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Browsing by Author "Amaro, Nuno"

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  • Impact of muscle mass and muscle strength on quality of life of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
    Publication . Jacinto, Miguel ; Monteiro, Diogo ; Couto, Nuno ; Diz, Susana ; Matos, Rui ; Amaro, Nuno; Antunes, Raul ; Duarte-Mendes, Pedro
    This study aimed to investigate the relationship between muscle strength and perceived quality of life in individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs). A cross-sectional study was carried out, which involved 37 participants with a mean age of 39.08 years (SD = 0.05), ranging from 20 to 58 years. The participants were assessed on anthropometric and body composition parameters, a 30 s chair stand test and isokinetic dynamometry. Quality of life was assessed using the Portuguese version of the Personal Outcomes Scale. Pearson’s correlation analyses were carried out to examine the associations between strength measures and quality of life. Significant correlations were observed between strength measures and quality of life. In addition, lower limb muscle strength, particularly in flexion (left: r = 0.450; p ≤ 0.001; right: r = 0.504; p ≤ 0.001) and extension (r = 0.328; p = 0.05), showed positive correlations with quality of life. These findings provide preliminary evidence suggesting that muscle mass and strength may serve as potential predictors of quality of life in individuals with IDD.
    2025Journal article Open access Show more
  • Mental health, overweight, and physical exercise in young portuguese adults : a cross-sectional study
    Publication . Gonçalves, Tânia; Monteiro, Diogo; Matos, Rui; Couto, Nuno; Antunes, Raul; Diz, Susana; Amaro, Nuno; Jacinto, Miguel; Duarte-Mendes, Pedro
    Abstract: The aim of this study was to see if there are any associations between mental health, Body Mass Index (BMI), and physical exercise (PE) in young Por tuguese adults. The sample consisted of 414 people aged between 18 and 25 years old. A sociodemographic questionnaire designed for this study and the Mental Health Inventory were used. To analyze the results, the total sample was divided according to the criteria “BMI ≥ 5 kg/m2”; “BMI < 25 kg/m2”; “does not practice PE”; and “practices PE”, and sample groups were formed with these names. It was found that there was an association between the dimensions of the Mental Health Inventory and the average time spent practicing PE in the total sample (r from 0.099 to 0.160) and in individuals with a BMI < 25 kg/m2 (r = 0.154 and 0.169). In individuals with a BMI ≥25 kg/m2, there was an association between the ‘BMI’ and depression variables (r = −0.174). In all groups, associations were found between the variables of age and BMI (r from 0.120 to 0.216). There was also a significant effect of group (non-exercise vs. exercise groups) on the dependent variables, Λ = 0.972, F(5, 408) = 2.329, p = 0.042, η2p = 0.28. This study confirms the association between PE and mental health and suggests that BMI may have an influence on the appearance of depressive symptoms in young Portuguese adults.
    2025Research article Open access Show more