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Perceived Team Motivational Climate, Athletic Identity, and Academic Endeavors Among High School Athletes

Jacob M. Chamberlin, Mary D. Fry, Haiying Long, and Susumu Iwasaki

The purpose of this study was to examine whether athletes’ perceptions of a caring (C) and task-involving (TI) sport climate significantly predict their career decision self-efficacy; career exploration and engagement; academic support from coaches and teammates; and athletic and academic identity, after controlling for athletes’ demographic information. High school athletes (N = 228; 75 females and 146 males) completed a survey that included the measures of interest. A series of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that students’ perceptions of a C/TI climate were positive predictors of their career decision self-efficacy (TI), academic identify (TI), and coach support of their academics (C/TI). The findings of this study build on the work of Poux and Fry published in 2015 with college athletes. When coaches foster a C/TI climate, they may be promoting holistic development of their athletes by encouraging them to invest in their academic program and prepare for future careers.

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Sport and School Burnout in Norwegian Lower Secondary School Student-Athletes: A Person-Oriented Approach

Milla Saarinen, Daniel J. Phipps, Gro Jordalen, and Christian Thue Bjørndal

The study examined burnout profiles in adolescent student-athletes based on sport and school burnout symptoms. We explored whether psychological distress, self-esteem, athletic identity, and student identity were associated with these profiles, accounting for age, gender, and type of sport. Participants included 642 student-athletes from Grades 8–10 (age 12–14, 57% males and 43% females) in eight Norwegian sport schools. Using latent profile analysis, we identified five profiles: mild sport and school burnout (46%), high burnout (22.5%), well-functioning (17.9%), predominantly school burnout (8.6%), and predominantly sport burnout (5%). Female student-athletes and those in Grades 9–10 were more at risk. Low self-esteem and high psychological distress increased the likelihood of burnout in sport and school, while a strong student identity seemed to protect against school burnout. These findings suggest that combining competitive sport with education at an early age may put student-athletes at risk for burnout symptoms in sport and school.

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Perfectionism, Burnout, and Depressive Symptoms in Youth Soccer Players: Moderation by Empowering and Disempowering Climates

Andrew P. Hill, Esmie P. Smith, and Howard K. Hall

Youth soccer players face considerable pressure as they pursue a successful career in the sport. Research shows that some players navigate these pressures better than others, with the immediate coaching environment playing a key role. We examined the relationship between different perfectionism subtypes, and burnout, and depressive symptoms in youth soccer, and whether perceptions of empowering and disempowering climate moderated these relationships. Two-hundred and sixty-six youth male soccer academy players completed measures of perfectionism, burnout, depressive symptoms, and empowering and disempowering climate. Moderated regression analyses typically supported the hypotheses of the 2 × 2 model and differentiated between subtypes for burnout and depressive symptoms. A more empowering climate also decreased one aspect of burnout—devaluation—in three of four subtypes. The findings show that some perfectionism subtypes are related to higher burnout and depressive symptoms in youth soccer, and an empowering climate might help reduce burnout for most subtypes.

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Acceptability of Mindfulness With National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Student-Athletes: A Pilot Study

Peter J. Economou, Chad McGehee, Chelsea Torres, Scott Anderson, and Jennifer Sanfilippo

Researchers have found that mindfulness meditation can reduce stress and anxiety, support physical and mental well-being, and reduce risk of injuries for student-athletes. Limited research exists on the utilization of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) with National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes; no studies on the acceptability of mindfulness with this student-athlete population have been conducted, despite the increased application of MBIs within university settings. The researchers conducted this pilot study to understand whether Division I student-athletes from a Power Five conference (now known as Power Four conferences) found MBIs acceptable. Two-thirds of the sample believed that MBIs were acceptable. This acceptance spanned across sport and gender, although there were no statistically significant differences between groups. Implications from this pilot study call for the consideration of integration of MBIs into the organizational, team, and sport culture and further support the use of MBIs with National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I student-athletes.

