'We're all on the same journey; some are just a bit further down the road than others': a qualitative study exploring peer mentors' experiences in Active Rehabilitation camps for individuals with acquired brain injury.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore how peer mentors experience their role and practice in Active Rehabilitation camps for individuals with acquired brain injury. METHODS: Sixteen peer mentors with acquired brain injury were interviewed, and the data were analysed using Systematic text condensation. Self-determination theory was used to interpret the results. RESULTS: Six themes were constructed: "Altruistic motives drive peer mentors" engagement", "What does it mean to be a peer mentor?", "Peer mentors question their qualifications", "Camp is tough-Nothing can compare", "Being a peer mentor-A part of one's rehabilitation process", and "Closeness and trust-A bubble of understanding". The peer mentors reported personal benefits, such as increased knowledge about brain injury, self-esteem, motivation, physical activity, community participation, and social networks. They perceived that mutual understanding among peer mentors and mentees created a safe camp atmosphere, which led to positive experiences. CONCLUSION: The peer mentors benefitted from their role and described it as part of their rehabilitation journey. We recommend that peer mentors receive training before entering this position, feedback on their performance, and camp schedules that accommodate time for rest and informal meetings between mentees and peer mentors.

Peer mentorship interventions for individuals with acquired neurological injury are becoming more popular. Because peer mentors are vital in such interventions, learning more about their perspectives is essential.Peer mentors with acquired brain injury (ABI) who engage in Active Rehabilitation camps report various personal benefits, such as heightened self-esteem, increased community participation, and establishment of a broader support network.To address challenges that peer mentors may perceive, we recommend that the organisers of these interventions ensure mentors receive adequate training before taking on their roles and receive ongoing feedback on their performance.Individuals with ABI who are interested in peer mentoring and fulfil the organisers' criteria should be encouraged to apply for this role, as it can become a natural extension of their rehabilitation process.

Structured, time-limited peer mentorship activity programmes for individuals with acquired brain or spinal cord injuries: a mixed methods systematic review of characteristics and outcomes.

PURPOSE: To determine the characteristics and outcomes of structured, time-limited peer mentorship activity programmes for individuals with acquired brain or spinal cord injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mixed methods systematic review with an advanced convergent qualitative meta-integration synthesis design was adopted. Seven databases were searched, with two reviewers independently screening, selecting, and extracting data and evaluating the methodological quality of the included studies. RESULTS: The review included ten original studies: five qualitative, four quantitative, and one mixed methods. The peer mentorship programmes were conducted in Europe, Oceania, the United States, and Africa, lasting from two days to 2.5 weeks. The programmes had diverse focuses, but all addressed mentees' independence, health, or quality of life in some way. None was based on a theoretical framework. Programme participation positively impacted cognition, emotions, independence, and social life. The safe and supportive environments the mentees and peer mentors created facilitated the outcomes. The evidence of programme participation on life satisfaction and community participation was inconclusive. CONCLUSION: Despite their short duration, structured, time-limited peer mentorship activity programmes can strengthen community rehabilitation of individuals with acquired brain or spinal cord injury. It is recommended that peer mentorship programmes are grounded on a theoretical framework.

Structured, time-limited peer mentorship activity programmes impact mentees' thoughts and emotions, social lives, and independence in daily lives.Being able to challenge oneself in a safe and supportive environment created by mentees and peer mentors is essential for achieving positive outcomes.Peer mentorship programme organisers should establish clearly defined programme aims and base their rationale on how to reach these aims on relevant theoretical frameworks.

Perceived ability and social support as mediators of achievement motivation and performance anxiety.

The present study is founded on achievement goal theory (AGT) and examines the relationship between motivation, social support and performance anxiety with team handball players (n=143) from 10 elite teams. Based on these theories and previous findings, the study has three purposes. First, it was predicted that the female athletes (n=69) would report more performance worries and more social support use than males (n=74). The findings support the hypothesis for anxiety, but not for social support use. However, females report that they felt social support was more available than males. Second, we predicted and found a positive relationship between the interaction of ego orientation and perceptions of a performance climate on performance anxiety, but only for females. As predicted, perceived ability mediated this relationship. Finally, we predicted that perceptions of a performance climate were related to the view that social support was less available especially for the male athletes. Simple correlation supports this prediction, but the regression analyses did not reach significance. Thus, we could not test for mediation of social support between motivational variables and anxiety. The results illustrate that fostering a mastery climate helps elite athletes tackle competitive pressure.

Achievement involvement and stress coping in elite wrestling.

The present study explored the relationship between task involvement and coping with stress in elite competition. Participants were 82 elite wrestlers, both male (n=60) and female (n=22), from four different European countries, age 16-37. The data for the study were gathered over an 18-month period, and both qualitative in-depth interviews (n=6) and quantitative approaches were used. The quantitative study measured motivation from an achievement goal theory perspective: achievement goal orientation [Perception of Success Questionnaire], perceptions of the motivational climate [Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire] and coping strategies (Brief COPE). The qualitative part explored motivation and coping in depth. As expected, task involved wrestlers coped better in competitive situations due to their use of more adaptive coping strategies. The wrestlers' experiences seemingly make them prefer to stay task involved and use adaptive coping strategies (both problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies) in competition.

An examination of the factorial structure of the Norwegian version of the sport anxiety scale.

The purpose of the present research was to develop and validate a Norwegian version of the sport anxiety scale (SAS-N), a multidimensional sport performance trait anxiety inventory. The SAS consists of three unique dimensions measuring somatic anxiety, worry and concentration disruption, respectively. The translation-back translation method was used in development of the SAS-N, and athletes from different sports in Norway (N=282) participated in the study. The findings are similar to those of the English original, and lend support for the use of this instrument with Norwegian athlete subjects.