Prediction of Arithmetic Abilities of Children Who Practice Sports: The Use of the Gamma Model
Serra L.1,2, Guerreiro C.3, Silva L.4
 
 
1 Autonomous University of Lisbon, Portugal
2 Centre of Statistics and its Applications of the University of Lisbon, Portugal
3 Higher Institute of Intercultural and Transdisciplinary Studies of Almada – Piaget Institute of Almada, Portugal
4 NOVA School of Science and Technology – NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal
 
 

Abstract

Background and Aim of Study: The physical performance that children exhibit when engaging in sports or any form of physical activity will depend not only on their physical abilities but also on their psychological and cognitive attributes.
The aim of the study: to analyze whether symptoms of anxiety, lie, attention, and age are predictors of arithmetic abilities in children practicing sports.
Material and Methods: The study sample consisted of 108 children with an average age of 12.12 (±2.18) who practice various sports, with greater emphasis on futsal and soccer. The study protocol consisted of a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale, the d2 Test of Attention, and the Arithmetic subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.
Results: The results showed that through the adjusted model, we identify four significant explanatory variables that are predictors of arithmetic abilities, namely anxiety symptoms (β=-0.009, p=0.009); and the attention sub-factors: processed characters (β=0.002, p=3.44e-14), default errors (β=-0.005, p=0.000), errors by marking irrelevant characters (β=-0.016, p=0.003).
Conclusions: The presence of anxiety symptoms and attentional cognitive abilities play a significant role in predicting the arithmetic aptitudes of young individuals. These variables should be taken into consideration within training programs for young athletes, as they hold relevance for sports engagement.

 
 
 

Keywords

sports participants, anxiety, lie, attention, age, arithmetic skills

 
 
  

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Information about the authors:

Serra Lidia (Corresponding Author) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2612-3335; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Doctor in Neuropsychology, Professor, Autonomous University of Lisbon; Centre of Statistics and its Applications of the University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.

Guerreiro Cristiana https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4820-6269; Master’s degree in Clinical and Health Psychology, Higher Institute of Intercultural and Transdisciplinary Studies of Almada – Piaget Institute of Almada, Almada, Portugal.

Silva Luís https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9811-0571; Doctor in Human Kinetics – Motor Behavior, Investigator, NOVA School of Science and Technology – NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal.

 
 
 
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APA


Serra, L., Guerreiro, C., & Silva, L. (2023). Prediction of arithmetic abilities of children who practice sports: The use of the gamma model. International Journal of Science Annals, 6(2), 10–18. https://doi.org/10.26697/ijsa.2023.2.1

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Serra, L., Guerreiro, C., & Silva, L. 2023. "Prediction of arithmetic abilities of children who practice sports: The use of the gamma model". International Journal of Science Annals, [online] 6(2), pp. 10–18. viewed 25 December 2023, https://culturehealth.org/ijsa_archive/ijsa.2023.2.1.pdf

Vancouver


Serra L., Guerreiro C., & Silva L. Prediction of arithmetic abilities of children who practice sports: The use of the gamma model. International Journal of Science Annals [Internet]. 2023 [cited 25 December 2023]; 6(2): 10–18. Available from: https://culturehealth.org/ijsa_archive/ijsa.2023.2.1.pdf https://doi.org/10.26697/ijsa.2023.2.1

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