Affect change with acute exercise: Determining an optimal dosage and testing thermogenesis and distraction as plausible mechanisms

Exercise is associated with an improved affect, whether this is causal has not been confirmed yet. Little research has been carried out to identify optimal duration or environment, but intensity studies tend to favour moderate for producing the best psychological benefits. This thesis comprises three studies. The main study had two aims, to determine an optimal dosage of exercise for affect changes, and to test two causal mechanisms, the thermogenic hypothesis and the distraction hypothesis of exercise and affect change. Study 1 was developed to determine which temperature site would be used to measure core temperature for the main study. Tympanic, oral and rectal measurement sites were tested, the rectal site provided clear results that were sensitive enough to detect core temperature changes with only a small variation between subjects. Study 2 looked at two mood questionnaires to determine sensitivity in registering small changes in affect. POMS-bipolar (Lorr and McNair, 1984) and PANAS (Watson et al, 1988) were selected for testing. The PANAS was chosen for the main study as it measured affect changes on a dimensional scale, took very little time to complete and was sensitive enough to pick up changes in affect with acute exercise. The main study used 9 exercise conditions made up of short (10 minutes), medium (20 minutes) and long (40 minutes) duration exercise and low (45 - 55% Hrmax), moderate (65 - 75% Hrmax) and high (80 - 89% Hrmax) intensity bouts; and 3 quiet rest conditions of similar short, medium and long duration. PANAS (Watson et al, 1988) and core temperature were measured before and after each condition. Moderate intensity exercise consistently produced most of the improvements in affect as research predicted. Intensity significantly influenced negative affect, but not positive affect. The medium and short duration exercise bouts produced more improvements in positive and negative affect than the long duration exercise. There was no evidence to support the thermogenic hypothesis, as core temperature changes did not correlate with affect changes. The quiet rest condition produced significant improvements for medium duration therefore supporting the distraction hypothesis. Future research could involve looking at delayed improved affect post exercise with particular interest in higher intensity exercise bouts. More research looking at how causal mechanisms may interact to produce an integrative model would be advised

Irrational Beliefs and Choking under Pressure: A Preliminary Investigation

Researchers who examine existing models of choking under pressure are beginning to explore the antecedents that predispose individuals to increased anxiety. Irrational beliefs (IBs) may be one such antecedent to “choking”, given that irrational beliefs are closely associated with anxiety intensity. This study aimed to investigate whether IBs influenced anxiety and performance under pressure. Experienced Australian football players (N=35) completed an IBs questionnaire prior to an Australian football set shot experiment with low- and high-pressure. During both pressure conditions, participants completed a state anxiety questionnaire prior to completing 15 set shots on goal. Results indicated that cognitive and somatic anxiety increased from low- to high-pressure. For somatic anxiety, an IBs main effect approached significance, indicating higher somatic anxiety with increases in IBs. A marginally significant Condition main effect was found for performance, which decreased from low- to high-pressure, with no other effects for performance evident. Follow-up correlation analysis of seven athletes who likely experienced choking (i.e., greater than 15-point performance decrease) indicated a strong negative correlation between IBs and change in performance from low- to high-pressure. Further analyses for “chokers” indicated a significant IBs x Condition interaction, with performance tending to increase with increasing IBs under low-pressure and decrease with increasing IBs under high-pressure. This study provides initial, tentative support that IBs associated with performance trends of “chokers” under different pressure conditions may be dissimilar to those of “underperformers” or “clutch” performers. Applied implications for sport psychologists working with athletes are discussed

Epigenetics Is Implicated in the Basis of Gender Incongruence: An Epigenome-Wide Association Analysis

