A program to support self-efficacy among athletes.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a proprietary program for increasing self-efficacy among track and field athletes through vicarious experience and successful control over excitation and to determine the changes in the cognitive dimensions related to self-efficacy: dispositional optimism, hope of success and locus of control. An experimental two-group design with a pre-test and a post-test in the experimental and control groups was used. Forty-two athletes (29 women and 13 men) aged 17 to 24 years randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups took part in the study. The General Scale of Self-Efficacy, Hope for Success Questionnaire, Life Orientation Test Revised, and Internal-External Locus of Control Scale were used. The study's results indicate that the program was effective. Participants in the intervention group demonstrated a substantial increase in self-efficacy (P = 0.001). This was not observed in the control group (P = 0.732). After the completion of the program, athletes in the intervention group had significantly higher levels of self-efficacy (P = 0.001) and optimism (P = 0.017). They also had more internal locus of control compared to the control group (P = 0.001). Contrary to expectations, athletes in the intervention group demonstrated a substantially lower level of propensity in pathways (P = 0.001) as well as in agency (P = 0.001) (both components of the hope for success).

Physical fitness as a resource in coping with stress among high school students.

AIM: Physical fitness may be considered as a personal resource helping to cope with stress. The aim of the study was to examine how physical fitness affects psychological distress and health status in adolescents. METHODS: This study was carried out for over 2 years and the participants were 253 Polish high school students (82 boys, 171 girls; mean age =15.4; SD=0.17). They were examined using the International Physical Fitness Test, Profile of Mood States, and a questionnaire developed by the author to assess the intensity of stress due to daily hassles, frequency of stress-related somatic symptoms, as well as self-assessed psychological well-being and physical health. RESULTS: ANOVA indicated significant interactions between physical fitness and gender for both sexes. While among boys better well-being, mood (i.e. higher levels of positive and lower intensity of negative mood states), and health (higher levels of self-rated health and less numerous physical complaints) were found in those with better physical fitness, among girls the relationship was reversed, i.e. more positive well-being, mood and health were exhibited by the less fit (0.05> or =p> or =0.01). Moreover, significant main effects of stress intensity and gender were noted: students with more intense stress experiences had lower levels of positive well-being (p<0.001), mood (positive states p=0.01; negative states p<0.001) and health (p<0.001); and girls not only less favorably assessed their health (p<0.001), experienced more somatic complaints (p=0.01) but also manifested more marked negative mood states (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that physical fitness may be an important resource helping to cope with stress, and that its role in coping with stress may be different in boys than in girls.