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The policy of school organisation for grouping students in the same academic year is based on date of birth. The differences in the experiences and maturation of older students involve a relatively better performance in academic settings, which is known as the relative age effect (RAE). This effect is more important the younger the student is. The goal of this study is to identify the connections of influence that RAE, socioeconomic status (SES), and type of institution have on academic performance in a school population of eighth graders. The study is based on a population-based, representative sample of 15,234 8th graders (50.4% female; average age = 13.61 years) in the 2011 National System of Quality Assessment in Education Survey (SIMCE) from Chile. The SIMCE for global academic performance consists of 4 tests: reading, mathematics, social studies, and science. All tests consist of multiple-choice and closed questions. In addition, in order to have the information of general academic performance, an extra variable expressing the average score of each student was created. Also, the SIMCE includes additional variables for the evaluation process such as SES or type of school. Students were assigned to one of five age groups in terms of date of birth (G1, G2, G3, G4, and G5), in which students belonging to G1 are the oldest and students belonging to G5 are the youngest. The results achieved in the structural equation modelling indicate a good global fit. Individual relationships show significant effects of the three variables observed on academic performance, although SES received the highest values. The influence of RAE took place both in the full sample and sub-samples composed according to the SES and academic performance, showing higher values for students with lower scores. Although the influence of RAE decreases when SES is controlled, its effect is still significant and contributes to additionally explain the performance. The RAE remains, even with residual values, an explanatory factor in academic performance even in eighth graders. Since the RAE decreases as the influence of schooling increases, the potential adverse effects for some students would be placed in previous and initial moments of formal schooling. These findings may be useful into taking steps towards flexibilisation on age of entry in compulsory schooling. Moreover, the need to implement early, comprehensive evaluation systems which include aspects related to neurodevelopment in order to provide maximum information to parents and educators is also drawn.

Purpose To examine the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the newly developed EQ-5D-Y. Methods The EQ-5D-Y was administered in population samples of children and adolescents in Germany, Italy, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. Percentages of missing values and reported problems were calculated. Test-retest reliability was determined. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients with other generic measures of HRQOL were calculated. Known groups' validity was examined by comparing groups with a priori expected differences in HRQOL. Results Between 91 and 100% of the respondents provided valid scorings. Sweden had the lowest proportion of reported problems (1-24.9% across EQ-5D-Y dimensions), with the highest proportions in South Africa (2.8-47.3%) and Italy (4.3-39.0%). Percentages of agreement in testretest reliability ranged between 69.8 and 99.7% in the EQ-5D-Y dimensions; Kappa coefficients were up to 0.67. Correlation coefficients with other measures of self-rated health indicated convergent validity (up to r= — 0.56). Differences between groups classified according to presence of chronic conditions, self-rated overall health and psychological problems provided preliminary evidence of known groups' validity. Conclusions Results provide preliminary evidence of the instrument's feasibility, reliability and validity. Further study is required in clinical samples and for possible future applications in economic analyses.

The biceps curl test is easy to apply, does not require expensive equipment, and its short execution time makes it feasible in school settings with limited resources. To verify the reliability of the biceps curl test in children and adolescents and to provide reference values according to chronological age and sex. A total of 1103 schoolchildren aged 6 to 17 years (500 boys and 603 girls) were evaluated. Weight and height were evaluated and Body Mass Index (BMI) and Tri Ponderal Index (TPI) were calculated. The right and left hand biceps curl was evaluated in 30 s. Children aged 6 to 11 years used a 1 kg dumbbell and those aged 12 to 17 years used a 2 kg dumbbell. Percentiles were calculated using the LMS method. The values of the relative Technical Error of Measurement (TEM%) of the biceps curl test of both hands ranged from 0.48 to 2.89%. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) evidenced high values of 0.93 to 0.99. The Bland-Altman plot showed wide limits of agreement (-1.28 to 1.29 rep). These findings demonstrate that the test is reliable and consistent for use in pediatric populations and is suitable for different stages of physical development in school children. The values showed stability and wide limits of agreement. In addition, the proposed percentiles are useful to evaluate and monitor the strength endurance performance of both arms.

