Pub Date : 2025-11-10DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103026
Alexis Ruffault
Sport injuries are not merely disruptions to performance; they are health events that, like chronic diseases, involve behavioral risk factors and significant psychological consequences. Despite extensive research on the psychology of sport injury, dominant models have yet to fully integrate theoretical frameworks from health psychology and clinical psychology. In this commentary, we argue that reconceptualizing sport injuries as health issues comparable to conditions like cardiovascular diseases or diabetes allows us to leverage well-established behavioral and clinical models to enhance prevention, rehabilitation, and psychological care. First, socio-cognitive theories of health behavior provide robust frameworks for understanding and modifying behaviors that reduce injury risk and improve rehabilitation adherence. Second, transdiagnostic models of psychopathology offer a more precise understanding of the emotional responses to injury, accounting for the shared psychological mechanisms that underlie a broad range of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and trauma-related distress. By positioning sport injuries within the broader domain of health psychology, researchers and practitioners can better explain, predict, and intervene in the behavioral and psychological dimensions of injury.
{"title":"Integrating health and clinical psychology into sport injury research: A necessary theoretical and applied expansion. A comment on “Psychology of sport injury: Selected debates and contemporary issues” (Podlog and Ivarsson, this issue)","authors":"Alexis Ruffault","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103026","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103026","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sport injuries are not merely disruptions to performance; they are health events that, like chronic diseases, involve behavioral risk factors and significant psychological consequences. Despite extensive research on the psychology of sport injury, dominant models have yet to fully integrate theoretical frameworks from health psychology and clinical psychology. In this commentary, we argue that reconceptualizing sport injuries as health issues comparable to conditions like cardiovascular diseases or diabetes allows us to leverage well-established behavioral and clinical models to enhance prevention, rehabilitation, and psychological care. First, socio-cognitive theories of health behavior provide robust frameworks for understanding and modifying behaviors that reduce injury risk and improve rehabilitation adherence. Second, transdiagnostic models of psychopathology offer a more precise understanding of the emotional responses to injury, accounting for the shared psychological mechanisms that underlie a broad range of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and trauma-related distress. By positioning sport injuries within the broader domain of health psychology, researchers and practitioners can better explain, predict, and intervene in the behavioral and psychological dimensions of injury.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103026"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145508702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The aims of this study were to investigate the short and long-term effects of a physical activity intervention on basic psychological needs (BPN); and to examine whether autonomy, competence, and relatedness mediated the relationship between the intervention and depressive symptoms in adults. A 16-week randomized controlled trial was conducted, combining online and in-person activities. The intervention involved two weekly sessions, each lasting 90 min, comprising theoretical (44 %) and practical (56 %) components designed to promote physical activity (PA). Each session employed strategies aimed at satisfying BPN (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) to support behavior change. BPN and depressive symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up. Generalized estimating equations were applied for both per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses, while structural equation modeling was conducted using ITT data only. A total of 78 individuals participated, equally allocated to either an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG), with comparable distributions of sex, age, and severity of depressive symptoms at baseline. Significant group-by-time interactions were observed for autonomy (η2p = 0.031; p = 0.086), competence (η2p = 0.047; p = 0.100), and relatedness (η2p = 0.099; p = 0.017) in the PP analysis, favoring the IG, particularly at post-intervention. Additionally, ITT analysis revealed that both the overall needs score and the autonomy, competence, and relatedness subscales mediated the relationship between the treatment and depressive symptoms, considering the difference between post-intervention and baseline values. Although the intervention did not significantly improve BPN in the ITT analysis, these needs functioned as mediators, contributing to the reduction of depressive symptoms in adults with elevated symptomatology.
Trial registration
Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC): RBR-7466htj, April 17, 2023. Retrospectively registered.
