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Prof. Marianna Alesi
Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Ed. 15, 90128 Palermo, Italy

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0 Intellectual Disabilities
0 Motivation
0 Motor Development
0 Typical Development
0 Physical Activitiy

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Journal article
Published: 17 January 2021 in Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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The aim of this investigation was to identify possible related factors associated to the performance of the crunning test in European children and adolescents. A total number of 559 children and adolescents (age range 6–14 years) of which 308 boys (55.1%) and 251 girls (44.9%), from seven European countries, were screened. A questionnaire concerning demographic and personal life-related factors and a cognitive assessment were performed. A regression analysis was conducted with the performance measures of the crunning movement. T-tests and ANCOVA were used to analyze sub-group differences. Boys have greater crunning performance values compared to girls (5.55 s vs. 7.06 s, p < 0.001) and older children perform better than younger ones (R2 −0.23; p < 0.001). Children with healthy and active habits (exercising or spending time with family members vs. reading or surfing the internet) performed better in the test. Children engaged in team sports had better crunning performances compared to those engaged in individual sports (6.01 s vs. 6.66 s, p = 0.0166). No significant association was found regarding cognitive-related aspects in either children engaged in team or individual sports and the crunning performance. Older and male children performed better in the crunning test than younger and female children. Physical activity-related aspects of children’s life are associated with crunning movement performance. No association was found between higher cognitive performance and the crunning test results.

ACS Style

Ewan Thomas; Marianna Alesi; Garden Tabacchi; Carlos Silva; David Sturm; Fatma Şahin; Özkan Güler; Manuel Gómez-López; Simona Pajaujiene; Michele Basile; Ante Rada; Antonio Palma; Antonino Bianco. Cognitive and Physical Activity-Related Aspects of Children Associated to the Performance of the Crunning Movement. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 2021, 6, 9 .

AMA Style

Ewan Thomas, Marianna Alesi, Garden Tabacchi, Carlos Silva, David Sturm, Fatma Şahin, Özkan Güler, Manuel Gómez-López, Simona Pajaujiene, Michele Basile, Ante Rada, Antonio Palma, Antonino Bianco. Cognitive and Physical Activity-Related Aspects of Children Associated to the Performance of the Crunning Movement. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2021; 6 (1):9.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ewan Thomas; Marianna Alesi; Garden Tabacchi; Carlos Silva; David Sturm; Fatma Şahin; Özkan Güler; Manuel Gómez-López; Simona Pajaujiene; Michele Basile; Ante Rada; Antonio Palma; Antonino Bianco. 2021. "Cognitive and Physical Activity-Related Aspects of Children Associated to the Performance of the Crunning Movement." Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 6, no. 1: 9.

Review
Published: 09 September 2020 in Psychology of Sport and Exercise
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Assuming that motivation is the key to initiate and sustain beneficial health behaviors, the aim of this systematic review was to analyze the effects of school-based physical activity interventions on a variety of motivational outcomes towards PA in school-aged children and adolescents. A comprehensive literature search was carried out in six electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental trials examining the effects of PA interventions implemented during the regular school day, e.g., during physical education lessons or lunch breaks. Primary outcomes of interest were students' motivation, basic psychological needs, goal orientation, enjoyment, and motivational teaching climate in physical education. Meta-analyses were conducted for these outcomes using Comprehensive Meta-analysis software. Secondarily, intervention effects on students' PA behaviors were examined and the findings summarized narratively. Methodological quality of studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias for randomized trials; certainty of evidence on outcome level was evaluated using the GRADE approach. In total, 57 studies carried out between 2001 and 2018 were included in this review. Sixteen individual meta-analyses were performed and revealed significant pooled effects for the outcomes enjoyment (g = 0.310), perceived autonomy (g = 0.152), identified regulation (g = 0.378), intrinsic motivation (g = 0.419), self-determination index (g = 0.672), task/mastery climate (g = 0.254), ego/performance climate (g = −0.438), autonomy supportive climate (g = 0.262), task goal orientation (g = 1.370), ego goal orientation (g = −0.188). The narrative data synthesis indicated an increase in students' PA behavior. The overall risk of bias was high across all studies and certainty of evidence of meta-analyzed outcomes ranged from very low to moderate. Moderate certainty of evidence was found for ego/performance climate and ego goal orientation. Conclusions: Meta-analyses suggest that school-based PA interventions may be effective in increasing a variety of motivational outcomes. However, the certainty of evidence was limited in the majority of outcomes. Further research is needed to identify effective intervention strategies that increase students’ motivation towards PA.

ACS Style

Anne Kelso; Stephanie Linder; Anne K. Reimers; Stefanie J. Klug; Marianna Alesi; Lidia Scifo; Carla Chicau Borrego; Diogo Monteiro; Yolanda Demetriou. Effects of school-based interventions on motivation towards physical activity in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise 2020, 51, 101770 .

AMA Style

Anne Kelso, Stephanie Linder, Anne K. Reimers, Stefanie J. Klug, Marianna Alesi, Lidia Scifo, Carla Chicau Borrego, Diogo Monteiro, Yolanda Demetriou. Effects of school-based interventions on motivation towards physical activity in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2020; 51 ():101770.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anne Kelso; Stephanie Linder; Anne K. Reimers; Stefanie J. Klug; Marianna Alesi; Lidia Scifo; Carla Chicau Borrego; Diogo Monteiro; Yolanda Demetriou. 2020. "Effects of school-based interventions on motivation towards physical activity in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Psychology of Sport and Exercise 51, no. : 101770.

