Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology - Vol 13, Iss 2: Recent Episodes
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Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 15(3), Aug 2026, 320-337; doi:10.1037/spy0000414
The purpose of this mixed methods study was to design, implement, and evaluate a 13-week sport psychology intervention designed to facilitate team culture change of a poor-performing university football team. Participants were 74 male athletes who participated in a season-long intervention, including four culture workshops, two team-building sessions, and biweekly psychological skills training sessions. Data were collected and analyzed using a convergent parallel mixed methods design, incorporating quantitative measures of team cohesion at three time points and qualitative individual semistructured interviews at the end of the season. Quantitative results showed significant increases in team cohesion from pre- to midseason, with these gains maintained through the end of the season. Furthermore, between-group differences based on athlete tenure and position were explored, revealing that first-year athletes showed sharp increases in group integration (particularly Group Integration–Social), whereas players with four or more years of tenure reported lower baseline Group Integration–Social and more gradual change. Postseason qualitative interviews with six athletes highlighted how the intervention supported a player-driven cultural shift, with early workshops fostering buy-in and accountability and ongoing sessions reinforcing values, psychological safety, and team unity. Players described the season as a meaningful cultural rebuild marked by greater clarity, connection, and shared leadership. Overall, this study advances the empirical, conceptual, and methodological understanding of culture change in sport by addressing calls for theory-driven approaches and providing practical strategies to foster cohesive, value-based cultures while tracking their integration over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 15(3), Aug 2026, 211-234; doi:10.1037/spy0000412
This study aimed to identify potential modifiable risk factors that predict psychological resilience in female athletes and evaluate how well resilience predicts outcomes over time in this group. Three hundred ninety-three female athletes completed demographics and self-report measures at baseline and at least one (3-, 6-, and/or 12-month) follow-up assessment. The Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale 10 and Brief Resilience Scale measured resilience. Hypothesized upstream risk factors included sleep, emotion dysregulation, experiential avoidance, social support, and intolerance of uncertainty. Hypothesized downstream outcomes of low resilience included posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and high perceived stress. Greater emotion regulation difficulties, experiential avoidance, intolerance of uncertainty, social support, and sleep difficulties each significantly longitudinally predicted decreases in resilience over 12 months. Resilience significantly predicted decreases in prevalence of high perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder over 12 months. Resilience may be a useful focus of intervention. Difficulties with emotion regulation, experiential avoidance, intolerance of uncertainty, social support, and sleep difficulties are identified as modifiable risk factors and may be targeted in future interventions to enhance resilience in female athletes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 15(3), Aug 2026, 283-298; doi:10.1037/spy0000413
Conceptualized as the tendency for negative events, stimuli, and factors to have a greater impact on an individual than positive and neutral counterparts, negativity bias is a widespread, pervasive psychological phenomenon (Baumeister et al., 2001). Despite researchers observing negativity bias in many processes that could be relevant to sport performance (e.g., attention, affect, decision making, perception, memory; Norris, 2021), negativity bias research in sport is limited. Further, a vast majority of research focused on negativity bias is quantitative in nature, and as such, there is a lack of understanding surrounding the experience and perspectives of the phenomenon. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to qualitatively explore how negativity bias may manifest in sport. Adult competitive athletes (N = 31) were recruited to participate in two semistructured one-on-one interviews during their competitive season. Participants were encouraged to supplement data generated between the two formal interviews with audio diaries, which permitted more immediate reflections surrounding negativity bias in ongoing experiences. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data within an interpretive description framework. The analysis process culminated in three themes: (1) more accessible, more vivid, more memorable, (2) seizing attention, for better or for worse, and (3) a potent contaminate. It appears the sport context is not exempt from the pervasiveness of negativity bias. Findings from the present study may inform efforts to recognize and address negativity bias in sport and, importantly, demonstrate the value of qualitative approaches in expanding understanding of such complex phenomena. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 15(3), Aug 2026, 266-282; doi:10.1037/spy0000411
Confidence is a key psychological quality for athletes’ performance success. Researchers have previously examined sources from which athletes gain their confidence; however, limited research has considered the coach’s role in rebuilding athlete confidence when returning to sport after dealing with setbacks. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to understand how coaches can work effectively with athletes to build confidence after a setback, considering the specific setback experienced by a rider from falling off a horse. To gain multiple perspectives, participants were six riders and six coaches (10 females and two males). Initially, participants wrote reflective letters to their younger selves on their experiences around the fall and consequent issues with confidence, with the content from these letters used to stimulate follow-up interviews. Three main themes were developed to represent the process of working effectively with riders to rebuild confidence: providing the foundation for building confidence, facilitating an understanding and awareness, and creating change in rider approach. These results informed the development of a temporal framework that suggests three stages that practitioners could implement into their practice. Findings were presented back to a further selection of coaches (n = 9) and sport psychologists (n = 3) as part of a member/external reflection process, to consider how these results might inform applied practice when working with riders after experiencing setbacks. The results are discussed regarding the practical implications for informing practitioners on how to work with riders who have lost their confidence in this context. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 15(3), Aug 2026, 235-265; doi:10.1037/spy0000410
Enhancing performance remains a primary focus in the field of sport science. Mental imagery (MI) is a widely used tool for skill optimization and psychological conditioning, offering potential benefits for performance improvement. However, existing meta-analyses often fail to account for the statistical dependence of effect sizes across multiple sport-specific performance measures within the same study, which can lead to an underestimation of uncertainty. To address this, the present study employed a three-level meta-analysis to systematically evaluate MI’s impact on sport-specific performance and explore potential moderators. We conducted a comprehensive search across five major databases, identifying 41 studies and extracting 143 effect sizes. The results revealed a moderate, significant positive effect of MI on sport-specific performance (Hedges’s g = 0.56, p < .001). Subgroup analyses showed consistent positive effects across gender, competitive level, performance type, MI training combinations, and perspectives. Metaregression analysis revealed a significant U-shaped relationship between experience and MI effectiveness, with athletes at an intermediate experience level (∼6.5 years) showing relatively smaller benefits. In conclusion, MI demonstrates a positive effect on sport-specific performance. While most examined moderators were nonsignificant, exploratory analyses suggest a nonlinear association between sports experience and MI effectiveness, indicating that experience may be a relevant consideration when designing MI interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 15(3), Aug 2026, 338-356; doi:10.1037/spy0000409