本研究的目的是探讨体育活动干预对基本心理需求（BPN）的短期和长期影响；并检验自主性、能力和相关性是否介导干预与成人抑郁症状之间的关系。进行了一项为期16周的随机对照试验，结合了在线和面对面的活动。干预包括每周两次，每次持续90分钟，包括旨在促进身体活动（PA）的理论（44%）和实践（56%）部分。每次会议都采用旨在满足BPN（自主性、能力和相关性）的策略来支持行为改变。在基线、干预后和6个月的随访中，使用有效的问卷对BPN和抑郁症状进行评估。每个方案（PP）和意向治疗（ITT）分析均采用广义估计方程，而结构方程模型仅使用ITT数据进行。共有78人参与，平均分配到干预组（IG）或对照组（CG），在性别、年龄和基线抑郁症状严重程度上具有可比性分布。在PP分析中，在自主性（η2p = 0.031; p = 0.086）、能力（η2p = 0.047; p = 0.100）和亲缘性（η2p = 0.099; p = 0.017）方面观察到显著的群体时间交互作用，有利于IG，特别是在干预后。此外，ITT分析显示，考虑到干预后与基线值之间的差异，总体需求评分和自主性、能力和相关性分量表都介导了治疗与抑郁症状之间的关系。虽然在ITT分析中，干预并没有显著改善BPN，但这些需求起到了中介作用，有助于减轻症状升高的成年人的抑郁症状。试验注册：巴西临床试验注册中心（ReBEC）： RBR-7466htj， 20123年4月。回顾注册。
{"title":"Short and long-term effects of a self-determination theory-based physical activity intervention on basic psychological needs and their mediating role in adults with depressive symptoms","authors":"Cecília Bertuol, Willen Remon Tozetto, Antônio Cleilson Nobre Bandeira, Deborah Kazimoto Alves, Patrine Vargas, Thiago Sousa Matias, Giovani Firpo Del Duca","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103020","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103020","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aims of this study were to investigate the short and long-term effects of a physical activity intervention on basic psychological needs (BPN); and to examine whether autonomy, competence, and relatedness mediated the relationship between the intervention and depressive symptoms in adults. A 16-week randomized controlled trial was conducted, combining online and in-person activities. The intervention involved two weekly sessions, each lasting 90 min, comprising theoretical (44 %) and practical (56 %) components designed to promote physical activity (PA). Each session employed strategies aimed at satisfying BPN (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) to support behavior change. BPN and depressive symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 6-month follow-up. Generalized estimating equations were applied for both per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses, while structural equation modeling was conducted using ITT data only. A total of 78 individuals participated, equally allocated to either an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG), with comparable distributions of sex, age, and severity of depressive symptoms at baseline. Significant group-by-time interactions were observed for autonomy (η<sup>2</sup>p = 0.031; p = 0.086), competence (η<sup>2</sup>p = 0.047; p = 0.100), and relatedness (η<sup>2</sup>p = 0.099; p = 0.017) in the PP analysis, favoring the IG, particularly at post-intervention. Additionally, ITT analysis revealed that both the overall needs score and the autonomy, competence, and relatedness subscales mediated the relationship between the treatment and depressive symptoms, considering the difference between post-intervention and baseline values. Although the intervention did not significantly improve BPN in the ITT analysis, these needs functioned as mediators, contributing to the reduction of depressive symptoms in adults with elevated symptomatology.</div></div><div><h3>Trial registration</h3><div>Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC): RBR-7466htj, April 17, 2023. Retrospectively registered.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103020"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145491333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103019
Mark Stevens , Gabrielle Guillermo-Tregoning , Alysia M. Robertson , Tegan Cruwys , Tamara Jones , Camille E. Short
The social identity approach to leadership argues that leaders' effectiveness rests on their success in creating, representing, advancing, and embedding a sense of shared identity among group members. However, it does not specify precisely how they can achieve this (i.e., through what behaviours). This gap extends to the exercise context, where research has shown that exercisers participate more frequently to the extent they perceive their leaders engage in identity leadership, yet little guidance exists regarding the specific behaviours that exercise leaders can use to demonstrate this leadership style. We aimed to address this through two studies. In Study 1, we used the Delphi method to identify behaviours that identity leadership experts (primarily from Europe, Australia, and North America and defined as researchers with at least one peer-reviewed identity leadership publication; N = 15) believed exercise class leaders could engage in to demonstrate their identity leadership and foster exercisers' future class attendance. Experts reached consensus on 16 behaviours that characterised identity leadership, and tended to perceive these behaviours would help foster exercisers’ future class attendance. In Study 2, we recruited 150 exercise class attendees from the United Kingdom. These participants rated the extent to which the behaviours derived in Study 1 would increase their likelihood of attending future classes and achieve the theoretical goals specified by identity leadership theory. All mean ratings were above the mid-point on the rating scales for both questions, suggesting we had identified a pool of identity leadership behaviours with potential applied benefit. Identity leadership behaviours rated particularly positively by exercisers included leaders modelling and demonstrating exercisers, following established rules and standards, and providing different forms of social support. Findings advance theoretical understanding, strengthen the foundation for further tests of identity leadership theory, and provide new insights into how its applied benefits could be unlocked.