[Abstract] Introduction: The main objective was to carry out a global DNA methylation analysis in a population with gender incongruence before gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT), in comparison to a cisgender population. Methods: A global CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanine) methylation analysis was performed on blood from 16 transgender people before GAHT vs. 16 cisgender people using the Illumina© Infinium Human Methylation 850k BeadChip, after bisulfite conversion. Changes in the DNA methylome in cisgender vs. transgender populations were analyzed with the Partek® Genomics Suite program by a 2-way ANOVA test comparing populations by group and their sex assigned at birth. Results: The principal components analysis (PCA) showed that both populations (cis and trans) differ in the degree of global CpG methylation prior to GAHT. The 2-way ANOVA test showed 71,515 CpGs that passed the criterion FDR p < 0.05. Subsequently, in male assigned at birth population we found 87 CpGs that passed both criteria (FDR p < 0.05; fold change ≥ ± 2) of which 22 were located in islands. The most significant CpGs were related to genes: WDR45B, SLC6A20, NHLH1, PLEKHA5, UBALD1, SLC37A1, ARL6IP1, GRASP, and NCOA6. Regarding the female assigned at birth populations, we found 2 CpGs that passed both criteria (FDR p < 0.05; fold change ≥ ± 2), but none were located in islands. One of these CpGs, related to the MPPED2 gene, is shared by both, trans men and trans women. The enrichment analysis showed that these genes are involved in functions such as negative regulation of gene expression (GO:0010629), central nervous system development (GO:0007417), brain development (GO:0007420), ribonucleotide binding (GO:0032553), and RNA binding (GO:0003723), among others. Strengths and Limitations: It is the first time that a global CpG methylation analysis has been carried out in a population with gender incongruence before GAHT. A prospective study before/during GAHT would provide a better understanding of the influence of epigenetics in this process. Conclusion: The main finding of this study is that the cis and trans populations have different global CpG methylation profiles prior to GAHT. Therefore, our results suggest that epigenetics may be involved in the etiology of gender incongruence.Xunta de Galicia; ED431 B 019/02 (EP) Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades; PGC2018-094919-B-C21 (AG) e PGC2018-094919-B-C22 (RF and EP) Ghent University.; BOF interdisciplinary project (IOP003-18

Mental toughness: progress and prospects

Mental toughness (MT) has become a popular area of investigation and practice within sport and exercise psychology over the past two decades. Since the turn of the twenty first century, there have been hundreds of studies published on mental toughness, yet concerns remain about the conceptualisation and measurement of mental toughness. In this paper, I take stock of past work with the goal of clarifying and elaborating the most fundamental and common aspects of MT. I also look to the future and outline key substantive and methodological issues that may offer the greatest potential for refining the conceptualisation of MT and contributing to theory building on this concept. My hope is that this information will provide a platform from which to foster coherent and systematic scholarly work on MT

Multi-trait analysis characterizes the genetics of thyroid function and identifies causal associations with clinical implications

To date only a fraction of the genetic footprint of thyroid function has been clarified. We report a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of thyroid function in up to 271,040 individuals of European ancestry, including reference range thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free and total triiodothyronine (T3), proxies for metabolism (T3/FT4 ratio) as well as dichotomized high and low TSH levels. We revealed 259 independent significant associations for TSH (61% novel), 85 for FT4 (67% novel), and 62 novel signals for the T3 related traits. The loci explained 14.1%, 6.0%, 9.5% and 1.1% of the total variation in TSH, FT4, total T3 and free T3 concentrations, respectively. Genetic correlations indicate that TSH associated loci reflect the thyroid function determined by free T3, whereas the FT4 associations represent the thyroid hormone metabolism. Polygenic risk score and Mendelian randomization analyses showed the effects of genetically determined variation in thyroid function on various clinical outcomes, including cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In conclusion, our results improve the understanding of thyroid hormone physiology and highlight the pleiotropic effects of thyroid function on various diseases.</p

Multi-trait analysis characterizes the genetics of thyroid function and identifies causal associations with clinical implications