Journal article
Published: 22 August 2020 in Learning and Individual Differences
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Homework is widely recognized as a source of stress for both parents and children, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study tested the hypothesis that the frustration of the basic psychological needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness is the main source of stress and that satisfying these needs should reduce stress and lead to more positive outcomes. Study 1 assessed the associations between parental and child need frustration, homework stress and parental adoption of need-thwarting practices (n = 171 parent/child dyads). Study 2 tested the effectiveness of a four-session parental training (n = 55) program focused on helping parents increase their need-supportive practices. Study 1 confirmed that the more parents experience homework as need-frustrating, the more their children report stress. This finding was mediated by the stress the parents themselves experience, parents' tendency to adopt need-thwarting practices, and the child's experience of homework as need-frustrating. Study 2 showed that a brief intervention aimed at supporting parental need satisfaction reduced parental and child stress and improved parental adoption of need-supportive practices. The theoretical and educational implications are discussed.

ACS Style

Angelica Moè; Idit Katz; Rinat Cohen; Marianna Alesi. Reducing homework stress by increasing adoption of need-supportive practices: Effects of an intervention with parents. Learning and Individual Differences 2020, 82, 101921 .

AMA Style

Angelica Moè, Idit Katz, Rinat Cohen, Marianna Alesi. Reducing homework stress by increasing adoption of need-supportive practices: Effects of an intervention with parents. Learning and Individual Differences. 2020; 82 ():101921.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Angelica Moè; Idit Katz; Rinat Cohen; Marianna Alesi. 2020. "Reducing homework stress by increasing adoption of need-supportive practices: Effects of an intervention with parents." Learning and Individual Differences 82, no. : 101921.

Research article
Published: 09 July 2020 in European Journal of Developmental Psychology
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Structured motor tasks may affect cognitive development by creating a cognitively challenging “enriched environment’, giving opportunity for social cooperation, increasing the joy to learn through play, improving the sense of mastery and competence. The study investigated the association between motor and cognitive exercises, through a teacher-led programme, to provide kindergarten children with the skills necessary for school literacy. Using a cluster-randomized trial design with an intervention group (N = 110) and a control group (N = 64), we examined the effects of a 3-month teacher-led motor programme enriched by executive function tasks. In the intervention group, significant gains were found from pre-test to post-test in scores on general literacy prerequisites subscales such as behaviour, motor, linguistic comprehension, oral expression, metacognition. Results suggest the need to implement new and enjoyable ways of teaching to enhance children’s school readiness through motor activities. PA=Physical Activity; PMA=Programma Motorio Arricchito (Enriched Motor Programme)

ACS Style

Marianna Alesi; Sebastiano Costa; Antonino Bianco; Annamaria Pepi. A teacher-led motor programme to enhance pre-literacy and motor skills in kindergarten children. European Journal of Developmental Psychology 2020, 1 -15.

AMA Style

Marianna Alesi, Sebastiano Costa, Antonino Bianco, Annamaria Pepi. A teacher-led motor programme to enhance pre-literacy and motor skills in kindergarten children. European Journal of Developmental Psychology. 2020; ():1-15.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marianna Alesi; Sebastiano Costa; Antonino Bianco; Annamaria Pepi. 2020. "A teacher-led motor programme to enhance pre-literacy and motor skills in kindergarten children." European Journal of Developmental Psychology , no. : 1-15.

Journal article
Published: 17 June 2020
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The standing broad jump (SBJ) is a valid, reliable and feasible field-based test, which can evaluate explosive strength of the lower limbs and physical fitness. This study aimed to provide normative data for the SBJ for male and female children and adolescents and describe differences in performance between age groups and genders. A total number of 2140 children and adolescents, sampled in seven European nations have been included for analysis. The SBJ was performed to derive percentile values for gender and each age group. In general, males have greater jumping performance compared to females. Data demonstrate a linear increase in the jumping distance for both males and females until adolescence. However, such increase is evident in males up to 16-17 years old, whereas in females a plateau value is met at 12-13 years old, with a subsequent decrease in the jumping performance. No differences were present in jumping performance between male and female children, however differences between male and female adolescents were evinced. The study has provided percentile values useful to monitor the physical fitness status of children and adolescents.

ACS Style

Ewan Thomas; Luca Petrigna; Garden Tabacchi; Eduardo Teixeira; Simona Pajaujiene; David J. Sturm; Fatma Nese Sahin; Manuel Gómez-López; Jelena Pausic; Antonio Paoli; Marianna Alesi; Antonino Bianco. Percentile values of the standing broad jump in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old. 2020, 30, 9050 .

AMA Style

Ewan Thomas, Luca Petrigna, Garden Tabacchi, Eduardo Teixeira, Simona Pajaujiene, David J. Sturm, Fatma Nese Sahin, Manuel Gómez-López, Jelena Pausic, Antonio Paoli, Marianna Alesi, Antonino Bianco. Percentile values of the standing broad jump in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old. . 2020; 30 (2):9050.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ewan Thomas; Luca Petrigna; Garden Tabacchi; Eduardo Teixeira; Simona Pajaujiene; David J. Sturm; Fatma Nese Sahin; Manuel Gómez-López; Jelena Pausic; Antonio Paoli; Marianna Alesi; Antonino Bianco. 2020. "Percentile values of the standing broad jump in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old." 30, no. 2: 9050.

