Sometimes, especially during or soon after treatment, you may not feel like eating. You may be uncomfortable or tired. You may find that foods do not taste as good as they used to. In addition, the side effects of treatment (such as poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, or mouth sores) can make it hard to eat well. Your doctor, dietitian, or other health care provider can suggest ways to deal with these problems. Also, the NCI booklet Eating Hints for Cancer Patients has many useful ideas and recipes.

Nutrition and physical activity

Objective: The aim of this research was to study the mediation of body dissatisfaction, physical self-concept, and body mass index (BMI) on the relationship between physical activity and self-concept in adolescents. Materials and Methods: A sample of 652 Spanish students between 12 and 17 years participated in a cross-sectional study. Physical self-concept and general self-concept were assessed with the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire (CAF), body dissatisfaction with the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), and physical activity was estimated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). BMI was utilized as a measurement of body composition. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the results. Results: The resulting models showed good fit indexes. Physical activity had a positive and indirect effect on self-concept (β = 0.29, p < 0.01) and direct effects on dissatisfaction (β = -0.26, p < 0.01) and physical self-concept (β = 0.20, p < 0.01). BMI had a direct effect on dissatisfaction (β = 0.31, p < 0.01) and on physical self-concept (β = -0.10, p < 0.01) and an indirect effect on general self-concept (β = -0.24, p < 0.01). However, it was only associated with physical activity in males, playing a mediating role between physical activity and body dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Physical activity can help individuals to achieve a positive self-concept and promote psychological well-being in adolescents through the improvement of physical perceptions and body satisfaction. The importance of BMI, body dissatisfaction, and physical self-concept on the configuration of the self-concept are also emphasized. Educational policymakers and Physical Education teachers should implement strategies to promote physical activity in the schools and provide a Quality Physical Education programs to increase physical activity during adolescence.

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Effect of Physical Activity on Self-Concept: Theoretical Model on the Mediation of Body Image and Physical Self-Concept in Adolescents

The contribution of this research lies in its dual approach to the question of physical activity (PA) among adolescents, combining objective measurement of PA by teenagers and a comparison of psychological satisfaction through physical activities involving differing degrees of autonomy (i.e., organized or unstructured). Using the conceptual framework of Self-Determination Theory, the analysis also examines the relationship between levels of PA among adolescents and physical self-concept and satisfaction of basic psychological needs during exercise. The study surveyed 129 first-year higher secondary education students from schools in the city of A Coruna. Satisfaction of basic psychological needs during organized and unstructured physical activities was measured using the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale. PA levels were assessed based on step count per day for a week as measured by an accelerometer. The results show that the daily step average recorded by students (7,400) is below the minimum recommended levels of PA for this age group, that students are more active on weekdays than at the weekend, and that there is no significant difference in PA levels between male and female subjects (T = 0.23, p 0.05, η2 = 0.08, observed power = 0.66). Basic psychological needs show significant positive interrelation between them and a significant positive relationship between them and physical self-concept, as expected based on previous literature.

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Basic Psychological Needs, Physical Self-Concept, and Physical Activity Among Adolescents: Autonomy in Focus.

The article finds its theoretical, meth-odological and empirical arguments in the explanation and interpretation of diverse circumstances that concur in the reading practises of young university students in their “leisure” time. Invoking the creative and recreational potential of reading in their personal, academic and professional devel-opment, the text emphasizes the importance of competences and capacities that could acquire as students as future education pro-fessionals. With the objective of knowing the reading habits of the university students and if reading is among their leisure time ac-tivities, a questionary was given to 733 pupils studying degrees in Infant Childhood Edu-cation (IED), Primary Education (PED), So-cial Education (SED) and Pedagogy (PDD) in the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. The results prove that one third of them all consider themselves as ‘frequent readers”’, with a high percentage of students lacking reading habits (a 50.6% in IED and a 41.5% in PED). The students who are frequent readers perform more diverse and satisfying leisure activities, transcending the ludical and rec-reational areas to delve into a more cultur-al and environmental-ecological leisure. Hence the importance of a leisure education to promote and consolidate the readership duties in everyday’s life.

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Leer en tiempos de ocio : los estudiantes, futuros profesionales de la educación, como sujetos lectores

An appeal has been issued to the scientific community to investigate physical, mental and emotional states, and pro-social behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, this study aims to investigate adolescents’ self-concept before and during a lockdown period in relation to gender and type/amount of physical activity or sports. The pre-lockdown sample of 366 adolescents were aged 13–17 years (M = 15.51 ± 0.65), of whom 192 (52.5%) were females and 174 (47.5%) were males. During the lockdown, the age range of the sample was 13–17 years (M = 14.57 ± 1.47), of whom 82 (60.3%) were females, and 54 (39.7%) were males. The Form-5 Self-concept Questionnaire (AF-5) was used to measure adolescents’ self-concept. There was a reduction in adolescents’ overall self-concept during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was positively associated with emotional well-being, with family and peers being essential factors in the development of an appropriate self-concept. Furthermore, girls’ self-concept, especially academic self-concept, was higher than that of boys during the lockdown. However, both physical and emotional self-concept were higher for boys than girls before the COVID-19 lockdown, although no differences were found during the lockdown. The findings reveal that physical activity was positively correlated to self-concept before and during the COVID-19 lockdown.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/18/7792/pdf

Analysis of Self-Concept in Adolescents before and during COVID-19 Lockdown: Differences by Gender and Sports Activity

