 227-241

2021Journal article

Open access

History of Fitness in Portugal: A Brief Review of the Influences that Shaped the Current National Panorama

Publication . Teixeira, Diogo; Cerca, Luís; Bastos, Vasco; Rodrigues, Filipe; Pereira, Hugo

Fitness in Portugal results from a set of historical intersections marked by various influences and personalities. To a large extent, knowledge of this path is essential to understanding the current reality and some of the problems the area faces. The present opinion intends to situate and summarise the leading influences of national and international events and some time frames that led to the development of the intervention area commonly called fitness. For this purpose, the work is structured in three parts: i) the beginnings of fitness, where some of the international influences that were at the origin of this area will be presented; ii) some of the main influences and factors that allowed the growth of fitness in Portugal; and iii) the effect of the historical trajectory of fitness in the current context and future considerations about the area. Given the scarcity of records on the subject, the present work, as an opinion article, will also be a self-report of the authors, who, having experienced different moments of this history, intend to leave a contribution to this record and for future reflections of its impact on the development of the area, professionals, and respective practices.

2023-12-31Journal article

Open access

Exploring the Relationship between Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Subjective Well-Being among Greek and Cypriot Adults

Publication . Deligiannidou, Georgia-Eirini; Philippou, Elena; Vasiari, Eirini; de Andrade, Vanda Lopes; Massaro, Marika; Chervenkov, Mihail; Ivanova, Teodora; Jorge, Rui; Dimitrova, Dessislava; Ruskovska, Tatjana; Miloseva, Lence; Maksimova, Viktorija; Smilkov, Katarina; Gjorgieva Ackova, Darinka; García-Conesa, María-Teresa; Pinto, Paula; Kontogiorgis, Christos A.

Associations between subjective well-being (SWB) and dietary habits, employment status, and habitual activities are increasingly capturing the focus of researchers as well as policymakers worldwide. This study aimed to explore these associations in a sample of the population in Greece and Cyprus via an online survey. In total, 936 questionnaires (470: Cyprus, 466: Greece) were analyzed to study the associations between the Mediterranean Diet (MD) (using the 14-item MEDAS score, (14-MEDAS)), subjective well-being (SWB), and several socioeconomic factors. Key remarks of this survey highlight the positive impact of MD adherence on some well-being items. Namely, statistically significant differences were found on the following items: Satisfied with life (p < 0.001), Life worthwhile (p < 0.001), Feeling happy (p < 0.001), worried (p = 0.005), and depressed (p = 0.001), when comparing Low MD adherence (14-MEDAS < 5) to High MD adherence (14-MEDAS > 10). Other lifestyle habits such as spending time with friends and family, spending time in nature, and habitual physical activity were associated with aspects of SWB such as Life satisfaction, Life worthwhile, Feeling happy, and energetic. The findings support adherence to the MD, since it is associated with higher life satisfaction and self-reported happiness in this sample and should be considered when developing health policies on well-being.

2024-04-21Journal article

Open access

Comparing body image and exercise dependence between different fitness groups during COVID-19