Journal article
Published: 23 April 2020 in Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Physical activity (PA) during childhood plays an important role in brain development. This role is played in both the structural domain, prefrontal cortex area, and in the functional domain, involving the higher cognitive functions, including the executive functions (EF). Working memory (WM), inhibition, and switching as fundamental EF were investigated in an Italian children sample before and after four months of an Enriched Sports Activities-Program (ESA-Program). EFs were assessed at pre-test and post-test using, respectively, the digit span test, the color word Stroop test, and the trail making test derived from Millisecond Software. The Italian sample was composed of 141 children aged 8.54 years. The intervention group (IG) was composed of 61 children and the control group (CG) of 80 children. Significant differences in WM (p < 0.05) were found in the IG following the ESA-Program intervention. Children’s performance improved both in forward digit span (FDS1 mean difference = 0.26; p = 0.04; FDS2 mean difference = 0.21; p = 0.01) and backward digit span (BDS2 mean difference = 0.14; p = 0.02). No significant improvements were observed for inhibition and switching processes (p > 0.05). Since this finding suggests that brain functioning is sensitive to lifestyle factors, such as PA, an essential goal for ESA-Program is to emphasize the importance of PA to enhance cognitive skills in childhood and prevent sedentary life.

ACS Style

Marianna Alesi; Giulia Giordano; Marcello Giaccone; Michele Basile; Sebastiano Costa; Antonino Bianco. Effects of the Enriched Sports Activities-Program on Executive Functions in Italian Children. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 2020, 5, 26 .

AMA Style

Marianna Alesi, Giulia Giordano, Marcello Giaccone, Michele Basile, Sebastiano Costa, Antonino Bianco. Effects of the Enriched Sports Activities-Program on Executive Functions in Italian Children. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2020; 5 (2):26.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marianna Alesi; Giulia Giordano; Marcello Giaccone; Michele Basile; Sebastiano Costa; Antonino Bianco. 2020. "Effects of the Enriched Sports Activities-Program on Executive Functions in Italian Children." Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 5, no. 2: 26.

Journal article
Published: 06 March 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Background: Physical fitness in youth is a predictor of health in adulthood. The main objective of the present study was to understand if an enriched sport activity program could increase physical fitness in a population of schoolchildren. Methods: In a sample of 672 children aged 10.0 ± 1.90 years, different motor skills were tested by the 1 kg and 3 kg ball throw (BT), the standing broad jump (SBJ), the 30 m sprint (30mS), the leger shuttle run (LSR), the illinois agility test (IGT), and the quadruped test (QT). Within the controlled-trial, the intervention group (ESA) underwent an additional warm-up protocol, which included cognitive enhancing elements, for 14 weeks while the control group continued with ordinary exercise activity. Results: A significant increase was present regarding the 1 kg and 3 kg BT, the SBJ, the 30mS, and the IGT, while no significant difference was shown regarding the QT and the LSR in the ESA group between pre and post intervention. In the control group, no differences were present for any test except for the QT and the LSR post-test. Conclusion: A 14-week structured physical intervention had moderate effects regarding throwing, jumping, sprinting, and agility in a sample of schoolchildren.

ACS Style

Ewan Thomas; Antonino Bianco; Garden Tabacchi; Carlos Marques Da Silva; Nuno Loureiro; Michele Basile; Marcello Giaccone; David J. Sturm; Fatma Neşe Şahin; Özkan Güler; Manuel Gómez-López; Guillermo F. López Sánchez; Simona Pajaujiene; Ilona Judita Zuoziene; Ante Rada; Marianna Alesi; Antonio Palma. Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention on Physical Fitness of schoolchildren: The Enriched Sport Activity Program. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 1723 .

AMA Style

Ewan Thomas, Antonino Bianco, Garden Tabacchi, Carlos Marques Da Silva, Nuno Loureiro, Michele Basile, Marcello Giaccone, David J. Sturm, Fatma Neşe Şahin, Özkan Güler, Manuel Gómez-López, Guillermo F. López Sánchez, Simona Pajaujiene, Ilona Judita Zuoziene, Ante Rada, Marianna Alesi, Antonio Palma. Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention on Physical Fitness of schoolchildren: The Enriched Sport Activity Program. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (5):1723.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ewan Thomas; Antonino Bianco; Garden Tabacchi; Carlos Marques Da Silva; Nuno Loureiro; Michele Basile; Marcello Giaccone; David J. Sturm; Fatma Neşe Şahin; Özkan Güler; Manuel Gómez-López; Guillermo F. López Sánchez; Simona Pajaujiene; Ilona Judita Zuoziene; Ante Rada; Marianna Alesi; Antonio Palma. 2020. "Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention on Physical Fitness of schoolchildren: The Enriched Sport Activity Program." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 5: 1723.

