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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.

The first years of life are an optimal time for developing motor competence. However, the evidence regarding motor competence in early childhood is fragmented and needs to be clearly synthesized and presented. To establish effective evidence-based decision making in research, practice, and policy for the early years, this expert statement, on behalf of the International Motor Development Research Consortium, draws together what is currently known about 3- to 5-year-old children on (a) how skilled are children around the world, (b) the link between motor competence and healthy developmental outcomes, and (c) the capacity to improve children’s motor competence through intervention. This expert statement presents a summary of recent evidence for each of these specific points, followed by recommendations for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

Background: Physical activity and sedentary behavior are associated with health outcomes. However, evidence may be affected by confounding bias. This study aimed to examine the relationships of physical activity and television (TV) viewing time with all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality in a cohort of Australian adults, and determine the robustness of these relationships to residual and unmeasured confounding. Methods: Data from 27,317 Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study participants (mean age = 66) were used. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form and categorized as insufficient, sufficient, or more than sufficient. TV viewing time was categorized as low, moderate, or high. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to evaluate associations of interest. E-values were calculated to assess the strength of unmeasured confounders required to negate the observed results. Results: For highest versus lowest physical activity category, the hazard ratio was 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.56–0.81) for all-cause mortality; E-values ranged between 1.79 and 2.44. Results were similar for cardiovascular mortality; however, hazard ratios were lower (0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.51–1.01) and E-values much smaller (1.00–2.12) for cancer mortality. For highest versus lowest TV viewing time category, the hazard ratio was 1.08 (1.01–1.15) for all-cause mortality; E-values ranged between 1.00 and 1.37. Results were similar for cardiovascular and cancer mortality. Conclusions: Physical activity and TV viewing time were associated with mortality. The robustness to unmeasured/residual confounding was moderate for physical activity (all-cause and cardiovascular mortality), but weaker for physical activity (cancer mortality) and TV viewing time in this study of Australian adults.

Background: Although widely accessible digital technology (DT) provided multiple opportunities for young children’s play, learning, and development, it also raised parents and professionals’ concerns regarding its impact on children’s physical activity. This study aimed to identify practices involving DT that were valued by parents in helping their young child to be physically active. Methods: Participants were parents of ambulatory young children (less than 5 y of age) engaged with a playgroup. The study involved representatives from 3 service organizations, who compiled a list of digital resources related to using DT to promote children’s physical activity that were suitable to be shared and trialed by parents and young children. During a pretrial workshop, researchers, participants, and organization representatives collaboratively developed the intervention, which involved the delivery of selected resources by weekly email, over a 12-week period. Participants provided weekly feedback about their experiences and participated in a postintervention semistructured qualitative interview. Results: Thirteen families, with children aged between 15 and 36 months, completed the trial. Participants reported several valued practices to promote their children’s physical activity, including those where the child was active while engaging with DT, where child engagement with DT acted as a prompt for later physical activity, where DT assisted parents in planning physical activity, where DT assisted parents in integrating movement with learning and play, and where DT was used to reinforce the child’s enthusiasm for physical activity. Conclusions: Parents reported several valued practices where children were physically active, rather than sedentary, while using digital technology.