Engagement in Youth Athletes as a Positive Experience in Sport: Implications of Gender, Age, and Competitive Level.

The aim of this study was to examine athlete engagement and its relationships with indicators of the quality of the athlete's sport experience, exploring potential differences according to gender, age, and competitive level. Furthermore, this study validated the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire (AEQ) in young athletes and confirmed its factor structure. A total of 1188 athletes (43.90% girls) from Argentina participated in the study, with a mean age of 15.92 (SD = 2.50). The participants completed the AEQ along with other measures of athletes' quality of experience, such as motivation, enjoyment, and burnout. This study confirmed the multidimensional nature of engagement, showing positive associations with high-quality athlete experiences and revalidating the inverse relationship with burnout. Moreover, the study found differences in engagement dimensions (i.e., confidence, vigor, dedication, and enthusiasm) based on the interplay of gender, age, and competitive level. In general, male athletes, younger athletes, and those with a higher competitive level showed more engagement and interactions between these sociodemographic variables. The Argentinian version of AEQ exhibited optimal fit and reliability and good indexes of measurement invariance across gender, age, and competitive level. These findings validate the AEQ as a reliable tool for evaluating sport engagement among adolescents in Argentina. Engagement constitutes an indicator of an optimal experience linked to positive youth development through sports participation.

¿Qué implica disfrutar del deporte? Presentación de un instrumento para su evaluación / What is Involved in Enjoying Sport? Presentation of an Instrument for its Evaluation

Resumen El disfrute es una de las razones más fuertes para involucrarse en una actividad deportiva. ¿Pero cómo se puede definir conceptual y operacionalmente este constructo? El objetivo del presente estudio fue indagar con enfoque mixto los componentes del disfrute en el deporte. En el primer estudio participaron deportistas federados del Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA, Argentina) (n = 9). Se utilizó una entrevista semi-estructurada y se identificaron las categorías que describen la experiencia de disfrute, tales como, afecto positivo, involucramiento y experiencia autotélica. Los participantes refirieron además sentirse realizados a nivel personal. Por otro lado, en el segundo estudio participaron 362 jóvenes (57.2 % hombres y 42.8 % mujeres) de 14 a 29 años de distintos clubes del AMBA. Para este estudio se operacionalizaron las categorías del primer estudio, a través de 29 ítems, con una escala Likert de cinco puntos de acuerdo. El análisis factorial exploratorio arrojó dos factores que explicaron el 58.8 % de la varianza a través de 17 ítems. La confiabilidad de cada subescala fue alta. El disfrute puede conocerse a través de dos subescalas: afecto positivo . involucramiento. Un factor adicional emergió de los análisis: el sentido de realización personal. Los factores del disfrute correlacionaron positivamente con este último, con el compromiso en el deporte y con el Flow total. Posteriores estudios permitirán conocer otros indicadores de validez de la escala y su uso en diversos contextos.

Abstract Enjoyment is one of the strongest motives to engage in a sports activity, but how can this construct be conceptually and operationally defined? This study aimed to investigate, with a mixed approach, the components of enjoyment in sport. In the first study, federated athletes from the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (MABA, Argentina) participated (n = 9). A semi-structured interview was conducted, and the categories that describe the enjoyment experience were identified, such as positive affect, involvement, and autotelic experience. Participants also reported feeling fulfilled on a personal level. On the other hand, the second study involved 362 young people (57.2% men and 42.8% women) aged 14 to 29 from different MABA clubs. For this study, the categories of the first study were operationalized through 29 items, with a Likert-type scale of five points of agreement. The exploratory factorial analysis yielded two factors that explained 58.8% of the variance through 17 items. The reliability of each subscale was high. Enjoyment can be assessed through two subscales: positive affect and involvement. An additional factor emerged from the analyses: the sense of personal fulfillment. The factors of enjoyment correlated positively with the latter, with the engagement in the sport and with the total flow. Subsequent studies will reveal other indicators of the validity of the scale and its use in various contexts.

Can HRV Biofeedback Improve Short-Term Effort Recovery? Implications for Intermittent Load Sports.

