Are German coaches highly exhausted? A study of differences in personal and environmental factors

Previous research has produced equivocal findings in regard to personal and environmental parameters influencing coaches’ perceptions of stress and burnout levels. Moreover, there is a paucity of studies examining these factors in European professional sport contexts. This study investigated the influence of person-related (e.g., age, hours per week, level of recovery, coaching alternatives, experience as an assistant), sport-related (e.g., type of sport, working in youth or senior section, level of performing), and perception-related variables (e.g., feeling of meaningfulness, financial security) in relation to burnout of German full-time coaches. One-hundred and fifty eight coaches of different sports and levels completed a demographical survey, a German coaches’ version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Coaches. Two contrasting groups were formed to compare coaches with the lowest scores in Emotional Exhaustion (lowest 20%) and the highest scores in Emotional Exhaustion (highest 20%). Overall Stress (β = 3.92, p < .001) and Overall Recovery (β = -2.86, p < .001) demonstrated significant effects on Emotional Exhaustion within multiple regression analysis. Moreover, the variables sense of well-being (r = -.46, p < .001), feeling of meaningfulness (r = -.28, p < .001) showed significant relationships to the key burnout symptom of Emotional Exhaustion. The extreme group comparison indicated significant differences in person-related and perception-related parameters. Recovery as well as social support might be important in managing stress in the challenging work environments of full-time coaches. Additionally, the perception of the current coaching job might be more important than context-related variables (e.g., type of sport, level)

Early Risk Detection of Burnout: Development of the Burnout Prevention Questionnaire for Coaches

Introduction: Previous research has shown that burnout develops as the result of a continuous imbalance between chronic stress and appropriate coping resources. Hence, the essential factors to measure burnout encompassed the factors stress and recovery within our studies. However, the Burnout Prevention Questionnaire for Coaches (BPQ-C) does not represent a new questionnaire from scratch, but rather a re-evaluated, condensed, and subsequently combined instrument with scales derived from validated psychometric instruments.Methods: The objective of study 1 (N = 233) was to create and evaluate the psychometric structure of the BPQ-C. The aim of study 2 (N = 473) consisted in the validation of the BPQ-C via a Confirmatory Factor Analysis.Results: The Exploratory Factor Analysis resulted in a model with three dimensions (Pre-Burnout, Resources, and Burnout). Via the subsequent Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the model could be confirmed with good fit indices (χ2 = 96.898, df = 19, p &lt; 0.001, CFI = 0.973, SRMR = 0.044, RMSEA = 0.093, LO90 = 0.075, HI90 = 0.112).Conclusion: The BPQ-C includes a number of previously established risk and protective factors within a single psychometric instrument. The systematic application of the BPQ-C can help to detect critical conditions at an early stage in order to derive individualized and beneficial interventions for the respective coaches

Stable Frequencies of HLA-C*03:04/Peptide-Binding KIR2DL2/3+ Natural Killer Cells Following Vaccination

Inhibitory KIRs play a central role in regulating NK cell activity. KIR2DL2/3 bind to HLA-C molecules, but the modulation of these interactions by viral infections and presentation of viral epitopes is not well-understood. We investigated whether the frequencies of KIR2DL2/3+ NK cells recognizing HLA-C*03:04/viral peptide complexes were impacted by YFV vaccination or HIV-1 and HCV infection. Ex vivo HLA class I tetramer staining of primary human NK cells derived from YFV-vaccinated individuals, or HIV-1- or HCV-infected individuals revealed that the YFV/HLA-C*03:04-NS2A4−13-tetramer bound to a larger proportion of KIR2DL2/3+ NK cells compared to HIV-1/HLA-C*03:04-Gag296−304- or HCV/HLA-C*03:04-Core136−144-tetramers. The YFV/HLA-C*03:04-NS2A4−13-tetramer also exhibited a stronger avidity to KIR2DL2/3 compared to the other tested tetramers. The proportional frequencies of KIR2DL2/3+ NK cells binding to the three tested HLA-C*03:04 tetramers were identical between YFV-vaccinated individuals or HIV-1- or HCV-infected individuals, and remained stable following YFV vaccination. These data demonstrate consistent hierarchies in the frequency of primary KIR2DL2/3+ NK cells binding HLA-C*03:04/peptide complexes that were determined by the HLA-C-presented peptide and not modulated by the underlying viral infection or vaccination