Journal article
Published: 07 February 2020 in Sustainability
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Background: The American Psychiatric Association has identified dyslexia as a neurobiological disorder. The aim of the study was to evaluate podalic support, balance control, and dyslexia’s effects on interpersonal relationships. Methods: Fifty-seven subjects were enrolled for this study. The subjects were divided into two groups. The experimental group was composed of children with diagnosis of dyslexia. The control group was composed of healthy subjects. Each subject underwent baropodometry and posturographic analysis. In addition, the Multidimensional Self-esteem Assessment test by Bracken was used for a precise measurement of self-esteem in both groups (TMA). Results: The static baropodometry and posturographic results of the experimental group were significantly higher compared to the control group. The analysis showed significant differences: Surface left and right, Surface forefoot left, Surface forefoot right, Retro foot surface left, Retro foot surface right, and the Ellipse surface area. The test for multidimensional self-esteem assessment (TMA) analysis showed a significant difference. The Pearson correlation index showed a high correlation between the following parameters: Surface ellipse vs. TMA; Length of sway path vs. average speed of movement. Conclusion: The dyslexic children showed a flat-footed trend and an unstable balance compared with healthy subjects. Furthermore, the Multidimensional Self-Esteem test showed significantly lower self-assessments in the experimental group compared to control group.

ACS Style

Antonino Patti; Antonino Bianco; Giuseppe Messina; Angelo Iovane; Marianna Alesi; Annamaria Pepi; Antonio Palma. Evaluation of Podalic Support and Monitoring of Balance Control in Children with and without Dyslexia: A Pilot Study. Sustainability 2020, 12, 1191 .

AMA Style

Antonino Patti, Antonino Bianco, Giuseppe Messina, Angelo Iovane, Marianna Alesi, Annamaria Pepi, Antonio Palma. Evaluation of Podalic Support and Monitoring of Balance Control in Children with and without Dyslexia: A Pilot Study. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (3):1191.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonino Patti; Antonino Bianco; Giuseppe Messina; Angelo Iovane; Marianna Alesi; Annamaria Pepi; Antonio Palma. 2020. "Evaluation of Podalic Support and Monitoring of Balance Control in Children with and without Dyslexia: A Pilot Study." Sustainability 12, no. 3: 1191.

Review
Published: 15 December 2019 in Sustainability
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High levels of physical fitness (PF) can positively affect both health and cognitive function, thus monitoring its levels in youth can help increase health and quality of life in adult populations later on. This systematic review aims to identify PF field-based tests used in young European populations practicing sport to find tools that are adequate for the considered target involving a new battery within the Enriched Sport Activities (ESA) project. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was followed. In the 83 identified articles, the main tests used were: vertical/horizontal jumps (for muscular strength/power); push-ups, running at maximum effort, sit-ups (for muscular strength/endurance); multistage non-intermittent and intermittent tests (for aerobic endurance); sit and reach (for flexibility); sprinting and agility T-tests (for speed and agility, respectively); 10 × 5 m shuttle run (SR) (for both speed and agility). Few studies assessed coordination, reaction time, power, and balance. Although the selected tests are widely used and validated, they do not determine all PF aspects and do not reflect sport-specific features. A final decision was made for the inclusion of the following tests: standing broad jump, seated medicine ball throw, 20 m SR test, 30 m sprint, Illinois test, and a new test, i.e., the crunning test, to assess different skill-related components at once. The use of this combination of tests allows for the assessment of all PF components and can help planning effective training programs and cultivate sporting talent.

ACS Style

Garden Tabacchi; Guillermo F. Lopez Sanchez; Fatma Nese Sahin; Meltem Kizilyalli; Rosario Genchi; Michele Basile; Musa Kirkar; Carlos Silva; Nuno Loureiro; Eduardo Teixeira; Yolanda Demetriou; David Joseph Sturm; Simona Pajaujene; Ilona J. Zuoziene; Manuel Gómez-López; Ante Rada; Jelena Pausic; Nemanja Lakicevic; Luca Petrigna; Kaltrina Feka; Ana Ribeiro; Marianna Alesi; Antonino Bianco. Field-Based Tests for the Assessment of Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents Practicing Sport: A Systematic Review within the ESA Program. Sustainability 2019, 11, 7187 .

AMA Style

Garden Tabacchi, Guillermo F. Lopez Sanchez, Fatma Nese Sahin, Meltem Kizilyalli, Rosario Genchi, Michele Basile, Musa Kirkar, Carlos Silva, Nuno Loureiro, Eduardo Teixeira, Yolanda Demetriou, David Joseph Sturm, Simona Pajaujene, Ilona J. Zuoziene, Manuel Gómez-López, Ante Rada, Jelena Pausic, Nemanja Lakicevic, Luca Petrigna, Kaltrina Feka, Ana Ribeiro, Marianna Alesi, Antonino Bianco. Field-Based Tests for the Assessment of Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents Practicing Sport: A Systematic Review within the ESA Program. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (24):7187.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Garden Tabacchi; Guillermo F. Lopez Sanchez; Fatma Nese Sahin; Meltem Kizilyalli; Rosario Genchi; Michele Basile; Musa Kirkar; Carlos Silva; Nuno Loureiro; Eduardo Teixeira; Yolanda Demetriou; David Joseph Sturm; Simona Pajaujene; Ilona J. Zuoziene; Manuel Gómez-López; Ante Rada; Jelena Pausic; Nemanja Lakicevic; Luca Petrigna; Kaltrina Feka; Ana Ribeiro; Marianna Alesi; Antonino Bianco. 2019. "Field-Based Tests for the Assessment of Physical Fitness in Children and Adolescents Practicing Sport: A Systematic Review within the ESA Program." Sustainability 11, no. 24: 7187.

