Self-Determination of Contextual Motivation, Inter-Context Dynamics and Adolescents' Patterns of Sport Participation over Time

International audienceObjectives: Previous studies have shown the heuristic qualities of self-determination theory constructs to predict sport persistence. The purpose of this study was to extend these researches by focusing on the conflicting or instrumental relationship between sport and other life contexts (i.e., school and friendship) to enhance the understanding of this phenomenon. Design: A correlational longitudinal field design was used, including two data collections over one year. Method: Participants were 446 French high school students (mean age = 13.85). Self-determined motivation toward sport, school and friendship, perceived conflicts versus instrumental relationships between sport and the other contexts, and sport participation during leisure time were assessed at wave 1. One year later, participants completed the same self-report measure of sport practise. Results: Structural equation modelling revealed that (a) self-determined motivation toward sport, education and friendship was significantly related to the levels of conflict and instrumentality between those contexts and (b) a competing relationship between sport and education was negatively linked to sport participation at Time 2, whereas the other inter context relationships were not. Conclusion: Findings suggest that other contexts like education can undermine sport investment among adolescents

Relative Age Effect in Female Sport: A Diachronic Examination of Soccer Players

International audienceThe Relative Age Effect (RAE) is a biased distribution of elite athletes' birthdates, with an over-representation of those born at the beginning of the competitive year and an under-representation of those born at the end. Despite an abundant literature, the impact of sex on this phenomenon remains neglected by most researchers. This study investigated the whole sample of female soccer players affiliated to the French Soccer Federation for the 2006-2007 season (n = 57,892). It first aimed at testing the presence of RAE depending on age. Next, we looked at the birthdates of dropout players during the next season (n = 15,285), to test whether relative age accounts for dropout from the activity. The analyses revealed significant differences between the expected and observed distributions for all age categories. Furthermore, a significantly biased distribution of dropout players' birthdates was found for the less than 10, less than 14 and less than 17 categories. As a whole, dropout players are under-represented in Q1 and Q2, but over-represented in Q3 and Q4. This study completes the literature on RAE among females, but the inconsistency of the results calls for more research on this population

Psychological Characteristics and their Relation to Performance in Professional Golfers

International audienceThis study investigated the psychological characteristics of professional golfers and their relation to golf performance. The aims of the study were (a) to provide descriptive data on professional golfers, (b) to test possible differences between successful and unsuccessful players and (c) to estimate whether psychological characteristics could predict golf performance. The data were collected from 41 male professional golfers the day before an official competition. Results revealed that players who made the cut were characterized by higher scores on performance-approach goal, cognitive and somatic anxiety, relaxation strategies, attentional control, emotional control and lower score on performance-avoidance goal. Subsequently, a multiple regression analysis revealed that higher cognitive anxiety, more frequent use of relaxation strategies and emotional control strategies were associated with better player's ranking at the end of the competition

Stream ecosystems respond to riparian invasion by Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

There are growing concerns about the rapid spread of exotic plants into riparian zones, yet little information is currently available on their influence on stream ecosystems. This study assessed the impact of riparian invasion by Japa- nese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), an aggressive invader, on leaf litter breakdown and its associated biota (aquatic hyphomycete fungi and benthic invertebrates) in heterotrophic, low-order streams in The Pennines (England) and the Pyre- nees (France). Our results suggest that leaf consumers (aquatic hyphomycetes and invertebrate shredders) can readily use knotweed leaf litter even in stream sites where it was not previously present. However, aquatic hyphomycete and inverte- brate assemblages differed between stream sites with and without knotweed. Leaf litter breakdown rate and relative abun- dance of large invertebrate shredders (mainly Trichoptera) were enhanced in the Pyrenean invaded site, whose channel contained a high proportion of knotweed leaf litter, whereas no such effects were observed in The Pennines, possibly be- cause of the less extensive knotweed invasion. Alteration of riparian vegetation by plant invaders could therefore increas- ingly influence instream community and ecological functions as the severity of invasion rises

Relative Age Effect in Elite Sports: Methodological Bias or Real Discrimination?

Sport sciences researchers talk about a relative age effect when they observe a biased distribution of elite athletes' birthdates, with an over-representation of those born at the beginning of the competitive year and an under-representation of those born at the end. Using the whole sample of the French male licensed soccer players (n = 1,831,524), our study suggests that there could be an important bias in the statistical test of this effect. This bias could in turn lead to falsely conclude to a systemic discrimination in the recruitment of professional players. Our findings question the accuracy of past results concerning the existence of this effect at the elite level

Validación en español de las propiedades psicométricas de la Generic Multifaceted Automaticity Scale (GMAS) para actividades físicas