HLA-DPA1*02:01~B1*01:01 is a risk haplotype for primary sclerosing cholangitis mediating activation of NKp44+ NK cells

Objective Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is characterised by bile duct strictures and progressive liver disease, eventually requiring liver transplantation. Although the pathogenesis of PSC remains incompletely understood, strong associations with HLA-class II haplotypes have been described. As specific HLA-DP molecules can bind the activating NK-cell receptor NKp44, we investigated the role of HLA-DP/NKp44-interactions in PSC. Design Liver tissue, intrahepatic and peripheral blood lymphocytes of individuals with PSC and control individuals were characterised using flow cytometry, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses. HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1 imputation and association analyses were performed in 3408 individuals with PSC and 34 213 controls. NK cell activation on NKp44/HLA-DP interactions was assessed in vitro using plate-bound HLA-DP molecules and HLA-DPB wildtype versus knock-out human cholangiocyte organoids. Results NKp44+NK cells were enriched in livers, and intrahepatic bile ducts of individuals with PSC showed higher expression of HLA-DP. HLA-DP haplotype analysis revealed a highly elevated PSC risk for HLA-DPA1*02:01~B1*01:01 (OR 1.99, p=6.7×10-50). Primary NKp44+NK cells exhibited significantly higher degranulation in response to plate-bound HLA-DPA1*02:01-DPB1*01:01 compared with control HLA-DP molecules, which were inhibited by anti-NKp44-blocking. Human cholangiocyte organoids expressing HLA-DPA1*02:01-DPB1*01:01 after IFN-γ-exposure demonstrated significantly increased binding to NKp44-Fc constructs compared with unstimulated controls. Importantly, HLA-DPA1*02:01-DPB1*01:01-expressing organoids increased degranulation of NKp44+NK cells compared with HLA-DPB1-KO organoids. Conclusion Our studies identify a novel PSC risk haplotype HLA-DP A1*02:01~DPB1*01:01 and provide clinical and functional data implicating NKp44+NK cells that recognise HLA-DPA1*02:01-DPB1*01:01 expressed on cholangiocytes in PSC pathogenesis

HLA-DP on Epithelial Cells Enables Tissue Damage by NKp44+ Natural Killer Cells in Ulcerative Colitis

Background &amp; aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by severe inflammation and destruction of the intestinal epithelium, and is associated with specific risk single nucleotide polymorphisms in HLA class II. Given the recently discovered interactions between subsets of HLA-DP molecules and the activating natural killer (NK) cell receptor NKp44, genetic associations of UC and HLA-DP haplotypes and their functional implications were investigated.Methods: HLA-DP haplotype and UC risk association analyses were performed (UC: n = 13,927; control: n = 26,764). Expression levels of HLA-DP on intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in individuals with and without UC were quantified. Human intestinal 3-dimensional (3D) organoid cocultures with human NK cells were used to determine functional consequences of interactions between HLA-DP and NKp44.Results: These studies identified HLA-DPA1∗01:03-DPB1∗04:01 (HLA-DP401) as a risk haplotype and HLA-DPA1∗01:03-DPB1∗03:01 (HLA-DP301) as a protective haplotype for UC in European populations. HLA-DP expression was significantly higher on IECs of individuals with UC compared with controls. IECs in human intestinal 3D organoids derived from HLA-DP401pos individuals showed significantly stronger binding of NKp44 compared with HLA-DP301pos IECs. HLA-DP401pos IECs in organoids triggered increased degranulation and tumor necrosis factor production by NKp44+ NK cells in cocultures, resulting in enhanced epithelial cell death compared with HLA-DP301pos organoids. Blocking of HLA-DP401-NKp44 interactions (anti-NKp44) abrogated NK cell activity in cocultures.Conclusions: We identified an UC risk HLA-DP haplotype that engages NKp44 and activates NKp44+ NK cells, mediating damage to intestinal epithelial cells in an HLA-DP haplotype-dependent manner. The molecular interaction between NKp44 and HLA-DP401 in UC can be targeted by therapeutic interventions to reduce NKp44+ NK cell-mediated destruction of the intestinal epithelium in UC

