To strengthen students’ professional identity (PI), it is vital to givereflection a central place in higher education. The aim of this studyis to determine the extent to which students reflect on five componentsof PI (self-image, self-esteem, task perception, job motivationand future perspective) and at what reflection level. Twenty-fivereflection narratives from Spanish and Dutch students from fivedifferent study programmes were qualitatively analysed and quantitativelyevaluated to find out about students’ identifying and selfassessingPI components. The results indicate that PI componentswere clearly recognizable in the reflection reports and could beclassified using one of the four levels of reflection with high interraterreliability. About 40% of the students achieved the criticalreflection level on one or more PI components. Reflecting on thefive components of PI, with the aim of achieving the level of criticalreflection, can be a useful guide for students. What do you want to do ?New mail
MULTIFILE
Aim and method: To examine in obese people the potential effectiveness of a six-week, two times weekly aquajogging program on body composition, fitness, health-related quality of life and exercise beliefs. Fifteen otherwise healthy obese persons participated in a pilot study. Results: Total fat mass and waist circumference decreased 1.4 kg (p = .03) and 3.1 cm (p = .005) respectively. The distance in the Six-Minute Walk Test increased 41 meters (p = .001). Three scales of the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite questionnaire improved: physical function (p = .008), self-esteem (p = .004), and public distress (p = .04). Increased perceived exercise benefits (p = .02) and decreased embarrassment (p = .03) were observed. Conclusions: Aquajogging was associated with reduced body fat and waist circumference, and improved aerobic fitness and quality of life. These findings suggest the usefulness of conducting a randomized controlled trial with long-term outcome assessments.
The majority of studies investigating associations between physical activity and mental health in adolescents have been cross-sectional in design. Potential associations between physical activity and mental health may be better examined longitudinally as physical activity levels tend to decrease in adolescence. Few studies have investigated these associations longitudinally in adolescents and none by measuring physical activity objectively. A total of 158 Dutch adolescents (mean age 13.6 years, 38.6 % boys, grades 7 and 9 at baseline) participated in this longitudinal study. Physical activity, depressive symptoms and self-esteem were measured at baseline and at the 1-year follow-up. Physical activity was objectively measured with an ActivPAL3™ accelerometer during one full week. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and self-esteem was assessed with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). Results were analysed using structural equation modelling.