{"title":"Identifying effective identity leadership behaviours for exercise leaders: Perspectives from identity leadership experts and exercisers","authors":"Mark Stevens , Gabrielle Guillermo-Tregoning , Alysia M. Robertson , Tegan Cruwys , Tamara Jones , Camille E. Short","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The social identity approach to leadership argues that leaders' effectiveness rests on their success in creating, representing, advancing, and embedding a sense of shared identity among group members. However, it does not specify precisely how they can achieve this (i.e., through what behaviours). This gap extends to the exercise context, where research has shown that exercisers participate more frequently to the extent they perceive their leaders engage in identity leadership, yet little guidance exists regarding the specific behaviours that exercise leaders can use to demonstrate this leadership style. We aimed to address this through two studies. In Study 1, we used the Delphi method to identify behaviours that identity leadership experts (primarily from Europe, Australia, and North America and defined as researchers with at least one peer-reviewed identity leadership publication; <em>N</em> = 15) believed exercise class leaders could engage in to demonstrate their identity leadership and foster exercisers' future class attendance. Experts reached consensus on 16 behaviours that characterised identity leadership, and tended to perceive these behaviours would help foster exercisers’ future class attendance. In Study 2, we recruited 150 exercise class attendees from the United Kingdom. These participants rated the extent to which the behaviours derived in Study 1 would increase their likelihood of attending future classes and achieve the theoretical goals specified by identity leadership theory. All mean ratings were above the mid-point on the rating scales for both questions, suggesting we had identified a pool of identity leadership behaviours with potential applied benefit. Identity leadership behaviours rated particularly positively by exercisers included leaders modelling and demonstrating exercisers, following established rules and standards, and providing different forms of social support. Findings advance theoretical understanding, strengthen the foundation for further tests of identity leadership theory, and provide new insights into how its applied benefits could be unlocked.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103019"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-05DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103017
Ella McLoughlin , Rachel Arnold
Researchers have suggested that athletes are at-risk for mental health difficulties partly due to the stressors they encounter. Despite this, athletes may not acknowledge nor seek support for their mental health problems. The aim of this study is to explore talented athletes' experiences of seeking help for mental help difficulties, and their perceptions of the psychological services offered. Utilizing letter to self-methodology, 16 talented athletes (11 female; Mage = 25.27, SD = 7.95) were asked to write a letter to their younger self outlining their experiences of seeking help for mental health difficulties. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, and five themes were generated: (1) Athletes have a tendency to bottle up feelings as a way to protect themselves; (2) Unable to identify signs and symptoms of mental ill-health; (3) Availability of sport psychology support has improved, but it is still insufficient; (4) Athletes are individual and should be treated as so; and (5) The sporting environment should attempt to develop cultural competency. Following this, a composite version of the letter was developed and presented to a selection of the original sample (n = 9). Member reflection interviews were then completed (Mduration = 63.07 min; SD = 11.15) to explore their responses to the letter. This study provides insight into athletes’ current and desired mental health support. From the findings, a set of recommendations are forwarded to strengthen the provision of mental health support and provide athletes with earlier and tailored support.