Background The aim of the present study was to identify the physical fitness (PF) tests of a multi-component battery more related to the perception of problems in each dimension of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessed by the EuroQol 5 dimensions 3 level questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 7104 participants (6243 females and 861 males aged 50-99 years) who were recruited in the framework of the Exercise Looks After You Program, which is a public health program designed to promote physical activity (PA) in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. Participants were assessed by the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire and a battery of fitness tests. The responses to each EQ-5D-3L dimension were collapsed into a two-tier variable consisting of «perceive problems» and «do not perceive problems». Correlation coefficients for the relationships between the HRQoL variables, between the PF variables, and between the HRQoL and PF variables were obtained. Two logistic regression models, one adjusted and one unadjusted, were developed for each EQ-5D-3L dimension. Results There were significant correlations between all variables except anxiety/depression and the back scratch test. The PF tests that correlated best with the HRQoL dimensions were the Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUG) and the 6-min walk; pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression correlated less well. All PF tests correlated, especially the TUG and 6-min walk tests. Unadjusted logistic models showed significant goodness of fit for the mobility and pain/discomfort dimensions only. Adjusted logistic models showed significant goodness of fit for all dimensions when the following potential confounding variables were included: age, gender, weekly level of PA, smoking and alcohol habits, body mass index, and educational level. For all dimensions, the highest odds ratios for the association with PF tests were with the TUG; this was observed with both the unadjusted and adjusted models. Conclusions The perception of problems, as measured by the EQ-5D-3L dimensions, was associated with a lower level of fitness, particularly for those dimensions that relate more closely to physical components. The PF tests that associated most closely with the perception of problems in the HRQoL dimensions were the TUG and the 6-min walk. This information will aid the design and assessment of PA programs that aim to improve HRQoL.

This study aimed to translate the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire into Spanish and provide an initial validation. A recommended methodology for translation and cultural adaptation of questionnaires was applied. Once this had been completed, three hundred and thirty-two young athletes completed the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire. The results revealed that the five factor solution Talent Development Environment Questionnaire was confirmed. With the exclusion of one item due to low factor loading, the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire-5 had robust statistical support for its factor structure (χ2 (df = 305) = 499.64, p<0.01, CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.045, SRMR = 0.055). It also demonstrated adequate convergent and discriminant validity. While the internal reliability was lower than in previous studies, it revealed acceptable levels. Specifically the overall 27 item Talent Development Environment Questionnaire-5 had a Cronbach α score of .877, and the reliability scores for individual factors 1-5 were .622; .761; .658; .605; .602 respectively. As such, it is recommended that the Spanish Talent Development Environment Questionnaire-5 can be used with confidence in Spain in both applied and research settings.

Background: Life satisfaction serves as a preventive agent against various emotional, cognitive, and behavioral challenges, making it a crucial cognitive indicator of subjective well-being, particularly during adolescence. Accurately assessing life satisfaction is essential for understanding and promoting adolescent mental health, especially in applied settings such as physical education, which plays a key role in fostering psychological well-being and positive youth development. However, additional investigation is needed to confirm the tools used for this purpose. This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties, metric invariance, and temporal stability of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in adolescents from a region in southeastern Spain. Thus, the present study sought to answer the following research questions: (1) Does the SWLS demonstrate adequate psychometric properties in an adolescent population? (2) Is the SWLS invariant across gender and residential environments? (3) Does the SWLS show adequate stability over time? Methods: A sample of 400 students was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, multigroup comparisons, and test–retest techniques. Results: The results showed significant differences in scale scores in the sex and demographic location variables. Also, a robust unifactorial model with five items demonstrated good performance in terms of goodness of fit and internal consistency. Furthermore, full metric invariance was observed across genders, while configural invariance was supported for residential environment. Concurrent validity analyses revealed significant associations with another unidimensional well-being measure, and temporal stability was confirmed through the intraclass correlation coefficient. Conclusions: The findings support the SWLS as a potentially valid, reliable, and time-effective tool for assessing adolescent life satisfaction. Its strong psychometric properties make it highly suitable for use in mental health research, longitudinal monitoring, and large-scale studies. Moreover, its ease of administration allows its integration into educational, clinical, community-based, and physical education contexts, offering insightful information for the creation of long-lasting mental health regulations and preventive measures meant to improve the well-being of adolescents. Notwithstanding these encouraging results, some restrictions must be noted. The sample was restricted to a single geographic area, and contextual or cultural factors may have an impact on how satisfied people are with their lives. Furthermore, response biases could have been introduced by using self-report measures.

