Choking interventions in sports : A systematic review

Choking under pressure describes suboptimal sport performance in stressful situations, which has led to two fundamental ‘choking’ models: distraction and self-focus. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of empirical studies that have tested interventions used to alleviate choking. The systematic review includes 47 empirical studies published up to April 2017, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and single-case studies with athletes. These studies encompassed a variety of interventions (n = 13) that were either distraction based or self-focus based. In addition, a third group–acclimatisation interventions–was identified. The results indicate that, in general, choking interventions based on both choking models and on acclimatisation provide a benefit to performance under pressure. The most reported effective interventions were pre-performance routines, quiet eye training, left-hand contractions, and acclimatisation training. The use of dual task was beneficial for performance under pressure but harmful when used in training. Mixed evidence was found for analogy learning, and null effects were reported for goal setting, neurofeedback training, and reappraisal cues. These results may help athletes and coaches select and implement effective strategies and methods to improve performance under pressure

On the theory of life balance: The relation to subjective well-being and the role of self-regulation

The purpose of this work was to investigate basic personality mechanisms underlying life balance, to specify why life balance is beneficial for peoples well-being, and to identify specific self-regulatory competences that affect that balance. The approach of life balance was initially conceived of in terms of the work-family balance or the work-family conflict. Addressing the suggestion that the work-life system is multi- and not just two dimensional, life balance as a multidimensional construct was operationalized and investigated in the present research. Life balance was defined in terms of appropriate proportion of time spent in major life domains that comprises of activities related to work, social contact and family, health, and the overall meaningfulness of life. Two life balance measurements - the Life-Balance Checklist and the Life-Balance Questionnaire - were constructed as a part of this research. Both measures were found to have sufficient internal and external validity. The main findings were: (a) the congruence of needs, goals and goal attainment within the time invested in goal-relevant behavior predicted the level of life balance and may be viewed as a mechanism underlying life balance; (b) the fulfillment of psychological needs mediated the relationship between life balance and subjective well-being; (c) affective coping (i.e., action orientation) buffered the negative impact of stress on life balance; (d) time management behavior was found to have a positive impact on life balance through improved perception of control over time and reduced procrastination; and (e) persons especially skilled in self-motivation and self-relaxation reported to high competence to choose and attain self-concordant goals (i.e., self-determination) and, as a result, to balance their time spent across life domains more effectively

Long-term exercise and adolescents' attention

Dataset of the manuscript "Effects of 8-Week Endurance, Strength, and Coordination Exercise Interventions on Attention in Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Study"</p

Achievement motive and sport participation

Three studies investigated the relationship between the achievement motive and sport participation. It was expected that both the implicit and the explicit achievement motives are positively associated with how frequently people engage in sport activities. The implicit achievement motive was assessed with indirect motive measures; the explicit achievement motive was either inferred from participants’ personal goals or measured with self-reports. Two hundred five athletes participated including college students enrolled in leisure sport programs offered at their university (Study 1), amateur athletes registered in sports clubs (Study 2), and elite tennis athletes (Study 3). The implicit achievement motive consistently predicted sport participation in all three studies. In contrast, the explicit achievement motive was uncorrelated with sport participation. The interaction between the two motives did not yield an effect on sport participation. The results indicate that the implicit, unconscious need to achieve facilitates regular engagement in sport activities, but the explicit, conscious orientation toward achievement does not. The enrichment of sports environments with incentives for the implicit achievement motive may thus attract more people to participate in sport activities.publishe

Physical fitness and adolescents' attention

Dataset of the paper "Physical Fitness Is Related to Concentration Performance in Adolescents"</p

Implizite und explizite Motive von Leistungs- und Freizeitsporttreibenden

Nach Krug und Kuhl (2006) sollten die Motivprofile von Leistungssportlern eine Passung zu den Anforderungen der jeweiligen Sportart aufweisen. Diesen Annahmen zufolge sollten bei Leistungssporttreibenden insbesondere das Leistungs- und Machtmotiv dominant sein. Im Rahmen zweier Studien wurde die Stärke des Macht-, Leistungs- und Anschlussmotivs von Leistungssporttreibenden mit denen von Freizeitsporttreibenden verglichen. In Studie 1 wurden die Motivprofile von 29 Leistungssporttreibenden mit denen von 34 Freizeitsportreibenden aus technik- und ausdauerorientierten Sportarten verglichen. An Studie 2 nahmen 86 Tennis-, Tischtennis- und Badmintonspieler als Hochleistungssportler teil deren Motivprofile mit denen von 57 Freizeitsporttreibenden aus interaktiven Sportarten verglichen wurden. Die impliziten Motive wurden mit Bildgeschichtenübungen (Picture Story Exercise, Operanter Motive Test) erhoben, die expliziten Motive mit Fragebögen (Zielsetzungsinventar, Personality Research Form). Die Ergebnisse bestätigen die Annahmen, dass Leistungssporttreibende höhere implizite und explizite Leistungsmotive als Freizeitsporttreibende zeigen. Die Unterschiede in den Anschlussmotiven und impliziten Machtmotiv wurden nur bei Hochleistungssportlern aus interaktiven Sportarten (Studie 2) gefunden