HLA-DP on Epithelial Cells Enables Tissue Damage by NKp44+ Natural Killer Cells in Ulcerative Colitis

Background &amp; aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by severe inflammation and destruction of the intestinal epithelium, and is associated with specific risk single nucleotide polymorphisms in HLA class II. Given the recently discovered interactions between subsets of HLA-DP molecules and the activating natural killer (NK) cell receptor NKp44, genetic associations of UC and HLA-DP haplotypes and their functional implications were investigated.Methods: HLA-DP haplotype and UC risk association analyses were performed (UC: n = 13,927; control: n = 26,764). Expression levels of HLA-DP on intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in individuals with and without UC were quantified. Human intestinal 3-dimensional (3D) organoid cocultures with human NK cells were used to determine functional consequences of interactions between HLA-DP and NKp44.Results: These studies identified HLA-DPA1∗01:03-DPB1∗04:01 (HLA-DP401) as a risk haplotype and HLA-DPA1∗01:03-DPB1∗03:01 (HLA-DP301) as a protective haplotype for UC in European populations. HLA-DP expression was significantly higher on IECs of individuals with UC compared with controls. IECs in human intestinal 3D organoids derived from HLA-DP401pos individuals showed significantly stronger binding of NKp44 compared with HLA-DP301pos IECs. HLA-DP401pos IECs in organoids triggered increased degranulation and tumor necrosis factor production by NKp44+ NK cells in cocultures, resulting in enhanced epithelial cell death compared with HLA-DP301pos organoids. Blocking of HLA-DP401-NKp44 interactions (anti-NKp44) abrogated NK cell activity in cocultures.Conclusions: We identified an UC risk HLA-DP haplotype that engages NKp44 and activates NKp44+ NK cells, mediating damage to intestinal epithelial cells in an HLA-DP haplotype-dependent manner. The molecular interaction between NKp44 and HLA-DP401 in UC can be targeted by therapeutic interventions to reduce NKp44+ NK cell-mediated destruction of the intestinal epithelium in UC

„Bin ich bereit?“: Evaluation der Wirksamkeit eines Programms zur Vermittlung von Fertigkeiten im Umgang mit Drucksituationen