This cross-sectional study examined the bidirectional pathways proposed in the neurocognitive exercise-based affect-related model by testing whether executive function (EF) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are indirectly associated through affective responses to acute exercise. Eighty-six young adults (18–25 years; 51% female) completed a Stroop task to assess EF, a cycling VO2max test to measure CRF, and affective ratings collected before, during, and after the exercise test. EF was indexed using Stroop interference inverse efficiency scores (IES), with higher values indicating poorer inhibitory control. Path analyses tested whether EF predicted CRF indirectly through affective responses and, conversely, whether CRF predicted EF through the same pathway, controlling for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and body mass index. When interference IES was specified as the predictor, lower interference IES was associated with more positive affective responses, which in turn were associated with higher CRF. A significant indirect association with CRF through affective responses was observed for interference IES (indirect β = −.341, 95% CI [−.506, −.207]). In the reverse model, higher CRF was associated with more positive affective responses, which were subsequently associated with lower interference IES; a significant indirect association was again observed (indirect β = −.453, 95% CI [−.618, −.272]). Despite limitations related to the cross-sectional design and reliance on behavioral and subjective measures, these findings provide preliminary, partial support for the neurocognitive exercise-based affect-related model and suggest that experiencing more positive affect during exercise may represent an important psychological process linking EF and physical fitness in young adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 15(3), Aug 2026, 299-319; doi:10.1037/spy0000408
Burnout is becoming increasingly common in athletes. It has also recently been found to increase the risk of further physical and mental health consequences. However, few studies have examined possible explanatory mechanisms of this relationship. Therefore, the present study aimed to test whether changes in key physiological systems may help explain the relationship between athlete burnout and mental and physical health outcomes over time. Following a preregistered protocol, with open methods, code, and data, we recruited 64 competitive athletes who completed measures of athlete burnout, physical symptoms, depressive symptoms, and insomnia, as well as provided saliva samples for the analysis of biomarkers (testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, secretory immunoglobulin A) at three time points over 6 months. In multilevel analyses, at the between level, burnout was associated with all health outcomes, and testosterone was associated with physical symptoms. At the within level, total burnout and a reduced sense of accomplishment predicted increases in depressive symptoms, and in the exhaustion model, decreases in secretory immunoglobulin A predicted increases in insomnia. In exploratory Bayesian analyses, at the within level, burnout additionally predicted decreases in testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, and secretory immunoglobulin A. However, we found no indirect effects linking burnout to health via changes in biomarkers. Overall, we found further evidence for the links between burnout, biomarkers, and mental and physical health over time; however, it is possible that the mechanisms underpinning these relationships are more complex. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 14(2), May 2025, 369-381; doi:10.1037/spy0000383
Excellence in trampoline gymnastics involves executing highly complex figures in a stressful competitive setting that punishes even small errors. Such competitive settings provide an ideal environment to study the theoretical predictions of the Biopsychosocial Model of Challenge and Threat. The model predicts that cognitive evaluations consistent with a challenge (vs. a threat) state relate to better performance. We aimed to examine whether a cognitive challenge and threat (CAT) measure taken before the start of the season predicts elite-level trampoline gymnastics performance at one highly pressurized competition 37.7 days on average later in the season. Using a prospective design with 50 preadolescent-to-adult elite-level trampoline gymnasts, we predicted first- and second-routine performance at the highly pressurized competition with preseason cognitive CAT (i.e., personal coping resources minus situational demands) evaluations regarding this competition. The main analyses partially supported the hypothesis that a challenge evaluation relates to better performance than a threat evaluation. Cognitive evaluations reflective of a challenge (vs. a threat) state predicted better first-routine performance (adjusting for age, sex, and average season performance). In the second routine, a subset of athletes reported relatively more challenge evaluations, but performed significantly worse by failing to complete their routine. These findings provide novel insights into the predictions and boundary conditions of the biopsychosocial model of CAT and emphasize the importance of routine type (mandatory, but relatively simple, first vs. free-choice second routine) in predicting trampoline gymnastics performance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 14(2), May 2025, 335-351; doi:10.1037/spy0000382
Decision making has shown to be among the most significant cognitive processes that differentiate between higher and lower skilled athletes when tested in representative designs. In this study, we focused on capturing the experience of experts from one of the most prominent esports, League of Legends (LoL), as it is characterized by great cognitive and motor demands. We aimed to better understand the role of expert LoL players’ cognitive and motor decision-making processes by conducting semistructured interviews with five expert LoL players (n = 5; Mage = 20.20, SDage = 2.95) and three coaches (n = 3; Mage = 24.67, SDage = 3.21). Aligning with an interpretivist paradigm, four themes were constructed through reflexive thematic analysis: (a) the chronological structure, outlining how decision making evolves from pregame choices to adaptive in-game decisions; (b) navigating the decision-making process, emphasizing systematic practices, the role of experience, and intuition for performance enhancement; (c) individual fine motor actions, highlighting the role of precise fine motor execution in fast-paced, dynamic gameplay; and (d) the dynamic interplay between game knowledge and cognitive functions, showcasing how strategic mastery and cognitive skills help players navigate the complex esport environment. This article offers novel theoretical and methodological insights to guide future research programs, emphasizing the integration of advanced technological tools and comprehensive game data sets to deepen the understanding of cognitive and motor decision-making processes in LoL, thereby contributing to advancing the field of esports performance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 14(2), May 2025, 303-317; doi:10.1037/spy0000378
In attempts to better understand factors that contribute to the initiation and continuation of exercise behavior, increasing research attention has focused on the pivotal role of affective responses to exercise. To further explore this topic, this study examined anticipated and remembered affective responses in a self-paced moderate-intensity running protocol with healthy adults. Participants (N = 25; 13 females; Mage = 29.2; SD = 4.34 years) performed two trials of 20 min running at a self-determined moderate intensity on a treadmill. The trials were performed 48 hr apart, and measures of anticipated affective response and remembered affect were collected prior to and after each trial. The findings indicated that participants generally anticipated a pleasant response to the moderate-intensity running activity. Anticipated affective responses recorded immediately prior to commencing running were lower than anticipated affect measured 24 hr in advance. Additionally, participants remembered their exercise-related affect to be pleasant, although it fluctuated over time and declined during a period that extended to 48 hr postexercise. Mounting evidence suggests that training programs aiming to promote the sustainability of exercise behavior can benefit from considering temporal fluctuations of affective responses when developing exercise prescription, supervision, and maintenance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 14(2), May 2025, 285-302; doi:10.1037/spy0000374
Evidence suggests that social support can facilitate performance during sporting tasks and competition and boost resilience in the face of long-term sporting setbacks (e.g., injuries). Building on this, in an experiment, we examined whether social support helped people bounce back from an acute setback (i.e., demonstrate rebound resilience). Specifically, we tested the effect of esteem support on two objective indicators of rebound resilience: the distance participants traveled and their maximum heart rate in a cycling time trial after (relative to before) a setback. We also examined whether these effects were mediated by participants’ within-task pain perceptions and retrospective evaluations of task motivation and challenge and threat appraisals. Participants (N = 80, 29 males, 51 females; Mage = 21.56 years, SDage = 2.69 years) completed two time trials in quick succession. Following Trial 1, all participants received negative feedback about their performance, creating an opportunity for them to demonstrate rebound resilience by exerting themselves and striving to perform well during Trial 2. During Trial 2, participants either received (experimental group) or did not receive (control group) esteem support. Participants in the experimental group demonstrated greater increases in distance traveled and maximum heart rate compared to those in the control group during Trial 2 (i.e., greater rebound resilience). These effects were underpinned by increases in task motivation among those that received esteem support but not by challenge appraisals, threat appraisals, or perceived pain. Findings indicate that providing people with esteem support may be an effective way to enhance their capacity to bounce back from setbacks during sporting tasks. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 14(2), May 2025, 318-334; doi:10.1037/spy0000370
