Predicting race performance in triathlon: The role of perfectionism, achievement goals, and personal goal setting

The question of how perfectionism affects performance is highly debated. Because empirical studies examining perfectionism and competitive sport performance are missing, the present research investigated how perfectionism affected race performance and what role athletes’ goals played in this relationship in two prospective studies with competitive triathletes (Study 1: N = 112; Study 2: N = 321). Regression analyses showed that perfectionistic personal standards, high performance-approach goals, low performance-avoidance goals, and high personal goals predicted race performance beyond athletes’ performance level. Moreover, the contrast between performance-avoidance and performance-approach goals mediated the relationship between perfectionistic personal standards and performance, whereas personal goal setting mediated the relationship between performance-approach goals and performance. The findings indicate that perfectionistic personal standards do not undermine competitive performance, but are associated with goals that help athletes achieve their best possible performance

Genome-wide association study of behavioural and psychiatric features in human prion disease.

Prion diseases are rare neurodegenerative conditions causing highly variable clinical syndromes, which often include prominent neuropsychiatric symptoms. We have recently carried out a clinical study of behavioural and psychiatric symptoms in a large prospective cohort of patients with prion disease in the United Kingdom, allowing us to operationalise specific behavioural/psychiatric phenotypes as traits in human prion disease. Here, we report exploratory genome-wide association analysis on 170 of these patients and 5200 UK controls, looking for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with three behavioural/psychiatric phenotypes in the context of prion disease. We also specifically examined a selection of candidate SNPs that have shown genome-wide association with psychiatric conditions in previously published studies, and the codon 129 polymorphism of the prion protein gene, which is known to modify various aspects of the phenotype of prion disease. No SNPs reached genome-wide significance, and there was no evidence of altered burden of known psychiatric risk alleles in relevant prion cases. SNPs showing suggestive evidence of association (P<10(-5)) included several lying near genes previously implicated in association studies of other psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. These include ANK3, SORL1 and a region of chromosome 6p containing several genes implicated in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We would encourage others to acquire phenotype data in independent cohorts of patients with prion disease as well as other neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions, to allow meta-analysis that may shed clearer light on the biological basis of these complex disease manifestations, and the diseases themselves

Measuring values with the Schwartz Values Survey at a university in the Western Cape, South Africa

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-47).The aim of this study is to determine whether the Schwartz universal value types are the same for South African students compared to other international studies. A total of 136 students completed the Schwartz Values Survey across three academic study years. The survey reports respondent values and the extent of their religiosity on a Likert-scale. The measure for internal consistency reliability for eight of the ten motivational value types is good, with poor reliability scores for Stimulation and Security. No statistically significant difference presents across the student academic years. The motivational value type Tradition is consistent with a high degree of religiosity. Hedonism is consistent with a low degree of religiosity

Vulnerability: ripples from reflections on mental toughness

The aim of this paper is to present a critical reflection on mental toughness using a creative analytic practice. In particular, we move from intra-personal technical reflections to an altogether more inter-personal cultural analysis that (re)considers some of the assumptions that can underpin sport psychology practice. Specifically, in the ripples that extend from these initial technical reflections, we argue that it is important to understand vulnerability, and consider (a) wounded healers, (b) the ideology of individualism, and (c) the survivor bias to help make sense of current thinking and applied practice. Emerging from these ripples are a number of implications (naming elephants, tellability, neoliberalism) from which sport psychologists may reflect upon to enhance their own practice. In making visible the invisible, we conclude that vulnerability can no longer be ignored in sport psychology discourse, research, and practice. Should this story of vulnerability resonate, we encourage you, where appropriate to share this story

Variants of PLCXD3 are not associated with variant or sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a large international study