{"title":"A letter to my younger self: Understanding talented athletes’ experiences of and future recommendations for seeking help for mental health difficulties","authors":"Ella McLoughlin , Rachel Arnold","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Researchers have suggested that athletes are at-risk for mental health difficulties partly due to the stressors they encounter. Despite this, athletes may not acknowledge nor seek support for their mental health problems. The aim of this study is to explore talented athletes' experiences of seeking help for mental help difficulties, and their perceptions of the psychological services offered. Utilizing letter to self-methodology, 16 talented athletes (11 female; <em>M</em><sub><em>age</em></sub> = 25.27, <em>SD</em> = 7.95) were asked to write a letter to their younger self outlining their experiences of seeking help for mental health difficulties. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, and five themes were generated: (1) Athletes have a tendency to bottle up feelings as a way to protect themselves; (2) Unable to identify signs and symptoms of mental ill-health; (3) Availability of sport psychology support has improved, but it is still insufficient; (4) Athletes are individual and should be treated as so; and (5) The sporting environment should attempt to develop cultural competency. Following this, a composite version of the letter was developed and presented to a selection of the original sample (<em>n</em> = 9). Member reflection interviews were then completed (<em>M</em><sub><em>duration</em></sub> = 63.07 min; <em>SD</em> = 11.15) to explore their responses to the letter. This study provides insight into athletes’ current and desired mental health support. From the findings, a set of recommendations are forwarded to strengthen the provision of mental health support and provide athletes with earlier and tailored support.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103017"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145472606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-05DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103016
Matthew G. Young , Dylan R. Poulus , Joshua M. Adie
This cross-sectional study examined whether mental toughness and resilience were associated with competitive achievement among 480 high-level esports players (M age = 22.88, SD = 3.94) across seven popular titles, including Multiplayer Online Battle Arena and First-Person Shooter games. Participants, drawn from the top 40 % of competitive ranks, completed the Mental Toughness Questionnaire 18 and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 10. Ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate associations and potential moderation by gender and game type. Neither mental toughness (β = −0.001, p = .928) nor resilience (β = −0.024, p = .159) was significantly associated with achievement level, and no moderating effects were detected. Model fit was low (McFadden's pseudo-R2 = .004 for the direct model; .005 for the interaction model), indicating negligible explanatory value. These null findings suggest that traditional sports psychology measures may not capture the psychological attributes most relevant to digital competition. The results highlight the need to develop and validate esports-specific constructs and tools that reflect the unique cognitive, social, and tactical demands of competitive gaming. Future research should explore alternative variables, longitudinal designs, and mixed-methods approaches to better understand the psychological determinants of esports performance.
这项横断面研究调查了480名高水平电子竞技玩家（M年龄= 22.88,SD = 3.94）在7款流行游戏（包括多人在线竞技和第一人称射击游戏）中的心理韧性和韧性是否与竞技成就有关。参与者从竞争队伍的前40%中挑选出来，完成了心理韧性问卷18和康纳-戴维森弹性量表10。使用有序逻辑回归来估计性别和游戏类型的关联和潜在调节。心理韧性（β = -0.001, p = .928）和心理韧性（β = -0.024, p = .159）与学业成就水平均无显著相关，且无调节效应。模型拟合较低（直接模型的McFadden伪r2 = 0.004）；005为相互作用模型)，说明解释价值可以忽略不计。这些无效的发现表明，传统的体育心理学测量可能无法捕捉到与数字竞争最相关的心理属性。研究结果强调了开发和验证电子竞技特定结构和工具的必要性，这些结构和工具反映了竞技游戏独特的认知、社交和战术需求。未来的研究应该探索替代变量、纵向设计和混合方法，以更好地理解电子竞技表现的心理决定因素。
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Pub Date : 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103018
Scott G. Goddard , Jena Buchan , Melanie M. Clarke , Grace Redden , Corneel Vandelanotte , Christian Swann
Open goals are a promising strategy for increasing physical activity and are feasible for inclusion in walking programs. However, longer-term studies comparing open goals to traditional specific goal approaches are needed to inform real-world translation. Therefore, this pilot study compared open goals to specific goals and a control condition in a six-week walking program with four-week follow-up. A mixed-methods randomised controlled trial was conducted with 30 healthy adults (26 female; Mage = 52.07, SD = 10.85) with low-to-moderate physical activity levels. Participants in all conditions received pedometers, exercise diaries, and support sessions; only the open and specific goals groups were given weekly goals. Outcomes included step counts, psychological measures (e.g., enjoyment, self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, affect, and mental health), and implementation outcomes (acceptability, adherence, retention, fidelity). Interviews explored participants' program experiences. Both open and specific goals increased physical activity post-intervention to a similar extent, although open goals showed the largest within-group increases (M = 2965 steps; d = 1.06) and a steeper decline at follow-up. By follow-up, step counts in all groups were similar to or above baseline, with more positive program experiences reported in the open goals group. Retention was high across groups during the intervention, with reduced fidelity and behavioural spill-over effects observed at follow-up. This study provides further evidence that a walking program incorporating open goals is feasible to deliver and achieves similar physical activity increases to a specific-goal program, while potentially promoting more positive psychological experiences. Findings support the need for a larger-scale randomised controlled trial and provide important design considerations for future research.