Elite athletes are often depicted as models of excellent work ethic and health. Yet, being embedded within a culture that normalizes pain and injuries, long-term health is often sacrificed for success (Nixon, 1993). Similar observations have also been noted regarding the sociocultural norms of other high-performance domains, such as music and academia. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the experiences and meaning-making of health in relation to performance throughout the careers of high-performers in sports, music, and mathematics. Based on an interpretative framework, we interviewed 10 participants from each of the three high-performance contexts. We employed a reflexive thematic analysis to explore how participants negotiated the relation between health and performance throughout their career pathways. As a result, we generated six themes, each of which captures a different articulation of the health–performance relationship: (a) illusion of invulnerability, (b) health and performance as an antithesis, (c) the psychic benefits of performing outweigh its costs, (d) health as a prerequisite for performance, (e) there is more to me and life, and (f) it is difficult to care for one’s health. The findings illustrate the tensions and paradoxes high-performing athletes, musicians, and mathematicians experienced with regard to their health and highlight a deeply internalized performance narrative among individuals of different performance domains. Such personal beliefs, promoted within a culture of risk, made it difficult for high-performers to take care of themselves and to pursue health in a more holistic sense. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 14(2), May 2025, 352-368; doi:10.1037/spy0000369
Bouldering is an Olympic discipline that encompasses a series of short climbing sequences on low-height structures called boulders. Strategic planning is paramount in competitive bouldering to both identify suitable climbing strategies before climbing and adapt climbing strategies after failed attempts. The ability to identify suitable climbing strategies depends upon an extensive climbing movement repertoire, conceptualized as high-level knowledge structures stored in long-term memory. This study aimed at examining strategic planning in the context of a bouldering competition to gain further insight into mechanisms underlying strategy proficiency in Olympic bouldering. Thirty male competitors in the semifinals at a national bouldering championship voluntarily participated in the study. A series of climbing-related performance and strategic planning parameters were examined, including suitability of competitors’ climbing strategies, adjustments they made to their initial strategies, and their climbing movement repertoire. Linear regressions revealed significant relations between climbers’ bouldering performance (number of completed boulders and failed climbing attempts) and their climbing strategy suitability, their strategy adjustments following their first attempts at the boulders, and their climbing movement repertoire. Findings underpin previous research revealing that mastering competitive bouldering is associated with climbers’ ability to develop appropriate climbing strategies relative to the climbing movements of boulders. Findings furthermore reinforce the movement repertoire paradigm, as climbers who exhibited better bouldering performances were characterized by a superior climbing movement repertoire, enabling them to quickly interpret visual sensory input and identify meaningful climbing movement patterns during boulder previewing. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(3), Aug 2024, 287-306; doi:10.1037/spy0000353
Unilateral left-hand contractions (LHCs) have been used as a neurophysiologically motivated intervention for optimizing and stabilizing a wide range of behaviors, including motor performance. What is currently unknown, however, is the efficacy and neurophysiological basis of LHC interventions. The aim of this systematic meta-analysis was to review and synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of LHCs as a preperformance routine on motor performance. We, therefore, discuss the theoretical background, highlights key methodological considerations, and suggest areas of future research. An electronic search of the PubMed, APA PsycInfo, Google Scholar, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases was conducted to identify peer-reviewed literature relating to LHCs and motor performance, skilled performance, peak performance, and choking. Ten studies (12 effect sizes) met inclusion criteria and were retained for quality assessment and synthesis. The findings indicate a moderate effect of LHC interventions on performance (g = 0.59, 95% CI [0.14, 1.03]); further, moderator analyses revealed that the effect was significant in experimental design studies, among subelite and elite athletes, and when participants were exposed to high-pressure situations. A trim-and-fill analysis was conducted to estimate and correct any potential publication bias, and the results suggest the effect of the LHC intervention may not be as robust as initially appeared. We conclude that this moderate effect should be interpreted with caution. Specifically, concerns regarding study quality and lack of neurophysiological specificity appear to limit the impact and significance of the LHC literature as it currently stands. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(3), Aug 2024, 223-239; doi:10.1037/spy0000351
Athletes experience mental ill-health at prevalence rates similar to the general population but are reluctant to discuss or seek help for mental ill-health due to stigma, which can impact their status, playing time, or spot on the team. Researchers have alluded to social sequelae of mental ill-health stigma in sport (e.g., ostracization, reduced social opportunities), but these outcomes have not been explicitly explored. Therefore, we qualitatively explored athletes’ experiences of mental ill-health and their perceptions of the impact of stigma on their social relationships. Participants read a priming vignette before engaging in semistructured interviews. We interviewed 12 retired university and college student-athletes within 5 years of retirement who had experienced mental ill-health during their intercollegiate athletic career. Employing reflexive thematic analysis, we developed two themes portraying participants’ described experiences: (1) Relational Drawbacks to Protecting Oneself From Stigmatization, detailing negative impacts of mental ill-health stigma on participants’ relationships, and (2) Growth Through Stigmatized Experiences, highlighting the positive outcomes participants derived from their experiences. Through these themes, we found that participants utilized maladaptive coping strategies when fearing stigmatization, which led to the negative social sequelae they experienced. We also found that socially supportive and destigmatized interactions helped participants form deep, meaningful relationships that lasted beyond their student-athlete careers and provided a sense of well-being. We suggest that fostering socially supportive sport environments represents a promising path to destigmatization that can increase athlete well-being. We detail recommendations for future research avenues and interventions that may be beneficial in creating socially supportive sport environments. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(3), Aug 2024, 254-271; doi:10.1037/spy0000349
