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We aimed (1) to report age-specific physical fitness levels in people with fibromyalgia of a representative sample from Andalusia; and (2) to compare the fitness levels of people with fibromyalgia with non-fibromyalgia controls. This cross-sectional study included 468 (21 men) patients with fibromyalgia and 360 (55 men) controls. The fibromyalgia sample was geographically representative from southern Spain. Physical fitness was assessed with the Senior Fitness Test battery plus the handgrip test. We applied the Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale and Shape to calculate percentile curves for women and fitted mean curves using a linear regression for men. Our results show that people with fibromyalgia reached worse performance in all fitness tests than controls ( P < 0.001) in all age ranges ( P < 0.001). This study provides a comprehensive description of age-specific physical fitness levels among patients with fibromyalgia and controls in a large sample of patients with fibromyalgia from southern of Spain. Physical fitness levels of people with fibromyalgia from Andalusia are very low in comparison with age-matched healthy controls. This information could be useful to correctly interpret physical fitness assessments and helping health care providers to identify individuals at risk for losing physical independence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the association of objectively measured sedentary time ( ST) and physical activity ( PA) levels with pain, fatigue, and the impact of the disease in women with fibromyalgia. Four hundred and nineteen (mean age ± SD = 51.7 ± 7.6 years old) women with fibromyalgia participated. ST and PA levels (light, moderate, and moderate-to-vigorous [ MVPA]) were measured with triaxial accelerometry. We assessed experimental pain with algometry and clinical pain, fatigue, and impact of fibromyalgia with a number of questionnaires. The association of ST and light PA with most of the pain- and fatigue-related outcomes and impact of fibromyalgia (all, P ≤ 0.019) was independent of moderate and vigorous PA. Furthermore, the association of vigorous PA with general and physical fatigue was independent of ST and light and moderate PA (all, P < 0.001). In conclusion, lower levels of ST or higher levels of light PA are associated with lower pain, fatigue, and the overall impact of the disease independent of moderate and vigorous PA in women with fibromyalgia. Interestingly, higher vigorous PA is independently associated with lower general and physical fatigue. These results are significant for future ST and PA intervention studies in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex multidimensional disorder with pain as its main symptom. Fibromyalgia imposes a psychosocial burden on individuals that negatively impacts quality of life. The relationship of dietary habits with these psychosocial aspects is still unclear. Objective: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess dietary habits in a representative sample of women with FM and to explore their association with mental health, depression, and optimism in this population. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2011 and January 2013. Participants: The study sample comprised 486 women (ages 35 to 65 years) with FM from Andalucía (southern Spain). Main outcome measures: Mental health, depression, and optimism were evaluated by means of the mental component scale of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the Life Orientation Test Revised, respectively. A short form of a validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary habits. Statistical analyses performed: Analysis of covariance was used to assess associations between dietary habits and mental health, depression, and optimism. The presence of severe depression (BDI-II ≥29) as a function of dietary habits was examined with logistic regression. Results: A daily or almost-daily consumption of fruit and vegetables and a moderate consumption of fish (2 to 5 servings per week) were associated with higher scores in mental health (P<0.001, P<0.05, and P<0.001, respectively) and lower levels of depression (P<0.001, P<0.01, and P<0.01, respectively). A daily or almost-daily consumption of vegetables and a moderate consumption of dairy products and fish were associated with higher levels of optimism (P<0.05, P<0.05, and P<0.001, respectively). A daily or almost-daily consumption of cured meats and sweetened beverages were associated with higher levels of depression and lower levels of optimism, respectively (both P<0.05). Conclusion: The results this study suggest that a daily or almost-daily intake of fruit and vegetables and a moderate intake of fish may be associated with more favorable psychosocial outcomes in women with FM. Conversely, excessive intake of cured meats and sweetened beverages was related to worse scores in optimism and depression outcomes. Future research analyzing dietary patterns as well as intervention studies evaluating the effects of healthy dietary patterns on psychosocial and physical outcomes in individuals with FM are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bearing in mind that only 42% of plastic packaging post-consumer waste is recycled in Europe, the European Directive 2018/852 established the key target of a 55% plastic packaging waste recycling rate by 2030. For this reason, PlastiCircle, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program project, aims to foster the recycling of packaging, improve all stages of the waste collection, and promote responsible consumption. Three European cities have been selected as locations for pilot implementation: Valencia (Spain), Utrecht (The Netherlands) and Alba Iulia (Romania). The main objective of the present study has been to evaluate the participants' opinion and attitudes on plastic recycling. This paper presents the results from the district of San Marcelino in the city of Valencia, the first PlastiCircle pilot to face the challenges of encouraging households to participate more in plastic waste sorting and recycling.

