health psychology report • volume 7(3), 9 original article background The Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) is a measure of motivation in education. The AMS is based on the selfdetermination theory, which subdivides motivation into amotivation, extrinsic motivation and intrinsic motivation. The main purpose of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Polish version of the AMS and to identify motivation to study of Polish university students. participants and procedure The first sample consisted of 1592 Polish university students (653 males, 939 females) majoring in physical education, physiotherapy, tourism and recreation, sport or sport and tourism management. The second sample consisted of 49 Polish university students (13 males, 36 females) of tourism and recreation. The AMS was validated using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's α was used to estimate reliability and internal consistency of the scale. results The AMS showed adequate levels of internal consistency (Cronbach α values above .78) and temporal stability (mean test-retest correlation = .88). Additionally, the fit indices of CFA were satisfactory (χ 2 /df = 4.95, GFI = .927, AGFI = .910, RMSEA = .050). Female students scored higher than males on four motivation subscales and lower on amotivation. conclusions The results confirmed the original seven-factor and 28-item structure of the Polish version of the AMS. The results support the use of the Polish version of the AMS as a tool for assessing university students' motivation.

Motivation is an important phenomenon in the realm of education, particularly in the university fields connected with physical education and sport, where it is necessary to accommodate and balance intellectual abilities and physical fitness. The present study tested motivation levels among university students in the fields connected with physical education and sport in Poland and Turkey. It was based on the Self-Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan, 1985), namely intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and amotivation which impact human behaviour. The Academic Motivation Scale was used (Vallerand et al., 1992). The aims of the study were twofold, first, to crossculturally validate Polish and Turkish versions of the Academic Motivation Scale and second, to identify and compare the motivation to study depending on nationality and gender. Both Polish and Turkish versions of the questionnaire were validated and converted to a four-factorial structure. The findings indicated that Polish and Turkish students’ motivation especially differed in amotivation and intrinsic motivation to know and experience stimulation. Moreover, Turkish female students proved to be at the lowest estimate of amotivation.

The main aim of this manuscript was to present a preliminary verification of the relations between the Dark Triad of personality traits and health-oriented behaviors in university students. The study involved 143 healthy students (94 female and 49 male) from the Silesian Voivodeship (Poland). The diagnosis of the elements of the Dark Triad of personality was carried out using a psychological examination based on the following tests: TriPM-41, Mach IV, NPI. The intensity of the health behaviors was examined using the Health Behavior Inventory developed by Z. Juczyński. The Health Behavior Inventory is positively correlated with narcissism and its self-sufficiency component and negatively with psychopathic disinhibition. For the Health Behavior Inventory’s subscales, a positive relationship was observed between Positive Mental Attitude and narcissism, most of its components, and psychopathic boldness. The analysis of correlations with the division of the subjects into the Dark Triad traits ≤Me and >Me revealed that a significant positive correlation between the general intensity of the health behaviors and the intensity of narcissism mainly concerns university students with a lower level of this trait and its components. Therefore, it can be presumed that narcissism, although considered as a socially aversive trait, is associated with pro-health behaviors.

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of smartphone’s gyroscope for dynamic postural stability among young healthy adults. The research included convenience sample of 85 healthy adults—37 women (mean age 22.1±1.6, body height 167.2±7.0) and 48 men (mean age 22.4±1.7, body height 176.1±13.8). In order to assess the accuracy of stabilometric measurement recorded by mobile phone, the raw data obtained at the same time by Sigma Balance Platform and Smartphone (SP) were correlated. Two thirty-second trials with one-minute interval break were performed (first in the frontal plane and second in the sagittal plane). A total of 170 measurements of postural stability were recorded (85 in frontal and 85 in the sagittal plane). The following parameters were included: the path of the stabilogram (in the case of SP, angular path) and the variation of the swing (standard deviation of the horizontal deflection of the platform). The results have shown strong and significant relationship between body sway variability measured by Sigma platform and smartphone in frontal (r=0.997) and sagittal (r=0.990) plane. For the geometric center of the platform and angular path distances, the correlation coefficient was also statistically significant and high, considering both lateral (r=0.999) and anterior-posterior sway (r=0.981). Our research shows that smartphones with gyroscope have potential for accurate assessment of postural balance, as an alternative for expensive and specialized equipment.

Active sport tourism involves travelling in order to participate in different forms of movement recreation; engagement in physical activity is the primary aim of active sport tourism. Each and every decision regarding holiday, weekend or one-day trips is made based on several motives of different strength; it is the interaction between the motives that generates the ultimate behaviour of an individual. The aim of the study was to determine the motives behind the decision of holiday windsurfing camp participants to become engaged in this particular form of active sport tourism.Seventy-three participants of windsurfing camps in Jastarnia (Hel Peninsula at the Polish seaside) entered the study, which was carried out in the form of a diagnostic survey. The research tool was an anonymous questionnaire.The survey revealed considerable diversity regarding the types of active sport tourism undertaken by windsurfing camp participants in the year preceding data collection. The motives for participation in active sport tourism were also very different both among women and men. Nevertheless, social factors turned out to be of the greatest importance while making a decision about becoming involved in active sport tourism.Our study demonstrated that gender dimorphism had only been seen regarding the physical activity motive. Female respondents mentioned this particular motive for participation in the windsurfing camp more often than men.