Despite the promising link between self-compassion and health behaviors, less is known about the relationship between self-compassion and physical activity (PA) performed for health (e.g., exercise) or psychological constructs that could plausibly mediate this relationship. This scoping review maps research examining the relationship between self-compassion, PA, and psychological antecedents of PA. A peer-reviewed search strategy was run through OVID MEDLINE(R) and APA PsycInfo in 2020, 2021, and 2023. We hand searched the https://selfcompassion.org repository and the reference lists of included studies and nine subject-relevant reviews. Eligible studies used any quantitative design, were published in English after 2003, and examined self-compassion in the context of PA or PA-related self-regulation, affect, motivation, or self-efficacy among participants aged 10 years or older. Studies examining sport and athletics were excluded. Article screening was conducted independently and in duplicate by two reviewers. Data extraction was divided evenly between the two reviewers. The search yielded 4,612 articles. After screening, N = 43 independent samples (n = 27 cross-sectional, n = 6 prospective, n = 4 randomized trials, n = 4 nonrandomized trials, n = 2 single-session experiments) were included representing 18,478 participants. Consistent support was found for the relationship between self-compassion and PA-related self-regulation, affect, motivation, and self-efficacy. Inconsistent support was found for the association between self-compassion and PA behavior. Insufficient evidence was available to determine whether self-compassion can be intervened upon to increase PA. Our findings suggest that self-compassion may support psychological variables that contribute to PA engagement or maintenance. Five recommendations for future intervention development are provided. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(3), Aug 2024, 272-286; doi:10.1037/spy0000347
Interventions to attenuate the negative effects of prior self-control exertion on physical performance are limited. The present study had three primary objectives: (a) to investigate whether prior self-control exertion reduces subsequent performance on a time-to-exhaustion (TTE) cycling task, (b) to investigate if goal priming attenuated the detrimental effects of self-control depletion on subsequent physical performance, (c) to examine the potential for any observed performance decrements to be explained by changes in perceptions of pain and motivation. Fourteen recreationally active males (23 ± 3 years) completed three TTE cycling tasks at 80% VO2 peak on an electromagnetically braked cycle ergometer. Prior to each TTE cycling task, participants completed a self-control depletion condition (incongruent Stroop task) or a nonself-control depletion condition (congruent Stroop task) for 4 min. During the TTE cycling task, participants were asked to watch a video on the screen in front of them. During this video, participants were exposed to a goal priming sequence (intervention condition) or a random letter sequence (control condition). The participants’ TTE cycling task performance time, subjective measures, and cycling cadence were recorded every 3 min during the TTE task. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that there was no significant difference in TTE cycling task performance between the experimental conditions (p = .28). Furthermore, there were no significant changes in perceptions of pain (p = .36) or motivation (p = .21). The findings indicate that prior self-control exertion did not negatively affect subsequent TTE cycling task performance. In addition, goal priming does not influence the effects of initial self-control exertion on subsequent physical task performance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(3), Aug 2024, 240-253; doi:10.1037/spy0000345
Previous studies have revealed a positive relation between the specific components of physical fitness and the executive function of inhibition in preadolescence. However, it is not clear whether physical fitness components are related to inhibition independently of each other. In this study, we aim to reveal specific portion of the inhibition variance explained by the shared and by the unique variance of certain aerobic, motor, and muscular fitness tests. For 160 preadolescents (mean age 9.6, SD 0.3), motor fitness (hurdle and crawl test), aerobic fitness (shuttle run 20 m), muscular fitness (bent arm hang), and inhibition (reaction time and accuracy on the Stroop task) measures were acquired. Hierarchical multiple regression was applied to explore the importance of physical fitness and covariates (i.e., age, gender, body mass index, and intelligence) for explaining inhibition. Finally, commonality analysis was performed to reveal the shared and unique contribution of the three physical fitness tests in explaining inhibition. The results revealed that fitness components explained nearly 9% of the inhibition variance. The largest portion of the inhibition variance was explained by the shared fitness variance (38.07%), followed by the unique muscular fitness variance (33.36%), and the shared aerobic and muscular fitness variance (15.62%). Our research showed that the shared fitness variance could be more important than individual fitness components in explaining inhibition. Further to this, we argue that some fitness tests could have embedded inhibition requirements and thus additionally explain inhibition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(3), Aug 2024, 205-222; doi:10.1037/spy0000344
Student-athletes are at risk of impaired well-being due to the demands of combining a career in both school and sport. Moreover, negative and positive role interactions (i.e., sport–school conflicts and enrichments) may play an important role in student-athletes’ well-being. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the week-level relationships between role interactions and four contextual well-being indicators among student-athletes. Thirty-one student-athletes (15 females, 16 males) completed a weekly survey across 5 months resulting in 331 observations on their perceived conflicts and enrichments between student and athlete roles, sport- and school-related stress, and sport- and school-related satisfaction. Negative and positive role interactions predicted between 35% and 51% of the week-level variance in contextual well-being. Consistent with our hypotheses, sport–school conflicts positively predicted sport- and school-related stress. Sport-to-school conflict negatively predicted school-related satisfaction, whereas school-to-sport conflict negatively predicted sport-related satisfaction. Sport-to-school enrichment negatively predicted sport-related stress and positively predicted sport-related satisfaction, whereas school-to-sport enrichment negatively predicted school-related stress and positively predicted school-related satisfaction. The results of this study help to better understand student-athlete well-being. They show that contextual stress and satisfaction vary significantly at the week level among student-athletes and that sport–school role interactions could predict these variables. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(2), May 2024, 162-182; doi:10.1037/spy0000343
Use of Ericsson and Simon (1980, 1993) think aloud (TA) method within sport and exercise psychology research has increased in recent years. The purpose of this review was to map current research that has used the TA method with athletes and exercisers by synthesizing published literature that has adopted the TA method to investigate athlete or exerciser cognitions during task performance. Seven electronic databases were searched three times, with a final search conducted in April 2023. Thirty-six studies satisfying the eligibility criteria were included. Several methodological issues were identified including misunderstandings about the nature of the TA method, leading to the use of methods different from and sometimes antithetical to those proposed by Ericsson and Simon (1980, 1993). Other issues identified concerned participant samples, TA training, ecological validity of tasks, and defining the standard of participants. Theoretical misconceptions, methodological considerations, and recommendations for future research using the TA method to generate understanding of participant cognitions during task performance in sport and exercise are discussed. This review documents the extent and nature of the use of the TA method within sport and exercise psychology research and can guide researchers seeking to conduct high-quality research involving the TA method in future. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(2), May 2024, 126-143; doi:10.1037/spy0000342
The well-being of elite athletes has been an important focus of research in recent years, with a view to identifying the specific stressors they experience and thus inform effective mechanisms of support for those competing at an elite level. However, para-athlete well-being has been comparatively underresearched, and the nuances that may contribute to or inhibit well-being in this population are still poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to explore elite para-athlete experiences of well-being and to understand the unique aspects of the elite para-athlete environment that may impact upon their well-being. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 21 current U.K. para-athletes (13 Paralympians and eight internationally competitive para-athletes; from 12 different summer para-sports; median age: 28.8 years, range 22–47). Data were inductively thematically analyzed. Four key themes were developed: (a) understanding of para-athlete well-being, (b) a need for specialized support, (c) navigating conflicting identities, (d) access to (some) opportunities. Para-athletes highlighted a need for more specific, tailored support from within the elite sport context (e.g., in relation to transitions into centralized programs and the day-to-day support offered by athlete support personnel). Classification processes were experienced as highly stressful events, which many para-athletes felt underprepared to navigate. Para-athletes struggled to manage their identity as an elite sports person, fighting against media “superhuman” discourses and pressures from national governing body (NGB) staff that failed to acknowledge them as “person first, athlete second”. Our study emphasizes the importance of the provision of tailored support to protect and enhance well-being in this specific population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(2), May 2024, 111-125; doi:10.1037/spy0000338
