A total of 852 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age were evaluated (M = 14.86, SD = 1.67), randomly selected among a population of secondary school and Baccalaureate students. We applied an “ad hoc” questionnaire on sociodemographic data and the Self-Report of Reasons for the Practice of Physical Exercise (AMPEF) and Self-Report of Barriers to the Practice of Physical Exercise (ABPEF) questionnaires. The results obtained show a prevalence of competition, social recognition, and challenge as motivational factors, and fatigue or laziness as barriers to physical exercise among adolescents. With respect to gender, boys show a greater presence of motivations towards doing physical exercise, while girls show more barriers. In conclusion, the motivational factors and barriers interact and support each other for a better predisposition towards physical exercise.

Gender stereotypes adversely affect gay men’s lives. Although research has linked the degree to which gay men are conscious of masculine stereotypes with symptoms of psychological distress, it is unclear whether different groups of gay men are equally conscious of gender stereotypes. Thus, we compared responses to an online survey between a closely matched group of Latino (n = 54) and White (non-Latino, n = 54) gay men who were U.S. citizens and resided in the U.S. We predicted that Latino men would score higher on questions related to (a) the importance of masculinity, (b) the importance of not being noticeably gay, (c) how conscious they were of their own masculine behavior, (d) negative attitudes toward effeminate gay men, and (e) dimensions related to a gay identity. Results showed that masculinity was equally important to both groups, but Latino men reported it was more important that they and their same-sex partners not be noticeably gay (Cohen’s d = 0.40 and 0.62, respectively). Furthermore, both groups expressed an equal degree of negative attitude toward effeminate gay men, but the Latino men were more conscious about their own masculine behavior (d = 0.50). Finally, different dimensions of their gay identity were salient for each group where Latino men were more concerned with keeping their sexual orientation private (d = 0.54) and wanting to be accepted by others (d = 0.57), whereas the White men had more difficulty with their coming-out process (d = 0.40). Further research should consider how one’s ethnicity is related to gender stereotypes and well-being among gay men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Background: Anxiety is one of the most complex and the most studied constructs in psychology, and it is extremely frequent in high-level sportsmen and women. The main goal was to study the influence of sex, age, type of sport, sport modality, other professional occupation, and competitive level on the competitive anxiety symptoms and self-confidence of elite athletes. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with Colombian elite athletes who were members of the “Support to the Excellence Coldeportes Athlete” program. The total population studied included 334 Colombian elite athletes: mean age 27.10 ± 6.57 years old with 13.66 ± 6.37 years practicing his/her sports modality. The precompetitive anxiety symptoms of the participants were assessed using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory—2R (CSAI-2R). Results: Men showed higher levels of self-confidence than women. Younger athletes had a higher cognitive and somatic anxiety. The athletes of individual sports had a higher mean somatic anxiety than those of collective sports. The higher-level athletes had lower values of cognitive and somatic anxiety and higher levels of self-confidence. Finally, the values of anxiety symptoms positively correlated with each other, and negatively correlated with self-confidence. Conclusion: Individualised psychological intervention programs adapted to elite athletes are needed, considering the divergent results found in various variables of scientific interest.