Movimiento Humano y Salud

9

Authors: Danielle D; Wadsworth; Mary E. Rudisill; Peter A. Hastie; Korey L. Boyd; Mynor Rodríguez-Hernández

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a structured, mastery motivation physical education climate and an unstructured physical activity climate on time spent on task in a small sample of preschool children. Children enrolled in a public, federal-subsidized childcare center (N= 12) participated in two 45 minute physical activity programs within the school day. The structured climate consisted of a biweekly program of motor skill instruction that was based upon the key principles of a mastery motivational climate. The unstructured program was a daily 45 minute free play environment. Actigraph accelerometers monitored children’s participation in physical activity and time-on task was observed by a momentary time sampling technique. Results showed that time on-task significantly improved following a mastery motivational climate, and children spent 36% of their time in moderate-to-vigorous activity in this climate. In contrast, time on-task did not significantly improve following participation in a free play environment and participants spent a majority of their time in sedentary behavior and accumulated no vigorous physical activity. Our results indicate that participation in physical activity impacts a preschooler’s ability to stay on task and the amount of physical activity accumulated during physical activity programming is dependent upon the climate delivered.

12

Authors: Mynor Rodríguez-Hernández; Felipe Araya Ramírez; Pedro Ureña Bonilla; Danielle D. Wadsworth; Luis Solano Mora

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between physical fitness and levels of depression in older persons involved in physical activity programs in San Ramon, Alajuela. A total of 138 older adults aged 60 to 86 years (67.94 ± 5.26) were assessed on the physical fitness using the SFT and levels of depression were measured using the GDS. Results suggest that about 97.8% of persons tested were within normal parameters and excellent on their physical fitness. Additionally, 86.2% of the cohort was found in a normal stage of depression. In addition, geriatric depression was negatively correlated with physical fitness on variables such as lower body muscle strength and endurance, arm muscle strength endurance, physical agility and dynamic balance, and lower body flexibility (p<0.05). It is concluded that higher levels of physical fitness are associated with lower depression status in older adults.