ABSTRACT Although fear in early childhood is an emotion that permits survival of danger, fear of water can block and limit children's adaptive development towards this very fear. Aquatic competence is an important milestone in the improvement of general health in childhood, but there are no scales that measure how fear of water can hinder a child's development in the aquatic environment. This study aimed to design and analyze the validity of a Scale to Measure Fear of the Aquatic Environment (SFAE) to evaluate the perceived fear of the aquatic environment in three- to six-year-old children. Construct validity was also evaluated by verifying its relation to aquatic competence. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses support the use of five dimensions of influence on the perception of fear of the aquatic environment: social context, equipment/installations, attitude, experiences, and competence. The correlation pattern also supports construct validity showing negative and significant relations between fear and aquatic competence. The SFAE shows a promising initial validity for its use in the aquatic environment during early childhood.

This study sought to analyze how creating a task-oriented motivational climate through intervention affects various motivational variables, enjoyment, and the importance people attribute to physical education. A sample of sixth-grade elementary school students was used. Ages ranged from 11 to 12 years-old (M = 11.53, SD = .50). Groups were divided into an experimental group (n = 20), where a task-oriented climate was transmitted, and a control group (n = 20) that received no manipulation. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted on the data collected at the pretest. To detect intra-group differences between pre and posttest measures, a t-test for related samples was conducted in each group. Results revealed that the experimental group improved significantly more than the control group in social responsibility and social relationship goals, and scored higher on approach-mastery goals, basic psychological needs, intrinsic motivation, enjoyment, and importance attributed to physical education. They also exhibited lower external regulation and amotivation. The control group, conversely, had significantly lower intrinsic motivation posttest than the experimental group. We discuss the importance of transmitting a task-oriented motivational climate in physical education to accomplish positive motivational effects that favor enjoyment and interest in physical education.

Resumen El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar las relaciones entre tipos de liderazgo (tarea y social), cohesión, potencia de equipo y rendimiento en 334 futbolistas federados de las categorías Alevín, Cadete, Juvenil y Absoluta, con una edad media de 15.97 (DE = 3.31). Los cuestionarios utilizados fueron de Liderazgo auténtico (ALQ), tarea (LSS), Cohesión grupal (CG), Potencia de equipo (CPEA) y rendimiento, que mostraron índices de ajuste óptimos (χ2/DF = 1.313 p = 0; CFI = 0.997; TLI = 0.994; RMSEA = 0.032; SRMS = 0.0343). Los resultados indican que el estilo de liderazgo, especialmente liderazgo tarea (p = 0.37) influye indirectamente en el rendimiento a través de la CG (p = 0.17) y CPE (p = 0.21). Como conclusión, se propone la mejora del rendimiento grupal a partir de la optimización de modelos de conducta individuales.

Abstract The objective was to analyze the relationships between types of leadership (task and social), cohesion, team potency and performance in 334 federated players of the categories Alevín, Cadet, Juvenile and Absolute, with a mean age of 15.97 (SD = 3.31). The questionnaires used were Authentic Leadership (ALQ), Task (LSS), Group Cohesion (CG), Team Power (CPEA), and Performance that showed optimal adjustment indexes (χ2 / DF = 1.313 p = 0; CFI = 0.997; TLI = 0.994; RMSEA = 0.032; SRMS = 0.0343). The results indicate that leadership style, especially leadership task (p = 0.37) indirectly influences performance through CG (p = 0.17) and CPE (p = 0.21). In conclusion, it is proposed to improve group performance by optimizing individual behavior models.

El estudio comprobó un modelo predictivo del apoyo social de autonomía del practicante sobre la relación con los demás, a su vez sobre la motivación intrínseca; está sobre el disfrute, y por último, se comprobó la predicción del disfrute sobre el motivo fitness/salud. Se utilizó una muestra de 682 practicantes de actividades físicas no competitivas con una edad media de 35.50 ± 11.70 años. Los resultados del modelo de ecuaciones estructurales mostraron una predicción positiva del apoyo a la autonomía del practicante hacia la relación con los demás, esta predijo la motivación intrínseca, que a su vez predijo el disfrute y finalmente el motivo de fitness/salud. Se discuten los resultados en pro de valorar la importancia de fomentar el disfrute en los practicantes para incrementar la práctica física saludable.

This study tested a predictive model of perception of supportive autonomy coaching on the relatedness mediator, this mediator on intrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation on enjoyment and enjoyment on the fitness / health motive. A sample of 682 practitioners of non-competitive physical activities with a mean age of 35.50 ± 11.70 years, participated in the study. The results of structural equation model showed a positive prediction of supportive autonomy coaching on the relatedness mediator, relatedness on intrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation on enjoyment and enjoyment on the fitness/health motive with 51% of variance. These results do appreciate the importance of promoting the enjoyment on practitioners to enhance the healthy physical practice.

Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo analisar a relação entre as crenças implícitas de habilidade e a motivação autodeterminada. A amostra foi composta por 775 atletas competidores espanhóis nacionais de 12 a 17 anos de idade. Os participantes preencheram, em versão espanhola, o Questionário Crenças Implícitas de Habilidades (CNAAQ-2) e a Escala de Motivação Esportiva (SMS). Os resultados do modelo de equações estruturais revelaram uma correlação positiva e significativa entre as crenças de habilidade estável e as crenças de aprendizagem, e entre a motivação autodeterminada e a competência no esporte. Do contrário, a crença incremental estável correlacionou-se negativamente com a motivação autodeterminada. A competitividade no esporte é predita de forma positiva pela motivação autodeterminada, e essa, por sua vez, é predita significativamente pela crença de aprendizagem e negativamente pela crença de entidade estável.

This investigation examined the relationship between implicit ability beliefs and self-determined motivation. The sample was comprised of 775 young athletes between the ages of 12 and 17 competing at national level in Spain. The participants completed the Spanish version of the Conceptions of the Nature of Athletic Ability Questionnaire (CNAAQ-2) and the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS). The results revealed a positive and significant correlation between stable ability beliefs and learning ability, and between self-determined motivation and perceived sports ability. To the contrary, stable entity beliefs were negatively correlated with self-determined motivation. Competitiveness in sports was significantly predicted by self-determined motivation, and the latter, in its turn, was positively predicted by learning belief and negatively by stable entity beliefs.