Review
Published: 15 August 2019 in Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Inactivity is a major issue that causes physical and psychological health problems, especially in people with intellectual disability (ID). This review discusses the beneficial effects of sport intervention programs (SIPs) in people with ID, and aims to provide an overview of the scientific literature in order to identify the main factors influencing the participation of people with ID in SIPs. Twelve papers were analyzed and compared. The results show a large variety in examined SIPs, concerning participants’ age and disability, intervention characteristics and context, as well as measures and findings. The main factors essential for people with ID partaking in SIPs appeared to be suitable places for the SIP development, adequate implementation of physical activity (PA) programs in school and extra-school contexts, education, and the training of teachers and instructors. The literature review highlights the relevance of using SIPs in order to improve physical and psychological health, as well as increase social inclusion in populations with ID. SIPs should be included in multifactor intervention programs. Nevertheless, the need is recognized for stakeholders to adopt specific practice and policy in promoting social inclusion in order to organize intervention strategies which are able to provide quality experiences in sport and physical activity for people with ID.

ACS Style

Lidia Scifo; Carla Chicau Borrego; Diogo Monteiro; Doris Matosic; Kaltrina Feka; Antonino Bianco; Marianna Alesi. Sport Intervention Programs (SIPs) to Improve Health and Social Inclusion in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 2019, 4, 57 .

AMA Style

Lidia Scifo, Carla Chicau Borrego, Diogo Monteiro, Doris Matosic, Kaltrina Feka, Antonino Bianco, Marianna Alesi. Sport Intervention Programs (SIPs) to Improve Health and Social Inclusion in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2019; 4 (3):57.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lidia Scifo; Carla Chicau Borrego; Diogo Monteiro; Doris Matosic; Kaltrina Feka; Antonino Bianco; Marianna Alesi. 2019. "Sport Intervention Programs (SIPs) to Improve Health and Social Inclusion in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review." Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 4, no. 3: 57.

Journal article
Published: 29 July 2019 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the motivational climate created by the coach and perceived by a group of young high-performance handball players on their sport motivation, self-determination, sport psychological needs and sport commitment. The study participants were 479 young handball players. The age range was 16-17 years old. Players were administered a battery composed of a Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire, Sport Motivation Scale, the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale and Sport Commitment Questionnaire to measure the above-mentioned theoretical constructs. Results showed that the handball players showed high levels of a task-involving climate, of basic psychological needs satisfaction and of self-determined motivation and commitment. Higher levels of basic psychological needs such as autonomy and competence were associated with a higher task-involving climate, self-determined index and sport commitment (task-involving climate-basic psychological needs (β = 0.55; 95% IC 0.387/0.682; p = 0.001); Ego-involving climate-basic psychological needs (β = 0.06; 95% IC -0.069/0.181; p = 0.387); Basic psychological needs-self-determined index (β = 0.48; 95% IC 0.376/0.571; p = 0.001); Self-determined index-commitment (β = 0.58; 95% IC 0.488/0.663; p = 0.001). The obtained model showed that basic psychological needs mediated the association between a task-involving climate and self-determination, and self-determination mediated the association between basic psychological needs satisfaction and commitment.

ACS Style

Marianna Alesi; Manuel Gómez-López; Carla Chicau Borrego; Diogo Monteiro; Antonio Granero-Gallegos. Effects of a Motivational Climate on Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Motivation and Commitment in Teen Handball Players. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 2702 .

AMA Style

Marianna Alesi, Manuel Gómez-López, Carla Chicau Borrego, Diogo Monteiro, Antonio Granero-Gallegos. Effects of a Motivational Climate on Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Motivation and Commitment in Teen Handball Players. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16 (15):2702.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marianna Alesi; Manuel Gómez-López; Carla Chicau Borrego; Diogo Monteiro; Antonio Granero-Gallegos. 2019. "Effects of a Motivational Climate on Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Motivation and Commitment in Teen Handball Players." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 15: 2702.

Case report
Published: 24 May 2019 in Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Swimming pool activities revealed to be efficacious to train psychomotor skills and increase adaptive behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a specific multi-systemic aquatic therapy (CI-MAT) on gross motor and social skills in three adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Methods: three adolescents with ASD of which two boys (M1 with a chronological age of 10.3 years and a mental age of 4.7 years; M2 with a chronological age of 14.6 and a mental age inferior to 4 years) and one girl (chronological age of 14.0 and a mental age inferior to 4 years). The study was divided into three phases: baseline, 12-week CI-MAT program and Post-Test. Participants were administered a battery of tests incorporating anthropometric measurements, gross motor development test and a social skills questionnaire before and after a 12-week MAT-CI program. Results: Subjects improved locomotors and object control skills following the CI-MAT program in a different way. Concerning social behaviors, the higher proportion of gains was observed in the sensitivity of other’s presence and eye contact, for the contact domain, and in the comply turn for the relationship domain. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the CI-MAT program was effective for the development of gross-motor skills and social behaviors in subjects with ASD. Moreover there is an urge to carry out a whole psychological assessment targeting both motor and adaptive development suitable to provide educational and vocational plans of exercises for people with ASD.

