31 research outputs found
Does self-compassion relate to the fear of the future during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic? A cross-cultural study
No full textThe coronavirus pandemic has a high impact on mental health, as for example, anxiety. It was the main goal of this study to investigate if rumination and worry mediate the possible relation of self-compassion and fear of the future in females and males of three European and three Middle Eastern countries during the coronavirus pandemic. 2765 men and women participated and answered questions regarding their fear of the future on the one hand and completed the reflection-rumination questionnaire, the Penn-state worry questionnaire, and the self-compassion scale. The results of a mediation analysis demonstrated a relation between self-compassion and fear of the future, which was mediated by worry but not by rumination, independent of gender and country. Furthermore, the fear of the future variable was predicted by different factors in each country. The only clear difference between the participants of the European and the Middle Eastern countries was that women show more fear of the future only in the European countries but not in the Middle Eastern countries. However, there were also differences between the three European and the three Middle Eastern countries. The results indicate that in general, psychological consequences of the coronavirus pandemic should be investigated for each country separately. It does not to seem possible to infer results from one country to another country even on the same continent
الرفاهية النفسية والرضا عن الحياة لدى ممارسي رياضة مشي الجبال في سلطنة عُمان
No full textهدفت هذه الدراسة المقطعية إلى التعرف على مستوى الرضا عن الحياة ومستوى الرفاهية النفسية لدى ممارسي رياضة مشي الجبال في سلطنة عُمان، كما هدفت إلى التعرف على العلاقة بين الرضا عن الحياة والرفاهية النفسية. ولتحقيق هذه الأهداف طبقت الصورة المصغرة لمقياس وورويك-إدنبره للرفاهية النفسية (SWEMWBS) ومقياس الرضا عن الحياة (SWLS) على عينة من الممارسين المنتظمين لرياضة مشي الجبال في سلطنة عُمان خلال شهر فبراير 2022. وقد تألفت العينة من 157 ممارسًا تراوحت أعمارهم بين 24 – 58 (م = 38.7، ع = 9.1) يمثلون قرابة 40% من مجمل ممارسي هذه الرياضة من الذكور في سلطنة عمان. وقد أظهرت النتائج أن ممارسي رياضة مشي الجبال في سلطنة عمان لديهم مستويات مرتفعة من الرضا عن الحياة ويتمتعون بمستويات عالية من الرفاهية النفسية. وكشفت النتائج أيضا بأن مستوى الرضا عن الحياة يعتبر عاملًا مهمًا في التنبؤ بمستوى الرفاهية النفسية لدى ممارسي رياضة مشي الجبال. وبناء على ما توصلت إليه هذه الدراسة من نتائج، فإنه يوصى بأن تقوم الجهات الرسمية المعنية بتقديم كل الدعم لرياضة مشي الجبال في سلطنة عمان باعتبارها وسيلة لتعزيز الرفاهية النفسية والرضا العام عن الحياة.The current cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the level of life satisfaction and the level of mental well-being among mountain hikers in the Sultanate of Oman. It also aimed to investigate the relationship between life satisfaction and psychological well-being. In order to accomplish these objectives, a sample of habitual male mountain hikers in the Sultanate of Oman responded to the Short Warwick- Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in February 2022. The sample consisted of 157 males, ages 24 to 58 (M=38.7, SD = 9.1), who collectively represented almost 40% of the nation's regular practitioners of this sport in the Sultanate of Oman. The results revealed that mountain hikers in Oman have high levels of life satisfaction and enjoy high levels of mental well-being. The results also revealed that satisfaction with life is an important factor in predicting mountain hikers’ mental well-being. Based on the study's findings, policymakers are advised to allocate resources toward promoting mountain hiking to enhance mental well-being and overall life satisfaction
University Students’ Motives to Exercise According to the Self-Determination Theory
No full textThe present study investigated exercise behavior and its motives among Sultan Qaboos University students. Self-determination theory was used to investigate the relationship between these motives and the actual exercise behavior. The study sample consisted of 263 students from the Faculty of Education at Sultan Qaboos University (129 male and 134 female). The participants completed two questionnaires: an exercise behavior questionnaire which was developed specifically for this study; and an Arabic version of the Exercise Motivation Inventory (EMI-2), which was developed by Markland and Ingledew. Descriptive statistics showed that 20% of male students and 77% of female students didn’t participate at all in any sport and exercise activities; 45% of male students and 21% of female students participated moderately in sport and exercise activities (2-3 times a week); while 35% of the male students and 2% of the female students participated intensively in sport and exercise activities (almost on daily basis). Results indicated that intrinsic motives for exercise behavior (challenge, revitalization, health, affiliation and enjoyment) were common among the male participants. However, physically active females, extrinsic motivations (ill-health avoidance, positive health, revitalization, weight management, and appearance) were the major driving forces for their exercise behavior. Results of the current study provide support for the application of the self-determination theory within the Arab context. </jats:p
