The purpose of the present study was to identify eminent sport and exercise psychology researchers, based on citation count, and their most highly cited papers. Men (n = 121) and women (n = 32) from 17 different countries (e.g., the United States n = 47 to Ireland n = 1) were identified. Researchers were selected if their h-index was 60 or greater for Google Scholar and Web of Science combined. This criterion reflects Hirsch’s (2005) characterization as follows based on h-index: a successful scientist (20), an outstanding scientist (40), and truly unique (60), for one database. Our criteria of 60 for two databases are equivalent to a designation halfway between successful and outstanding. The results indicate an h-index mean of 103, median of 94, mode of 105, and range of 60–346. Top-cited publications leaned toward more sport psychology than exercise psychology topics. Prominent journals included the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (n = 24) and Psychology of Sport and Exercise (n = 15). Other publications were in related fields (e.g., Psychology and Health). In summary, we have identified the most highly cited researchers in sport and exercise psychology and their single most-cited papers. We hope this information is of both heuristic and practical value to readers.
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An Imperfect List of Eminent Sport and Exercise Psychology Researchers
Allison Smolinski, Olivia McIntyre, Drew Martin, and Jeffrey J. Martin
Psychological Profile of Hungarian International-Level Distance Runners
Bence Kelemen, Renátó Tóth, Ottó Benczenleitner, and László Tóth
The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychological profile of the 2023 Hungarian National Distance Running Team in terms of personality traits, motivational styles, and competitive anxiety and to explore specific psychosocial factors that characterize the athletes’ mental preparation. The 16 international-level competitors were assessed using validated questionnaires in Hungarian (Big Five Inventory, the revised Sport Motivation Scale, and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2), and university students competing at professional and semiprofessional levels served as the control group. Results indicated that elite distance runners were primarily intrinsically motivated. Their psychological profile appeared similar to profiles found among athletes in the control group. Significant differences were found in traits, such as openness, conscientiousness, and motivation. Neuroticism was positively associated with athletes’ cognitive and somatic anxiety, with self-confidence providing a protective role. Working with a sports psychologist appeared to have no significant measurable effect on athletes precompetition anxiety. Specific personality traits and motivational structures are essential for elite sporting performance. Further research is needed to better understand and determine the specific components of mental preparation.
A Qualitative Study Investigating Health Care Professionals’ Views on Barriers to Integrating Physical Activity Into Mild Cognitive Impairment/Dementia Care
Yan Lou, Sixue Hong, and Wei Li
This study aimed to investigate health care professionals’ (HCPs) views on barriers to integrating physical activity (PA) into mild cognitive impairment/dementia care. Semistructured online interviews form 16 HCPs were completed between November 2022 and December 2022. Data were subjected to thematic analysis and were later mapped deductively to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Four themes were identified: (1) “Dementia-inclusive infrastructure or PA recommendations have not yet been systematically developed and implemented;” (2) “Roles and challenges of the multidisciplinary team;” (3) “HCPs believe that patients’ PA participation is influenced by their disease or individual factors;” and (4) “HCPs’ thoughts on current practice and opinions.” Deductive mapping of these themes revealed that 13 of the 14 Theoretical Domains Framework domains influenced it. Integrating PA into mild cognitive impairment/dementia care is subject to several modifiable determinants. Policymakers should focus on improving the environmental context and resources to encourage PA in mild cognitive impairment/dementia.
Relationships of Physical Activity and Type 2 Diabetes With Cognition in Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites
Fang Yu, Keenan Pituch, Molly Maxfield, Rodney P. Joseph, Jeremy J. Pruzin, Dev Ashish, David W. Coon, Gabriel Shaibi, and HABS-HD Study Team
Problem, Research Strategy, and Findings: Low physical activity (PA) and Type 2 diabetes are associated with cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease, but the evidence is inconsistent and particularly limited by ethnicity. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of PA and Type 2 diabetes with cognition in Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic Whites. The study was a cross-sectional analysis of the Health and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities (n = 1,982–2,000 after removing outliers). Predictors included Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Episodic memory was assessed by Weschler Memory Scale–Third Edition Logical Memory and Spanish-English Verbal Learning Test, executive function by Weschler Memory Scale–Third Edition Digit Span and Digit Symbol Substitution Test, verbal fluency by FAS and animal naming, and global cognition by the Mini-Mental State Examination. Results show that aerobic PA and HbA1c were not associated with domain-specific, or global cognition, but strength/flexibility PA was associated with FAS (b = 0.404, 95% CI [0.023, 0.761]). Higher aerobic PA was associated with greater verbal fluency for Mexican Americans (b = 0.294, 95% CI [0.96, 0.497]) only. HbA1c was negatively associated with Mini-Mental State Examination (b = 0.838, 95% CI [0.008, 1.656]). For low HbA1c, the association between aerobic PA and Digit Symbol Substitution Test was significant for non-Hispanic Whites (b = 0.838, 95% CI [0.008, 1.656]) in comparison to Mexican Americans. Takeaway for Practice: The relationships between PA, Type 2 diabetes, and cognition vary by cognitive domains and ethnicity. Increasing aerobic activities may be particularly important for Mexican Americans who have elevated HbA1c to potentially improve fluency or executive function.
