The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of melatonin supplementation on antioxidant capacity and DNA damage in high intensity interval training (HIIT) athletes. A 2-week randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial with two groups was conducted. Placebo (PG) and melatonin (MG) (20 mg/d) athletes were monitored over a two-week period of HIIT and strength training. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were analysed in blood samples. DNA damage was measured in isolated lymphocytes by comet assay prior to and immediately after exercise. The supplementation increased plasma melatonin levels in the melatonin-treated group (p<0.05) after two weeks of intervention. Analysis of antioxidant status indicated higher (p<0.05) TAC and GPx in MG than PG post-intervention. No differences were found in SOD enzyme activity. DNA damage was diminished in MG (p<0.05) compared to PG in post-training conditions. Antioxidant status was associated with DNA damage (r=-0.679; p=0.047) in the melatonin-treated athletes. The present study suggest that melatonin supplementation improves antioxidant status and may prove to have beneficial effects preventing DNA damage induced by high intensity training.

The COVID-19 lockdown has negatively affected individuals’ welfare. However, there has been no research published heretofore about the levels of self-concept (SC) in adolescents, nor how having practised martial arts (MA) or any physical activity (PA) before the lockdown may have influenced the SC in that time. Hence, this study aimed to analyze some demographic, physical, and psychosocial parameters in Spanish adolescents throughout the COVID-19 quarantine through a cross-sectional investigation, establishing correlations among these factors. Methods: The present study had a descriptive, comparative, and cross-sectional design. The sample comprised of 54 (39.7%) male and 82 (60.3%) female Spanish adolescents aged 12–18 (M = 14.49; SD = 1.80). An ad-hoc questionnaire collected sociodemographic data; the self-concept Form 5 (AF5) questionnaire obtained data on SC dimensions. Results: There were some differences among the SC dimensions, with family and academic dimensions having higher values than the physical and emotional ones. Females’ academic SC was higher than that of males (p = 0.019). The practice of PA before the lockdown was positively associated with physical (p < 0.001) and social (p = 0.012) SC, yet there was no significant association between the previous practice of MA and SC (p > 0.050). Conclusions: the findings suggest that the COVID-19 lockdown negatively affected Spanish adolescents by decreasing their total SC and some dimensions of it, although PA may buffer psychological harmfulness in adolescents.