{"title":"Promoting physical activity with open goals: A pilot randomised controlled trial","authors":"Scott G. Goddard , Jena Buchan , Melanie M. Clarke , Grace Redden , Corneel Vandelanotte , Christian Swann","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103018","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Open goals are a promising strategy for increasing physical activity and are feasible for inclusion in walking programs. However, longer-term studies comparing open goals to traditional specific goal approaches are needed to inform real-world translation. Therefore, this pilot study compared open goals to specific goals and a control condition in a six-week walking program with four-week follow-up. A mixed-methods randomised controlled trial was conducted with 30 healthy adults (26 female; <em>M</em><sub>age</sub> = 52.07, <em>SD</em> = 10.85) with low-to-moderate physical activity levels. Participants in all conditions received pedometers, exercise diaries, and support sessions; only the open and specific goals groups were given weekly goals. Outcomes included step counts, psychological measures (e.g., enjoyment, self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, affect, and mental health), and implementation outcomes (acceptability, adherence, retention, fidelity). Interviews explored participants' program experiences. Both open and specific goals increased physical activity post-intervention to a similar extent, although open goals showed the largest within-group increases (<em>M</em> = 2965 steps; <em>d</em> = 1.06) and a steeper decline at follow-up. By follow-up, step counts in all groups were similar to or above baseline, with more positive program experiences reported in the open goals group. Retention was high across groups during the intervention, with reduced fidelity and behavioural spill-over effects observed at follow-up. This study provides further evidence that a walking program incorporating open goals is feasible to deliver and achieves similar physical activity increases to a specific-goal program, while potentially promoting more positive psychological experiences. Findings support the need for a larger-scale randomised controlled trial and provide important design considerations for future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103018"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145460957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103015
Joni Kuokkanen , Daniel J. Phipps , Milla Saarinen , Johan Korhonen , Jan-Erik Romar , Henrik Gustafsson
Sport schools enhance adolescents’ athletic development by offering extra training opportunities in addition to sport club training, but a rapid increase in the training load may elevate the risk of sport burnout. Thus, the aim of this study was twofold: (1) to explore the trajectories of three sport burnout dimensions (exhaustion, cynicism and inadequacy) among Finnish student-athletes (n = 268; 44 % female, 56 % male) across three academic years in lower secondary sport schools (ages 13–15 years), and to (2) examine how these trajectories were associated with student-athletes' perceived social support from parents, peers and coaches, as well as their gender, sport type and competition level. Student-athletes completed associated questionnaires at three time points at the end of three academic years—Grades 7, 8, and 9. Linear latent growth models revealed that feelings of inadequacy and cynicism increased during lower secondary school across the sample. At baseline, female student-athletes reported higher levels of inadequacy and cynicism, whereas males showed higher levels of exhaustion. Social support from peers and coaches reduced the initial levels and progression of burnout over time, respectively. Although paternal support initially minimized inadequacy, continued support subsequently tended to increase inadequacy. The findings highlight the importance of examining the three dimensions as interconnected aspects of sport burnout, and to support student-athletes in addressing emerging feelings of inadequacy and cynicism before these symptoms intensify. Educating coaches and strengthening peer support would be particularly beneficial while helping mothers to take a more active role in sports and fathers to provide support without becoming overly involved.