Evidence for the protective role of dispositional mindfulness for athletic performance, stress, and mood among elite athletes has been demonstrated through correlational and interventional studies. The effects of state mindfulness on athletic functioning in day-to-day training contexts remains unclear. We examined the effects of state mindfulness on mood, biological markers of stress, and self-rated athletic performance in elite athletes during daily training. We used a diary study design to collect data on state mindfulness, mood, self-rated athletic performance, and salivary cortisol directly following training sessions of 78 elite athletes. For each athlete, a total of 27 data points were obtained across 9 weeks with data collected on a separate day, 3 days per week. Data were analyzed with multilevel structural equation modeling. At both the between-person and within-person levels, state mindfulness was significantly and negatively related to total mood disturbance and maladaptive dimensions of mood, including anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, and tension. Conversely, state mindfulness was positively related to vigor and self-rated athletic performance. Relations between state mindfulness and biological markers of stress were nonsignificant. Overall, findings of the present study provide preliminary empirical evidence supporting the utility of mindfulness interventions for improving state mindfulness of elite athletes. Such interventions may increase the positive mood of athletes and their performance during training. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(2), May 2024, 144-161; doi:10.1037/spy0000340
Flow states are associated with highly desirable outcomes including increased performance, well-being, and intrinsic rewards, making it sought after in sport and exercise. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a flow intervention for runners (guided by an intervention development protocol), using a mixed-method design including a mixed 2 (group) × 2 (run) experimental design supplemented by qualitative data from event-focused interviews. Twenty Australian runners (six female, 14 male; Mage = 29.65 years, SD = 7.95) completed two 20-min runs on a self-paced treadmill. Participants were randomly assigned to a control (n = 10) or intervention group (n = 10). All participants completed a 20-min baseline run (with the goal to “run at a comfortable pace for 20 min”). The control group completed their second run following the same baseline instructions. The intervention group completed their second run following a protocol that incorporated a combination of open goals (i.e., “see how far you can run in 20 min”), performance feedback, and individualized metronome tempo. Measures included flow, distance run within 20 min, perceptions of challenge, and confidence during the run. A semistructured interview was conducted at the conclusion of the intervention. No significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups; however, the qualitative data suggest that participants in both groups experienced periods of flow. Importantly, the mixed-methods approach enabled exploration of how and why flow occurred in both conditions. This study provides key considerations for the future development and evaluation of flow interventions in sport and exercise. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 13(2), May 2024, 183-204; doi:10.1037/spy0000336
Selection and training of special operations forces operators is long-lasting process that involves significant manpower to select the best candidates for one of the most demanding and dangerous jobs in the world. The Tier 1 qualification course, which represents the initial months of training for an operator, is so labor-intensive that even after completing a specific selection course to reduce the number of failures, attrition remains the highest among all military trainings. This study presents data of 77 successfully selected candidates to the special forces qualification course in Belgium and investigates the differences between succeeders (n = 16) and dropouts (n = 61). Unlike previous investigations, these results do not describe successfully selected candidates for the training, rather successful operators. Additionally, previous studies have primarily focused on physical fitness as the performance outcome to identify relevant subcomponents such as aerobic capacity, muscular strength, or power. By contrast, the present article provides a detailed investigation of the performance profile at not only the physical level, but also cognitive and personality levels for among succeeders and dropouts in the qualification course. Unsurprisingly, physical fitness was a significant difference between groups, and a major predictor of success. However, for the first time, we demonstrate the major influence of intelligence (measured as intelligence quotient), as the most important determinant of success for the qualification course, according to a relative weight analysis. In addition, the detailed intellectual assessment shows that some visuospatial measures are less relevant for success, whereas verbal measures are highly relevant, and may have been overlooked in previous literature. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Football associations across western nations, including Denmark and Germany, are initiating nationwide programs to identify and select young talented athletes. The aim of this study was to explore how 9- to 10-year-old children experienced such early talent identification and selection processes. Using an ethnographic approach, the first author conducted 1.5 years of fieldwork in a Danish suburban football club from which boys were selected (or nonselected) to an extracurricular nationwide program. Within the club, the first author observed and participated in weekly training sessions for the under 10- and 11-year-old age groups and conducted six focus-group interviews with 19 of the boys. Data were analyzed using Jenkins’ (2014) theoretical perspectives on social identity and specifically his distinction between external categorization and internal identification. Observations from weekly training practices noted that the coaches—as representatives of the football system—grouped the boys based on skill level (and talent) as the main criteria. Through focus-group interviews, it became apparent that grouping the boys into A-, B-, and C-teams constituted the main reference point for the boys’ internal identification of themselves and their peers. Importantly, the boys actively negotiated their adherence to these categories arguing for their proximity to the top-tier A-team that was remarkably more valued than the other groups. Herein, we discuss the (un)intended consequences of skill level being the salient point of identification for children and provide options for supporting more diverse and encompassing group memberships in sport settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
The Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 3 (BREQ3) is the most widely used instrument to measure exercise motivation under the self-determination theory (SDT) framework. It consists of 23 items measuring the six behavioral regulations advanced within SDT (intrinsic, integrated, identified, introjected, external, and amotivated) and has been used to track exercise motivation in young, old, active, and nonactive samples all over the world. In recent years, the instrument has been incorporated into applied and intervention-based research and due to limited resources and recruitment challenges in certain populations, assessments using the BREQ3 may need to be done more efficiently. As such, there is a need to develop shorter versions of the BREQ3 that enhance flexibility in research. In Studies 1 and 2, we created a 12-item BREQ3-12 (two items per behavior regulation) and a six-item BREQ3-6 (single item per behavior regulation). Then, we demonstrated the factor structure was commensurate with SDT and evidence of score reliability and criterion validity aligned with the full 23-item version (BREQ3-23). In Study 3, participants were randomly assigned to complete the BREQ3-6, BREQ3-12, or the BREQ3-23 and we replicated the results supporting that the factor structure, reliability, and validity of scores derived from the BREQ3-6 and BREQ3-12 aligned with scores from the BREQ3-23. Overall, the findings provide preliminary support for two shorter forms of the BREQ3-23 that may be useful for research in applied settings, interventions, or tracking changes in motives over time using multiwave, longitudinal research designs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