Gender Differences and the Relationship of Motor, Cognitive and Academic Achievement in Omani Primary School-Aged Children
No full textUntil now, there has been no integrated study of the cognitive, motor and academic developments in children in the Arab world. In this study we investigated gender differences in those three areas in primary school-aged children in Oman and as well as the inter-relations between those three aspects of development. Ninety-five third graders completed four working memory tests, a mental rotation test and a motor test. Furthermore, the marks in math, science and Arabic language were registered. The result showed that there were small gender differences: Girls performed better in one of the working memory tests and boys in the coordination motor test. The study also showed that there were significant correlations between cognitive variables and academic performance, as well as two significant correlations between motor performance and marks in math and science. Marks in math correlated with the performances in the 20 m run and the coordination test, whereas the marks in science correlated with the ball-leg-wall test, the coordination test, and the endurance test. Regression analysis showed that all marks were predicted by the working memory and mental rotation performance as well as the motor ability. This means that academic achievement in Oman could be predicted by basic cognitive as well as motor abilities
Variable Stiffness, Sensing, and Healing in FESTO's FinRay Gripper
No full textThis work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant agreement 860108 as well as the SHINTO project, which is funded under the European Innovation Council program of the European Union with Grant agreement ID 101057960. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek for the personal grants of S. Terryn (1100416N) and J. Brancart (12E1123N). The first author would like to acknowledge the generous support and resources provided by Festo headquarters located in Esslingen, Germany, for the research stay that enabled most of this study to be conducted. In addition, the support of Rolf Mueller in the force measurement study and for providing the test setup for the endurance analysis is highly appreciated.This article has supplementary downloadable material available at https://doi.org/10.1109/MRA.2024.3358723
Attitudes of Pre-school Teachers towards Movement Education
No full textEducators’ attitudes have drawn attention of researchers worldwide, where numerous studies have been conducted to explore the factors that influence educators’ attitudes toward educational topics in order to understand them and direct them in ways that contribute to the enhancement of the educational practices. In this study, we aimed to identify attitudes of early childhood educators in the Sultanate of Oman towards movement education, and to investigate the differences in attitudes according to nationality and qualification. The sample of this study consisted of 201 pre-school female educators in the Sultanate of Oman. The participants responded to Attitudes towards Movement Education Scale, which consisted of three dimensions (emotional, cognitive and behavioral). This scale was designed and modified for the purpose of this study. The results of this study revealed that the participants’ attitudes towards movement education were positive in general. The emotional dimension ranked first (87.7%), followed by the cognitive (82.6%) and behavioral dimensions (78.8%). The results also showed that there were differences in attitudes towards movement education due to educators’ nationality and educational levels. </jats:p
Optimismo y pesimismo de alumnos de educación física y otros: invariabilidad de estructura