{"title":"Trajectories of sport exhaustion, cynicism and inadequacy among adolescent student-athletes: A three-year longitudinal study of social influences in the Finnish dual career context","authors":"Joni Kuokkanen , Daniel J. Phipps , Milla Saarinen , Johan Korhonen , Jan-Erik Romar , Henrik Gustafsson","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sport schools enhance adolescents’ athletic development by offering extra training opportunities in addition to sport club training, but a rapid increase in the training load may elevate the risk of sport burnout. Thus, the aim of this study was twofold: (1) to explore the trajectories of three sport burnout dimensions (exhaustion, cynicism and inadequacy) among Finnish student-athletes (<em>n =</em> 268; 44 % female, 56 % male) across three academic years in lower secondary sport schools (ages 13–15 years), and to (2) examine how these trajectories were associated with student-athletes' perceived social support from parents, peers and coaches, as well as their gender, sport type and competition level. Student-athletes completed associated questionnaires at three time points at the end of three academic years—Grades 7, 8, and 9. Linear latent growth models revealed that feelings of inadequacy and cynicism increased during lower secondary school across the sample. At baseline, female student-athletes reported higher levels of inadequacy and cynicism, whereas males showed higher levels of exhaustion. Social support from peers and coaches reduced the initial levels and progression of burnout over time, respectively. Although paternal support initially minimized inadequacy, continued support subsequently tended to increase inadequacy. The findings highlight the importance of examining the three dimensions as interconnected aspects of sport burnout, and to support student-athletes in addressing emerging feelings of inadequacy and cynicism before these symptoms intensify. Educating coaches and strengthening peer support would be particularly beneficial while helping mothers to take a more active role in sports and fathers to provide support without becoming overly involved.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103015"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145427101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103012
Liam O'Neil , Alan L. Smith
The psychological experience of competence is central to motivation for, and participation in, youth sport. To date, however, our understanding of this psychological phenomenon in sport has been limited to cognitive experiences of competence (e.g., perceived competence), with little exploration of affective experiences of competence as proposed in competence motivation theory (e.g., feelings of efficacy). In the present study, we examined the main and interactive effects of perceived competence and control on feelings of efficacy in youth sport. We recruited high school sport participants (N = 184; Mage = 15.48 years, SDage = 0.99 years) to complete measures of perceived sport competence, implicit beliefs about athletic ability (i.e., perceived control), and competence-related pride, guilt, and shame in youth sport. A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses provided consistent support for the main effects of perceived competence on feelings of efficacy. However, there was limited support for the main effects of perceived control on feelings of efficacy and no support for the interactive effects of perceived competence and control on feelings of efficacy. These findings provide partial support of competence motivation theory and have both theoretical implications for the psychological experience of competence and practical implications for regulating affective experiences of competence in youth sport.
{"title":"Main and interactive effects of perceived competence and control on feelings of efficacy in youth sport","authors":"Liam O'Neil , Alan L. Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The psychological experience of competence is central to motivation for, and participation in, youth sport. To date, however, our understanding of this psychological phenomenon in sport has been limited to cognitive experiences of competence (e.g., perceived competence), with little exploration of affective experiences of competence as proposed in competence motivation theory (e.g., feelings of efficacy). In the present study, we examined the main and interactive effects of perceived competence and control on feelings of efficacy in youth sport. We recruited high school sport participants (<em>N</em> = 184; <em>M</em><sub><em>age</em></sub> = 15.48 years, <em>SD</em><sub><em>age</em></sub> = 0.99 years) to complete measures of perceived sport competence, implicit beliefs about athletic ability (i.e., perceived control), and competence-related pride, guilt, and shame in youth sport. A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses provided consistent support for the main effects of perceived competence on feelings of efficacy. However, there was limited support for the main effects of perceived control on feelings of efficacy and no support for the interactive effects of perceived competence and control on feelings of efficacy. These findings provide partial support of competence motivation theory and have both theoretical implications for the psychological experience of competence and practical implications for regulating affective experiences of competence in youth sport.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103012"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-27DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103011
Debbie Van Biesen , Dušana Augustovičová , Roi Charles Pineda , Dagmar Nemček , Jan Burns
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Cognitive and executive functions of top level para-karate athletes with intellectual disability” [Psychology of Sport and Exercise 82 (2026) 102998]","authors":"Debbie Van Biesen , Dušana Augustovičová , Roi Charles Pineda , Dagmar Nemček , Jan Burns","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103011","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103011"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145395419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-26DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103009
Erin MacIntyre , Dimitrios Saredakis , Ty Stanford , Ashleigh E. Smith , Gaynor Parfitt , Ross T. Smith , Tasha R. Stanton
High-quality evidence supports exercise as a core treatment for knee osteoarthritis, improving osteoarthritis symptoms and overall health. However, most people with knee osteoarthritis are inactive and report barriers to exercise engagement. Technologies such as virtual reality (VR) may be used to improve the exercise experience and thus, promote engagement in effortful physical exercise, but clinical translation is difficult. In collaboration with knee osteoarthritis participants (n = 15) and clinicians (n = 6), we adapted a novel VR cycling system to a clinical setting (Study 1). Then, using a randomised cross-over experimental design, we evaluated the preliminary efficacy of VR cycling relative to a No-VR cycling control condition on exercise engagement, enjoyment, and pain in people with knee osteoarthritis (n = 25; Study 2). Both studies evaluated the credibility, acceptability, safety, and usability of the VR cycling system. The clinically-adapted VR cycling system resulted in greater exercise enjoyment (U = 0.82, p < 0.001) and engagement (increased time spent cycling: t24 = 2.53, p = 0.02; and greater total work t24 = 2.13, p = 0.04) than No-VR cycling. The VR cycling system was safe (no adverse events) and had high credibility and acceptability in people with knee osteoarthritis, although clinicians reported some usability/technical issues. These findings support clinical potential of the VR cycling system, although further technical refinement to maximise the usability of this technology is likely required to ensure clinician uptake. Future work to evaluate the long-term efficacy of a prolonged VR cycling intervention is warranted.