Los objetivos de este estudio son (1) analizar el efecto del genero y de la edad en la participacion en actividades de ocio y en la satisfaccion con la imagen corporal (SIC) y vital (SV) y, (2) examinar como estas ultimas varian segun la participacion en distintas modalidades de ocio (deportivo, cultural, electronico, festivo y otros). Se recogieron datos de 1764 estudiantes de Ensenanza Secundaria Postobligatoria (con una edad media de 18.6 anos) de centros publicos y privados espanoles, que completaron un cuestionario sobre la organizacion de los tiempos academicos y de ocio. Los resultados indican que el ocio deportivo (practica de actividad fisico-deportiva durante el ocio) se relaciona positivamente con la SIC y SV en los jovenes estudiados. El genero (y no la edad) es una variable de confusion en esta relacion que debe ser controlada y analizada. El ocio deportivo se asocia con mayores niveles de SIC y de SV respecto a algunos tipos de ocio, pero no a todos. El ocio electronico se vincula con una menor SV, mientras el ocio cultural arroja los valores mas bajos en cuanto a SIC y SV. Son necesarias futuras investigaciones que contrasten el efecto del ocio deportivo con otras modalidades de ocio.

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Ocio deportivo, imagen corporal y satisfacción vital en jóvenes españoles

El objetivo de este articulo es analizar las caracteristicas de la practica fisico-deportiva durante el ocio de la juventud que cursa Educacion Secundaria Postobligatoria no universitaria (ESPO) en Espana (de edades entre 15 y 20 anos). Concretamente, se estudia la practica de ocio deportivo en funcion del genero y se analizan las caracteristicas de la misma (frecuencia, organizacion, compania, etc.). Para ello se realizo un diseno de investigacion cuantitativo en el que se aplico un cuestionario elaborado ad hoc a una muestra representativa de 2694 estudiantes espanoles de ESPO, que senalaron el ocio deportivo como su opcion preferida de ocio (n= 901). En general, la modalidad de ocio preferida por la juventud espanola es la deportiva. Las chicas se decantan por actividades fisicas individuales y artistico-expresivas, mientras que los chicos por la practica de deportes colectivos; siendo menor el interes de las chicas por participar en competiciones deportivas. Ademas, la frecuencia de practica es inferior en las mujeres durante la semana, pero no durante los fines de semana. Ellas renuncian en mayor medida que ellos a practicar actividades de ocio que les gustan. Respecto a la dimension social de la practica, ambos colectivos realizan deporte mayoritariamente con gente de su edad, pero ellas puntuan mas bajo en esta opcion de respuesta. El genero es un factor determinante en la practica de ocio deportivo juvenil, constatandose desigualdades en la frecuencia y preferencias de practica y en la renuncia a actividades fisico-deportivas que son de su agrado. Abstract. We study the profiles of sports participation of youths enrolled in Post-Compulsory Secondary Education (PCSE) in Spain (15-20 years). Specifically, it is analyzed if there are any differences according to gender in sports leisure practice and what are the sport participation features of each group. In order to do so, a quantitative research design was carried out and an ad hoc questionnaire was applied to a significative sample of 2694 ESPO Spanish students. Nine hundred and one of them were specifically studied because they selected sports practice as their main leisure preference. Overall, it is observed that the kind of leisure activity chosen by the Spanish youth is sport activity. We found that girls prefer individual and artistic-expressive physical activities, while boys opt for practicing team sports. We found a lower interest of girls in participating in sports competitions. Also, the frequency of practice is lower in women than men during the working days, but not during the weekend. Girls give up practicing leisure activities that they like much more than boys do. Regarding the social dimension of the practice, both groups practice mostly with people of their age, but girls score lower in this response option. Gender affects sports leisure of Spanish youth, differences being found in the frequency and preferences of practice, and in waivering leisure activities that they like.

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Perfiles de ocio deportivo en jóvenes españoles (15-20 años): un análisis de género

The aim of this work is to study the presence of reading as a leisure activity of young Spanish students, participating in Upper (not-compulsory) Secondary Education. The relationship between the frequency of leisure reading and the sociodemographic variables of the sample and its implications on academic context (performance, study time and experience classes) was analysed. One thousand seven hundred and sixty-four Spanish students participated through a questionnaire about school time and leisure time. Results indicated that reading as a leisure activity is not widespread among these youngsters. Reader profile: a girl who is studying at high school reads 1 or 2 times a week and spends 75 minutes each time. Students who spend more time reading have better grades, but do not spend more time studying. The frequency of leisure reading is linked to a more critical view of the educational system because students who read more, perceive that more time is spent on traditional methodologies and less on hands-on approaches that enhance their autonomy and initiative.

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Tiempos escolares y lectura

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of a number of factors on parents´ work-life balance, such as the socio-demographic context, school timetables, and family co-responsibility in tasks pertaining to children’s schooling. A sample of 859 Galician families with children in secondary education (12-16 years old) completed a self-administered questionnaire on time management. The results showed that work-life balance may be influenced by family structure, parents´ employment status, and children’s age. The worst work-life balance was associated with low levels of satisfaction with school schedules and holiday distribution. Also, there was a low level of co-responsibility in tasks pertaining to children’s schooling, being mostly women the ones in charge of tasks. Co-responsibility was positively related to work-life balance when tasks demand day-to-day participation.

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Lara Varela-Garrote

Papers

Basic Psychological Needs, Physical Self-Concept, and Physical Activity Among Adolescents: Autonomy in Focus.

Ocio deportivo, imagen corporal y satisfacción vital en jóvenes españoles

Perfiles de ocio deportivo en jóvenes españoles (15-20 años): un análisis de género

Tiempos escolares y lectura

Tiempos escolares y conciliación: análisis de familias con hijos en educación secundaria obligatoria (12-16 años) *