BACKGROUND: Human prion diseases are relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disorders which include sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) and variant CJD (vCJD). Aside from variants of the prion protein gene (PRNP) replicated association at genome-wide levels of significance has proven elusive. A recent association study identified variants in or near to the PLCXD3 gene locus as strong disease risk factors in multiple human prion diseases. This study claimed the first non-PRNP locus to be highly significantly associated with prion disease in genomic studies. METHODS: A sub-study of a genome-wide association study with imputation aiming to replicate the finding at PLCXD3 including 129 vCJD and 2500 sCJD samples. Whole exome sequencing to identify rare coding variants of PLCXD3. RESULTS: Imputation of relevant polymorphisms was accurate based on wet genotyping of a sample. We found no supportive evidence that PLCXD3 variants are associated with disease. CONCLUSION: The marked discordance in vCJD genotype frequencies between studies, despite extensive overlap in vCJD cases, and the finding of Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium in the original study, suggests possible reasons for the discrepancies between studies

Exploring the nature of counterfactual thinking and their perceived consequences in an elite sporting context: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

This study explored the characteristics, contextual factors and consequences of counterfactual thoughts in seven elite athletes using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Counterfactuals were experienced regularly with self-directed and upward counterfactuals (cognitions about how things could be better) being most frequent. These upward counterfactuals typically occurred following performance that was below participants’ goals and expectations These thoughts were perceived by participants to have a negative affect initially, and that they then led to facilitative behavioral consequences around learning and development. Some elements of counterfactual thinking could be used as a useful reflective tool to encourage elite athletes to problem solve and motivate cognitive, emotional and behavioral change to enhance future performance

An exploration of Keyes’ two-continuum model of mental health in athletes: resilience, mental illness and performance

Keyes’ (2005) two-continuum model of mental health posits two related, but distinct dimensions (1: the presence or absence of mental health – MH; 2: the presence or absence of mental illness - MI). Theoretically, athletes could experience both positive MH and symptoms of MI. Alternatively, athletes could be free from MI, but experience low levels of MH (what Keyes, 2005 terms languishing). This study presents preliminary results from an online survey examining (a) associations between resilience, MH, and MI, and (b) associations between MH, MI and performance. Participants comprised (male, n = 29; female, n = 28) athletes from a range of team (e.g., soccer, netball) and individual (e.g., triathlon, golf) sports (mean age = 23 ± 7 years). The survey comprised measures of MH (Keyes et al., 2008), MI (Connell et al., 2007), resilience (Wagnild & Young, 1987), and performance [the mean of 3 items assessing satisfaction in training, competition, and in sport generally from 0 (totally dissatisfied) to 100 (totally satisfied)]. Using proposed cut-off criteria (Connell et al, 2007; Keyes et al, 2008), some individuals (12%) reported both severe MI and high MH. In addition, a modest, negative relationship (r = -.40, p = .003) between MH and MI lends some support to Keyes’ model. Resilience (personal competence) was associated with MH (r = .50, p < .01), and MI(r = -.34, p = .01). Resilience (acceptance of self and life) was not associated with MI (r = -.24, p = .08), but was associated with MH (r = .39, p = .003). Zero-order correlations between MH and performance (r = .63, p < .001), and MI and performance (r = -.40, p = .003) are qualified by partial correlation analyses. The correlation between MH and performance remains significant when MI is controlled for (r = .59, p < .001). When MH is controlled for, the relationship between MI and performance (r = -.05, p = .76) is attenuated. Collectively, results provide some support for Keyes’ model and for considering MI and MH as separate factors influencing sport performance

An investigation of athletes’ and coaches’ perceptions of mental ill-health in elite athletes

Research suggests elite athletes have an equal, or in some circumstances possibly higher, probability of developing mental ill health as the general population, however understanding of these issues amongst athletes and coaches remains largely unknown. The perceptions of mental health problems amongst 19 elite athletes and 16 coaches were explored using two concurrent, three round Delphi surveys and the responses compared. Athletes and coaches expressed different opinions and experiences of mental ill health amongst elite athletes. However, both felt the pressure athletes place upon themselves is a significant contributing factor and that obsessional compulsive tendencies and anxiety may be particularly prevalent. Whilst associated stigma was thought to be a barrier to support seeking, both groups felt sport and clinical psychologists would provide the most appropriate support, with coaches playing an important signposting role. Implications for athletes, coaches, clinical and sport psychologists are explored and suggestions for future research are presented