高质量的证据支持运动作为膝关节骨关节炎的核心治疗，改善骨关节炎症状和整体健康。然而，大多数患有膝骨关节炎的人都不活跃，并且报告了运动参与的障碍。虚拟现实（VR）等技术可用于改善运动体验，从而促进艰苦的体育锻炼，但临床翻译是困难的。我们与膝关节骨性关节炎参与者（n=15）和临床医生（n=6）合作，将一种新型VR循环系统应用于临床环境（研究1）。然后，采用随机交叉实验设计，我们评估了VR骑行相对于No-VR骑行对照条件对膝关节骨关节炎患者运动参与、享受和疼痛的初步疗效（n=25；研究2）。两项研究都评估了VR循环系统的可信度、可接受性、安全性和可用性。临床适应的VR骑车系统比不适应VR骑车的人更享受运动（U= 0.82, p 24=2.53, p = 0.02，总工作量t24=2.13, p =0.04）。尽管临床医生报告了一些可用性/技术问题，但VR循环系统是安全的（没有不良事件），并且在膝关节骨关节炎患者中具有很高的可信度和可接受性。这些发现支持VR循环系统的临床潜力，尽管进一步的技术改进以最大限度地提高该技术的可用性可能需要确保临床医生接受。未来评估长时间VR循环干预的长期疗效的工作是有必要的。
{"title":"VRCycle: the clinical translation of a virtual reality cycling program to enhance exercise engagement in people with knee osteoarthritis","authors":"Erin MacIntyre , Dimitrios Saredakis , Ty Stanford , Ashleigh E. Smith , Gaynor Parfitt , Ross T. Smith , Tasha R. Stanton","doi":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.psychsport.2025.103009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-quality evidence supports exercise as a core treatment for knee osteoarthritis, improving osteoarthritis symptoms and overall health. However, most people with knee osteoarthritis are inactive and report barriers to exercise engagement. Technologies such as virtual reality (VR) may be used to improve the exercise experience and thus, promote engagement in effortful physical exercise, but clinical translation is difficult. In collaboration with knee osteoarthritis participants (n = 15) and clinicians (n = 6), we adapted a novel VR cycling system to a clinical setting (Study 1). Then, using a randomised cross-over experimental design, we evaluated the preliminary efficacy of VR cycling relative to a No-VR cycling control condition on exercise engagement, enjoyment, and pain in people with knee osteoarthritis (n = 25; Study 2). Both studies evaluated the credibility, acceptability, safety, and usability of the VR cycling system. The clinically-adapted VR cycling system resulted in greater exercise enjoyment (U = 0.82, p < 0.001) and engagement (increased time spent cycling: t<sub>24</sub> = 2.53, p = 0.02; and greater total work t<sub>24</sub> = 2.13, p = 0.04) than No-VR cycling. The VR cycling system was safe (no adverse events) and had high credibility and acceptability in people with knee osteoarthritis, although clinicians reported some usability/technical issues. These findings support clinical potential of the VR cycling system, although further technical refinement to maximise the usability of this technology is likely required to ensure clinician uptake. Future work to evaluate the long-term efficacy of a prolonged VR cycling intervention is warranted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54536,"journal":{"name":"Psychology of Sport and Exercise","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103009"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145395427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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