A preliminary exploration of the application of self-compassion within the context of sport injury

Self-compassion is a useful coping tool to enhance adaptive coping, promote well-being, and reduce anxiety in the face of stress (Neff, 2003a; Allen & Leary, 2010). Studies exploring the role of self-compassion within the context of sport indicate the utility of self-compassion for female athletes in coping with negative events in sport (Mosewich et al., 2013), promoting positivity and responsibility (Ferguson et al., 2014), and reducing negative self-evaluative thoughts (Mosewich et al, 2011). Within the context of Williams and Andersen\u27s (1998) stress-injury framework and the moderating effect of coping resources on injury susceptibility, self-compassion was newly explored. Specifically, this study aimed to determine the role of self-compassion as a coping resource and a tool to cognitively reframe stressful sport and life experiences in collegiate athletes. The subsequent impact on frequency and severity of injury was also explored. Participants were collegiate athletes (n = 117) who participated in NCAA Division II sports at one university in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. A prospective study design was used to evaluate the associations between baseline measures of stress, anxiety and coping and frequency or severity of injury during the competitive season. Bi-variate analyses and multiple linear regression modeling were used to analyze the results. Findings indicated that self-compassion may buffer the experience of somatic anxiety (rs= -.436, p \u3c .001) and worry ( rs= -.351, p \u3c .001) in collegiate athletes and reduce the engagement of avoidance-focused coping strategies (rs= -.362, p \u3c .001). However, several of the findings were in contrast with self-compassion research in the general population, which included a negative association between self-compassion and emotion-focused coping (rs= -.259, p \u3c .001). There were no significant findings related to the role of self-compassion in injury risk reduction. Findings that focused specifically on the traditional components of Williams and Andersen\u27s stress-injury model were also mixed. A negative association was found between positive life stress and frequency of injury (rs= -.257, p \u3c .05), suggesting that certain positive experiences may be reduce injury risk. Additionally, negative life stress was negatively associated with emotion-focused (rs= -.242, p \u3c .05) and avoidance-focused coping (rs = -.249, p \u3c .05 ). However, there were no significant findings for negative life stress and injury. In summary, findings confirmed the role of several psychological factors in the stress-injury framework and indicated that there may be some use for self-compassion within the context of sport. There is a need to further assess levels of self-compassion in collegiate athletes as well as the role of self-compassion as a focus for interventions to lower stress, anxiety and injury susceptibility

Coaching life skills through sport: An application of the teaching personal and social responsibility model to youth sport in eSwatini

Adolescence is a formative developmental period where youth learn the life skills and values needed to become compassionate and civically-engaged young people and navigate increasingly challenging global environments. Youth in eSwatini face major context-specific challenges that impede their healthy development as well as limited engagement with government initiatives intended to support their development. This feasibility study aimed to employ youth sport as a creative and engaging context to facilitate life skills development in underprivileged youth in eSwatini. Specifically, this study explored the youth participation experiences, positive youth outcomes, and implementation successes and challenges of a sport program for underprivileged youth in a community in eSwatini. The sport program was designed using the teaching personal and social responsibility (TPSR) model, which is a well-established instructional model for life skills education through sport. Although this model had been widely applied in Western contexts, the current study explored how the model might operate differently in a non-Western context where youth face different developmental challenges. An intervention design was employed to implement a three-week sport program for youth in a small community in the Lobamba region of eSwatini. Local coaches were the primary implementers of the program and participants were youth (N=33), aged 11-15 years old, who attended the grade six and seven literacy development afternoon club at a community-based children’s organization. Findings from the current feasibility study provided further support for the value of using the TPSR framework in the design and implementation of sport-based life skills education programming in a novel youth context in eSwatini. The focus of the model on building caring coach-youth relationships, creating an enjoyable sport experience, fostering small successes, and providing intentional opportunities for youth to actively practice and engage in their own learning were the most meaningful elements of the model in the current youth context. The developmental outcomes and changes in life skills associated with participation in the current program may also be highly pertinent to helping youth navigate the most salient health and resource challenges in the community. Notably, the current study also identified culture and context-specific considerations that should be made when implementing TPSR-based youth programming in eSwatini. These included, but are not limited to, adaptations to the awareness talk and self-reflection time, the use of active learning strategies and behavioral management techniques, and the provision of fruit and food to meet basic survival needs. Continued future explorations of the program design elements and coaching strategies that most meaningfully contribute to a holistic youth development and a positive sport participation experience in eSwatini is warranted

