Childhood anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, cause significant distress and functional impairment, are risk factors for depression, suicidal ideation and attempts, substance abuse and smoking, yet often go unrecognized and untreated. As a result, effective prevention and early intervention have become policy and research priorities. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a universal school-based cognitive behavioural intervention in decreasing anxiety symptoms experienced by early adolescents during the transition from elementary to middle or secondary school. The role of gender, coping style, geographic location, and timing of the intervention were also assessed. Participants were 722 grade 7 and 8 students (11 – 14 years) from 41 classrooms in 20 randomly selected public schools in British Columbia. Schools were randomly assigned to either the FRIENDS for Youth program provided within regular classrooms, one hour weekly for 10 weeks or to a waitlist control group. Self-reported anxiety, depression and coping, and parent and teacher assessed difficulties were assessed at pre-, post, and six month follow-up. Results were examined universally and for children who scored above the clinical cut-off for anxiety at pre-test. Results indicate students, including those “at risk”, who participated in the FRIENDS for Youth program had lower anxiety than those in the control group at 6-month follow-up. Gender differences in self-reported anxiety as well as in response to the intervention were found, with girls, including those “at risk” reporting higher anxiety scores than boys, and intervention group girls reporting significantly lower anxiety scores at post-intervention and at 6-month follow-up compared to the control group. Teachers assessed girls as having lower difficulties scores than boys, and intervention group girls reporting significantly lower difficulties scores at post-intervention than the control group. Grade 7 elementary students had significantly lower anxiety scores than middle school students and grade 7 students in the intervention group had significantly lower anxiety scores at post-intervention than the control group. Overall, intervention effects on anxiety were small. For “at risk” participants and for girls, however, the intervention was effective. Results demonstrated a prevention effect with significantly fewer “at risk” students at 6-month follow-up in the intervention group than the control group.

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 62). Also issued in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 241-266). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 62).

Thesis (M.I.T.)--The Evergreen State College, 2010. / Title from title screen (viewed 7/7/2010). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-190).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2001. / Title from title page screen, viewed March 21, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Daniel Graybill (chair), Connie B. Horton, Karen S. Pfost, Mark E. Swerdlik. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-90) and abstract. Also available in print.

A identificação de talentos no esporte é um tema atual e amplamente discutido. Este debate ocorre no âmbito conceitual e metodológico. Especificamente para o futebol, esta é uma temática que tem gerado diversas discussões no meio acadêmico e na prática cotidiana dos clubes brasileiros. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o perfil de crianças e jovens praticantes de futebol e identificar indicadores de desempenho esportivo que permitam desenvolver parâmetros e metodologias para detecção de possíveis talentos motores para o futebol. As amostras foram compostas por 361 jovens de 10 a 13 anos de idade cronológica, constituídas por 188 escolares, aleatoriamente selecionadas do Banco de Dados do PROESPBr e por 173 atletas de futebol, selecionados por critério de acessibilidade, provenientes de dois clubes de futebol do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Foi medida a estatura, envergadura, massa corporal, flexibilidade (sentar e alcançar com banco), força/resistência abdominal (abdominais por minuto), velocidade (20 metros), agilidade (quadrado de agilidade), força explosiva de membros inferiores (salto horizontal) e aptidão cardiorrespiratória (6 minutos). Para descrever o perfil antropométrico e de aptidão física foi utilizada a estatística descritiva (média e desvio padrão). Para a identificação das variáveis preditoras recorreu-se à Análise Discriminante e foi utilizado o pacote estatístico SPSS, versão 17.0. Os resultados demonstraram que os atletas apresentaram valores médios superiores aos escolares em todas as variáveis nas idades estudadas, com exceção da massa corporal, estatura e envergadura aos 11 anos de idade. Quanto as variáveis preditoras, aquelas que discriminaram o grupo de atletas do grupo de escolares foram: aos 10 anos de idade - flexibilidade, força/resistência abdominal, agilidade, velocidade e resistência aeróbia; 11 anos de idade - força resistência abdominal, agilidade, resistência aeróbia, velocidade; 12 anos de idade - resistência aeróbia, agilidade, velocidade, força resistência abdominal e força explosiva de membros inferiores e 13 anos de idade - resistência aeróbia, agilidade, flexibilidade, velocidade, força resistência abdominal. Os resultados demonstraram que a partir da utilização da bateria de testes do Projeto Esporte Brasil foi possível discriminar atletas de futebol de escolares e elaborar modelos capazes de identificar escolares com perfil de atleta. Assim, a utilização destes modelos podem compor os critérios de seleção de jovens para a modalidade do futebol e, ainda, atuar como instrumento auxiliar aos professores de Educação Física escolar. / Talent identification in sports is a current topic and it is widely discussed. This discussion occurs within conceptual and methodological. Specifically for soccer, this is a topic that has generated many discussions on academic level and in the daily practice of the Brazilian clubs. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of children and young people playing soccer and identify performance indicators sports which build parameters and methodologies for detecting potential talents engines for soccer. The sample was composed of 361 young people 10-13 years of chronological age, consisting of 188 students, randomly selected from the database of PROESP-Br and 173 soccer players selected by criteria of accessibility, from two soccer clubs of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State. We measured height, arm span, body mass, flexibility (sit and reach with bench), abdominal strength / resistance (abdominal per minute), speed (20 meters), agility (agility square), explosive strength of lower limbs (horizontal jump) aerobic resistance (6 minutes). To describe anthropometric and physical fitness it was used descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation). To identify the predictors we used the discriminant analysis. All analyses was done in statistical package SPSS, version 17.0. The results showed that athletes had higher values to schoolchildren in all variables and ages, with the exception of body mass, height and spread at 11 years old. The predictor variables, those discriminated group of athletes and students were: at 10 years of age - flexibility, abdominal strength / resistance, agility, speed and aerobic endurance, 11 years old - Strength abdominal endurance, agility, endurance aerobic speed; 12 years old - aerobic endurance, agility, speed, strength, abdominal strength and explosive strength of lower limbs and 13 years old - aerobic endurance, agility, flexibility, speed, strength, abdominal strength. The results showed that it was possible to discriminate between and students using the tests from Project Sport Brazil battery. Thus, we developed models capable of identifying students with athlete profile. The use of the models developed can compose the selection criteria of youth to the soccer sport and also act as an aid to teachers of Physical Education.

A identificação de talentos no esporte é um tema atual e amplamente discutido. Este debate ocorre no âmbito conceitual e metodológico. Especificamente para o futebol, esta é uma temática que tem gerado diversas discussões no meio acadêmico e na prática cotidiana dos clubes brasileiros. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o perfil de crianças e jovens praticantes de futebol e identificar indicadores de desempenho esportivo que permitam desenvolver parâmetros e metodologias para detecção de possíveis talentos motores para o futebol. As amostras foram compostas por 361 jovens de 10 a 13 anos de idade cronológica, constituídas por 188 escolares, aleatoriamente selecionadas do Banco de Dados do PROESPBr e por 173 atletas de futebol, selecionados por critério de acessibilidade, provenientes de dois clubes de futebol do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Foi medida a estatura, envergadura, massa corporal, flexibilidade (sentar e alcançar com banco), força/resistência abdominal (abdominais por minuto), velocidade (20 metros), agilidade (quadrado de agilidade), força explosiva de membros inferiores (salto horizontal) e aptidão cardiorrespiratória (6 minutos). Para descrever o perfil antropométrico e de aptidão física foi utilizada a estatística descritiva (média e desvio padrão). Para a identificação das variáveis preditoras recorreu-se à Análise Discriminante e foi utilizado o pacote estatístico SPSS, versão 17.0. Os resultados demonstraram que os atletas apresentaram valores médios superiores aos escolares em todas as variáveis nas idades estudadas, com exceção da massa corporal, estatura e envergadura aos 11 anos de idade. Quanto as variáveis preditoras, aquelas que discriminaram o grupo de atletas do grupo de escolares foram: aos 10 anos de idade - flexibilidade, força/resistência abdominal, agilidade, velocidade e resistência aeróbia; 11 anos de idade - força resistência abdominal, agilidade, resistência aeróbia, velocidade; 12 anos de idade - resistência aeróbia, agilidade, velocidade, força resistência abdominal e força explosiva de membros inferiores e 13 anos de idade - resistência aeróbia, agilidade, flexibilidade, velocidade, força resistência abdominal. Os resultados demonstraram que a partir da utilização da bateria de testes do Projeto Esporte Brasil foi possível discriminar atletas de futebol de escolares e elaborar modelos capazes de identificar escolares com perfil de atleta. Assim, a utilização destes modelos podem compor os critérios de seleção de jovens para a modalidade do futebol e, ainda, atuar como instrumento auxiliar aos professores de Educação Física escolar. / Talent identification in sports is a current topic and it is widely discussed. This discussion occurs within conceptual and methodological. Specifically for soccer, this is a topic that has generated many discussions on academic level and in the daily practice of the Brazilian clubs. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of children and young people playing soccer and identify performance indicators sports which build parameters and methodologies for detecting potential talents engines for soccer. The sample was composed of 361 young people 10-13 years of chronological age, consisting of 188 students, randomly selected from the database of PROESP-Br and 173 soccer players selected by criteria of accessibility, from two soccer clubs of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State. We measured height, arm span, body mass, flexibility (sit and reach with bench), abdominal strength / resistance (abdominal per minute), speed (20 meters), agility (agility square), explosive strength of lower limbs (horizontal jump) aerobic resistance (6 minutes). To describe anthropometric and physical fitness it was used descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation). To identify the predictors we used the discriminant analysis. All analyses was done in statistical package SPSS, version 17.0. The results showed that athletes had higher values to schoolchildren in all variables and ages, with the exception of body mass, height and spread at 11 years old. The predictor variables, those discriminated group of athletes and students were: at 10 years of age - flexibility, abdominal strength / resistance, agility, speed and aerobic endurance, 11 years old - Strength abdominal endurance, agility, endurance aerobic speed; 12 years old - aerobic endurance, agility, speed, strength, abdominal strength and explosive strength of lower limbs and 13 years old - aerobic endurance, agility, flexibility, speed, strength, abdominal strength. The results showed that it was possible to discriminate between and students using the tests from Project Sport Brazil battery. Thus, we developed models capable of identifying students with athlete profile. The use of the models developed can compose the selection criteria of youth to the soccer sport and also act as an aid to teachers of Physical Education.

A identificação de talentos no esporte é um tema atual e amplamente discutido. Este debate ocorre no âmbito conceitual e metodológico. Especificamente para o futebol, esta é uma temática que tem gerado diversas discussões no meio acadêmico e na prática cotidiana dos clubes brasileiros. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o perfil de crianças e jovens praticantes de futebol e identificar indicadores de desempenho esportivo que permitam desenvolver parâmetros e metodologias para detecção de possíveis talentos motores para o futebol. As amostras foram compostas por 361 jovens de 10 a 13 anos de idade cronológica, constituídas por 188 escolares, aleatoriamente selecionadas do Banco de Dados do PROESPBr e por 173 atletas de futebol, selecionados por critério de acessibilidade, provenientes de dois clubes de futebol do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Foi medida a estatura, envergadura, massa corporal, flexibilidade (sentar e alcançar com banco), força/resistência abdominal (abdominais por minuto), velocidade (20 metros), agilidade (quadrado de agilidade), força explosiva de membros inferiores (salto horizontal) e aptidão cardiorrespiratória (6 minutos). Para descrever o perfil antropométrico e de aptidão física foi utilizada a estatística descritiva (média e desvio padrão). Para a identificação das variáveis preditoras recorreu-se à Análise Discriminante e foi utilizado o pacote estatístico SPSS, versão 17.0. Os resultados demonstraram que os atletas apresentaram valores médios superiores aos escolares em todas as variáveis nas idades estudadas, com exceção da massa corporal, estatura e envergadura aos 11 anos de idade. Quanto as variáveis preditoras, aquelas que discriminaram o grupo de atletas do grupo de escolares foram: aos 10 anos de idade - flexibilidade, força/resistência abdominal, agilidade, velocidade e resistência aeróbia; 11 anos de idade - força resistência abdominal, agilidade, resistência aeróbia, velocidade; 12 anos de idade - resistência aeróbia, agilidade, velocidade, força resistência abdominal e força explosiva de membros inferiores e 13 anos de idade - resistência aeróbia, agilidade, flexibilidade, velocidade, força resistência abdominal. Os resultados demonstraram que a partir da utilização da bateria de testes do Projeto Esporte Brasil foi possível discriminar atletas de futebol de escolares e elaborar modelos capazes de identificar escolares com perfil de atleta. Assim, a utilização destes modelos podem compor os critérios de seleção de jovens para a modalidade do futebol e, ainda, atuar como instrumento auxiliar aos professores de Educação Física escolar. / Talent identification in sports is a current topic and it is widely discussed. This discussion occurs within conceptual and methodological. Specifically for soccer, this is a topic that has generated many discussions on academic level and in the daily practice of the Brazilian clubs. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of children and young people playing soccer and identify performance indicators sports which build parameters and methodologies for detecting potential talents engines for soccer. The sample was composed of 361 young people 10-13 years of chronological age, consisting of 188 students, randomly selected from the database of PROESP-Br and 173 soccer players selected by criteria of accessibility, from two soccer clubs of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State. We measured height, arm span, body mass, flexibility (sit and reach with bench), abdominal strength / resistance (abdominal per minute), speed (20 meters), agility (agility square), explosive strength of lower limbs (horizontal jump) aerobic resistance (6 minutes). To describe anthropometric and physical fitness it was used descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation). To identify the predictors we used the discriminant analysis. All analyses was done in statistical package SPSS, version 17.0. The results showed that athletes had higher values to schoolchildren in all variables and ages, with the exception of body mass, height and spread at 11 years old. The predictor variables, those discriminated group of athletes and students were: at 10 years of age - flexibility, abdominal strength / resistance, agility, speed and aerobic endurance, 11 years old - Strength abdominal endurance, agility, endurance aerobic speed; 12 years old - aerobic endurance, agility, speed, strength, abdominal strength and explosive strength of lower limbs and 13 years old - aerobic endurance, agility, flexibility, speed, strength, abdominal strength. The results showed that it was possible to discriminate between and students using the tests from Project Sport Brazil battery. Thus, we developed models capable of identifying students with athlete profile. The use of the models developed can compose the selection criteria of youth to the soccer sport and also act as an aid to teachers of Physical Education.

Childhood anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, cause significant distress and functional impairment, are risk factors for depression, suicidal ideation and attempts, substance abuse and smoking, yet often go unrecognized and untreated. As a result, effective prevention and early intervention have become policy and research priorities. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a universal school-based cognitive behavioural intervention in decreasing anxiety symptoms experienced by early adolescents during the transition from elementary to middle or secondary school. The role of gender, coping style, geographic location, and timing of the intervention were also assessed. Participants were 722 grade 7 and 8 students (11 – 14 years) from 41 classrooms in 20 randomly selected public schools in British Columbia. Schools were randomly assigned to either the FRIENDS for Youth program provided within regular classrooms, one hour weekly for 10 weeks or to a waitlist control group. Self-reported anxiety, depression and coping, and parent and teacher assessed difficulties were assessed at pre-, post, and six month follow-up. Results were examined universally and for children who scored above the clinical cut-off for anxiety at pre-test. Results indicate students, including those “at risk”, who participated in the FRIENDS for Youth program had lower anxiety than those in the control group at 6-month follow-up. Gender differences in self-reported anxiety as well as in response to the intervention were found, with girls, including those “at risk” reporting higher anxiety scores than boys, and intervention group girls reporting significantly lower anxiety scores at post-intervention and at 6-month follow-up compared to the control group. Teachers assessed girls as having lower difficulties scores than boys, and intervention group girls reporting significantly lower difficulties scores at post-intervention than the control group. Grade 7 elementary students had significantly lower anxiety scores than middle school students and grade 7 students in the intervention group had significantly lower anxiety scores at post-intervention than the control group. Overall, intervention effects on anxiety were small. For “at risk” participants and for girls, however, the intervention was effective. Results demonstrated a prevention effect with significantly fewer “at risk” students at 6-month follow-up in the intervention group than the control group. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate