The Relationships between University Students' Physical Activity Needs, Involvement, Flow Experience and Sustainable Well-Being in the Post-Pandemic Era

As the global sustainable development agenda advances, having a healthy lifestyle has become an important part of the common pursuit. Physical activity needs and experiences are becoming increasingly diverse, yet there is a paucity of research on issues associated with university students' physical activity needs, and their perceptions of their physical activity needs and sustainable well-being are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study combines Self-Determination Theory with the existence, relatedness, and growth (ERG) Theory of Needs to explore the mediating effects of different variables on the relationship between university students' physical activity needs and sustainable well-being. A total of 900 Chinese university students were invited through an online survey to participate in this study, and the collected data were validated with a structural equation model. According to the results of the study, it was found that the level of involvement and flow experience in university students' sports activities have a mediating effect on the relationship between needs and sustainable well-being. Therefore, educators can enhance the level of sustainable well-being by stimulating university students' physical activity needs and improving their level of involvement and participation experience.

When COVID-19 struck the world and elite sports: Psychological challenges and support provision in five countries during the first phase of the pandemic

The authors operated in professional roles related to preparations for Tokyo 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world. The purpose of this article is to share applied experiences and reflections from different parts of the world of psychological challenges and support strategies adopted in elite sports during the first phase of the pandemic (i.e., March to August 2020). Common themes included motivational issues, stress and anxiety, loss of routine, life-balance challenges among athletes, but also benefits of extended preparation time and recovery. Variations in support strategies and consequences from the effects of COVID-19 occurred across countries. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

The Effect of (Hit) Training on Immune Globulins and White Blood Cells for Amateur Weightlifters after the Return of Activity from the Mandatory Quarantine for the Covid-19 Epidemic

The aim of the research is to identify an appropriate training method that raises the levels of immune globulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) and white blood cells and the effect of training by (HIT) method using resistance (weights) as a training curriculum that increases immunity and ensures the continuation of the pills after the return of activity from the stone The response to the Covid-19 epidemic among amateur weightlifters, the researchers relied on the method of trace analysis in an experimental way by conducting a pre-, medial and post-test with the same experimental one agroup on a sample of amateur weightlifters in the Fury private hall for weightlifting and body building in Adhamiya, the number of sample members reached (15 players) who interrupted training during the spread of the Covid 19 virus, and data treatment with (SPSS) system, and the conclusions were as follows, the effect of (HIT) training is effective in improving immune globulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) and white blood cells in light of the Corona pandemic And that the use of resistance (weights) according to the (HIT) method, which depends on the rest time equal to or slightly more than the training time had the effect of increasing the concentration of immune globulins and increasing the concentration of blood cells. White blood within the level.

Preliminary Study of Self-Esteem and Subjective Well-Being in Sports and Physical Exercise Students before and during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Social isolation has been an important strategy to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the practice of sports and physical exercise and has also had an impact on perception of variables such as self-esteem and subjective well-being (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule [PANAS], and life satisfaction). Even though these variables have a significant relation, they may also give rise to affect mediation, which is not conclusive in this pandemic era. For this reason, this research's objective is to compare those variables before and during confinement, in addition to analyzing the mediation effect within a structural model in SmartPLS. By conducting a quantitative, correlational, and comparative research, a sample of 200 sports and physical exercise students from a university located to the northeast of Mexico was obtained. Significant differences were found in variables such as self-esteem (pre-pandemic [M= 3.65;DE= .272] and during [M= 3.23;DE= .543];p< .001) and positive (pre-pandemic [M= 3.64;DE= .601] and during [M= 3.41;DE= .797];p< .05) and negative (pre-pandemic [M= 2.37;DE= .733] and during [M= 2.11;DE= .765];p< .01) affects before and during the pandemic, as well as a mediation effect of positive affect in the relation between self-esteem and life satisfaction (t= 3.772;p< .001). This is intended to contribute to the understanding of the pandemic effects on the relation between sports practice and positive psychology variables, perspective which has gained great relevance in the last years.

Arbitrar después del confinamiento por COVID-19: efectos psicológicos en árbitros de élite

Este trabalho explora os efeitos que o confinamento devido ao COVID-19 teve sobre os árbitros de elite espanhóis que foram nomeados para arbitrar a conclusáo das competiçöes da temporada 2019-2020 das categorías mais altas de basquete: Liga ACB (N = 19);e as principais ligas de fiitsal (N = 32), que foram realizadas em regime de confinamento, reunindo-se em condiçöes especiáis de medidas de saúde, após o levantamento das primeiras medidas de isolamento, durante a primeira onda da pandemia. Para conhecer os efeitos do confinamento, os participantes responderam a um questionário ad hoc, e ao questionário PANAS para conhecer seu estado de espirito. Os resultados mostraram que os aspectos que o grupo mais sentiu falta com a cessaçâo da atividade esportiva foram competiçâo, arbitragem e companheiros de equipe. Diferenças significativas foram encontradas entre os árbitros de ambos os grupos, sendo o tamanho do efeito dessas diferenças pequeño na variável competiçâo (r = 0.278) e medio nos pares (r = 0.446). Os aspectos que mais os preocupavam eram a saúde de seus entes queridos e a economía global, encontrando se diferenças significativas e um tamanho de efeito medio entre árbitros de ambos os esportes em relaçâo á saúde de seus entes queridos (r = 0.44). As faculdades que esperavam ser mais afetadas pela inatividade eram físicas e psicológicas, encontrando diferenças significativas entre os dois esportes e com tamanho de efeito pequeño nos psicológicos (r = 0.44). Dentro das habilidades psicológicas, espera-se que seja mais afetado a concentraçâo e tomada de decisáo, encontrando diferenças significativas e um tamanho de efeito medio entre os árbitros de ambos os esportes em termos de tomada de decisáo (r = 0.321). Os resultados mostram um grupo que se sentía seguro com as medidas adotadas para prevenir infecçöes durante as competiçöes, mas mesmo assim limitariam a interaçâo com os atletas. Em relaçâo ao estado de ánimo, o efeito positivo foi maior do que o negativo. Por fim, consideraram que a psicología do esporte foi útil para enfrentar situaçöes como as daquela época, encontrando diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos de árbitros e com um grande tamanho de efeito (h = 0.818), sendo recomendável que as autoridades de arbitragem tenham essa disciplina para manter e aumentar o desempenho esportivo da arbitragem.Alternate :El presente trabajo explora los efectos que el confinamiento por COVID-19 tuvo en el colectivo de árbitros de élite españoles que fueron designados para la finalización de las competiciones de la temporada 2019-2020 de las máximas categorías de sus respectivos deportes: la liga de baloncesto ACB (N= 19) y las principales ligas de fútbol sala (N = 32), que se llevaron a cabo en régimen de concentración, tras levantarse las primeras medidas de aislamiento, durante la primera ola de la pandemia. Para conocer los efectos del confinamiento, los participantes respondieron un cuestionario ad hoc, y el cuestionario PANAS para conocer su estado de ánimo. Los resultados mostraron que los aspectos que el colectivo más echó en falta por el cese de la actividad deportiva fueron la competición, el arbitraje y los compañeros. Se hallaron diferencias significativas entre árbitros de ambos colectivos, siendo el tamaño del efecto de estas diferencias pequeño en la variable competición (r = 0.278) y medio en compañeros (r =0.446). Los aspectos que más les preocuparon fueron la salud de sus seres queridos y la economía global, encontrándose diferencias significativas y un tamaño