The present research aims to analyse the psychometric properties of the AF5 questionnaire for its adaptation for use with young people during a lockdown period. Research was conducted with a sample of 534 students aged between 13 and 17 years (M = 14.49; SD = 1.805). Exploratory factor analysis was conducted using the FACTOR program and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using the M-PLUS 7 program. Results indicate that a four-dimensional model is most appropriate for bringing together the emotional and physical dimensions. Further, 11 items were removed due to poor factor loadings. The majority of factors were directly and positively correlated (99%; p < .01). The data obtained supports conclusions that the AF-5 meets validity and reliability requirements for it to be considered a useful instrument for use with young people during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Nowadays, physical activity is known to have a positive influence on both physical and mental health. Therefore, this study aims at shedding light on the extent to which emotional intelligence and self-concept may be useful to reduce violent behaviours in Spanish sportspeople. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample consisted of 457 undergraduates (23.86 ± 12.24), who were studying different degrees in University of Granada. Instruments used were a demographic questionnaire, the Spanish version of the Self-Concept Form 5, the Spanish version of the School Violence Scale, and the Spanish version of the Schutte Self-Report Inventory (SSRI). Results reveal that nearly all of the sample regularly practised physical activity; moreover, the highest-rated dimension were Self-Emotional management as regards emotional intelligence, Pure Relational Aggression as for the type of violence, and academic with regards to self-concept. Lastly, there was a negative correlation between general emotional intelligence and all types of violence, as well as between all the types of violence and academic self-concept. Hoy en día se sabe que la actividad física influye positivamente en la salud tanto física como mental. Por ello, este estudio pretende arrojar luz sobre hasta qué punto la inteligencia emocional y el autoconcepto pueden ser útiles para reducir las conductas violentas en los deportistas españoles. Se realizó un estudio transversal sobre una muestra formada por 457 estudiantes universitarios (23,86 ± 12,24), que cursaban diferentes titulaciones en la Universidad de Granada. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron un cuestionario demográfico, la versión española de la Forma 5 de Autoconcepto, la versión española de la Escala de Violencia Escolar y la versión española del Inventario de Autoinforme de Schutte (ISIS). Los resultados revelan que casi la totalidad de la muestra practicaba actividad física con regularidad; además, las dimensiones mejor valoradas fueron la gestión de la autoestima en cuanto a la inteligencia emocional, la agresión relacional pura en cuanto al tipo de violencia, y la académica en cuanto al autoconcepto. Por último, se observó una correlación negativa entre la inteligencia emocional general y todos los tipos de violencia, así como entre todos los tipos de violencia y el autoconcepto académico. Hoje em dia, sabe-se que a actividade física tem uma influência positiva tanto na saúde física como mental. Por conseguinte, este estudo visa lançar luz sobre até que ponto a inteligência emocional e o auto-conceito podem ser úteis para reduzir comportamentos violentos nos desportistas espanhóis. Foi realizado um estudo transversal sobre uma amostra constituída por 457 estudantes universitários (23,86 ± 12,24), que estavam a estudar diferentes graus na Universidade de Granada. Os instrumentos utilizados foram um questionário demográfico, a versão espanhola do Formulário de Auto-Conceito 5, a versão espanhola da Escala de Violência Escolar, e a versão espanhola do Inventário de Auto-Relatórios Schutte (SSRI). Os resultados revelam que quase toda a amostra praticava regularmente actividade física; além disso, a dimensão mais elevada foi a gestão auto-mocional no que diz respeito à inteligência emocional, Pura Agressão Relacional no que diz respeito ao tipo de violência, e académica no que diz respeito ao auto-conceito. Finalmente, houve uma correlação negativa entre a inteligência emocional geral e todos os tipos de violência, bem como entre todos os tipos de violência e o auto-conceito académico.

Currently, many combat sports are pedagogically conceived as uneducational and unreliable for the development of young people. The present research aims to investigate the influence of a Judo intervention programme on the motivational climate towards sport, aggressive behaviour, emotional intelligence, and self-concept in secondary school students and to establish the relationships between them. This objective was broken down into (a) developing an explanatory model of the variables mentioned above and (b) testing the model equations through a multi-group analysis in terms of pre-test and post-test. The present study conducted a pre–post-test quasi-experimental design with a single experimental group. The sample consisted of a total of 139 adolescents (12.67 ± 1.066), 50.4% of whom were male (n = 70) and 49.6% female (n = 69). The results show that the intervention decreased all types of aggression and increased levels of emotional intelligence. An increase in social, physical and academic self-concept and decreases in the family and emotional areas were also observed. Finally, for the motivational climate, a tendency towards the ego climate to the detriment of the task climate was observed. It is concluded that the Judo intervention programme is effective in decreasing aggressive behaviour and effective in increasing levels of emotional intelligence and self-concept.

Background The scientific literature establishes that people with mental impairments show high levels of sedentary behaviour. Aim This research has the objectives of (a) Studying the effect of the intervention programme on the effect of basic physical qualities, balance and coordination and (b) Comparing the results obtained before and after carrying out the intervention programme according to the sex of the participants through a structural equation model. Methods A quasi-experimental study was carried out with a pre-test-post-test group design, with a sample of 47 participants (46.8% male and 53.2% female). Questionnaires adapted to the characteristics of the sample were carried out to collect the data. Results It is observed that the intervention programme has helped to improve the effect of basic physical qualities on balance and coordination. Conclusion It is concluded that Kin Ball is a sport that improves the quality of life of people with special educational needs and that gender is a key factor influencing the development of basic physical qualities.