ACS Style

Giuseppe Battaglia; Gianna Agrò; Pietro Cataldo; Antonio Palma; Marianna Alesi. Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 2019, 4, 27 .

AMA Style

Giuseppe Battaglia, Gianna Agrò, Pietro Cataldo, Antonio Palma, Marianna Alesi. Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2019; 4 (2):27.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Giuseppe Battaglia; Gianna Agrò; Pietro Cataldo; Antonio Palma; Marianna Alesi. 2019. "Influence of a Specific Aquatic Program on Social and Gross Motor Skills in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three Case Reports." Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 4, no. 2: 27.

Review
Published: 10 May 2019 in Systematic Reviews
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Recent studies have observed low levels of physical activity in children and adolescents worldwide. Physical activity interventions are increasingly carried out to counteract this development. The school environment is an ideal setting for such interventions to take place as large numbers of children and adolescents can be addressed. With the assumption that motivation is the key to initiate and sustain beneficial health behaviors, theory-based intervention studies apply motivational strategies to increase students' participation in physical activity. The main objective of this systematic review will be to analyze the effects of school-based physical activity interventions on a variety of motivational outcomes towards physical activity in school-aged children and adolescents. Comprehensive literature searches will be conducted in multiple electronic databases, including MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO, ERIC, PSYNDEX, Physical Education Index, and SPORTDiscus. We will include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies examining the effects of school-based physical activity interventions (e.g., physical activity components during school lessons including physical education, or during morning, lunch and afternoon breaks). Primarily extracurricular physical activity interventions will not be considered. The primary outcomes will be students' motivation, basic psychological needs, goal orientation, enjoyment, and motivational teaching climate in physical education. Secondary outcomes will be the students' physical activity behaviors in-class, during school, and in leisure time. Only peer-reviewed articles published in English will be considered. Three reviewers will independently screen all citations and full-text articles, and two reviewers will abstract data. The quality of the included studies will be assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias for RCTs and the GRADE methodology will be used to assess the certainty of the body of retreived evidence. In order to increase and maintain physical activity levels in children and adolescents, motivation towards physical activity should be sustained. It is anticipated that the results of this systematic review will provide information as to which strategies implemented in the school setting are effective in increasing students' motivation towards physical activity, and hence increase their physical activity during school and after-school hours. PROSPERO CRD42018110306.

ACS Style

Yolanda Demetriou; Anne K. Reimers; Marianna Alesi; Lidia Scifo; Carla Chicau Borrego; Diogo Monteiro; Anne Kelso. Effects of school-based interventions on motivation towards physical activity in children and adolescents: protocol for a systematic review. Systematic Reviews 2019, 8, 113 .

AMA Style

Yolanda Demetriou, Anne K. Reimers, Marianna Alesi, Lidia Scifo, Carla Chicau Borrego, Diogo Monteiro, Anne Kelso. Effects of school-based interventions on motivation towards physical activity in children and adolescents: protocol for a systematic review. Systematic Reviews. 2019; 8 (1):113.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yolanda Demetriou; Anne K. Reimers; Marianna Alesi; Lidia Scifo; Carla Chicau Borrego; Diogo Monteiro; Anne Kelso. 2019. "Effects of school-based interventions on motivation towards physical activity in children and adolescents: protocol for a systematic review." Systematic Reviews 8, no. 1: 113.

Observational study
Published: 01 October 2018 in Medicine
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This cross-sectional study examines differences in gross motor proficiency as a function of different intellectual functioning profiles. Two motor areas have been investigated as being equally essential to gross motor functions in every-day life: locomotion and object control. It aims to compare gross motor skills endorsed by children with Down syndrome (DS), children with borderline intellectual functioning (BIF), and typically developing children (TDC). Group 1 was composed of 18 children with DS (chronological age = 8.22), group 2 was composed of 18 children with BIF (chronological age = 9.32), and group 3 was composed of 18 children with typical development (TD) (chronological age = 9.28). Gross motor skills were measured through the test of gross motor development (TGMD-Test) composed of locomotion and object control tasks. Children with DS showed worse gross motor skills compared with children with BIF and typically developing children by underscoring both on all locomotion (e.g., walking, running, hopping, galloping, jumping, sliding, and leaping) and all object control tasks (e.g., throwing, catching, striking, bouncing, kicking, pulling, and pushing). In DS group strengths were found on run and slide skills, in BIF group strengths were on run, long jump and slide skills and in TDC group strengths were on run and slide skills. For all of the 3 groups the locomotor worst performed task was jump forward with arm swing. Findings suggest implications for further practice to develop evidence-based exercise programs aimed to rehabilitate gross motor skills through the regular participation in structured exercise activities.

ACS Style

Marianna Alesi; Giuseppe Battaglia; Annamaria Pepi; Antonino Bianco; Antonio Palma. Gross motor proficiency and intellectual functioning. Medicine 2018, 97, e12737 .

AMA Style

Marianna Alesi, Giuseppe Battaglia, Annamaria Pepi, Antonino Bianco, Antonio Palma. Gross motor proficiency and intellectual functioning. Medicine. 2018; 97 (41):e12737.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marianna Alesi; Giuseppe Battaglia; Annamaria Pepi; Antonino Bianco; Antonio Palma. 2018. "Gross motor proficiency and intellectual functioning." Medicine 97, no. 41: e12737.

