Adolescence is an important stage for brain maturation. There are many studies of exercise-cognition relations, but there is still a lack of knowledge about the impact of combining different intensities of exercise on adolescents’ cognitive responses. The main objective of this study was to analyze the effect of three physical education sessions (based on Zumba dance) of different intensities (no exercise, predominantly light intensity, and predominantly vigorous intensity) on the inhibition response (measured with the Stroop test) in adolescents. Forty-four adolescent students (age 16.39 ± 0.68) completed a Stroop test before and after the three different physical education sessions. The results show than the predominantly vigorous session represented the strongest stimulus to increase cognitive inhibitory control. This means that the cognitive effect of exercise can be conditioned by exercise intensity and implies the need to control exercise intensity in physical educational programs for adolescents.

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Ejercicio, bienestar psicológico, calidad de sueño y motivación situacional en estudiantes de educación física Exercise, psychological well-being, sleep quality and situational motivation in physical education students Exercício, bem-estar psicológico, a qualidade do sono e motivação situacional em estudantes de educação física E. Cervelló, F. Peruyero, C. Montero, D. González-Cutre, V.J. Beltrán-Carrillo y J.A. Moreno-Murcia Centro de Investigación del Deporte. Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche (España)Resumen: El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido comprobar si la exposición a diferentes intensidades de actividad física aguda ocasionaba cambios en el bienestar psicológico (vitalidad subjetiva y estado afectivo), la calidad del sueño y la motivación intrínseca situacional en estudiantes adolescentes en clases de educación física. Para ello, 120 estudiantes (50 chicos y 70 chicas) con edades comprendidas entre los 16 y 20 años completaron, antes y después de pasar por cada situación experimental, medidas de estas variables. Los resultados mostraron, en primer lugar, que había asociaciones directas entre la vitalidad subjetiva, el estado afectivo positivo y la calidad del sueño. En segundo lugar, se encontró un incremento significativo en la motivación intrínseca situacional y disminución en el estado afectivo negativo post-sesión al comparar las intensidades vigorosa y ligera. La mayoría de las dimensiones del bienestar psicológico mejoraban cuando se comparaban las situaciones pre intervención y post intervención, independientemente de la intensidad del ejercicio. Contrariamente a nuestras hipótesis, la calidad del sueño no mejoró al practicar actividad física. La principal conclusión es que la realización de actividad física aguda, independientemente de la intensidad del mismo, mejora el bienestar. Respecto a la motivación, la actividad física vigorosa es la que provoca mayores cambios motivacionales, debiendo tener este aspecto en cuenta a la hora de diseñar programas de actividad física para adolescentes. Palabras clave: Ejercicio, bienestar, calidad del sueño, motivación. Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine how the exposure to different intensities of acute physical activity, caused changes in psychological well-being (subjective vitality and affective state), sleep quality and situational intrinsic motivation in adolescent students on physical education classes. 120 students (50 boys and 70 girls) aged between 16 and 20 years, completed different questionnaires to measure these variables. The results showed direct and positive associations between subjective vitality, positive affect state and the quality of sleep and significant differences, increasing situational intrinsic motivation and decreasing post-session negative affect when comparing light and vigorous intensities. Almost all dimensions of psychological well-being improved when comparing the preintervention and post intervention situations, regardless of physical activity intensity. Contrary to our hypothesis, sleep quality did not ...

This study aimed to test an aquatic motivation healthy program based on the self determination theory (SDT), using a quasi-experimental study. The research data come from different physical, psycho-social and behavioral measures made on 49 women. The sample was divided into two groups, an experimental group consisting of 28 women (M= 43.64; SD= 12.06), with an average experience of 3.05 years, and a control group composed of 21 women (M= 47.14; SD= 10.01), with an average experience of 2.29 years doing physical exercise in an aquatic environment in a large Spanish city. After the intervention with a program based on the SDT and instructor’s autonomy support, both groups perceived physical benefits for health, but the experimental group perceived a better instructor’s autonomy support, a better relationship with others and a greater psychological well-being among the practitioners. The information offered in this study may be of interest to promote for instructor part, these type the aquatic physical exercise programs in favor of the population’s health.