No full textIntroduction. Optimisim and pessimism are two psychological constructs that play a significant role in human mental and psychological hygiene. The two construct are strongly but negatively correlated. Optimisim and pessimisim can be influenced by culture and the environment.The present study attempts to test the structure of optimisim and pessimisim across two countries: United Arab Emirates and Oman. Also, physical education students were compared to non-physical education students.Method. College students from SQU in Oman (n = 103) and the UAEU (n = 200) participated in the study. The sample was a convenient one. The SQU sample was primarily physical education students (males = 60, females = 43). The instrument consisted of thirty Likert-type items. Optimism was measured by 15 items and so as pessimism.Results. Exploratory factor analysis clearly identified two factors rather than one bipolar factor. The number of factors (2), the pattern of factor loadings, the factor correlations and uniqueness were invariant across P.E. and non P.E samples. MANOVA revealed that P.E. subjects were more optimistic than non P.E. subjects. However, no significant difference was found in pessimism between P.E. and non P.E. subjects.Discussion and Conclusion. The results revealed that optimisim and pessimism can influenced by the immediate environment as well as the type of study. It terms of structure, the instrument was as valid and reliable in Oman and UAE as it was valid and reliable in Kuwait where the instrument was originally developed and standardized.Introducción. Optimismo y pesimismo son dos constructos psicológicos que juegan un papel significativo en la higiene mental humana y psicológica. Estas dos construcciones están fuertemente correlacionadas, pero negativamente. Optimismo y pessimisim puede estar influenciada por la cultura. El presente estudio intenta para poner a prueba la estructura del optimismo y pesimisimo a través de dos países: Emiratos Árabes Unidos y Omán. Además, los estudiantes de educación física fueron comparados con los estudiantes de educación no-física.Método. Estudiantes universitarios de SQU en Omán (n = 103) y el UAEU (n = 200) participaron en el estudio. La muestra SQU fue principalmente de estudiantes de educación física (hombres = 60, mujeres = 43). El instrumento consiste en treinta ítems tipo Likert. El optimismo y el pesimismo se evaluó a través de 15 items, cada uno.Resultados. El análisis factorial exploratorio identificó claramente dos factores más que un factor bipolar. El número de factores (2), el patrón de cargas de cada factor , las correlaciones de los factores y singularidad eran invariables a través de Educación Física (PE) y las muestras de no P.E (NPE) . El MANOVA reveló que los sujetos educación física se mostraron más optimistas que los que no eran deeducación física. Sin embargo, no se encontraron diferencias significativas en el pesimismo entre los PE educación física y los que eran de educación física.Discusión y Conclusiones. Los resultados revelaron que optimismo y pesimismo pueden influidas por el entorno inmediato, así como el tipo de estudio. En cuanto a la estructura, el instrumento fue tan válida y fiable en Omán y en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, ya que era válido y fiable en Kuwait, donde se desarrolló el instrumento original y estandarizado
Gender differences in mental rotation in Oman and Germany
No full textGender differences in mental rotation often show that males are superior at this task. This study explored gender differences in two nations, which have disparities in their gender equality. While Germany represents a western liberal culture, Oman represents a conservative eastern culture. Students from Germany (119) and Oman (120) completed a mental rotation test, a cognitive processing speed test and a questionnaire of physical activity. The results show a significantly better mental rotation performance for the German students compared to Oman students and an overall, gender difference across both cultures. Furthermore, German students outperformed Oman students in cognitive processing speed but there were no gender differences between the cultures. We conclude that mental rotation performance is related to nation, gender and cognitive processing speed. The results are discussedin the frame of how education systems developed in Germany and Oman. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Optimismo y pesimismo de alumnos de educación física y otros: invariabilidad de estructura
No full textMotor ability and working memory in Omani and German primary school-aged children
No full textThis study investigated the motor ability and working memory performance of Omani and German primary school-aged children. One hundred eighty-five children from public schools participated in a gross motor test that integrated whole body coordination, three different ball tasks, and a 20-meter run. Furthermore, they completed four working memory tests (the Digit-Span Test forward and backwards and the Corsi Block-Tapping Test forward and backwards). Two MANOVAS with the different motor and working memory tests and one univariate analysis of the general motor ability with the between-subject factors group and gender were conducted. Additionally, correlations between motor ability and working memory scores were executed. German children outperformed Omani children in the overall measurement of motor ability, (p = .01) and all aspects of working memory, (all p</div