Original articles
Published: 20 March 2018 in European Journal of Special Needs Education
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Executive functioning (EF) is a key cognitive process for development. Little is known about EF in Kindergarten children at risk for developmental coordination disorder (DCD), despite this age being one of the most critical and intensive period of motor and cognitive development. In our investigation we compared EF in kindergarten children at risk for DCD with Typically Developing (TD) children. Participants were 36 Italian children, 18 at risk for DCD (9 boys and 9 girls) who had a mean age of 4.6 years and 18 TD (9 boys and 9 girls) who had a mean age of 4.6. Executive functions were measured by tasks targeting cold executive functioning (working memory, fluency, inhibitory control) and two assessments of hot executive functioning (Snack Delay and Gift Wrap). Significant differences were found between children at risk for DCD and TD children on cold EF tasks of visuo-spatial working memory abilities, fluency and inhibitory control, but not on hot EF tasks. The findings suggest that it is advisable to implement preschool cognitively challenging physical activities programmes.

ACS Style

Marianna Alesi; Donatella Pecoraro; Annamaria Pepi. Executive functions in kindergarten children at risk for developmental coordination disorder. European Journal of Special Needs Education 2018, 34, 285 -296.

AMA Style

Marianna Alesi, Donatella Pecoraro, Annamaria Pepi. Executive functions in kindergarten children at risk for developmental coordination disorder. European Journal of Special Needs Education. 2018; 34 (3):285-296.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marianna Alesi; Donatella Pecoraro; Annamaria Pepi. 2018. "Executive functions in kindergarten children at risk for developmental coordination disorder." European Journal of Special Needs Education 34, no. 3: 285-296.

Editorial
Published: 13 December 2017 in Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Enriched Sport Activities (ESA) Program is an Evidence-based Practice Exercise Program cofounded by the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union (Key action: Sport-579661-EPP-1-2016-2-IT-SPO-SCP)

ACS Style

Marianna Alesi; Carlos Silva; Carla Borrego; Diogo Monteiro; Rosario Genchi; Valentina Polizzi; Musa Kirkar; Yolanda Demetriou; Judith Brame; Fatma Nese Sahin; Meltem Kizilyalli; Manuel Gómez-López; Guillermo López Sánchez; Simona Pajaujiene; Vinga Indriuniene; Ante Rađa; Antonino Bianco. Cognitive and Motivational Monitoring during Enriched Sport Activities in a Sample of Children Living in Europe. The Esa Program. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 2017, 2, 46 -3.

AMA Style

Marianna Alesi, Carlos Silva, Carla Borrego, Diogo Monteiro, Rosario Genchi, Valentina Polizzi, Musa Kirkar, Yolanda Demetriou, Judith Brame, Fatma Nese Sahin, Meltem Kizilyalli, Manuel Gómez-López, Guillermo López Sánchez, Simona Pajaujiene, Vinga Indriuniene, Ante Rađa, Antonino Bianco. Cognitive and Motivational Monitoring during Enriched Sport Activities in a Sample of Children Living in Europe. The Esa Program. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2017; 2 (4):46-3.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marianna Alesi; Carlos Silva; Carla Borrego; Diogo Monteiro; Rosario Genchi; Valentina Polizzi; Musa Kirkar; Yolanda Demetriou; Judith Brame; Fatma Nese Sahin; Meltem Kizilyalli; Manuel Gómez-López; Guillermo López Sánchez; Simona Pajaujiene; Vinga Indriuniene; Ante Rađa; Antonino Bianco. 2017. "Cognitive and Motivational Monitoring during Enriched Sport Activities in a Sample of Children Living in Europe. The Esa Program." Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology 2, no. 4: 46-3.

Research article
Published: 01 January 2017 in SAGE Open
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Family is a crucial factor to determine the amount, the duration, and the complexity of children’s sport activities. This study aims at comparing the beliefs concerning the involvement in sport activities among parents of children with Down syndrome (DS) and parents of typically developing children (TDC). A phenomenological theoretical framework was adopted to realize semistructured interviews with the parents. The participants were 35 parents: 19 with children and adolescents with DS and 16 with TDC. The main facilitation/barrier themes identified by the parents of children with DS were the family and the expert at Adapted Physical Activity (APA) instructors. Conversely, the parents of TDC identified social factors related to family as the only barrier. One of the issues that emerge from this study is the lack of home-based physical activity (PA) intervention programs aimed at involving families and children.

ACS Style

Marianna Alesi. Investigating Parental Beliefs Concerning Facilitators and Barriers to the Physical Activity in Down Syndrome and Typical Development. SAGE Open 2017, 7, 1 .

AMA Style

Marianna Alesi. Investigating Parental Beliefs Concerning Facilitators and Barriers to the Physical Activity in Down Syndrome and Typical Development. SAGE Open. 2017; 7 (1):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marianna Alesi. 2017. "Investigating Parental Beliefs Concerning Facilitators and Barriers to the Physical Activity in Down Syndrome and Typical Development." SAGE Open 7, no. 1: 1.

