Reflections on a Scholarly Career in Sport and Exercise Psychology: The Influence of Significant Others on the Psychosocial Well-Being of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Thelma S. Horn

This paper is based on a Senior Scholar presentation delivered at the 2020 annual meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. The paper begins with a summary of the research work completed by the author and coinvestigators in regard to the influences that significant others (parents, peers, and coaches) exert on the psychosocial well-being of individuals in sport and physical activity. In each of these three areas, illustrative research studies are summarized in a predominantly chronological order with a commentary at the end of each section that identifies unanswered questions and suggests future research directions. In the second section, four particular lessons learned by the author over the course of a scholarly career are identified and explained.

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Etnier

In developing a senior lecture for the 2014 national meeting of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, I had the opportunity to reflect upon a career of research and to focus on three interesting questions that my colleagues and I have attempted to address. These questions have led to several studies that all revolve around identifying ways to increase the effects of exercise on cognitive performance. In particular, the questions examine the possibility of increasing effects by focusing on particular populations (e.g., older adults, children) and by increasing our understanding of dose-response relationships between exercise parameters (e.g., intensity, duration) and cognitive outcomes. I present empirical evidence relative to each of these questions and provide directions for future research on physical activity and cognitive functioning.


BMJ Leader ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. leader-2020-000403
Author(s):  
Victoria Smith ◽  
Claire Maxwell ◽  
Lisa Robinson

ObjectivesSelection of effective leadership styles within healthcare is linked to high quality, safe care for patients. Within the literature attention has been given to medical and nursing professions, failing to acknowledge the contribution made by physiotherapy leaders. This study aims to consider the leadership styles used by physiotherapists in a designated leadership role, specifically exploring the barriers they face and the strategies employed to overcome current leadership dilemmas.DesignA qualitative, phenomenological design was used. Consent was obtained from each participant for one semistructured interview which was audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Framework analysis was used to analyse the data.SettingA large National Health Service Foundation Trust within the North East of England.ParticipantsA purposive sample of ten physiotherapy team leaders.ResultsThe theoretical leadership framework that emerged demonstrated the daily tensions experienced by physiotherapy team leaders in regard to being a transactional or transformational leader. Within this, three superordinate themes exist: the individual, the team and the organisation and beyond. Each theme contained barriers and enablers which related to transactional and transformational leadership styles, respectively.ConclusionsThe framework identified gives insight into a group of clinical leaders not yet explored and provides a foundation for the development of leadership behaviours throughout physiotherapy. These clinicians should be supported by senior leaders to develop more transformational styles which have the potential to impact on staff well-being and patient care. Future research should compare these findings with studies involving larger sample sizes that span the health and social care system.


Author(s):  
Katharine Briar-Lawson ◽  
Paul Miesing ◽  
Blanca M. Ramos

Key propositions and recommendations for support of social enterprises and entrepreneurship are presented in this chapter on “Selected Observations and Lessons Learned for 21st-Century Supports for Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprises.” These are derived from snapshots of developments in the nations and regions discussed in prior chapters. In addition, warning signs about these innovations are offered. Some recommend more social protection and social supports for social entrepreneurs. Others suggest more, not less, government intervention in support of sustainable social and economic development. Key domains for further exploration include the premises on which social enterprises and social entrepreneurship are built. In addition, more contextual understanding is needed, as well as a balancing of social and economic development for human well-being. Moreover, selected findings for social enterprises and their role in social inclusion and economic development are offered. Lessons learned are highlighted along with recommendations for future research.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
L. Jayne Beselt ◽  
Michelle C. Patterson ◽  
Meghan H. McDonough ◽  
Jennifer Hewson ◽  
Scott MacKay

Physical activity (PA) and social support have known benefits for the well-being and health of older adults, and social support is associated with PA behavior and positive affective experiences in PA contexts. The aim of this study was to synthesize qualitative research conducted on the experiences of social support related to PA among older adults (age ≥55 years). Following meta-study methodology, the authors searched nine databases and extracted information from 31 studies. Results were synthesized in terms of common themes and in light of theoretical and methodological perspectives used. The qualitative literature identifies supportive behaviors and social network outcomes which may be useful for informing how best to support older adults to be physically active. This literature rarely reflected the experiences of vulnerable populations, and future research should aim to further understand supportive behaviors which enable older adults to overcome barriers and challenges to being physically active.


SAGE Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401983746
Author(s):  
Dev Roychowdhury

Research indicates that spirituality plays a cardinal role in enhancing sporting performance, personal growth, and well-being. Numerous researchers have attempted to examine the nexus of religion, spirituality, and psychological constructs to understand their role in sport and exercise performance and contexts. Despite the findings that spiritual well-being plays a crucial role in athletic excellence and as a buffer against a wide range of stressors and negative behaviors, it has received scant attention in the sport and exercise psychology literature. This present commentary examines the role of spirituality in sport psychology literature and proposes that spiritual well-being be incorporated into sport and exercise psychology training and consultancy to improve and enhance service delivery. This article also identifies a number of key areas for future research and practice.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie J. Silfee ◽  
Christina F. Haughton ◽  
Stephenie C. Lemon ◽  
Vilma Lora ◽  
Milagros C. Rosal