This study aimed to better understand psychological adaptation processes of elite athletes, and specifically how stress appraisal and coping processes are dynamically interrelated and the extent to which their dynamic relationship is associated with performance and burnout among an artistic swimming team during the qualification phase for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics conducted in summer 2021. Fifteen elite artistic swimmers (Mage = 21 years, SDage = 3 years) completed an online questionnaire once a week measuring perceived stress, stress mindset, individual and collective perception of control, individual and interpersonal coping strategies, performance, and burnout (i.e., 19 time-points, January–May 2021). Results of multilevel analyses showed that (a) mastery coping mediated the association between stress mindset and reduced sense of accomplishment, (b) goal-withdrawal coping mediated the association between stress mindset and negative feelings toward sport, and (c) interpersonal management of emotions mediated the association between collective perception of control and collective performance. This study provides new knowledge about the psychological adaptation processes of elite athletes during the particularly stressful Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification phase. Furthermore, it highlights the need to longitudinally and frequently assess changes in psychological adaptation processes in relation to burnout and performance fluctuations in order to prevent burnout development and a deterioration in individual or team performance, especially in extended challenging situations experienced by elite athletes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Greater lifetime stressor exposure has been related to negative health outcomes (e.g., depression, cardiovascular disease). However, the relationship between lifetime stressor exposure and sporting performance is less clear. Furthermore, while the prevalence of mental health issues among elite athletes has been relatively well established, it appears that sport performers are not effectively utilizing mental health support services, particularly male athletes. Therefore, this study explored male elite athletes’ experiences of lifetime stressor exposure and performance in their sport, as well as their perceptions of the factors influencing mental health help-seeking behavior. Nine elite male athletes (Mage = 27.44 years; SD = 3.50) participated in semistructured interviews (Mduration = 90.25 min, SD = 26.38) supplemented with photo elicitation. Interpretative phenomenological analysis developed group experiential themes. From these themes, we constructed two composite vignettes that addressed each of the research questions, respectively. The first vignette was written using a first-person narrative, allowing the reader to understand an athlete’s (i.e., Toby’s) internal thoughts and feelings, as well as his experiences with lifetime stressors and how they impacted his performance. The second vignette was written using a third-person omniscient narration (i.e., the all-knowing narrator), detailing two athletes’ (i.e., James and Mark’s) experiences of seeking help for mental ill-health. Collectively, the findings offer vital and accessible information that sporting organizations can use to develop collaborative multilevel interventions that better support elite athletes’ performance and mental health, particularly athletes who have experienced greater lifetime stressor exposure. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 12(2), May 2023, 89-105; doi:10.1037/spy0000322
Researchers have documented how athletes navigate transitions within high-performance sport; however, little is known about the transitions that youth athletes face in their athletic development. When studying youth sport populations, it is imperative to consider how sports experiences coincide with children’s changing psychosocial abilities. The purpose of this study was to explore how children’s psychosocial abilities interact with their sports participation as they attempt to navigate the transition from recreational to competitive sport. Seven children (Mage = 10 years, 6 females, 1 male) and their parents participated in a mixed methods study. Parents and children completed qualitative interviews and measures of the child’s perceived social and athletic competencies (Harter, 1985) at three time points across a 12-month period. Qualitative data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, and quantitative data were integrated throughout the results. Each dyad had a unique transitional experience; some children transitioned into more competitive levels of sport, while others needed multiple attempts to qualify for new teams (i.e., multiple tryouts over 12 months), and other children did not transition into more competitive sport levels. Salient transition experiences, such as tryouts or meeting new teammates, presented children with opportunities to demonstrate psychosocial abilities such as social comparisons and self-evaluations with peers. Challenges for sports clubs due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted children’s opportunities to transition in sport. This study provides initial insight into how young athletes and parents perceive and experience phases of their sport transition, and how children’s psychosocial abilities can play a role in the transition process. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 12(1), Feb 2023, 1-8; doi:10.1037/spy0000317
In this editorial, Beauchamp extends particular gratitude to his predecessor, Professor Maria Kavussanu. The issue titled Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology is now firmly established as one of the leading journals in sport and exercise psychology, while also embracing a unique additional focus on performance psychology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 12(1), Feb 2023, 9-28; doi:10.1037/spy0000314
Spectators at sporting events see not only the skills displayed but also the various forms of ritualized behavior exhibited by athletes. To test whether ritualized behavior contributes to physical self-control, Study 1 (n = 120) and Study 2 (n = 119) were carried out using the sprint start task and the wall-sit task, respectively. In Study 3 (n = 106), replication tests were conducted and the mechanism underlying the effect of ritualized behavior on physical self-control was investigated. We found that ritualized behavior had an enhancing effect on the sprint start task used to assess inhibitory self-control but not on the wall-sit task used to assess persistent self-control, supporting the important role of the psychological feature of ritualized behavior in enhancing inhibitory self-control. Moreover, the combination of psychological and physical features produces the greatest benefit. The present study provides new evidence on the enhancement of different forms of physical self-control through ritualized behavior. Future research should focus on whether there is a significant difference in the impact of ritualized behavior on self-control between competitive (high-pressure) versus noncompetitive sports. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 12(1), Feb 2023, 72-88; doi:10.1037/spy0000315
Given that hierarchy is a ubiquitous form of organization that influences social behavior, we explored the relational dynamics of how newcomers and incumbent members negotiated and managed rank in a transient yet interdependent work setting. Our investigation focused on a specialized military base that monitors over 200,000 flights per year and is responsible for activating military aircraft in response to potential threats. We identified four themes: the omnipresence of hierarchy; how rank differences can facilitate and complicate newcomer entry; crafting hierarchical relations to advance social and task goals; and the tension of navigating changing hierarchical demands. Against the backdrop of highly formalized rank differences, squadron members described an elastic hierarchy at the base—due in large part to the process of hierarchical crafting. Vertical relationships were actively managed and shaped by higher ranking members to advance task and social goals. Despite higher ranking members’ efforts to maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of hierarchy, these shifting expectations for social behavior could result in uneasiness and ambiguity for lower ranking members. In fact, efforts to implement an elastic hierarchy may unintentionally reinforce power and status differences by highlighting the asymmetric influence wielded by higher ranking members. These findings illustrate specific ways in which rank is an integral and dynamic component of the intake process. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 12(1), Feb 2023, 58-71; doi:10.1037/spy0000313
