Strength and Conditioning Coaches\u27 Perceptions of Sport Psychology Strategies

Strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) hold a central role in the development of student-athletes. Although they certainly focus on student-athletes\u27 physical skill development, SCCs are in an ideal position to integrate mental skills into their strength and conditioning sessions. For example, sport psychology (SP) strategies can be used within strength and conditioning sessions to assist in athlete exercise execution by regulating arousal, improving concentration, confidence, as well as improve self-correction through self-talk and imagery. The purpose of this study was to assess collegiate SCCs\u27 use of SP skills/strategies. A total sample of 415 SCCs (19.7% return rate) across the United States participated in an online survey. Although the majority of these coaches reported having less than moderate training in SP (59.9%), they also reported a moderate to high use of certain SP strategies (e.g., goal setting, self-talk). Strength and conditioning coaches\u27 familiarity with, knowledge of, and confidence to use the SP strategies were found to be predictors of SCCs\u27 frequency of SP strategy use. This study aimed to provide an initial exploration of SCCs\u27 understanding and use of specific SP strategies, which was influenced by the SCCs\u27 perceived level of preparation to use these strategies. For SCCs to be able to purposefully and confidently incorporate SP strategies into training sessions, the current study suggests the need for specific training aimed to enhance the SCCs\u27 knowledge of and confidence in using specific SP strategies

Do gaming motives mediate between psychiatric symptoms and problematic gaming? An empirical survey study

Previous research has suggested that motives play an important role in several potentially addictive activities including online gaming. The aims of the present study were to (i) examine the mediation effect of different online gaming motives between psychiatric distress and problematic online gaming, and (ii) validate Italian versions of the Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire, and the Motives for Online Gaming Questionnaire. Data collection took place online and targeted Italian-speaking online gamers active on popular Italian gaming forums, and/or Italian groups related to online games on social networking sites. The final sample size comprised 327 participants (mean age 23.1 years [SD = 7.0], 83.7% male). The two instruments showed good psychometric properties in the Italian sample. General psychiatric distress had both a significant direct effect on problematic online gaming and a significant indirect effect via two motives: escape and fantasy. Psychiatric symptoms are both directly and indirectly associated with problematic online gaming. Playing online games to escape and to avoid everyday problems appears to be a motivation associated with psychiatric distress and in predicting problematic gaming

The International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) Ethical Code for Sport Psychology Practice

The International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) aims to be the leading international and inclusive organization focused on the development of sport psychology in all regions and cultural areas of the world, promoting professional impact in the global community through research and practice. As a global organization, ISSP encompasses professionals that render services to individuals, groups and the society at large, who ought to have ethics to guide their engagement in rendering services. Such code of ethics will protect the members’ interest so as to comply with their underlying practice as well as it will contribute to guarantee the protection of the clients

The International Society of Sport Psychology Registry (ISSP-R) ethical code for sport psychology practice

The International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) aims to be the leading international and inclusive organisation focused on the development of sport psychology in all regions and cultural areas of the world. In 2019 with the advent of the ISSP – Registry, a renewed need for an up-to-date code of ethics for practitioners that reflected the mission of the registry and supported the international community of sport psychology practitioners became apparent. As such, a group of 24 scholars and practitioners from North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania collaboratively worked on the development of this code of ethics. Each of the 22 contributors was asked to develop a principle or a standard that could be embraced and implemented by practitioners in their country and wider geographical area of work, within the reasonable limits imposed by cultural, legal, and professional differences. Once all the contributions were received, the two first authors of the Code reviewed, modified, completed, re-organized, standardised, compiled, and finalised the final version. The edited final copy was then submitted for a cultural review to a small sub-group of contributors located in different geographical areas around the world. Once finalised, the code was presented to the ISSP Managing Council, for approval. The resulting Code of Ethics aims to embody the mission and the value of the ISSP and its Registry

An Exploration of Sport Psychology Professional Quality of Life in British Neophyte Practitioners

Scholars have noted the importance of helping professionals’ work experiences through the exploration of Professional Quality of Life. Due to the unique experiences of sport psychology professionals, a sport psychology specific equivalent of the construct, the Sport Psychology Professional Quality of Life (SP-PQL), has recently been developed based on the experience of senior and experienced sport psychology professionals, yet researchers have not accounted for the experiences of neophytes. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 neophyte sport psychology professionals with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of how they conceptualize, experience, and manage their SP-PQL. The data offer novel insights regarding neophyte’s conceptualizations of SP-PQL as well as the barriers and facilitators toward their SP-PQL. We conclude that greater emphasis on SP-PQL is required within British sport psychology development pathways, outlining considerations for educators, such as the provision of educational resources and curricula to better inform and support future neophyte’s SP-PQL

A thematic-synthesis of self-care in sport psychology practitioners

Self-care has been identified as essential for promoting well-being among psychology professionals and an imperative for practitioners. Nevertheless, the value of self-care for sport psychology practitioners (SPPs) has only received limited research attention. Yet, a growing body of work has emerged, offering helpful knowledge to SPPs throughout the professional developmental span. A synthesis of the existing literature on SPPs’ self-care could offer the knowledge foundation for training programs on SPPs’ self-care. We systematically reviewed the existing literature focused on self-care among sport psychology practitioners. Using PRISMA guidelines, an initial database search identified 1,837 research records. After removing duplicate studies, screening by title and abstract, and assessing full-text article eligibility, we selected 15 articles for inclusion. Analysis of these articles resulted in three prevailing themes: (a) sport psychology practitioner’s self-care; (b) effective self-care; (c) connected care: A collaborative lens on individual self-care. These findings offer a significant insight to the literature on self-care in sport psychology practitioners. The synthesis also points to the important role others play in developing, implementing, and maintaining effective individualised SPP self-care. Based on these findings, we offer recommendations for professional bodies and education providers regarding the alignment of training routes and continuing professional development programs with the extant literature on self-care