Objectives: To find out the motivation (attitudes, beliefs and experiences) behind adolescent alcohol consumption., Design: Qualitative methodology, explanatory method, using conversational techniques (discussion group with 6-8 adolescents/group, 50min duration) recorded by videotape during the school year 2008/09., Participants and Context: Adolescents 12-18 years-old of a middle-class urban school (Jaen-Spain). Purposive sampling stratified by level of education; heterogeneity criteria: sex and alcohol consumption., Method: Process of content analysis: coding, triangulation of categories and obtain/verify results., Results: Six group interviews, including 44 teenagers (54% males). The rate of consumption varies with age, and there are gender differences in motivations. Alcohol is related to social and leisure activities from early family experiences, and the nightlife on entering school and as peer relationships increase. The preferred social models are university students, with excessive consumption at the weekend that is understood as an act of independence. Rejection of authority figures (teachers/health), critical attitude to the received information (content only, without motivational elements) and failure in education on this topic. There is high accessibility for the purchase of alcohol, a sense of controlled consumption and a tendency to understand acute poisoning as part of leisure. The adolescents related alcohol consumption, tobacco and drug use (except for minor discrepancies)., Conclusions: The intervention on alcohol consumption of adolescents should incorporate their motivation to achieve greater efficiency., (Copyright © 2009 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.)

Most research on self-affirmation and persuasion has argued that self-affirmation buffers the self against the threat posed by a persuasive message; thus, it increases the likelihood that participants will respond to the message favorably. Little research, in contrast, has looked at the effects of self-affirmation on persuasive messages that are not threatening to the self. This research examines mechanisms that can operate under these conditions. Consistent with the idea that self-affirmation affects confidence, the article shows that self-affirmation can decrease information processing when induced prior to message reception (Experiment 1) and can increase the use of self-generated thoughts in response to a persuasive message when induced after message reception (Experiment 2). In addition, Experiment 3 manipulates the timing of self-affirmation to replicate both effects and Experiment 4 provides direct evidence for the impact of self-affirmation on confidence.

Objectives: To find the evolution of the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among adolescents in an urban area., Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire., Setting: Secondary school (middle-class urban area)., Participants and Measurements: Six hundred and seventy-eight students took part in the years 1997, 2001, and 2004., Measurements and Main Results: The questionnaire included questions on age, sex and consumption of toxic substances. The following figures are given in order of the year of study. We studied 172, 249, and 257 adolescents, with a mean age of 14 (interval, 12-17) and equality of sexes. The proportion of adolescents with no consumption of toxic substances increased (21%+/-3.1%; 34%+/-3.0% 56%+/-3.1%; P<.001, chi2), basically because alcohol consumption dropped (58%+/-3.6%; 61%+/-3.2%; 41%+/-3.1%; P<.001, chi2), although its weekend consumption increased (84%+/-2.6%; 85%+/-2.2%; 96%+/-1.2%; P<.05, chi2), especially of spirits. Tobacco consumption increased (12%+/-2.4%; 21%+/-2.3%; 29%+/-2.4%; P<.001, chi2) with a pattern of daily smoking (9%+/-0.6%; 34%+/-3.2%; 47%+/-3.1%; P<.01, chi2). The consumption of illegal rugs also increased (9%+/-0.6%; 24%+/-2.8%; 16%+/-2.4%; P<.001, chi2), with an intermittent pattern of consumption (87%+/-1.6%; 71%+/-2.3%; 85%+/-1.8). Cannabis is the most used drug (>90%), cocaine use fell and design drug use increased. Age affected consumption, but sex did not., Conclusions: In the last 8 years the consumption of toxic substances among adolescents has dropped, mainly because of less alcohol consumption. However, new forms of consumption of alcohol and other illegal drugs, especially at weekends, emerged and daily consumption of tobacco increased.

The aim of this paper is to adapt to Spanish the D. van Direndonck version of Carol Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scales, and to analyse its consistency and factorial validity. All the scales exhibited good internal reliabilities, with Cronbach alpha's ranging from 0.83 (Self-acceptance) to 0.68 (Personal growth). However, confirmatory factor analyses didn't corroborate the six-factor model (Self-acceptance, Positive relations, Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Purpose in life, and Personal growth) with a second order factor called Psychological Well-Being . To improve the psychometric properties, a new reduced version was proposed that indeed will facilitate the application. The scales of the new version maintain and raise its internal consistency (Cronbach alpha's 0.84 to 0.70). Furthermore, the scales shown an excellent fit to the theoretical model proposed by D. van Dierendonck.