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Relationships Among Physical Self-Concept Profiles, Orthorexia Nervosa, and Exercise Addiction in Crossfitters

Alejandro Oliver-López, Marta Vega-Díaz, Andrea Sáenz, and Higinio González-García

The study aimed to examine physical self-concept profiles in Spanish crossfitters and whether these profiles were related to orthorexia nervosa and exercise addiction. A sample of 208 crossfitters (M age = 34.46; SD = 9.18; 119 men) completed a series of self-report measures. A latent profile analysis was performed, and two profiles emerged as the most suitable option: (a) an average physical self-concept profile (n = 94) and (b) an average-high physical self-concept profile (n = 114). Results revealed that (b) the average-high self-concept profile showed higher scores in exercise addiction and orthorexia nervosa than (a) the average physical self-concept profile. Furthermore, the chi-square test revealed significant differences between genders in profile pertinence, in which females pertained more to (a) the average self-concept profile. In conclusion, these results contribute to the understanding of physical self-concept in CrossFit athletes, emphasizing the importance of considering individual profiles and gender differences when addressing aspects related to mental health and extreme behaviors in the sporting context.

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Positive Experiences Among Elite Athletes in Finland: Associations With Basic Psychological Needs, Sport Conditions, and Background Factors

Satu S. Kaski and Ulla Kinnunen

This research aimed to study the prevalence of PERMA experiences (Positive emotions, Engagement, (positive) Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) among elite athletes in Finland (n = 2,045) and factors that are potentially connected to these experiences. The results indicated that, depending on the PERMA component, 40%–52% of the athletes had positive experiences in sports. A total of 42% of the athletes could be classified as flourishing. Feeling competent in sports was positively related to all PERMA experiences. The safe atmosphere of the team seemed to be of greater importance for PERMA components than coach behavior. Belonging to a minority group was negatively related to all positive experiences except for Engagement. Our results suggest that strengthening of athletes’ feeling of competence is essential in promoting positive experiences in sports, which are important for athletes’ functioning and success. In addition, sports organizations should pay more attention to how to strengthen equality and equity in sports.

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Volume 18 (2024): Issue 4 (Dec 2024): JCSP Special Issue: Sport and Exercise Psychophysiology: From Theory to Practice

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Sport and Exercise Psychophysiology: From Theory to Practice

Edson Filho and Marcelo Bigliassi

Psychophysiology pertains to the study of the reciprocal and “many to many” relations between the mind and the body. Accordingly, this special issue includes a collection of articles examining psychophysiological mechanisms implicated in the performance and well-being of athletes and exercisers. More specifically, this issue contains a literature review on the effects of heart rate variability biofeedback and athletic performance, as well as two empirical articles on the effects of neurofeedback on myriad psychological variables, such as attentional focus, anxiety, stress, and depression. There is also a paper on the effects of a self-talk intervention on free-throw performance in basketball and somatic reactions and a novel study on the effects of repeated transcranial direct current stimulation on decision making among soccer players. Collectively, the articles included in this issue advance our understanding of how psychophysiological theories and methodologies can inform the development of applied interventions in sport, exercise, and performance psychology.

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Can We Talk? Exploring the Effects of Mental Health Stigma, Support, and Openness on National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athlete Mental Health

Braden J. Brown, Ty B. Aller, Logan K. Lyons, Autumn Jenson, Audrey C. Juhasz, Jakob F. Jensen, and Jennifer L. Hodgson

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student athletes may have more stigmatic views toward mental health (MH) and be less open to talking about or seeking support for MH struggles than their peers. This may contribute to and/or exacerbate existing MH challenges. This cross-sectional study explored the impact of MH stigma, support, and openness on student athletes’ levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among 478 NCAA student athletes representing 20 different sports from 56 universities. Results indicated that male, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and Division I athletes reported higher levels of MH stigma. Compared with their White peers, BIPOC athletes exhibited less openness to talk about MH challenges. Division I and BIPOC athletes felt less supported to seek help for MH concerns. Structural equation modeling showed that MH stigma was positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress, whereas MH openness was negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Research/practical implications, limitations, and future research and athletic department programming needs are discussed.

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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.