<p class="Pa7"><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine the relationships be­tween spirituality and physical activity and sedentary behavior in a sample of Latino adults in Massachusetts.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Design: </strong>This is a cross-sectional analysis of the Lawrence Health and Well Being Study; a study that was conducted among patients at the Greater Lawrence Family Health Cen­ter (GLFHC) in Lawrence, Massachusetts.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Participants: </strong>602 Latino or Hispanic adults aged 21 to 85 years completed the study.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Results: </strong>There was a significant nega­tive relationship between spirituality and sedentary behavior (β= -.12, p = .004). Although not statistically significant, higher spirituality was associated with increased odds of engaging in physical activity. There were no significant associations between spirituality and physical activity among men or women. Men with greater spirituality were significantly less sedentary (β = -.17, P = .005). There was no relationship between sedentary behavior and spirituality among women.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study found that indi­viduals who are more spiritual are also less sedentary, and this association was stronger in men than women. Findings provide insight for developing future interventions to promote activity in this high-risk popula­tion, which has been greatly understudied. Future research endeavors should consider investigating the impact of spirituality-based messages to reduce sedentary behavior among Latinos.</p><p><em>Ethn Dis. </em>2017;27(1):3-10; doi:10.18865/ed.27.1.3.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arya M. Sharma ◽  
Donna L. Goodwin ◽  
Janice Causgrove Dunn

Dr. Arya M. Sharma challenges the conventional wisdom of relying simply on “lifestyle” approaches involving exercise, diet, and behavioral interventions for managing obesity, suggesting that people living with obesity should receive comprehensive medical interventions similar to the approach taken for other chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes or hypertension. He purports that the stigma-inducing focus on self-failing (e.g., coping through food, laziness, lack of self-regulation) does not address biological processes that make obesity a lifelong problem for which there is no easy solution. Interdisciplinary approaches to obesity are advocated, including that of adapted physical activity. Physical activity has multifaceted impacts beyond increasing caloric expenditure, including improved sleep, better mood, increased energy levels, enhanced self-esteem, reduced stress, and an enhanced sense of well-being. The interview with Dr. Sharma, transcribed from a keynote address delivered at the North American Adapted Physical Activity Symposium on September 22, 2016, in Edmonton, AB, Canada, outlines his rationale for approaching obesity as a chronic disease.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin E. Centeio ◽  
Cheryl L. Somers ◽  
E. Whitney G. Moore ◽  
Alex Garn ◽  
Noel Kulik ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between measures of students’ physical well-being and self-perception and their academic achievement. Specifically, we look at students’ social support for physical activity, physical activity perceptions, self-concept, self-efficacy, health behaviors, and cardiorespiratory fitness (as measured by the progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance run [PACER] test). Students ( n = 697 fifth graders) were surveyed at the beginning of the school year. A two-group path analysis revealed notable relationships between the predictor variables and proximal and distal outcomes, with some paths moderated by sex. One relationship that was significant for both sexes was cardiorespiratory fitness, as it was the only significant predictor of achievement. This effect was moderate to large for the female students ([Formula: see text]; [Formula: see text]) and small to large for the male students ([Formula: see text]; [Formula: see text]). These findings can be used to guide future research and educational prevention and intervention efforts.


Author(s):  
Asteria Brylka ◽  
Dieter Wolke ◽  
Sebastian Ludyga ◽  
Ayten Bilgin ◽  
Juliane Spiegler ◽  
...  

This study examined whether physical activity is associated with better mental health and well-being among very preterm (≤32 weeks) and term born (≥37 weeks) adolescents alike or whether the associations are stronger in either of the groups. Physical activity was measured with accelerometry in children born very preterm and at term in two cohorts, the Basel Study of Preterm Children (BSPC; 40 adolescents born ≤32 weeks of gestation and 59 term born controls aged 12.3 years) and the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS; 45 adolescents born ≤32 weeks of gestation and 3137 term born controls aged 14.2 years on average). In both cohorts, emotional and behavioral problems were mother-reported using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Subjective well-being was self-reported using the Kidscreen-52 Questionnaire in the BSPC and single items in the MCS. Hierarchical regressions with ‘preterm status × physical activity’-interaction effects were subjected to individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. IPD meta-analysis showed that higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower levels of peer problems, and higher levels of psychological well-being, better self-perception/body image, and school related well-being. Overall, the effect-sizes were small and the associations did not differ significantly between very preterm and term born adolescents. Future research may examine the mechanisms behind effects of physical activity on mental health and wellbeing in adolescence as well as which type of physical activity might be most beneficial for term and preterm born children.


Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. Martin

A large body of research indicates that people with disabilities experience varied psychological benefits from participating in sport and exercise. However, sport and exercise also offer relational benefits and family benefits. The purpose of this chapter is to examine research showing how families that include someone with a disability benefit from sport and exercise and how parents in particular benefit. The enjoyment embedded in the experience of physical activity (PA) and family interactions often leads to increased positive evaluations of both family and PA. Family cohesion is often strengthened through the mutual satisfaction of engaging in leisure, sport, and exercise. Parents attending sporting competitions meet other parents and derive shared social reality, informational, and emotional social support benefits from such interactions. Parents can also be socialized into unfamiliar sports through their children and become knowledgeable and involved in sport themselves as fans, referees, and coaches. Parents can also be barriers to their children’s sport and exercise involvement as a result of being fearful for their children’s emotional and physical well-being.


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