Sitting, Standing, and Physical Activity in Australian Passenger Rail Drivers: On the Right Track for Better Health?
Stephanie E. Chappel, Charlotte L. Rasmussen, Corneel Vandelanotte, Janine Chapman, Andreas Holtermann, Anjum Naweed, and Leon Straker
Background: Poor health in passenger rail drivers, resulting from perceived highly sedentary work and leisure time, has implications for public safety. To date, no studies have described the physical behaviors of passenger rail drivers. This study aimed to characterize the physical behaviors of passenger rail drivers by investigating the volume, pattern, variation, and composition of behaviors at and outside of work. Methods: A convenience sample of 31 rail drivers (77% male, median age 51.0 [12.5] y) in South Australia wore an activity monitor on their right thigh for 8 days and completed a work logbook. Physical behaviors (sitting, standing, light-intensity physical activity, moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity [MVPA], and steps) were recorded for workdays and nonworkdays, and work and nonwork time on workdays. The volume, bouts, between-participants variation, and 3-way composition were compared across the 4 time periods. Results: Drivers sat for 10.6 (1.5) hours, did 76.3 (38.8) minutes of MVPA, and took 9727.3 (4088.4) steps daily. At work, drivers were sitting 369.3 (41.8) minutes (187.1 [54.2] min in prolonged bouts) and doing MVPA 31.7 (10.0) minutes. Between-participants variation in sitting time during work (11%) was lower than both nonwork on a workday (19%) and on a nonworkday (24%; P < .001). Compositions at work differed from nonwork on workdays (F = 27.7, P < .001), as did compositions on workdays compared with nonworkdays (F = 6.8, P = .002). Conclusions: Passenger rail drivers were highly sedentary, but also surprisingly active. At work, drivers were more sedentary and had lower variation in behaviors, suggesting work constraints play an important role. Therefore, work may be the most appropriate domain to intervene for promoting healthy physical behavior profiles among these passenger rail drivers.
The Utility of Head-Mounted Eye Gaze Tracking for Vision-in-Action Assessments to Enhance Skill Acquisition and Sport Performance: A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats Analysis
Nikki Aitcheson-Huehn and Adam W. Kiefer
Mobile eye tracking technology enables the objective evaluation of what, when, and how athletes use visual information from the environment to control action in service of skilled performance. This review highlights the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) to consider before adopting this technology to evaluate visual–motor control for enhanced skill acquisition and performance in sport. Strengths include increased ecological validity by recording the athlete within their natural performance environment. Weaknesses include diminished tracking fidelity based on the eye’s morphology or squinting, eye tracker movement, and lens fogging. Opportunities consist of novel assessments around research themes such as combatting the negative effects of pressure and performance enhancement through personalized training. The formfitting technologies also introduce recording opportunities during standard practices. Data processing time, synchronization of video streams, and hand coding of variables comprise the threats in addition to the hardware cost and the fees associated with crowdsourcing data coding. Currently, it is also not feasible to provide coaches with a report of their athletes’ data in a timeline suitable to create player-specific drills. Evaluating portable eye tracking technology with a SWOT framework helps translate scientific knowledge to practitioners considering implementing this technology for athlete assessment and development.
Wii Fit Exercise’s Effects on Muscle Strength and Fear of Falling in Older Adults With Alzheimer Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Fatma Uğur and Meral Sertel
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate how Wii Fit exercises affect muscle strength and fear of falling in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease. Method: The study included a total of 32 volunteers with Alzheimer’s disease, aged 65–80 years. These participants were divided into two groups: the exercise group and the control group. The exercise group received a 30-min (one session) twice-weekly exercise program for 6 weeks with games selected from different categories, such as balance and aerobic exercises, with the Nintendo Wii virtual reality device. During this period, the control group did not receive any treatment, and routine medical treatments continued. At baseline and 6 weeks later, Mini-Mental State Examination, knee extension muscle strength, Timed Up and Go Test, and Tinetti Fall Efficacy Scale results were recorded in the exercise and control groups. Results: In intragroup comparison, a statistically significant difference was found in all tests (muscle strength, Timed Up and Go Test, and Tinetti Fall Efficacy Scale) in the exercise group after the exercise program (p < .05), while no significant difference was found in the control group (p > .05). According to the interaction of group and time in the intergroup comparison, there was no difference between the groups (exercise and control group) in muscle strength and Timed Up and Go Test (p > .05), but there was a difference in Tinetti Fall Efficacy Scale (p < .05). Conclusions: This randomized controlled trial supports the claim that Wii Fit exercises can reduce the fear of falling in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease.