This pilot study investigated whether combining Positive Psychology Coaching (PPC) and kickboxing would progress the development of mental toughness compared to kickboxing alone. The data were derived from 28 participants who voluntarily took a four-week kickboxing course and completed the Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ48) a week before the course commenced and after its completion. Using stratified randomisation for age and gender, 14 participants received a one-hour individual face-to-face coaching session while the other 14 only engaged in kickboxing. The results suggest that PPC may have a role in developing mental toughness when it is combined with vigorous physical exercise.
The aim of the present study was to examine an adapted integrated psycho-social model to predict sport injury rehabilitation adherence. A longitudinal prospective design was used whereby 70 patients attending private physiotherapy clinics completed a battery of questionnaires both pre- and post-rehabilitation treatment based on the adapted framework. All participants were receiving treatment for tendonitis-related injuries. Adherence was monitored prospectively over the entire rehabilitation program using an observational measure of clinic adherence, a self-report measure of home-based adherence, in addition to monitoring attendance at rehabilitation sessions. In the initial phase of rehabilitation learning goal orientation, attitudes and perceived severity were found to predict rehabilitation intention. Intentions were also found to mediate the relationship between the aforementioned variables and clinic rehabilitation. Self-efficacy and self-motivation were predictors of clinic rehabilitation and attendance but not home rehabilitation. During the maintenance phase of rehabilitation coping ability and social support were predictors regarding all three measures of adherence. Implications for practitioners rehabilitating injured athletes are discussed.
Background The concept of mental toughness has gained increasing importance among non-elite athletes for its psychological importance and explanatory power for a broad range of health-related behaviors. On the flip side, no study has focused so far on the psychological origins of mental toughness. Therefore, the aims of the present study were three-fold: to explore, to what extent psychological profiles of preschoolers at the age of five years predicted mental toughness scores and sleep disturbances at the age of 14 years, and to explore possible gender differences. Method Nine years after their first assessment at the age of five years (preschoolers), a total of 77 adolescents (mean age: 14.35 years; SD = 1.22; 42% females) took part in the present follow-up study. At baseline, both parents and teachers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), covering internalizing and externalizing problems, hyperactivity, negative peer relationships, and prosocial behavior. At follow-up, participants completed a booklet of questionnaires covering socio-demographic data, mental toughness, and sleep disturbances. Results Preschoolers with high prosocial behavior and low internalizing and externalizing problems, as rated by parents and teachers, at the age of 14 years self-reported higher mental toughness and lower sleep disturbances. At the age of 14 years, and relative to their male counterparts, female participants reported lower MT scores and higher sleep disturbances. Conclusions The pattern of results suggests that mental toughness traits during adolescence have their origins during pre-school years. Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
It is widely acknowledged that the importance of sound theoretical guidance is essential to any academic discipline. A common recommendation within the adherence literature related to sport injury rehabilitation has been the need to establish clear theoretical frameworks to guide research and practice. As such, an increasing amount of literature has employed conceptual models that include protection motivation theory, health action process approach, cognitive appraisal models, and attribution theory. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to critically evaluate these contemporary theoretical approaches that have been utilised within the sport injury rehabilitation adherence literature. Alongside this, practical implications emerging from this research base are outlined and future recommendations are suggested that may be of benefit to sports medicine practitioners and researchers alike.
Research from a variety of scientific fields suggests that physical activity in nature and feelings of connection to nature enhance psychological health and wellbeing. This study investigated the psychological health and wellbeing impact of the physical activity environment for those already undertaking the recommended weekly amount of physical activity. This topic is important for the design of health and wellbeing environments and interventions involving physical activity. Participants (N = 262) aged 18 to 71 years (M = 34.5, SD = 13.1) who met the UK physical activity guidelines completed the Nature Relatedness Scale, the trait section of the State Trait Inventory for Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. Analysis via Multivariate ANOVA indicated that participants who engaged in outdoor physical activity reported significantly lower somatic anxiety levels and higher Nature Relatedness experience (NRexp). Significant results were not evident for wellbeing. Hierarchical regressions revealed that the psychological wellbeing facet of autonomy, NRexp, and outdoor physical activity predicted lower somatic anxiety, whereas indoor physical activity predicted higher somatic anxiety. Results indicate that somatic anxiety is lower for outdoor physical activity participation, and that outdoor activity, in conjunction with autonomy and NRexp, predicts lower anxiety levels. The findings extend previous work by demonstrating the impact of the physical activity environment on anxiety levels, as well as the contribution of outdoor physical activity and wellbeing facets to the previously established Nature Relatedness-anxiety relationship.
Objective: To identify which physical examination tests have the highest sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for determining the presence of sacro-iliac joint injuries and/or dysfunction when compared with the gold standard of a sacro-iliac joint block. Subjects and Methods: The search was conducted on Medline and EMBASE using a list of criteria established by van der Wurff. Results: Twenty-seven papers were found but only three met the inclusion criteria investigating the reliability of clinical sacro-iliac tests and using local anaesthetic block as the standard. Conclusions: Despite possible shortcomings of the gold standard of anaesthetic block, the literature recommends the use of up to five tests and that, if three or more tests are positive, acceptable sensitivity, specificity and the predictive values are achieved.
'%3e%3cpath fill='%23012169' d='M0 0v30h60V0z'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='6' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='4' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30' clip-path='url(%23b)'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='10' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='6' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