Journal article
Published: 07 October 2016 in European Journal of Developmental Psychology
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School anxiety appears to be related to self-esteem and self-handicapping strategies. This study aims at identifying children with atypical levels of anxiety and examining the relationship between their self-esteem at school and their use of self-handicapping strategies. The sample included 120 pupils (M = 8.6 years) attending third grade of primary school and was divided into three groups: pupils with low anxiety, average anxiety and high anxiety. Children were administered the Scale for Evaluation of Anxiety (SAFA A), the TMA - Multidimensional test of Self-esteem- and the Self-Handicapping Scale for Children. On the whole, results demonstrate a nearly normative distribution of school anxiety in a nonclinical sample. Pupils with an average level of school anxiety showed a higher level of Self-esteem and engaged more in self-handicapping strategies. The developmental perspective suggests the importance of preventive research in order to identify any risk factors of subsequent anxiety disorders at an early age.

ACS Style

Gaetano Rappo; Marianna Alesi; Annamaria Pepi. The effects of school anxiety on self-esteem and self-handicapping in pupils attending primary school. European Journal of Developmental Psychology 2016, 14, 1 -12.

AMA Style

Gaetano Rappo, Marianna Alesi, Annamaria Pepi. The effects of school anxiety on self-esteem and self-handicapping in pupils attending primary school. European Journal of Developmental Psychology. 2016; 14 (4):1-12.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gaetano Rappo; Marianna Alesi; Annamaria Pepi. 2016. "The effects of school anxiety on self-esteem and self-handicapping in pupils attending primary school." European Journal of Developmental Psychology 14, no. 4: 1-12.

Research article
Published: 01 February 2016 in Perceptual and Motor Skills
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Recent studies have focused on the positive influence of regular physical activity on executive functioning in children. Coordinative skills (agility) and executive functions (updating, attention, inhibition and planning processes) were investigated in children before and after 6 months of a Football Exercise Program compared to a control group of sedentary peers. The participants were 44 children aged 8.8 years: Group 1 comprised 24 children in a football (i.e., soccer) exercise program and Group 2 comprised 20 sedentary children. At pre-test and post-test, coordinative skills and executive functions were measured. After the Football Exercise Program, there were significant differences between sport and sedentary groups in coordinative skills and executive functions. The football group at post-test showed significantly larger gains than the sedentary group on measures of agility, visuo-spatial working memory, attention, planning and inhibition. Findings shed light on the issue to plan structured sport activities as a natural and enjoyable way to improve cognitive skills.

ACS Style

Marianna Alesi; Antonino Bianco; Giorgio Luppina; Antonio Palma; Annamaria Pepi. Improving Children's Coordinative Skills and Executive Functions. Perceptual and Motor Skills 2016, 122, 27 -46.

AMA Style

Marianna Alesi, Antonino Bianco, Giorgio Luppina, Antonio Palma, Annamaria Pepi. Improving Children's Coordinative Skills and Executive Functions. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 2016; 122 (1):27-46.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marianna Alesi; Antonino Bianco; Giorgio Luppina; Antonio Palma; Annamaria Pepi. 2016. "Improving Children's Coordinative Skills and Executive Functions." Perceptual and Motor Skills 122, no. 1: 27-46.

Case report
Published: 05 January 2016 in Frontiers in Psychology
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One of the most significant current discussions has led to the hypothesis that domain-specific training programs alone are not enough to improve reading achievement or working memory abilities. Incremental or Entity personal conceptions of intelligence may be assumed to be an important prognostic factor to overcome domain-specific deficits. Specifically, incremental students tend to be more oriented toward change and autonomy and to adopt more efficacious strategies. This study aims at examining the efficacy of a multidimensional intervention program to improve decoding abilities and working memory. Participants were two children (M age = 10 yr.) with developmental dyslexia and different conceptions of intelligence. Children were tested on a whole battery of reading and spelling tests commonly used in the assessment of reading disabilities in Italy. Then, they were given a multimedia test to measure motivational factors such as conceptions of intelligence and achievement goals Children took part in the T.I.R.D. Multimedia Training for the Rehabilitation of Dyslexia (Rappo & Pepi, 2010) reinforced by specific units to improve verbal working memory for three months. This training consisted of specific tasks to rehabilitate both visual and phonological strategies (sound blending, word segmentation, alliteration test and rhyme test, letter recognition, digraph recognition, trigraph recognition and word recognition are samples of visual tasks) and verbal working memory (rapid words and non-words recognition). Posttest evaluations showed that the child holding the incremental theory of intelligence improved more than the child holding a static representation. On the whole this study highlights the importance of treatment programs in which account is taken of both specificity of deficits and motivational factors. There is a need to plan multifaceted intervention programs based on a transverse approach, looking at both cognitive and motivational factors.

ACS Style

Marianna Alesi; Gaetano Rappo; Annamaria Pepi. Investigating the Improvement of Decoding Abilities and Working Memory in Children with Incremental or Entity Personal Conceptions of Intelligence: Two Case Reports. Frontiers in Psychology 2016, 6, 1939 -1939.

AMA Style

Marianna Alesi, Gaetano Rappo, Annamaria Pepi. Investigating the Improvement of Decoding Abilities and Working Memory in Children with Incremental or Entity Personal Conceptions of Intelligence: Two Case Reports. Frontiers in Psychology. 2016; 6 ():1939-1939.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marianna Alesi; Gaetano Rappo; Annamaria Pepi. 2016. "Investigating the Improvement of Decoding Abilities and Working Memory in Children with Incremental or Entity Personal Conceptions of Intelligence: Two Case Reports." Frontiers in Psychology 6, no. : 1939-1939.