In dieser Studie soll die Wirksamkeit des Programms „Ready2Perform“ untersucht werden. Der Online-Kurs "Ready2Perform" zielt darauf ab, Menschen die nötigen Kompetenzen zu vermitteln, um Druck- bzw. Leistungssituationen zu meistern. Es richtet sich an Personen, die in Prüfungen, Leistungstests, Präsentationen oder kritischen Momenten wie Notfallsituationen oder beruflichen Herausforderungen ihre Fähigkeiten unter Beweis stellen müssen oder möchten. Drucksituationen sollten hierbei von Stresssituationen abgegrenzt werden (Weisinger &amp; Pawliw-Fry, 2015). Während sich Stress sich auf die Situation bezieht, in der zu viele Anforderungen und nicht genügend Ressourcen - Zeit, Geld, Energie - vorhanden sind, um ihnen gerecht zu werden, umfasst Druck Situationen, in der die betroffene Person wahrnimmt, dass vom Ergebnis der eigenen Leistung das Eintreten erheblicher Konsequenzen einhergeht. Diese können sozialer (z. B. Abwertung, Ausschluss aus einer Gruppe), finanzieller (z. B. erhebliches Preisgeld, Erreichen einer Position, die erhöhten Benefit ermöglicht bzw. beim Nicht-Erreichen erhebliche Einbußen) und existenzieller (z. B. hohe Verletzungs- oder gar Todesrisiko für sich oder Andere) Natur sein. Unangenehme affektive Zustände (z. B. Unsicherheit, Angst), körperliche Stressreaktionen (z. B. erhöhter Puls, Anspannung, Zittern) und mentale Symptome (z. B. eingeengter Fokus, Sorgengedanken) gehen mit Druck- bzw. Leistungssituationen einher. Grundsätzlich dienen diese Empfindungen der Leistungsoptimierung (Kamata, Tenenbaum &amp; Hanin, 2002). Sie können aber von Personen als aversiv erlebt werden, so dass dies in einem Performance-Breakdown endet (Laborde, 2016). Betroffene erleben diese Empfindungen teils als so hinderlich oder unangenehm, dass sie versuchen, diese mit dysfunktionalen Methoden zu bewältigen (Kenny, Driscoll &amp; Ackermann, 2014). Zudem kann das Erleben oder das Empfinden, persönlich relevante Situationen nicht oder nur mit Schwierigkeiten zu bewältigen, große Auswirkungen auf das Selbstkonzept und für die persönliche Gesundheit haben. Folglich wäre die Vermittlung funktionaler Kompetenzen im Umgang mit aufkommenden Gedanken und Gefühlen in Druck- und Leistungssituationen ein sinnvoller Schritt zur Prävention von gesundheitlichen Kosten und schädlichen Umgangsformen sein (Biswal &amp; Srivastava, 2022; Kardels &amp; Beine, 2006). Die vermittelten Ansätze im Programm „Ready2Perform“ umfassen Techniken der Akzeptanz &amp; Commitment-Therapie, der kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie und der Sportpsychologie, die jeweils einzeln in wissenschaftlichen Studien in ihrer Wirksamkeit bereits nachgewiesen wurden. Anhand der Messinstrumente Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC.10), Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS-D), die deutsche Version des Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ) und der Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ) soll erhoben werden, ob die Proband*innen in diesem Kurs die Kompetenzen im Umgang mit Symptomen (z. B. Sorgen, Unsicherheit, körperliche Reaktionen), die mit Drucksituationen einhergehen, erlernen. Es soll ein Wartegruppen-Design durchgeführt werden, welches eine randomisierte Stichprobe enthält. Erfasst werden quantitative, sowie wichtige demographische Daten. Die Erfassung der Daten soll durch Prä-, Zwischen- und Post-Messungen sichergestellt werden

Burnout bei Trainern

Trainer gehören zu einer Berufsgruppe, die durch ihre Arbeitsstrukturen regelmäßig emotionalen und körperlichen Stresssituationen ausgesetzt sind. Dennoch wurde dieses Feld bislang in der deutschsprachigen Forschung vernachlässigt. Aus diesem Grund sollte in der vorliegenden Arbeit untersucht werden, welche Faktoren an der Ausbildung eines Burnouts bei deutschen hauptberuflichen Trainern beteiligt sind und wie sich die Burnoutsymptome im Verlauf einer Saison entwickeln. Um ein spezifischeres Bild des Trainerberufs zu erlangen und hauptberufliche Trainer von nebenberuflichen bzw. ehrenamtlichen Trainern abgrenzen zu können, wurden die Erholungs-Beanspruchungs-Bilanzen der jeweiligen Trainer analysiert. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit unterstreichen den Einfluss der persönlichen Wahrnehmung der eigenen Situation, die persönliche Erholung sowie einflussnehmende situative und organisatorische Rahmenbedingungen hinsichtlich der Entwicklung eines Burnouts bei deutschen Trainern.The occupational group of full-time coaches has regularly to deal with a range of potential stressors in the workplace, including emotional and physical demands, caused by the complex nature of coaching work. However, there is a lack of research regarding this field in Germany. For this reason, the current manuscript examined the moderating variables causing burnout of German full-time coaches. The results underlined the effect of the personal perception of the current coaching position, the individual recovery level, as well as impacting situational and organizational context variables regarding the development of burnout of German coaches