Primary schoolchildrens' perceptions of smoking: implications for health education.

This paper suggests that there is a need, as early as Reception, to implement smoking intervention programmes in the local school curriculum. Findings from a cross-sectional study have shown that primary schoolchildren (4-8 years old) possess negative attitudes and beliefs about smoking, have as yet to establish regular patterns of smoking behaviour, and have a broad understanding of the nature of smoking. Health educators need to capitalize on this negative disposition toward smoking via early intervention; however, to date, there are no smoking-specific health education measures for this age group. The implementation of proactive programmes, before the habit manifests itself, has many supporters but little research has been conducted. This study was devised to fill this significant gap in the literature on smoking. Data was collected on a representative sample of primary schoolchildren in the city of Liverpool. A triangular methodology was adopted consisting of questionnaires (N = 1701), the Draw and Write investigative technique (N = 976), and semi-structured interviews (N = 50). The results highlight the need to implement smoking intervention programmes from Reception onward, the importance of developing a model that is more than just knowledge based and the necessity of involving the family in any school-based health education strategies.

Trait and state anxiety in male and female cross-country runners.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between state/trait anxiety and competitive cross-country performance for males and females. A-trait and A-state pre- and post-competition were monitored in 38 females and 26 males at major meetings. The females' A-trait was correlated with pre-race A-state (p less than .05) which was itself correlated significantly with race performance (p less than .05). A significant post-race A-state reduction occurred only with the better runners. The correlation between A-trait and pre-race A-state was also found in the male athletes (p less than .05) while A-trait significantly correlated with race performance (p less than .05). A-state was significantly reduced post-race, the greatest decrease being observed in the top performers. It is concluded that trait as well as transient dispositions are relevant when psychological determinants of performance are considered.

Dynamic visual acuity: a possible factor in catching performance.

Forty subjects took part in a one-handed catching ask in which the period for which the mechanically projected tennis ball was illuminated in flight was varied systematically. Additionally, they were tested for (a) static visual acuity and (b) dynamic visual acuity, in which angular velocity was varied. As expected, both viewing period in the catching task and angular velocity in the acuity task were significant variables in performance. Correlation and principal-components analyses confirmed the findings of a previous experiment in that the correlated static visual acuity tasks were unrelated to both dynamic visual acuity (even when angular velocity was only 75 degrees /sec) and catching performance. Further, dynamic acuity and catching were related under the majority of the combinations, and most frequently at the highest angular velocity, a fact which suggested that the dynamic element in both tasks is the common factor.

Dynamic visual acuity and performance in a catching task.

Each of 30 Ss was given tests of dynamic and static visual acuity and then participated in a ball-catching task. Performance in the latter task was an inverted U-shaped function of duration of the occluded period, the time between the termination of the 80-msec. viewing period and the estimated onset of the "latency period" (the point in time at which the ball could no longer serve to cue Ss response). Dynamic and static visual acuity scores were not significantly correlated but, with static visual acuity partialled out, dynamic visual acuity and catching performance were significantly correlated.

The effect of exercise on the visual and auditory acuity of table-tennis players.

Utilizing a simulated table-tennis task, improved visual and auditory acuity of a group of 13 Ss was found after a playing period of 10 min. 2 passive control groups, 1 observing ball flight and the other a static display, showed no significant improvements in either visual or auditory acuity. The results are interpreted in terms of sensory facilitation brought about by increased arousal resulting from gross-bodily activity.