del efecto medio entre árbitros de ambos deportes respecto a la salud de sus seres queridos (r = 0.44). Las competencias que esperaban tener más afectadas debido a la inactividad eran las físicas y las psicológicas, hallándose diferencias significativas entre ambos deportes y con un tamaño del efecto pequeño en las psicológicas (r = 0.44). Dentro de las competencias psicológicas, esperaban tener más afectadas la concentración y la toma ecisiones, hallándose diferencias significativas y un tamaño del efecto medio entre los árbitros de ambos deportes en cuanto a la toma de decisiones (r = 0.321). Los resultados muestran un colectivo que se sentía seguro con las medidas adoptadas para prevenir los contagios en la reanudación de las competiciones, aunque manifestaron que iban a limitar la interacción con los y las deportistas participantes. En cuanto al estado de ánimo, el afecto positivo fue superior al negativo. Por último, consideraban que la psicología deportiva era útil para afrontar situaciones como las de ese momento, hallándose diferencias significativas entre ambos colectivos de árbitros y con un tamaño del efecto grande (h = 0.818), por lo que se recomienda a las autoridades arbitrales contar con la psicología del deporte para mantener e incrementar el rendimiento deportivo arbitral.Alternate :This work explores the effects that lockdown by COVID-19 had on the group of elite Spanish referees who were selected to officiate the completion of the 2019-2020 season competitions of the highest categories of their respective sports: the ACB basketball league (N = 19) and the main futsal leagues (N = 32), which were carried out with all participants, athletes and referees, coming together in special health measures conditions, after lifting the first lockdown measures, during the first wave of the pandemic. To know the effects of the lockdown, respondents answered an ad hoc survey, and the PANAS scales to know their mood. The results showed that the aspects the group missed the most due to the cessation of sporting activity were competition, refereeing and teammates. Significant differences were found between referees of both groups, the effect size of these differences was small in the competition variable (r = 0.278) and medium in teammates (r = 0.446). The aspects that concerned them the most were their loved ones' health and the global economy, finding significant differences and a medium effect size between referees of both sports regarding the health of their loved ones (r = 0.44). The competencies that they expected to be most affected by inactivity were physical and psychological, finding significant differences between both sports, with a small effect size in the psychological ones (r = 0.44). Among the psychological competences, they expected to be most affected concentration and decision making, finding significant differences and a medium effect size between the referees of both sports in terms of decision making (r = 0.321). The results show a group that felt safe with the measures adopted to prevent contagion in the restarting of the competitions, although they stated that they were going to limit the interaction with the participating athletes. Regarding mood state, the positive affect was higher than the negative one. Finally, they considered that sports psychology was useful to face situations like those of that time, finding significant differences between both groups of referees and with a large effect size (/? = 0.818), so it is recommended that the refereeing authorities to include sports psychology services to maintain and increase refereeing sports performance.

Influence of teacher's, ICT skills on the adoption of an e-learning management system in Sport Psychology during the COVID-19 pandemic

This paper analyzes the effects of technical skills, i.e., information and communications technology (ICT) skills, in adopting e-learning systems in sports psychology using the Madrasati platform (MP) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. In this regard, Web-based questionnaire survey responses on the Madrasati forum are investigated. Statistical significance was established using IBM SPSS Statistics (SPSS) software with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.607 and a p-value of less than 0.05. The study concluded that during the COVID-19 pandemic, by a shift to e-learning and distance education in sports psychology, 62.7% of students had improved ICT skills compared to their email skills. Furthermore, using the Madrasati platform for e-learning did not require a detailed course explanation, with 48.4% of students with high skill levels also in agreement. Finally, a demographic comparison of students' ICT skills with students' characteristics showed that with students using the Madrasati platform, the students' ICT skills were highly improved. Reliability statistics of the research hypothesis showed a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.607 and a Cronbach's alpha value based on the standardized item of 0.552, indicating quite a high level of internal consistency for our scale with this specific sample.

Gym-Goers’ Self-Identification with Physically Attractive Fitness Trainers and Intention to Exercise

Gym-goers often socially compare themselves with their trainers as they strive to look as attractive as their fitness trainers. The aim of this study was to better understand this phenomenon in the fitness industry. Relying on social comparison theory and social identity theory, self-identification with a physically attractive fitness trainer was posited to have a strong mediating effect on the relationship between appearance motive, weight management motive and gym-goers’ intention to exercise. The moderation effects of gym-goers’ age and gender in the direct relationships between appearance motive, weight management motive and exercise intention were also examined. The primary outcome of this study revealed that gym-goers who were influenced by appearance and weight management motives are more likely to identify with physically attractive fitness trainers. Additionally, gender significantly moderates the relationships between appearance motive, weight management motive and exercise intention. Appearance and weight management motives are the primary factors that influence the exercise intention of female gym-goers as compared to their male counterparts. This study sheds new insights into understanding the influence of the physical attractiveness of fitness trainers and its impact on gym-goers’ exercise intentions via self and social identification process.

Sport psychology: A psychologist at the Olympic games (Part III)

Top athlete's careers are far from linear. To achieve the performances known to all, athletes experience successes and disappointments throughout their sporting practice. Maroussia Paré, top athlete in athletics and psychologist, analyzes her career, from her first Olympic Games (Olympics) at 20, to her preparation already started for the Paris Olympics in 2024. Between the cope with failures but also success, through the physical and emotional injuries, she comes back to the other reality of high-level sport, the one that the general public sees less. Thus, this interview with Jean-Pierre Bouchard reveals the adaptation strategies and resources mobilized by athletes to cope with the unpredictability of high-performance sport. We can see, through her experience, that performance is not built instantly or independently of the context in which it occurs. Performance is then revealed as a combination of personal and environmental factors. We can therefore consider that the athlete to be successful does not only need mental preparation to be successful, but to have support and personal support to help them optimize and take care of their mental health and psychological resources. © 2021

Psychologie du sport : une psychologue aux Jeux Olympiques (3e partie)

Résumé Les carrières des athlètes de haut niveau sont loin d’être linéaires. Pour arriver aux performances connues de tous, les sportifs connaissent des succès et des désillusions tout au long de leur pratique sportive. Maroussia Paré, sportive de haut niveau en athlétisme et psychologue, analyse son parcours, de ses premiers Jeux Olympiques (J.O.) à 20ans, à sa préparation déjà entamée vers les J.O. de Paris en 2024. Entre la gestion des échecs mais aussi des succès, en passant par les blessures physiques et émotionnelles, elle revient sur l’autre réalité du sport de haut niveau, celle que le grand public voit moins. Ainsi, cet entretien avec Jean-Pierre Bouchard révèle les stratégies d’adaptation et les ressources mobilisées par les athlètes pour faire face au caractère imprévisible du sport de haut niveau. Nous voyons, au travers de son expérience, que la performance ne se construit ni instantanément ni indépendamment du contexte dans lequel elle se produit. La performance se révèle comme une combinaison de facteurs personnels et environnementaux. Nous pouvons alors considérer que le sportif, pour être performant, n’a pas uniquement besoin de préparation mentale, mais bien d’avoir un soutien et un accompagnement pour l’aider à optimiser et prendre soin de sa santé mentale et de ses ressources psychologiques. Top athlete's careers are far from linear. To achieve the performances known to all, athletes experience successes and disappointments throughout their sporting practice. Maroussia Paré, top athlete in athletics and psychologist, analyzes her career, from her first Olympic Games (Olympics) at 20, to her preparation already started for the Paris Olympics in 2024. Between the cope with failures but also success, through the physical and emotional injuries, she comes back to the other reality of high-level sport, the one that the general public sees less. Thus, this interview with Jean-Pierre Bouchard reveals the adaptation strategies and resources mobilized by athletes to cope with the unpredictability of high-performance sport. We can see, through her experience, that performance is not built instantly or independently of the context in which it occurs. Performance is then revealed as a combination of personal and environmental factors. We can therefore consider that the athlete to be successful does not only need mental preparation to be successful, but to have support and personal support to help them optimize and take care of their mental health and psychological resources.

Sleep and mental health in athletes during COVID-19 lockdown.

