In this paper, we have focused on the Self-Determination Theory, paying special attention to intrinsic motivation, which is understood as the motivation that leads the subject to perform a task without the expectation of obtaining an external reward. In the field of sport, motivation is one of the most studied variables and one of the most researched, since it is closely related to the reasons that lead the athletes to start, maintain, and abandon sports practice. The main objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between intrinsic motivation (IM) and emotional intelligence from the theoretical contributions of the Self-Determination Theory. The specific objectives are to analyze attention, clarity, and emotional regulation, as well as intrinsic motivation to acquire knowledge. Additionally, we aim to explore the relationship between attention, clarity, and emotional regulation and the intrinsic motivation to achieve something. Lastly, we investigate the correspondence between attention, clarity, and emotional regulation and the intrinsic motivation to experience stimuli. The sample consists of 163 undergraduate and master’s students related to Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, studying at a Spanish public university, located in the southeast region of Andalusia—specifically, in the city of Almería. The participants had a mean age of 20.33 years. In terms of gender, 70.9% (n = 117) were men and 27.9% (n = 46) women. In terms of degree, 76.7% (n = 147) were undergraduate students and 23.3% (n = 18) were postgraduate students. The Sports Motivation Scale (SMS/EMD) was used to assess intrinsic motivation, and the TMMS-24 was used to assess emotional intelligence. The main findings of this research demonstrate the existence of a relationship between the three dimensions of emotional intelligence (emotional attention, emotional clarity, and emotional regulation) and intrinsic motivation (intrinsic motivation to know something, intrinsic motivation to achieve something, and intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation). These findings emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence for intrinsic motivation.

Research on self-efficacy, cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety provides fundamental information to early identify weak areas in the training of athletes and to implement actions that contribute to the improvement and maintenance of sporting activities. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between anxiety (somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety and self-efficacy) and basic psychological needs (competence, autonomy and relationship with others). The sample was composed of 165 university students enrolled in courses related to physical activity and sport sciences, with a mean age of 20.33 years (SD = 3.44), studying in a Spanish public university located in Almeria, in the southeast of Spain (Andalusia). The main findings showed the existence of a continuous and effective relationship between self-efficacy and basic psychological needs. While there was no positive and direct relationship between cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety and autonomy, there was a direct and positive relationship between cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety and competence and the relationship with others. Therefore, the results obtained showed that a more positive form of motivation would be autonomous motivation, as it helps to interpret the perception of self-efficacy, favoring performance in competition, whereas controlled motivation has the opposite effect. The importance of this research resides in the fact that it shows that within the sports field, an athlete’s self-perception has an indirect negative effect on pre-competitive somatic anxiety, and the link in this relationship is task orientation and the absence of demotivation towards sport. Despite this, the same effect on cognitive anxiety was not produced.

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties (reliability and validity) of the Social Isolation Scale (SIS) in a sample of Portuguese community-dwelling older adults. A transversal descriptive study was carried out with a convenience sample of 250 community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years). The survey comprised a sociodemographic questionnaire, SIS, Geriatric Depression Scale-4 (GDS-4), 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), a loneliness self-assessment question, and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis) and convergent validity were analyzed, and ISI internal reliability (composite reliability), external reliability (test-retest, intraclass correlation coefficient) and inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s kappa coefficient) were evaluated. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a two-factor model with an excellent index of fit. The SIS showed significant correlations with LSNS-6 (r_s = 0.47), SWLS (r_s = 0.26), the loneliness self-assessment question (r_s = 0.35), and GDS-4 (r_s = −0.16). SIS composite reliability was good (0.708). The inter-class correlation coefficient varied from 0.84 to 0.98. The Cohen’s kappa coefficient ranged from 0.936 to 1. SIS has been shown to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing social isolation among Portuguese community-dwelling older adults. Healthcare professionals, particularly nurses working in community settings, can use SIS to assess social isolation in older adults to design, implement, and evaluate interventions.

Objective: The present study aimed to analyze quality of life (QoL) in participants of community intervention programs (CIP) focused on healthy aging. Method : A multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out with 304 community-dwelling participants, aged 55 years old or more and living in three locations in Portugal. Half of these individuals (n=152) were involved in a CIP (intervention group). The intervention group was paired according to sex and age group with an equivalent number of participants (n=152) that did not take part in a CIP (comparison group). Activities implemented in the CIP were grouped according to their nature: socio-recreational, educational/lifelong learning and physical activity. Data collection involved a Social Participation Questionnaire, the WHOQOL-Bref and the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Results: The CIP participants (n=152) had a mean age of 71.4 years (±5.4), were predominantly women (75.0%), married (65.4%), with fewer than five years of education (71.7%) and a monthly family income of up to 750 euros (47.4%). The intervention group had a significantly higher QoL in the physical domain than the comparison group (p<0.03). Physical activity was the most frequently attended session in the CIP (n=119, 78.3%), in comparison with educational/lifelong learning (n=46, 30.3%) and socio-recreational (n=25, 16.4%) activities. People practicing physical activity in the CIP had a significantly higher QoL in the psychological, social relationships and environment domains (p<0.05). Conclusion: Participation in the CIP was associated with QoL. Therefore, in line with the active aging framework, CIPs must be a part of public policy measures aimed at the QoL of the population.

In the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we collected data (N = 1,420) from Portugal and Spain in relation to personality (i.e., Dark Triad traits, Big Five traits, religiousness, and negative affect) and attitudes related to COVID-19 about its origins, opinions on how to deal with it, and fear of it. The most pervasive patterns we found were: (1) neurotic-type dispositions were associated with stronger opinions about the origins of the virus and leave people to have more fear of the virus but also more trust in tested establishments to provide help. (2): religious people were less trusting of science, thought prayer was answer, and attributed the existence of the virus to an act of God. We also found that sex differences and country differences in attitudes towards COVID-19 were mediate by sex/country differences in personality traits like emotional stability, religiousness, and negative affect. For instance, women reported more fear of COVID-19 than men did, and this was verified by women’s greater tendency to have negative affect and low emotional stability relative to men. Results point to the central role of neuroticism in accounting for variance in broad-spectrum attitudes towards COVID-19.

The EISI study protocol aims to address the low participation rate in physical exercise programs among older individuals, emphasizing its significance as a non-pharmacological therapeutic approach for overall health and increased physical activity. The objectives include implementing physical activity (PA) and educational health programs in Jequié, Bahia, Brazil, targeting the Family Health Strategy population to enhance local physical activity levels among older individuals. The study also seeks to evaluate the program's feasibility, safety, and sustainability for large-scale implementation, along with assessing its impact on immune and inflammatory response biomarkers to the SARS-CoV virus, as well as physical-functional and brain health. Participants, aged 60 or above, will be divided into two groups: multicomponent exercise (MCE) and behavioral change interventions (BCI). The study employs a mixed-method approach, utilizing a non-randomized controlled short-term pathway model for a 4-8 weeks of pilot study and 16-week intervention impact assessment. Data collection encompasses various aspects such as sociodemographic information, mental health, physical fitness, fall risk, functional capacity, anthropometric measurements, hemodynamic assessment, habitual physical activity, and health-related quality of life. Blood and saliva samples are collected for cytokine and antibody biomarker analysis related to SARS-CoV immunity. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations for both groups will be conducted, with the hypothesis that MCE will yield more favorable responses compared to BCI. The study's holistic approach, including the assessment of feasibility, safety, and sustainability, aims to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 and SDG 9 b y promoting accessible and sustainable healthcare initiatives for older individuals. This research aligns with global efforts to enhance health and well-being, emphasizing the importance of regular exercise in the aging population.