To date only a fraction of the genetic footprint of thyroid function has been clarified. We report a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of thyroid function in up to 271,040 individuals of European ancestry, including reference range thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free and total triiodothyronine (T3), proxies for metabolism (T3/FT4 ratio) as well as dichotomized high and low TSH levels. We revealed 259 independent significant associations for TSH (61% novel), 85 for FT4 (67% novel), and 62 novel signals for the T3 related traits. The loci explained 14.1%, 6.0%, 9.5% and 1.1% of the total variation in TSH, FT4, total T3 and free T3 concentrations, respectively. Genetic correlations indicate that TSH associated loci reflect the thyroid function determined by free T3, whereas the FT4 associations represent the thyroid hormone metabolism. Polygenic risk score and Mendelian randomization analyses showed the effects of genetically determined variation in thyroid function on various clinical outcomes, including cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In conclusion, our results improve the understanding of thyroid hormone physiology and highlight the pleiotropic effects of thyroid function on various diseases.</p

Multi-trait analysis characterizes the genetics of thyroid function and identifies causal associations with clinical implications

To date only a fraction of the genetic footprint of thyroid function has been clarified. We report a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of thyroid function in up to 271,040 individuals of European ancestry, including reference range thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free and total triiodothyronine (T3), proxies for metabolism (T3/FT4 ratio) as well as dichotomized high and low TSH levels. We revealed 259 independent significant associations for TSH (61% novel), 85 for FT4 (67% novel), and 62 novel signals for the T3 related traits. The loci explained 14.1%, 6.0%, 9.5% and 1.1% of the total variation in TSH, FT4, total T3 and free T3 concentrations, respectively. Genetic correlations indicate that TSH associated loci reflect the thyroid function determined by free T3, whereas the FT4 associations represent the thyroid hormone metabolism. Polygenic risk score and Mendelian randomization analyses showed the effects of genetically determined variation in thyroid function on various clinical outcomes, including cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In conclusion, our results improve the understanding of thyroid hormone physiology and highlight the pleiotropic effects of thyroid function on various diseases

Solo steps: A critical realist analysis of the risks, motivations, and psychological benefits of solo hiking in England

England has a rich and popular hiking culture, yet the unique psychological dynamics of solo hiking remain underexplored. This study examined solo hikers' risk perceptions, motivations, and well-being through a critical realist lens. Go-along interviews with ten solo hikers across English trails were thematically analysed. Findings suggest that sociocultural factors, including early exposure and athletic identity, shaped risk perception, yet risk was also reframed as an opportunity for personal growth through repeated solo hiking exposure. Intrinsic motivations for solo hiking aligned with self-determination theory, including autonomy, competence, and relatedness, while the drive to move emerged as an additional factor in movement regulation. Psychological benefits included cognitive restoration, emotional self-regulation, and awe-induced shifts in perspective. These were heightened by an embodied multisensory immersion in nature. These findings contribute to the psychological understanding of solo hiking in England, underscoring the need for socially and culturally sensitive policies to enhance safety, accessibility, and therapeutic application. Future research should explore diverse populations and the long-term implications of solo hiking for well-being

Exploration of the COVID-19 mental health implications in elite disabled athletes

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the way individuals conducted their lives, with consequences relating to mental health deterioration. Whilst researchers explored this outcome in the general population and athletic populations, less focus was on athletes with disabilities. The aim of this study was to investigate how the pandemic influenced the mental health of elite para-athletes in the United Kingdom. Nine elite-level athletes with disabilities participated in semi-structured interviews. Three broad themes were interpreted from the data using reflexive thematic analysis, two themes reflected the negative impact of COVID-19 on mental health and one theme reflected positive outcomes of the pandemic. Athletes explained that losing face-to-face interactions and delays in major sporting events were significant factors in their mental health decline. This population group reported different challenges to able-bodied communities. Differences included increased susceptibility to contract the virus, difficulties in communication where face masks and online interactions became necessary and perceptions of vulnerability relating to shielding protocols. Finally, positive outcomes related to the additional time to recover, to prepare for major events and time to reassess their values. Exploring experiences of a pandemic on this population group warrants further exploration to enhance the effectiveness of mental health support services in para-sporting organisations