Regulatory Fit: Impact on Anxiety, Arousal, and Performance in College-Level Soccer Players

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(5): 1430-1447, 2020. Sport performance may be facilitated using regulatory fit, which is a match between individuals’ situational strategy and their chronic self-regulatory strategy. However, researchers have not examined the impact of regulatory fit on psychological and physiological components of sport performance, such as anxiety and arousal. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychophysiological reactions to regulatory fit by examining anxiety, arousal, and sport performance. Female college-level soccer players (n = 25) were randomly assigned to the regulatory match or regulatory mismatch conditions and completed anxiety (Competitive Sport Anxiety Inventory- 2R, CSAI-2R) and underwent arousal (heart rate variability, HRV; pre-ejection period, PEP) measures pre- and post-regulatory focus manipulation. Subsequently, participants completed a sport performance task (10 penalty kicks). The impact of regulatory fit on the dependent variables was explored through repeated measures ANOVAs. Results revealed a significant time effect for cognitive anxiety and self-confidence subscales of the CSAI-2R, suggesting the penalty kicking task increased cognitive anxiety and reduced self-confidence in all participants. In addition, there was a significant interaction effect of condition on pre-ejection period (PEP), with a greater increase in PEP for those experiencing regulatory fit compared to those who were not. There were non-significant interaction and main effects for all other variables. Since PEP is an inverse measure of sympathetic (SNS) modulation, experiencing regulatory fit may reduce SNS involvement in the heartbeat. Thus, the current results indicate experiencing regulatory fit may influence arousal prior to athletic competition

Trauma-Informed Youth Sport: Identifying Program Characteristics and Challenges to Advance Practice

This purpose of this qualitative study was to explore shared characteristics and local challenges of trauma-informed youth sport program design and implementation through the voices of ten program facilitators (e.g., director, trainer; 8 women, 2 men; average age of 36.2 years, SD = 6.03) across four U.S. regions. Within a postpositivist approach and through thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews (average length of 53 minutes), shared characteristics identified by facilitators included promoting a safe and supportive environment, cultivating healthy relationships among adults and peers, and intentional psychological and social skill-building (e.g., attentional cues). Facilitators also explained the importance of understanding the local context to engage youth and develop key strategies to mitigate challenges such as prioritizing the voices of youth involved in their programs, attending to staff needs and providing continual development and training, and collaboration among community partners to support their programmatic efforts. The study findings may be used to inform future research conceptualizing best practices for inclusive youth sport settings and provide added context for facilitators in the development, implementation, and sustainability of the trauma-informed approach

Practices, Perceived Benefits, and Barriers to Strength Training Among Women Enrolled in College

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(5): 226-238, 2018. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has recommended that resistance training be performed at least twice per week, with 8-12 repetitions of 8-10 exercises targeting all major muscle groups (1). However, Kruger, Carlson, and Kohl (18) reported that women were participating less than the U.S. population on the whole, as only 20% of women were engaging in resistance training two or more times per week. In order to better understand why only 1 in 5 women participate regularly in this form of physical activity, this study investigated current resistance training practices, perceived benefits, and barriers to resistance training among college women. One-hundred and sixteen women college students from a large, public, Midwestern university participated in this study. Correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to identify the strongest predictors of resistance training behaviors. The predictors in the regression model included demographic characteristics in block one, perceived barriers to resistance training in block two, and perceived benefits of resistance training in block three. Results indicated that the level of perceived “time/effort” barriers significantly predicted resistance training behavior. Findings in this area may help researchers, university recreation programmers, personal trainers, and other health and fitness professionals better understand the attitudes and actions of college women regarding resistance training, toward the goal of promoting fitness center environments that college women find more inviting

Female Adolescent Athletes’ Experiences of Body Dissatisfaction Across Individual and Team Sports

There is an abundance of research explaining the physical and psychological benefits of sport and exercise. Some research suggests sport and exercise may act as a protective factor against body dissatisfaction for adolescent females (Fernández-Bustos et al., 2019; Soulliard et al. 2019). However, it is unclear if adolescent females’ experiences in specific sport settings contribute to perceptions about their bodies. Therefore, this study investigated body perception and its sociocultural influences in adolescent females in team sports versus adolescent females in individual sports. Three focus groups of team sport athletes and two focus groups of individual sport athletes, ages 14-16 years, were conducted. The following four core themes were identified around influences and messaging in sport related to the athletes’ bodies: relationships among teammates and coaches, self-concept, functionality, and social influence. Based on these themes, the findings indicate adolescent female athletes may view sport as a helpful tool to reduce or counteract body dissatisfaction, particularly in team sport athletes. However, sport may not entirely reduce the negative impact from normative and potentially harmful messages surrounding body weight and image, both of which are pervasive in society, the media, and relationships with influential individuals, such as friends, family, and coaches

Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain: an update

A large number of scientists from a wide range of medical and surgical disciplines have reported on the existence and characteristics of the clinical syndrome of pelvic girdle pain during or after pregnancy. This syndrome refers to a musculoskeletal type of persistent pain localised at the anterior and/or posterior aspect of the pelvic ring. The pain may radiate across the hip joint and the thigh bones. The symptoms may begin either during the first trimester of pregnancy, at labour or even during the postpartum period. The physiological processes characterising this clinical entity remain obscure. In this review, the definition and epidemiology, as well as a proposed diagnostic algorithm and treatment options, are presented. Ongoing research is desirable to establish clear management strategies that are based on the pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for the escalation of the syndrome's symptoms to a fraction of the population of pregnant women

High School Athletes\u27 Perceptions of Sport Psychology and Preference for Services

Past research has examined the public\u27s perceptions (e.g., Linder, Brewer, Van Raalte, & De Lange, 1991) and collegiate athletes\u27 perceptions (e.g., Sullivan & Hodge, 1991) of sport psychology, but there is limited research that studied the high school athlete population. This study used a qualitative analysis to examine high school athletes\u27 perceptions of sport psychology and their preferences for different types of services. Sixty-five high school varsity athletes (33 boys & 32 girls) from three southeastern rural schools participated in the study. The athletes had participated in at least one varsity sport (tennis, golf, cross-country, basketball, track, softball, baseball, & soccer) and were currently in the 9th through 12th grade year. Athletes participated in a 30-45 minute focus group session, completed a background questionnaire, and the Preferences for Sport Psychology Services survey {PSPS} (Burke, 1999). By using the focus group methodology, an informal, open, non-directive discussion was created. Eight focus group sessions were conducted, four sessions for each gender. The focus group discussion guide consisted of nine questions concerning the athletes\u27 perceptions of the mental side of sport, meaning of sport psychology, description of a sport psychologist, purpose of a sport psychologist, and important mental issues. Also, barriers and facilitators of using a sport psychologist and high school athletes\u27 preferences for the types of services were ascertained. Each focus group session was audiotape recorded. The PSPS, the Ethnograph v5.0 computer program (1998), and four researchers were utilized to triangulate the data for themes. Major themes for male and female athletes were compared, and they perceptions of sport psychology were very similar. The only three major differences were on associations with the words sport psychology, descriptions of a sport psychologist, and reasons for not liking certain services. Overall, the male and female athletes had a positive attitude toward sport psychology. Both groups believed that the services could be beneficial to a wide variety of athletes, but did not feel that athletes and coaches had enough information about sport psychology

Understanding the coach -athlete dyad: The impact of educational interventions on perceptions and psychosocial variables.

With the understanding that coaches have a direct impact on the athletes with whom they work (Libman, 1998) and with the knowledge that this influence is complex (Weiss & Hayashi, 1996), it can be assumed that coaching education is of the utmost importance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the PASS IT Back program developed to help coaches address their specific players\u27 perceptions and preferences for the coach-athlete relationship. Nine boys\u27 high school soccer coaches and their respective teams were randomly placed in one of three categories: (1) control group, (2) feedback group receiving information about players\u27 perceptions and preferences, and (3) educational group receiving feedback and training about how to make changes in interactional style. Trends between the educational group and the other groups were found for perception subcategories and psychosocial variables, with self-confidence significantly improved; thus demonstrating the effectiveness of educational sessions in helping coaches work with their athletes from an interpersonal standpoint

Optimism and Female Volleyball Players’ Perceptions of Psychological Momentum

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/9950/8842-thumbnail.jpgMany athletes and spectators believe that experiencing and controlling psychological momentum is a critical component to achieving success in sport (Perreault, Vallerand, Montgomery, &amp; Provencher, 1998; Stanimirovic &amp; Hanrahan, 2004). Nevertheless, little is known regarding why some individuals perceive psychological momentum differently than others. This study was designed to determine if optimistic thinking has a relationship with psychological momentum perceptions in sport. Female Division I NCAA volleyball players (N = 68)completed the Life Orientation Test – Revised (Scheier, Carver, &amp; Bridges,1994), the Sport Attributional Style Scale - Short (Hanrahan &amp; Grove, 1990b), and a psychological momentum assessment. The results indicated that the attributional style constructs of intentionality and globality were significant predictors of psychological momentum perceptions. Also, participants had greater disagreement regarding the momentum value of early and late points in a set than those in between. Future attempts to measure psychological momentum perceptions should consider a mixed methods approach along with more ecologically valid assessment protocols.</p