Page 14 - IJSA, Vol. 6, No 2, 2023

International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2023
рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa

arithmetic skills and various cognitive constructs, which the participant must identify the letter “d” with
including working memory, executive functions two upper quotation marks (Brickenkamp & Zillmer,
(Orbach et al., 2020; Swanson & Beebe-Frankenberger, 2010). Through this instrument, it was possible to
2004), interactivity, mathematical anxiety (Vallée- calculate the Total Processed Characters, PC (that is the
Tourangeau, 2013), performance (Salminen et al., number of stimuli indicated, taking into account the
2018), and even finger-counting practices (Barrocas et participant’s speed, productivity, or motivation); the
al., 2020; Crollen & Noël, 2015). While Becker et al. Total Hits, TH (that is the effectiveness in performing
(2018) have demonstrated a correlation between the task); the Total Effectiveness, TE (which measured
engagement in team sports and enhanced mathematical the level of attentional control and the relationship
problem-solving abilities, studies investigating the between speed and accuracy throughout the task); the
interplay of attention, anxiety, deception, and age in the Concentration Index, CI (indicating the level of
mathematical capacities of children and adolescents concentration in the task); the Variability Index, VI
active in sports are conspicuously scarce. (which revealed whether the task was performed
The aim of the study. To examine how symptoms of consistently or in a variable way); and Percentage of
anxiety, lying, attention, and age are predictors of Errors, E% (which showed the accuracy and quality of
mathematical abilities in children who practice sports. performance). The Portuguese version of the instrument
revealed a Cronbach’s Alpha greater than 0.90
Materials and Methods (Brickenkamp & Zillmer, 2010). Finally, the Arithmetic
Participants subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
This observational, cross-sectional study, based on a (Portuguese version by Simões, 2002) was applied to
non-probabilistic sample, considered 108 Portuguese assess the participants’ calculus, logical-mathematical
participants with a mean age of 12.12 years (±2.18), reasoning, and problem-solving skills through 24 items.
ranging from a minimum of 8 years to a maximum of 16 The score varies between a minimum of 0 and a
years. Most participants are male 66.7% and have maximum of 24 points, with high scores reflecting good
completed the 3rd cycle of education (9 years of arithmetic and reasoning skills (Wechsler, 1991/2003;
education) (43.5%). The most popular sports in the Simões, 2002). The Portuguese version of this subtest
sample are futsal (37.0%), football (25.0%), taekwondo showed good internal consistency with a Cronbach’s
(17.6%), rhythmic gymnastics (7.4%), and tennis Alpha of 0.84 (Simões, 2002).
(7.4%). Participants have been practicing sports, on Procedure
average, for 54.85 (±28.68) months and the average First, the directors of several sports clubs in the Lisbon
weekly training time is 3.97 hours (±2.6). As inclusion region were contacted. The study objectives were
criteria, young athletes from sports clubs for at least one presented to the directors and permission was sought to
year were considered. Participation in the study was contact the athletes’ legal representatives. After getting
only accepted after signing the informed consent of the approval, the athletes’ legal representatives were
young person and their legal representative. They were contacted. They were informed about the study’s
informed that their participation was completely objectives, the confidentiality of the information
voluntary and harmless. Young people with collected, the voluntary nature of the investigation, and
developmental disorders or other physical and mental the ethical and deontological duties of the investigators.
conditions that did not allow them to respond to the They were then asked to sign their informed consent.
study protocol were not considered in this study. All After authorization by the legal representatives, the
ethical and deontological duties inherent to the athletes who were willing to participate were contacted.
investigation were considered. After this period, sessions were scheduled with the
Measures participants who were individually assessed. The
For the present investigation, a sociodemographic protocol application site was a room belonging to the
questionnaire was used to collect information about the sports clubs that collaborated in the investigation. The
participants (e.g., age, sex, time of the sport, etc.). The researchers respected all ethical and deontological
Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (CMAS-R; duties and there was no risk of any kind to the
Portuguese version by Dias & Gonçalves, 1999) was participants.
applied. This scale evaluated the global anxiety index Data Analysis
and the global lie index. Anxiety was assessed using 28 For the present investigation, the statistical software R,
items ranging from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 28 R-Studio, was used for data analysis. Descriptive
points. The global lie index was evaluated using 9 items, statistics were used to characterize the sample,
varying between a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 9 specifically the analysis of means and standard
points. High values represent a high level of lying on the deviations for quantitative variables and the analysis of
part of the participant. According to the authors, this frequencies and percentages for nominal variables. A
instrument has good reliability as represented by a Gamma Regression Model was used to study the
Cronbach’s alpha of 0.80 (Dias & Gonçalves, 1999). response variable, using a logarithmic link function. The
The d2 Test of Attention was used to measure children’s step function of R was also used to automatically select
selective attention and concentration, through 14 lines, the covariates that should be included in the gamma
each with 47 stimuli (of the letters p and d accompanied model. The significance level assumed in this study was
by either one or two quotation marks or comma) from p-value ˂0.05.

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