Esta investigación presenta la validación al español de la Generic Multifaceted Automaticity Scale (GMAS) elaborada y validada en francés por Boiché et al. (2016). Esta escala mide tres propiedades de la automaticidad aplicadas a las actividades físicas: (a) la falta de intencionalidad para activar un comportamiento; (b) la eficiencia en su ejecución; y (c) la dificultad para controlarlo una vez adoptado. Dos estudios evaluaron sus propiedades psicométricas. En el primer estudio (N= 245) se realizaron un análisis factorial, una estimación de la coherencia interna a través del alpha de Cronbach y de validez convergente. Se confirmó un modelo en tres factores: (a) falta de intencionalidad, (b) la eficiencia y (c) el control (χ²/df = 2,24; TLI = .96; CFI = .97; SRMR=.08 RMSEA = .08; 90 [.05 - .10]). La GMAS presentó una consistencia interna satisfactoria (α =.89). Asimismo, los resultados mostraron que cuanto mayor sea la automaticidad, mayores serán los niveles de actividad física. Un segundo estudio (N=151) mostró que la automaticidad predijo significativamente la adopción de los transportes activos (β =.29; p < .05) independientemente de las intenciones. La GMAS es un instrumento válido en español para evaluar las propiedades automáticas de las actividades físicas.This research presents the Spanish validation of the Generic Multifaceted Automaticity Scale (GMAS) developed and validated in French by Boiché et al. (2016). This scale measures three properties of automaticity applied to physical activities: (a) the intentionality to activate a behaviour; (b) the efficiency of its execution; and (c) the difficulty to control it once adopted. Two studies evaluated its psychometric properties. Two studies evaluate the GMAS psychometric properties. In the first study (N= 245), a factorial analysis, reliability estimation by Cronbach's alpha, and convergent validity analysis were performed. A three-factor model was confirmed: (a) lack of intentionality, (b) efficiency and (c) control (χ²/df = 2,24; TLI = .96; CFI = .97; SRMR=.08 RMSEA = .08; 90 [.05 - .10]) with a good internal consistency (α =.89). The results show that high levels of automaticity are related to high levels of physical activity. The second study (N=151) shows that automaticity predicts the adoption of active modes of transportation, over and beyond intentions (β = .29; p < .05). These results suggest that the Spanish version of the GMAS is a valid instrument to evaluate the automatic properties of physical activity behaviours.Esta estudo apresenta a validação em espanhol da Generic Multifaceted Automaticity Scale (GMAS) elaborada e validada em francês por Boiché et al. (2016). Esta escala mede três propriedades de automaticidade aplicadas às atividades físicas: (a) a intencionalidade de ativar um comportamento; (b) a eficiência de sua execução; e (c) a dificuldade de controlá-lo uma vez adotado. Dois estudos avaliaram as propriedades psicométricas do GMAS. No primeiro estudo (N = 245) foi realizado análise fatorial, estimação de fiabilidade pelo alpha de Cronbach e validação de convergência. Um modelo de três fatores foi confirmado: a) falta de intencionalidade, b) eficiência e c) controlo (χ²/df = 2,24; TLI = .96; CFI = .97; SRMR=.08 RMSEA = .08; 90 [.05 - .10]) e uma boa consistência interna (α =.89). Conjuntamente, altos níveis de automaticidade foram correlacionados com altos níveis de atividade física. O segundo estudo (N = 151) revelou que a automaticidade previu a adoção de modos ativos de transporte, para além das intenções (β =.29; p < .05). A versão em espanhol do GMAS é um instrumento válido para avaliar as propriedades automáticas dos comportamentos relacionados a atividade física

Matched or nonmatched interventions based on the transtheoretical model to promote physical activity. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

The aim of this study was to examine whether the efficacy of transtheoretical model (TTM)–based interventions on physical activity (PA) varied according to the following criteria: (1) interventions targeted the actual stages of change (SOCs) or did not; (2) participants were selected according to their SOC or were not; and (3) its theoretical constructs (decisional balance, temptation, self-efficacy, processes of change). Thirty-three randomized controlled trials assessing TTM-based interventions promoting PA in adults were systematically identified. The between-group heterogeneity statistic (Qb) did not reveal any differential efficacy either in interventions targeting the actual SOC compared with those that did not (Qb = 1.28, p = 0.22) or in interventions selecting participants according to their SOC compared with those that did not (Qb = 0.01, p = 0.91). TTM-based interventions enhanced PA behavior whether they targeted the actual SOC (Cohen's d = 0.36; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22–0.49)) or not (d = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.09–0.38) and whether they selected their participants according to their SOC (d = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13–0.53) or not (d = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.19–0.44). The moderators of the efficacy of TTM-based interventions were the number of theoretical constructs used to tailor the intervention (Qb = 8.82, p = 0.003), the use of self-efficacy (Qb =6.09, p = 0.01), and the processes of change (Qb = 3.51, p = 0.06). TTM-based interventions significantly improved PA behavior, and their efficacy was not moderated by SOC but by the TTM theoretical constructs

The effect of an intervention to improve newly qualified teachers’ interpersonal style, students motivation and psychological need satisfaction in sport-based physical education

Recent developments in self-determination theory research in the educational setting (e.g., Reeve, Deci, & Ryan, 2004), suggest that teachers’ interpersonal style should be considered as consisting of three dimensions: autonomy-support, structure and interpersonal involvement. Based on this theoretical proposition, the purpose of the present study was to test the effects of a training program for three physical education newly qualified teachers on the aforementioned teachers’ overt behaviors and students’ psychological needs satisfaction, self-determined motivation and engagement in sport-based physical education. After a baseline period of four lessons, the teachers attended an informational session on adaptive student motivation and how to support it. The training program also included individualized guidance during the last four lessons of the cycle. Results revealed that from pre- to post-intervention: (1) teachers managed to improve their teaching style in terms of all three dimensions, and (2) students were receptive to these changes, as shown by increases in their reported need satisfaction, self-determined motivation and engagement in the class

The effects of an experimental programme to support students’ autonomy on the overt behaviours of physical education teachers

Although the benefits of autonomy supportive behaviours are now well established in the literature, very few studies have attempted to train teachers to offer a greater autonomy support to their students. In fact, none of these studies has been carried out in physical education (PE). The purpose of this study is to test the effects of an autonomy-supportive training on overt behaviours of teaching among PE teachers. The experimental group included two PE teachers who were first educated on the benefits of an autonomy supportive style and then followed an individualised guidance programme during the 8 lessons of a teaching cycle. Their behaviours were observed and rated along 3 categories (i.e., autonomy supportive, neutral and controlling) and were subsequently compared to those of three teachers who formed the control condition. The results showed that teachers in the experimental group used more autonomy supportive and neutral behaviours than those in the control group, but no difference emerged in relation to controlling behaviours. We discuss the implications for schools of our findings