Background There is evidence that overweight and obesity in children is associated with poor Physical Fitness and consequently lower Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL). However, this linear-causal relationship between Weight Status → Physical Fitness → HRQoL is not enough to fully understand this phenomenon. Therefore, need to know, through mediation analysis, how operate the Physical Fitness between weight status and HRQoL dimensions. Purpose The aim of this study was to determine which HRQoL dimensions are mediated through Physical Fitness in obese (including overweight) and normal weight children. The study also examined the association between Physical Fitness, Body Mass Index (BMI) and HRQoL. Methods A total of 233 overweight/obese children and 105 normal-weight children participated in the study. Children were recruited from public educational centers and a public weight loss program. BMI, Physical Fitness (upper limb, central body and lower limb strength; agility and range of motion) and HRQoL (PedsQL and VAS) were measured. Simple mediation analyses by gender, through PROCESS macro developed by Preacher and Hayes, were performed in order to analyze whether Physical Fitness computed as z-score, is a mediator in the relation between weight status (normal weight or overweight/obesity) and HRQoL dimensions. \\itionally, unequal-variances t statistics were executed to know differences in BMI, Physical Fitness components and HRQoL dimensions between groups, and correlations to know the associations between weight status, Physical Fitness z-score and HRQoL. Results Our results, indicated association between the Physical Fitness z-score and HRQoL dimensions in overweight/obese children. Regarding to mediation analysis, the results showed that the negative association between overweight/obesity and HRQoL is softened by the level of Physical Fitness. Therefore Physical Fitness is a mediator in the relationship between overweight/obesity children and the most of dimensions of HRQoL, except the School functioning in boys and the School and Emotional functioning in girls. Conclusions The negative effect of overweight or obesity on HRQoL inn children, is mitigated by Physical Fitness. Consequently, the Physical Fitness is a mediator on HRQoL in most dimensions, especially daily living, in schoolchildren.

Background The revised version of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) is one of the most widely used specific questionnaires in FM studies. However, this questionnaire does not allow calculation of QALYs as it is not a preference-based measure. The aim of this study was to develop mapping algorithm which enable FIQR scores to be transformed into utility scores that can be used in the cost utility analyses. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted. One hundred and 92 Spanish women with Fibromyalgia were asked to complete four general quality of life questionnaires, i.e. EQ-5D-5 L, 15D, AQoL-8D and SF-12, and one specific disease instrument, the FIQR. A direct mapping approach was adopted to derive mapping algorithms between the FIQR and each of the four multi-attribute utility (MAU) instruments. Health state utility was treated as the dependent variable in the regression analysis, whilst the FIQR score and age were predictors. Results The mean utility scores ranged from 0.47 (AQoL-8D) to 0.69 (15D). All correlations between the FIQR total score and MAU instruments utility scores were highly significant ( p  < 0.0001) with magnitudes larger than 0.5. Although very slight differences in the mean absolute error were found between ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator and generalized linear model (GLM), models based on GLM were better for EQ-5D-5 L, AQoL-8D and 15D. Conclusion Mapping algorithms developed in this study enable the estimation of utility values from scores in a fibromyalgia specific questionnaire.

To analyze the associations between different components of fitness and fatness with academic performance, adjusting the analysis by sex, age, socio-economic status, region and school type in a Chilean sample. Data of fitness, fatness and academic performance was obtained from the Chilean System for the Assessment of Educational Quality test for eighth grade in 2011 and includes a sample of 18,746 subjects (49% females). Partial correlations adjusted by confounders were done to explore association between fitness and fatness components, and between the academic scores. Three unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models were done in order to analyze the associations of variables. Fatness has a negative association with academic performance when Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist to Height Ratio (WHR) are assessed independently. When BMI and WHR are assessed jointly and adjusted by cofounders, WHR is more associated with academic performance than BMI, and only the association of WHR is positive. For fitness components, strength was the variable most associated with the academic performance. Cardiorespiratory capacity was not associated with academic performance if fatness and other fitness components are included in the model. Fitness and fatness are associated with academic performance. WHR and strength are more related with academic performance than BMI and cardiorespiratory capacity.

Population growth and physical inactivity have led to health and social consequences derived from chronic diseases and decreased quality of life in the elderly. Some research suggests that overweight in older people may not be associated with the negative effects on some health indicators. This study analysed the associations between Self-Perceived Health (SPH), Depression status, Pain Level, and Body Mass Index (BMI) in people over 70 years who are residents in Spain, with a final sample composed of 13,895 participants. A cross-sectional study using data from the European Health Surveys in Spain (EHIS2014 and 2020) and the National Health Survey (ENSE2017) was conducted. Dependency associations were observed between SPH, Depression Status, and Pain Level with BMI in the outcomes from the three surveys analysed (p < 0.001). Negative SPH, Depression Status, and Severe/Extreme Pain Degree prevalence were higher in the Underweight groups, being the lowest in Normal-weight and Overweight groups (p < 0.05). High levels of negative SPH, Depression, and Severe/Extreme Pain risks were found in the Underweight compared to the Normal-weight group, but not in Overweight ones. Overweight was not linked with an increased risk of the conditions analysed compared to the Normal-weight groups in older residents in Spain. The Underweight group presented the highest negative SPH prevalence, Depression, and Severe/Extreme Pain. Moreover, Obesity increased the negative SPH, Depression, and Pain Degree risks compared to the Normal-weight and Overweight groups in this population.