As intensity and physical demands continue to rise in sport competition, faster and better recovery becomes essential. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of HRV biofeedback (HRVB) while recovering from a submaximal aerobic exercise. Ten physically-active graduate students participated in the study, which was conducted in four sessions: exercise with free-breathing recovery, first resonance frequency (RF) detection, second RF detection, and exercise applying HRVB during recovery. Measurements included time spent running and recovering, HRV parameters, and recovery/exertion perceptions. The results indicate that using HRVB during recovery improves cardiac variability (RRmean, SDNN, RMSSD and LF; p < 0.01). HRVB also lowers recovery time (p < 0.05) and seems to be improving the perception of recovery (p = 0.087). Moreover, time spent exercising (p < 0.01) and perceived physical exertion (p < 0.05) were higher when applying HRVB. The improvement in the psychophysiological adaptation after intensive aerobic exercise provided by the HRVB is a valuable benefit, not only for competition-driven athletes, but also for the general population.

Compromiso con el deporte y su relación con el consumo de alcohol en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes / Engagement to sports and its relationship with alcohol consumption in adolescents and young adults / Compromisso com o esporte e sua relação com o consumo de álcool em adolescentes e adultos jovens

El consumo de alcohol representa uno de los problemas más graves de salud pública a nivel global. Si bien se señala al deporte como estrategia mundial efectiva para amortiguar el impacto de esta problemática, los estudios han concluido que no es el deporteper sesino aspectos motivacionales asociados al mismo los que podrían tener efectos protectores. El compromiso con el deporte no ha sido investigado como posible factor protector del consumo de alcohol. OBJETIVO: Indagar la relación entre el compromiso con el deporte y el consumo de alcohol. MÉTODO: Participantes: 362 jóvenes (15 a 29 años) deportistas de Argentina. Instrumentos: Cuestionario socio-demográfico, Cuestionario de Compromiso con el Deporte (AEQ), Cuestionario de Identificación de los Trastornos Debidos al Consumo de Alcohol (AUDIT-C). Procesamiento: Se realizó análisis de varianza y regresión logística con el paquete SPSS V.21. RESULTADOS: los deportistas consumen tanto como los no deportistas, pero quienes presentan mayor energía invertida ensu deporte, presentan una menor frecuencia de consumo actual y de consumo excesivo. Se discuten las implicancias prácticas de estos resultados

Alcohol consumption represents one of the most serious public health problems worldwide. Although sport is indicated as an effective global strategy to cushion the impact of this problem, studies have concluded that it is not sport per se, but motivationalaspects associated with it, that could have protective effects. The engagement with sport has not been investigated as a possible protective factor for alcohol consumption. AIM: To investigate the relationship between engagement with sports and alcohol consumption. METHOD: Participants: 362 young people (15 to 29 years old) athletes from Argentina. Instruments: Socio-demographic questionnaire, Sports Engagement Questionnaire (AEQ), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C). Processing: Analysis of variance and logistic regression were performed with the SPSS package V.21. RESULTS: athletes consume as much as non-athletes but those who have more energy invested in their sport, have current and excessive consumption less frequently.The practical implications of these results are discussed

O consumo de álcool representa um dos mais sérios problemas de saúde pública no mundo. Embora o esporte seja apontado como uma estratégia global eficaz para amortecer o impacto desse problema, estudos concluíram que não é o esporte per se, mas os aspectos motivacionais associados a ele, que poderiam ter efeitos protetores. O compromisso com o esporte não tem sido investigado como um possível fator de proteção contra o consumo de álcool. OBJETIVO: Investigar a relação entre compromisso com esporte e consumo de álcool. MÉTODO: Participnates: 362 jovens (15 a 29 anos) atletas da Argentina. Instrumentos: Questionário sociodemográfico, Questionário de Compromisso com o Esporte (AEQ), Questionário para Identificação de Distúrbios Devido ao Consumo de Álcool (AUDIT-C). Processamento: A análise de variância e a regressão logística foram realizadas com o pacote SPSS V.21. RESULTADOS: os atletas consomem tanto quanto os não atletas, mas aqueles que têm mais energia investida em seu esporte, apresentam menor frequência de consumo atual e consumo excessivo. As implicações práticas desses resultados são discutidas