, representatives of relevant governmental bodies), conduct a comprehensive evidence review and assign grades to the following 10 standardized indicators: (1) overall physical activity, (2) organized sport and physical activity, (3) active play, (4) active transportation, (5) sedentary behavior, (6) physical fitness
Search Results
Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents in Croatia: A Global Matrix 4.0 Systematic Review of Its Prevalence and Associated Personal, Social, Environmental, and Policy Factors
Željko Pedišić, Melanija Strika, Tena Matolić, Maroje Sorić, Sanja Šalaj, Ivan Dujić, Marija Rakovac, Branko Radičević, Hrvoje Podnar, Zrinka Greblo Jurakić, Marjan Jerković, Hrvoje Radašević, Jelena Čvrljak, Tin Petračić, Sanja Musić Milanović, Maja Lang Morović, Slaven Krtalić, Mirjana Milić, Alma Papić, Nataša Momčinović, Marjeta Mišigoj-Duraković, Stjepan Heimer, and Danijel Jurakić
Working Memory Capacity as Controlled Attention in Tactical Decision Making
Philip A. Furley and Daniel Memmert
The controlled attention theory of working memory capacity (WMC, Engle 2002) suggests that WMC represents a domain free limitation in the ability to control attention and is predictive of an individual’s capability of staying focused, avoiding distraction and impulsive errors. In the present paper we test the predictive power of WMC in computer-based sport decision-making tasks. Experiment 1 demonstrated that high-WMC athletes were better able at focusing their attention on tactical decision making while blocking out irrelevant auditory distraction. Experiment 2 showed that high-WMC athletes were more successful at adapting their tactical decision making according to the situation instead of relying on prepotent inappropriate decisions. The present results provide additional but also unique support for the controlled attention theory of WMC by demonstrating that WMC is predictive of controlling attention in complex settings among different modalities and highlight the importance of working memory in tactical decision making.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Study of an Elite Rifle Shooter
David A. Shearer, Stephen D. Mellalieu, and Catherine R. Shearer
While posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is most commonly associated with survivors of traumatic events (e.g., combat), PTSD can occur after any situation in which victims perceive that their life or safety is threatened. In sport, athletes often place themselves in dangerous situations and are also exposed to the same lifestyle dangers as the general population. The literature on PTSD among athletes is sparse, and consequently, it is possible that many (non-clinical) sport psychologists would fail to recognize the symptoms and may subsequently fail to refer the athlete to the appropriate professional for clinical assistance. In the following case study, we present an example of an athlete suffering from PTSD following a serious bicycle accident in which she sustained head and facial injuries. We briefly detail the nature of PTSD and discuss how sport psychology services can be implemented alongside a parallel clinical intervention program. Finally, we offer recommendations for practice when working with athletes with PTSD.
Exploring Sport Employees’ Conceptualizations of Meaningful Work
Nathan R. Baer, Claire C. Zvosec, and Brent D. Oja
As sport management scholars continue to position sport management as a unique field of study ( Andrew et al., 2021 ), one area that has received increased scrutiny has been the development of sport employees (see Kim et al., 2019 ; Oja et al., 2015 , 2020 , in press ; Schuetz et al., in press
Erratum. Sport Psychology Practitioners’ Contributions to the Drafting Process of a Professional Esports Team: A Case Study
Case Studies in Sport and Exercise Psychology
TO OUR READERS: An error was made in the publishing of the following article in its initial appearance online: Brain, J., Wright, O., Quartiroli, A., & Wagstaff, C.R.D. (2024). Sport psychology practitioners’ contributions to the drafting process of a professional esports team: A case study. Case
A Qualitative Examination of Adolescent Girls’ Sport Participation in a Low-Income, Urban Environment
E. Missy Wright, Katie R. Griffes, and Daniel R. Gould
Even though African American girls and/or girls in low-income, urban environments are specifically challenged with their sport involvement, little research has focused specifically on this population’s experience with sport. The purpose of this study was to examine various factors related to sport participation for adolescent girls (predominantly African American) living in a low-income urban environment. The study examined the barriers that might impede their sport involvement, the benefits they perceive, and the reasons why they do or do not participate. Four focus groups were conducted in Detroit, Michigan (a large urban Midwestern city). Participants were grouped by age, as well as sport participation status (current sort participants and girls who have not participated in organized sport for at least one year). Each group consisted of 4 girls. Results revealed various reasons why the participants engaged in sport, including that sport occupies their time and that it is fun, while reasons like lack of opportunities and the negative role of others were some of the reasons provided for not participating in sport. These girls face numerous barriers to sport participation, such as logistical, financial, and cosmetic. Positive psychosocial development and scholarships were noted as benefits to participation. Directions for future research and programmatic level applications are described in light of these findings.
Development and Validation of the Moral Disengagement in Sport Scale
Ian D. Boardley and Maria Kavussanu
A sport-specific measure of moral disengagement was developed in 2 studies. In Study 1, a 59-item questionnaire was developed and tested with 308 athletes from 5 team sports. A series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) testing different models suggested the model that best fitted the data had 6 first-order factors that could be represented by 1 second-order factor. Study 2 involved 305 athletes from the same 5 sports. CFA confirmed the 6-factor, second-order structure for the final 32-item measure. Results from Study 2 supported the construct validity of the scale, providing evidence for the factorial, concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validity. The Moral Disengagement in Sport Scale (MDSS) is proposed as a valid and reliable measure of moral disengagement for use in the sport context.
The Association Between Extra-Curricular Sport Participation and Social Anxiety Symptoms in Children
Annemarie Schumacher Dimech and Roland Seiler
Social anxiety is a common psychological complaint that can have a significant and long-term negative impact on a child’s social and cognitive development. In the current study, the relationship between sport participation and social anxiety symptoms was investigated. Swiss primary school children (N =201), parents, and teachers provided information about the children’s social anxiety symptoms, classroom behavior, and sport involvement. Gender differences were observed on social anxiety scores, where girls tended to report higher social anxiety symptoms, as well as on sport activity, where boys engaged in more sport involvement. MANCOVAs with gender as covariant showed no differences in social anxiety symptoms between children involved in an extracurricular sport and those not engaged in sport participation. Nevertheless, children engaged in team sports displayed fewer physical social anxiety symptoms than children involved in individual sports.
Number of Years of Team and Individual Sport Participation During Adolescence and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adulthood
Catherine M. Sabiston, Rachel Jewett, Garcia Ashdown-Franks, Mathieu Belanger, Jennifer Brunet, Erin O’Loughlin, and Jennifer O’Loughlin
The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal and unique association between number of years of team sport and individual sport participation during adolescence and depressive symptoms during early adulthood. Adolescents (n = 860) reported team sport and individual sport participation in each year of secondary school for five years. Participants reported depressive symptoms using the Major Depression Inventory three years after secondary school. Multivariate linear regression was performed to model the associations of sport participation with depressive symptoms while controlling for sex, age, parent education, and baseline depressive symptoms. In the final model, adolescents who consistently participated in team sport during high school reported lower depression scores in early adulthood (β = −.09, p = .02). Number of years of individual sport participation was not statistically significantly associated with depressive symptoms in early adulthood. Based on these findings, team sport participation may protect against depressive symptoms in early adulthood. If this finding is replicated, strategies should be implemented to encourage and maintain team sport participation during adolescence. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms that link team sport participation to lower depression.
Transgender Inclusion in Sport
George B. Cunningham, Risa Isard, and E. Nicole Melton
In 2021, transgender 1 individuals in sport experienced unparalleled gains and frustrating setbacks. On the one hand, the Women’s National Basketbal Association’s Layshia Clarendon rewrote the script for athletes in women’s sport since they came out as “non-cisgender” in 2015 ( Clarendon, 2015
