Humberto Blanco

Bio: Humberto Blanco is an academic researcher from Autonomous University of Chihuahua. The author has contributed to research in topics: Confirmatory factor analysis & Psychology. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 24 publications receiving 195 citations.

Análisis Psicométrico de la Escala Autoeficacia en Conductas de Cuidado de la Salud Física en Universitarios de Primer Ingreso

Abstract: Psychometric properties in the self-efficacy scale on behavior of physical health care were studied. The sample was of 2089 individuals: 902 women and 1187 men, incoming students to the majors offered at the Autonomous University of Chihuahua in Mexico, with an average age of 18.23 years. The analysis of psychometric properties has shown that a trifactorial structure is feasible and adequate according to the psychometric requirements established when the informants are the students. The three factors structure, attending statistic and substantial criteria has shown adequate adjustment factors, reliability (except on physical health and hydration factors) and validity indicators. Besides, factorial analyses taken with sub-samples 1 and 2 fully demonstrate these results.

Autoeficacia Percibida en la conducta Académica de Estudiantes Universitarias

Abstract: A study has been done to characterize female students who choose one of the degrees offered by the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua in Mexico, in terms of the perceived self-efficacy in their academic performance. The sample consisted of 902 female freshmen college students from seven disciplines with a mean age of 18.1 years. The research method adopted has a quantitative focus with a descriptive design employing a survey. The results show that the profiles of selfefficacy in academic behavior is very similar between students of different disciplines, and that the behavior related to communication skills represents an area of opportunity for improvement in incoming college students. Also, it was observed that the profiles of current, desired and achievable efficacy are related: the higher the perceived self-efficacy, greater desire and more chances of being effective. This allows concluding that if any of them can be improved, the other two will also do it.

Effects of a Stretching Development and Maintenance Program on Hamstring Extensibility in Schoolchildren: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract: The main purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a physical education-based stretching development and maintenance program on hamstring extensibility in schoolchildren. A sample of 150 schoolchildren aged 7-10 years old from a primary school participated in the present study (140 participants were finally included). The six classes balanced by grade were cluster randomly assigned to the experimental group 1 (n = 51), experimental group 2 (n = 51) or control group (n = 49) (i.e., a cluster randomized controlled trial design was used). During the physical education classes, the students from the experimental groups 1 and 2 performed a four-minute stretching program twice a week for nine weeks (first semester). Then, after a five-week period of detraining coinciding with the Christmas holidays, the students from the experimental groups 1 and 2 completed another stretching program twice a week for eleven weeks (second semester). The students from the experimental group 1 continued performing the stretching program for four minutes while those from the experimental group 2 completed a flexibility maintenance program for only one minute. The results of the two-way analysis of variance showed that the physical education-based stretching development program significantly improved the students' hamstring extensibility (p 0.05). After a short-term stretching development program, a physical education-based stretching maintenance program of only one-minute sessions twice a week is effective in maintaining hamstring extensibility among schoolchildren. This knowledge could help and guide teachers to design programs that allow a feasible and effective development and maintenance of students' flexibility in the physical education setting. Key pointsA physical education-based stretching maintenance program of only one-minute sessions twice a week is effective in maintaining hamstring extensibility among schoolchildren.A four-minute maintenance program shows similar effects that the one-minute maintenance program on hamstring extensibility among schoolchildren.Physical education teachers and other practitioners could carry out one-minute programs for a feasible and effective maintenance of students' flexibility.

Composición Factorial de la Escala de Autoeficacia Académica en Universitarios Mexicanos

Abstract: espanolSe presenta un estudio que indaga si es posible replicar los resultados psicometricos propuestos por Rangel para la Escala de Autoeficacia Academica. La muestra total fue de 716 hombres alumnos de las licenciaturas de Educacion Fisica y Motricidad Humana que se ofrecen en la Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua en Mexico con una edad media de 20.8 anos. La estructura factorial del cuestionario se analizo a traves de analisis factoriales confirmatorios. Los analisis, muestran que una estructura tetra factorial es viable y adecuada. La estructura de cuatro factores incluye comprension, comunicacion, atencion y excelencia. Esta ha mostrado adecuados indicadores de ajuste de fiabilidad y validez. Ademas, los resultados de los analisis factoriales llevados a cabo con las submuestras, indican la existencia de fuertes evidencias de la estabilidad de la estructura factorial. EnglishThe present study investigates the psychometric results proposed by Rangel for the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale. The total sample included 716 male students, with a mean age of 20.8 years, of the degree of Physical Education and Human Motricity offered at the Autonomous University of Chihuahua in Mexico. Psychometric analysis showed that a tetra-factorial structure was viable and adequate. The factorial structure of the questionnaire was analyzed with confirmatory factor analysis. The four-factor structure included comprehension, communication, attention and excellence. This showed adequate indicators of adjustment of reliability and validity. In addition, factor analysis conducted with subsamples showed the presence of strong evidence of factor structure stability.

RETOS. Nuevas Tendencias en Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación

Abstract: Resumen es: La nueva aproximacion de formacion de expertos ha modificado la antigua vision del proceso de deteccion de talentos. Dicha pers pectiva consiste en evalu...

The Case for Retiring Flexibility as a Major Component of Physical Fitness.

Abstract: Flexibility refers to the intrinsic properties of body tissues that determine maximal joint range of motion without causing injury. For many years, flexibility has been classified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a major component of physical fitness. The notion flexibility is important for fitness has also led to the idea static stretching should be prescribed to improve flexibility. The current paper proposes flexibility be retired as a major component of physical fitness, and consequently, stretching be de-emphasized as a standard component of exercise prescriptions for most populations. First, I show flexibility has little predictive or concurrent validity with health and performance outcomes (e.g., mortality, falls, occupational performance) in apparently healthy individuals, particularly when viewed in light of the other major components of fitness (i.e., body composition, cardiovascular endurance, muscle endurance, muscle strength). Second, I explain that if flexibility requires improvement, this does not necessitate a prescription of stretching in most populations. Flexibility can be maintained or improved by exercise modalities that cause more robust health benefits than stretching (e.g., resistance training). Retirement of flexibility as a major component of physical fitness will simplify fitness batteries; save time and resources dedicated to flexibility instruction, measurement, and evaluation; and prevent erroneous conclusions about fitness status when interpreting flexibility scores. De-emphasis of stretching in exercise prescriptions will ensure stretching does not negatively impact other exercise and does not take away from time that could be allocated to training activities that have more robust health and performance benefits.

Autoeficacia y vivencias académicas en estudiantes universitarios

Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the dimensions of the self-efficacy construct in academic behaviors and academic experiences with undergraduate students. 405 students of Psychology, Engineering and Pedagogy from various Chilean universities participated. The sampling was non probabilistic. The Self-efficacy Scale in Academic Behaviors and the Academic Experiences Questionnaire were applied. Analysis of correlations between variables and canonical correlations were performed. Direct relationships were found between the dimensions of self-efficacy in academic behaviors and academic experiences, except in academic self-efficacy and personal difficulties, where an inverse relationship was found. The findings were consistent with previous studies which refer to correlations between variables. There were three canonical dimensions describing students according to their university studies: real self-efficacy vs. academic experience based on study strategy; communication style and excellence vs. personal and interpersonal style, and general attention vs. assessment of the studies and the institution.