Does knowledge of physical activity recommendations increase physical activity among Chinese college students? Empirical investigations based on the transtheoretical model

Background: Based on the transtheoretical model, the current study investigated whether awareness of physical activity (PA) recommendations had an impact on the stages of PA behavior change and levels of PA among Chinese college students. Methods: In Study 1, with a cross-sectional study design, 9826 students were recruited, and their knowledge of international PA recommendations, PA stage distribution, and self-reported PA level were surveyed. Pearson's χ2 test was used to test whether those participants who were aware and not aware of PA guidelines were equally distributed across the stages of PA behavior, and independent t test was conducted to test the group difference in the actual levels of PA. In Study 2, 279 students who were not aware of the PA recommendations were randomly allocated to either an intervention group or a control group, and only those in the intervention group were presented with international PA guidelines. In both groups, students' PA stages and PA level were examined before the test and then 4 months post-test. McNemar's test for correlated proportions and repeated-measures analysis of variance were conducted to examine the changes in PA stage membership and PA level after the intervention. Results: Study 1 results revealed that only 4.4% of the surveyed students had correct knowledge of PA recommendations. Those who were aware of the recommendations were in later stages of PA behavior (χ2(4) = 167.19, p < 0.001). They were also significantly more physically active than those who were not aware of the recommendations (t(443.71) = 9.00, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.53). Study 2 results demonstrated that the intervention group participants who were at the precontemplation and contemplation stages at the pre-test each progressed further in the PA stages in the post-test (χ2(1) = 112.06, p < 0.001; χ2(1) = 118.76, p = 0.03, respectively), although no significant change in PA level was observed (t(139) < 1, p = 0.89). Conclusion: The results showed that awareness of the PA recommendations was associated with higher stages and levels of PA behavior, and a brief educational exposure to PA recommendations led to improved stages of PA behavior but no change in the levels of PA among Chinese college students. More effective public health campaign strategies are needed to promote the dissemination of the PA recommendations and to raise the awareness of the Chinese student population

An investigation into handedness and choking under pressure in sport

When athletes fail to perform at an expected level during an important moment, it is implied the athletes have experienced “choking“ (sudden decline in performance) under pressure.”. Researchers have reported that persistent left-hemispheric activation patterns occur when an athlete experiences considerable performance deteriorations under pressure. Researchers have also observed differences in brain activation patterns between left- and right-handed people on a variety of physical and cognitive tests, with the left-hemispheric activation more pronounced in right-handed participants. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether athletes’ handedness may be linked to choking susceptibility (i.e., likelihood to experience performance decline under pressure). Method: Twenty right-handed and 13 left-handed experienced Australian football players completed 15 shot attempts, in both a low-pressure and a high-pressure condition. Both groups displayed equal state anxiety increases due to the pressure manipulation, indicating similar increases in anxiety in both handedness groups. Results: Differences were indicated in performance between the left- and right-handed groups during the high-pressure condition, with the left-handed group maintaining, and the right-handed participants declining, performance. Conclusion: Future electroencephalogram (EEG) research investigating this link may clarify the effect between handedness and choking

Effects of tailored interventions for anxiety management in choking-susceptible performing artists: a mixed-methods collective case study

IntroductionNot being able to manage performance anxiety and subsequently experiencing a decline in performance have been called “choking under pressure”. High trait anxiety and fear of negative evaluation, as well as low self-efficacy or self-confidence, can put performers especially at risk of experiencing choking. This study, therefore, examined the effects of psychological choking interventions tailored to “choking-susceptible” performing artists individually in a coaching setting.MethodsWe conducted a mixed-methods (QUANT + QUAL) collective case study with nine performing artists, who each received five individual coaching sessions. The tailored choking interventions comprised acclimatization training, goal setting, and pre-performance routines, including elements such as imagery, self-talk, and relaxation techniques. Before and after the 10-week intervention phase, they filled in questionnaires on trait performance anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, and self-efficacy, performed in front of a jury, and were interviewed about their experiences. Transcripts of interviews and coaching sessions were analyzed using thematic analysis. Heart rate measurements, weekly performance videos, and expert evaluations were also part of our comprehensive data.ResultsQuantitative data showed reductions in performance anxiety and fear of negative evaluation, and increases in self-efficacy and performance quality, from before to after the intervention phase. Most participants also had a lower heart rate when performing for the jury. Themes from qualitative analysis comprised managing nervousness and feeling more relaxed, becoming more self-confident, satisfaction with artistic and mental performance, feeling good and enjoying performing, and general positive effects.ConclusionTailoring psychological interventions may provide several benefits for choking-susceptible performing artists