Constructs of exercise group identity (e.g., “I belong to this exercise group”) and exerciser role identity (e.g., “I am an exerciser”) predict better exercise adherence. Both exerciser group and role identities are supported by exercise group participation. However, group disbandment may present a barrier to exercise for those who identify strongly with their exercise group relative to those who identify strongly with their exerciser role. This study qualitatively examines what it means for an individual to endorse both a group identity and role identity related to running. We then examine how these identity meanings were reflected in group runners’ experiences of maintaining running after group disbandment. Two researchers conducted semistructured interviews with 15 Canadian running group members. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and reflexive thematic analysis was used to generate themes. Our results first describe how runners conceptualize their running group and runner role identities. We then depict three themes that characterize runners’ experiences of running group disbandment (struggling without the group, thriving without the group, and keeping the group alive). We draw connections between runners’ experiences of group disbandment and their running-related identities, and these findings are related to theory and research. We conclude that group exercisers who identify with both an exerciser role and as a member of an exercise group may be optimally situated to be resilient and maintain exercise in the face of challenges such as group disbandment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 12(1), Feb 2023, 43-57; doi:10.1037/spy0000311
Just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) are a promising technology-based approach for health behavior change. This examination aimed to evaluate whether a JITAI after a period of inactivity can enhance physical activity (PA) in the subsequent hour depending on whether the JITAI has been answered (“engaged” condition) compared to when the trigger was not answered (“not engaged” condition). Data of the 3-week intervention period of the SMARTFAMILY2.0 trial was used for analysis. A total of 80 participants (n = 47 adults, 23 female; n = 33 children, 15 female) with 907 JITAI triggers were included in this examination. A JITAI was sent when the participant has been inactive for at least 60 min as indicated by accelerometry. Two multilevel models were calculated for metabolic equivalents (MET) and step count with measurements (Level 1) nested in participants (Level 2) under consideration of the covariates weekday/weekend, time of the day, and adult/child. Results indicated significantly higher MET (β = 0.08, p = .014) and step (β = 0.08, p = .022) counts in the subsequent hour for the engaged condition compared to the not engaged condition within-persons (Level 1). Engagement with the JITAI implemented in the SMARTFAMILY2.0 trial yielded promising results concerning physical activity enhancement in the subsequent hour. Here, the inclusion of further constraining factors like the availability of the participant or the inclusion of affective and contextual variables into the design of a JITAI might enhance the engagement in future studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol 12(1), Feb 2023, 29-42; doi:10.1037/spy0000307
Authentic leadership is a form of leadership that could be promising in sport. However, to date, very few studies have examined this leadership style in sport, and most studies have been cross-sectional. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of authentic leadership on a range of athlete outcomes in an experimental setting. To this end, we conducted an experiment, using a three condition (high, low, neutral authentic leadership) between-participant design. A total of 129 participants (Mage = 19.36; 76 females) were randomly assigned to a high, low, or neutral authentic leadership condition. We manipulated authentic leadership using scripts depicting an imaginary coach and examined the influence of this manipulation on participants’ trust, enjoyment, commitment, cheating, aggression, and anticipated guilt for cheating and aggression. A series of analyses of variance indicated that participants in the high authentic leadership condition reported that, if they played for the imaginary coach, they would feel greater trust, be more committed, experience greater enjoyment, and be less likely to be aggressive compared to participants in the low and neutral authentic leadership conditions. There were no effects on cheating or anticipated guilt for cheating or aggression. The findings suggest that authentic leadership could promote trust, enjoyment, and commitment, as well as reduce aggression in sport. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
In their recent systematic review and meta-analysis, Cabral et al. (2022) explored the effects of implicit motor learning under pressure conditions. As a stated focus, they aimed to address the previously inconsistent findings in the literature and provide clarity to researchers and practitioners. Although we agree that such clarity is needed, we contend that there are critical methodological and procedural concerns that prevent this systematic review from achieving its objectives. In this commentary, we lay out these specific concerns in light of recent debates in this research area and the demands of real-world sporting contexts. More generally, we also call attention to important principles to consider when planning a systematic review of interventions in order to maximize contributions to the literature and usefulness for applied psychology practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Authentic leadership is a genuine form of leadership in which coaches demonstrate behaviors in line with their inner values, and could result in positive outcomes in athletes, such as trust and enjoyment, yet, it has received limited research attention in sport. Most previous studies of authentic leadership in sport have been cross-sectional. Thus, it is not known how changes in authentic leadership over time may be related to changes in athlete outcomes such as cohesion, team culture, and perceived teammate prosocial behavior. The aim of this study was to examine whether changes in authentic leadership predict changes in commitment, enjoyment, and perceived teammate prosocial behavior, via changes in perceptions of greater trust, team culture, and cohesion over a sports season. Data were collected via questionnaires at two time points: the beginning and the end of a sport season, with 421 (227 females, Mage = 20.32, SD = 2.86) team sport athletes at Time 1 and 248 athletes 5 months later at Time 2. Increases in authentic leadership from the beginning to the end of the season were related to greater athlete enjoyment, commitment, and perceived teammate prosocial behavior both directly and indirectly via increased perceptions of trust, team culture, and cohesion. Our findings enhance our understanding of authentic leadership in sport and highlight its importance in predicting changes in athlete outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
This study examined the effects of goal types on performance and commitment in a cognitive task. Sixty-six participants (Mage = 30.42, SD = 12.25) completed six trials of the Letter Number Identification Task. Participants were given a different goal type for each trial: specific-easy, specific-challenging, specific-unrealistic, open, do-your-best, and a baseline condition (no goal). Open goals and specific-challenging goals both led to significantly greater performance than baseline instructions and do-your-best goals, whereas open goals also led to significantly greater performance than specific-easy and specific-unrealistic goals. Specific, unrealistic goals led to significantly higher performance errors, whereas open goals led to the lowest performance errors (i.e., greatest accuracy) of all goal types. Participants were significantly less committed to specific-unrealistic goals compared with all other goal types, and significantly more committed to do-your-best goals and specific-easy goals compared with baseline instructions. This study adds to accumulating evidence of the potential benefits of open goals and suggests that open goals may be as effective as specific-challenging goals in producing cognitive performance outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Dutch special forces operators, also known as commandos, perform in mentally and physically tough environments. An important question for recruitment and selection of commandos is whether they have particular personality traits. To answer this question, we first examined differences in personality traits between 110 experienced Dutch male commandos and a control sample of 275 men in the same age range. Second, we measured the personality traits at the start of the special forces selection program and compared the scores of candidates who later graduated (n = 53) or dropped out (n = 138). Multilevel Bayesian models and t tests revealed that commandos were less neurotic (d = −0.58), more conscientious (d = 0.45), and markedly less open to experiences (d = −1.13) than the matched civilian group. Furthermore, there was a tendency for graduates to be less neurotic (d = −0.27) and more conscientious (d = 0.24) than dropouts. For selection, personality traits do not appear discriminative enough for graduation success and other factors need to be accounted for as well, such as other psychological constructs and physical performance. On the other hand, these results provide interesting clues for using personality traits to recruit people for the special forces program. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Cross-sectional research has demonstrated the strong influence teammates have on athletes’ eating attitudes/behaviors, but less is known about the enduring nature of such influence or the stability of eating and exercise psychopathology over time. This study aimed to (a) examine whether eating and exercise psychopathology and psychological well-being (anxiety, depression, self-esteem) in athletes remain stable over time, (b) examine which teammate factors predict athletes’ eating and exercise attitudes/behaviors longitudinally, and (c) explore whether such predictive relationships differed as a function of gender/sport type/age group. Athletes (N = 311, mean age 18.74 years, n = 171 female, n = 134 lean sport athletes) completed a survey at the beginning (T1) and middle (T2; 4 months later) of their athletic season exploring teammate factors, psychological well-being, and eating/exercise psychopathology. Wilcoxon T-Tests assessed stability in variables over time (Aim 1), structural equation modeling tested the cross-lagged relationships among variables (Aim 2), and tests of invariance explored group differences (Aim 3). Levels of eating psychopathology significantly decreased from T1–T2 while levels of anxiety significantly increased. Notably, the cross-lagged model found higher levels of self-esteem at T1 predicted lower T2 bulimia modeling, and higher levels of bulimia modeling at T1 predicted higher T2 disordered eating. Males, those participating in nonlean sports and adolescent athletes are at increased risk of modeling disordered eating. Given the importance of understanding factors that can increase/reduce athletes’ susceptibility to teammate influence, as well as the negative impact of teammate influence, these findings will inform the targeted development of team-based eating and exercise psychopathology prevention strategies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Adolescent girls often face weight-stigmatizing experiences in physical activity contexts. Self-compassion inductions may be useful in mitigating the harmful psychological consequences of these events. Self-compassionate writing inductions are easy to administer, cost-effective, and have demonstrated effectiveness in acutely increasing self-compassion scores in adolescents. However, it is unclear how adolescent girls apply the components of self-compassion to manage difficult emotions (e.g., shame) that arise from recalling weight-stigmatizing events, and if these applications align with theoretical conceptualizations of self-compassion. The present qualitative study examined the written entries of a self-compassionate writing task completed by adolescent girls (n = 101) in response to a recalled negative weight-related experience that occurred in the context of physical activity. Using deductive content analysis, the written entries were compared against a coding structure that was informed by theoretical conceptualizations of self-compassion (e.g., self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness). On average, 72% of written entries were in alignment with conceptual tenets of self-kindness, 75% with common humanity, and 72% with mindfulness. Common challenges with applying self-compassion included demonstrating care toward the self in response to distress, empathizing with the experience of others, and overidentification. It is possible that challenges with applying self-compassion are exacerbated by culturally endorsed beliefs surrounding weight, particularly as related to physical activity. These findings can inform the development and optimization of future self-directed self-compassion inductions for adolescents in response to weight-stigmatizing events and may have utility in broader applications of self-compassionate writing interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Participation in physical activity and sport is an essential tool to improve human well-being. Military officers’ mental health issues have been significantly increasing, and suicide prevention is a top priority for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The present study investigated how the profiles based on military officers’ mental health are associated with their active sport participation leve and hedonic and eudaimonic motives for sport participation. Participants of the study were 1,168 CAF officers. By applying latent profile analysis to mental health-related variables, we found two clusters, which were named: (a) unfulfilled life (less adaptive mental health) and (b) fulfilled life (adaptive mental health). The results of binary logistic regression demonstrated that active sport participation level and eudaimonic motives, but not hedonic motives, were significantly associated with the military officers’ mental health profiles. The present results suggest that the amount of sport participation and euadimonic motives for sport participation might be the essential factors for the adaptive mental health of military officers. Based on the odds ratio, eudaimonic motives were a more significant factor associated with the mental health profile. The present findings can provide insight into the importance of eudaimonic motives for sport participation on positive mental health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Leaders within high-performing sport contexts are under increasing amounts of pressure to build a successful (winning) program. To date, most research in this domain has focused on coaches and athletes, which does not account for teams that have an individual with a greater role, the General Manager. Few positions in sport are as multifaceted and demanding as the General Manager. The purpose of the present study was to gain insight into how ice hockey General Managers created and sustained a culture of excellence. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five experienced Canadian Hockey League (CHL) General Managers who took over poor programs and turned them around on and off the ice, including leading their teams to championship victories. Using a thematic analysis, the findings revealed that the General Managers played a key role in creating a cultural transformation of excellence. This occurred by implementing a set of values and principles that were focused on holistic athlete development and maintained a level of excellence within every aspect of the organization. Additionally, each General Manager facilitated a cultural transformation by implementing a clear and consistent vision that led to the creation of a strong organizational culture that ultimately resulted in continued success on and off the ice. Findings from this study could provide valuable information for current and future leaders in both high-performing sport and business domains by providing crucial knowledge on how to build and sustain a culture of excellence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
Motor skills learned implicitly should be less susceptible to deterioration under psychological pressure (i.e., choking) than skills learned more explicitly. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated that prediction. A systematic search was conducted for articles that had participants learn a motor skill implicitly relative to a comparison group and had both groups perform the skill under low- and high-pressure conditions. Ten studies with a median of nine participants/group met inclusion criteria. Seven of ten studies reported an advantage of learning a motor skill implicitly when performing under psychological pressure. Moreover, a multivariate random-effects meta-analysis revealed that participants who learned a motor skill implicitly performed better under a high-pressure condition than a low-pressure condition, Hedges’ gav = −1.17, 95% lower CI [−1.61], upper CI [−0.74], whereas participants in the comparison group performed similarly between conditions, Hedges’ gav = 0.19, 95% lower CI [ −0.33], upper CI [ 0.71]. For the implicit learning group, a funnel plot of the relationship between effect size and standard error showed an asymmetrical distribution and a significant relationship, indicating bias. In conclusion, results confirm the prediction that implicit motor learning benefits performance under pressure. However, this effect might be distorted by bias and driven by underpowered studies, likely causing it to be overestimated. We suggest the advantage of learning a motor skill implicitly vesus explicitly on performance under pressure be assumed to be moderately sized, pending future research, and encourage preregistered studies with larger sample sizes to estimate the effect more accurately. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
The purpose of the present research was to investigate the independent and joint role of parent and coach autonomy support in the prediction of athlete well-being and performance. Two studies were conducted: Study 1 used a cross-sectional design and targeted athletes from different sports and competitive levels, while Study 2 was based on longitudinal data and targeted youth elite soccer players. Results from both studies showed that parent and coach autonomy support have additive relations with athlete well-being, but that only coach autonomy support is associated with sport performance. This research suggests that parent and coach play an important but distinct role in athlete well-being and that coach autonomy support could help athletes reach high levels of performance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)