The global coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions resulted in the majority of sports competitions around the world being put on hold. This includes the National Basketball Association, the UEFA Champions League, Australian Football League, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and regional competitions. The mitigation strategies in place to control the pandemic have caused disruption to daily schedules, working environments, and lifestyle factors. Athletes rely on regular access to training facilities, practitioners, and coaches to maintain physical and mental health to achieve maximal performance and optimal recovery. Furthermore, participation in sport at any level increases social engagement and promotes better mental health. It is, therefore, critical to understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures have affected the lives of athletes. We surveyed elite and sub-elite athletes (n = 565) across multiple sports. Significant disruptions were reported for all lifestyle factors including social interactions, physical activity, sleep patterns, and mental health. We found a significant increase in total sleep time and sleep latency, as well as a delay in mid-sleep times and a decrease in social jetlag. Training frequency and duration significantly decreased. Importantly, the changes to training and sleep-related factors were associated with mental health outcomes. With spikes in COVID-19 cases rising around the world and governments reinstituting lockdowns (e.g. United Kingdom; Melbourne, Australia; California, USA) these results will inform messaging and strategies to better manage sleep and mental health in a population for whom optimal performance is critical.

Personality, Coping Strategies, and Mental Health in High-Performance Athletes During Confinement Derived From the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 outbreak has affected the sports field unprecedentedly. The emergency alert has deprived athletes of training in a suitable environment, as they are faced with cancellations of relevant events in their sports careers. This situation can cause stress levels and other emotional disorders similar to those experienced by athletes during periods of injury. Since the relationship between psychological factors and sports injuries is well-studied, the Global Psychological Model of Sports Injury (MGPLD) is applied to this historical situation for athletes. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between perfectionism and trait anxiety with indicators of mental health (mood, depression, state anxiety, and stress) in high-performance athletes during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to explore the coping strategies that athletes have applied and whether they are perceived as useful for managing negative emotional states. A cross-sectional study was conducted through online questionnaires during April 2020, adapting the Psychological Assessment Protocol of the High-Performance Sports Center of Murcia (Spain), to assess the psychological effects of confinement in a cross-cultural sample of 310 athletes (141 women and 169 men) from different countries in Europe, Asia, and America, and from diverse sports disciplines. The protocol comprised six instruments that test perfectionism, trait anxiety, mood states, stress, depression, coping strategies, and sleep. It was answered online via Google Forms. The results show that maladaptive perfectionism was related to all the indicators of athletes' mental health. However, athletes' levels of anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms are relatively low, and the use of coping strategies such as cognitive restructuring and emotional calm was associated with lower levels of negative emotional states. Besides, the Iceberg Profile, a suitable fit for the mental health model, is observed in the mood of athletes, both in men and in women, although women showed higher levels of anxiety, stress, and depression than men. A strong relationship was observed between maladaptive perfectionism and martial arts sports discipline, superior to other sports. In short, it can be concluded that high-performance athletes in the studied sample showed negative emotional state values below the expected average. Finally, the proposals for practical applications of the results collected are discussed.

Potentially Prolonged Psychological Distress from Postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games during COVID-19-Career Uncertainty in Elite Athletes.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on the world of sports due to periods of home quarantine, bans against public gatherings, travel restrictions, and a large number of postponed or canceled major sporting events. The literature hitherto is sparse, but early indications display signs of psychological impact on elite athletes due to the pandemic. However, beyond acute effects from lockdown and short-term interrupted athletic seasons, the postponed and still uncertain Olympic and Paralympic Games may represent a major career insecurity to many athletes world-wide, and may lead to severe changes to everyday lives and potentially prolonged psychological distress. Given the long-term perspective of these changes, researchers and stakeholders should address mental health and long-term job insecurity in athletes, including a specific focus on those with small financial margins, such as many female athletes, parasports athletes, athletes in smaller sports, and athletes from developing countries. Implications and the need for research are discussed.