Effects of Mantra Meditation versus Music Listening on Knee Pain, Function, and Related Outcomes in Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: An Exploratory Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT)

Objective. Disease-modifying treatments for OA remain elusive, and commonly used medications can have serious side effects. Although meditation and music listening (ML) have been shown to improve outcomes in certain chronic pain populations, research in OA is sparse. In this pilot RCT, we explore the effects of two mind-body practices, mantra meditation (MM) and ML, on knee pain, function, and related outcomes in adults with knee OA. Methods. Twenty-two older ambulatory adults diagnosed with knee OA were randomized to a MM (N=11) or ML program (N=11) and asked to practice 15-20 minutes, twice daily for 8 weeks. Core outcomes included knee pain (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS] and Numeric Rating Scale), knee function (KOOS), and perceived OA severity (Patient Global Assessment). Additional outcomes included perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), mood (Profile of Mood States), sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and health-related quality of life (QOL, SF-36). Participants were assessed at baseline and following completion of the program. Results. Twenty participants (91%) completed the study (9 MM, 11 ML). Compliance was excellent; participants completed an average of 12.1±0.83 sessions/week. Relative to baseline, participants in both groups demonstrated improvement post-intervention in all core outcomes, including knee pain, function, and perceived OA severity, as well as improvement in mood, perceived stress, and QOL (Physical Health) (p’s≤0.05). Relative to ML, the MM group showed greater improvements in overall mood and sleep (p’s≤0.04), QOL-Mental Health (p\u3c0.07), kinesiophobia (p=0.09), and two domains of the KOOS (p’s\u3c0.09). Conclusions. Findings of this exploratory RCT suggest that a simple MM and, possibly, ML program may be effective in reducing knee pain and dysfunction, decreasing stress, and improving mood, sleep, and QOL in adults with knee OA

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

Effects of Mantra Meditation versus Music Listening on Knee Pain, Function, and Related Outcomes in Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: An Exploratory Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT)

Objective. Disease-modifying treatments for OA remain elusive, and commonly used medications can have serious side effects. Although meditation and music listening (ML) have been shown to improve outcomes in certain chronic pain populations, research in OA is sparse. In this pilot RCT, we explore the effects of two mind-body practices, mantra meditation (MM) and ML, on knee pain, function, and related outcomes in adults with knee OA. Methods. Twenty-two older ambulatory adults diagnosed with knee OA were randomized to a MM (N=11) or ML program (N=11) and asked to practice 15-20 minutes, twice daily for 8 weeks. Core outcomes included knee pain (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS] and Numeric Rating Scale), knee function (KOOS), and perceived OA severity (Patient Global Assessment). Additional outcomes included perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), mood (Profile of Mood States), sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and health-related quality of life (QOL, SF-36). Participants were assessed at baseline and following completion of the program. Results. Twenty participants (91%) completed the study (9 MM, 11 ML). Compliance was excellent; participants completed an average of 12.1±0.83 sessions/week. Relative to baseline, participants in both groups demonstrated improvement post-intervention in all core outcomes, including knee pain, function, and perceived OA severity, as well as improvement in mood, perceived stress, and QOL (Physical Health) (p’s≤0.05). Relative to ML, the MM group showed greater improvements in overall mood and sleep (p’s≤0.04), QOL-Mental Health (p<0.07), kinesiophobia (p=0.09), and two domains of the KOOS (p’s<0.09). Conclusions. Findings of this exploratory RCT suggest that a simple MM and, possibly, ML program may be effective in reducing knee pain and dysfunction, decreasing stress, and improving mood, sleep, and QOL in adults with knee OA