scholarly journals Lived experiences of social support in Paralympic swimmers: A protocol for a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e039953
Author(s):  
Beth Aitchison ◽  
Andrew Soundy ◽  
Paul Martin ◽  
Alison Rushton ◽  
Nicola R Heneghan
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Professional Support ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Disability Sport ◽  
And Performance

IntroductionOver the past decade, there has been an increase in awareness of and investment into disability sport as a result of the ‘Paralympic Movement’. The provision of personal and professional support to elite athletes is important for the well-being and success of the athlete, with various studies advocating a holistic approach to performance enhancement. However, little is known about social support experiences in elite para-swimming. Swimming is a popular Paralympic sport and the British para swimmers have been very successful in recent years, most recently winning 47 medals at Rio 2016. This study will be the first to explore the lived experiences of British Paralympic swimmers with respect to the personal and professional support available, perceived use of the support network and the influence it has on well-being and performance.Methods and analysisA hermeneutic phenomenological study will be undertaken using a subtle-realist paradigmatic view. A purposive sample of British Paralympic swimmers will be recruited to enable exploration of social support experiences. In-depth semistructured interviews will explore participants’ experiences of being an elite para-athlete, their support network, the social support available and how they perceive it relates to their well-being and performance. Strategies including reflexivity and member checking will be used to ensure trustworthiness. Data will be analysed following the Framework Method; a seven-stage process used for qualitative data analysis.Ethics and disseminationThis study has ethical approval (ERN_20–0344) granted by the University of Birmingham in April 2020. The findings of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated to key stakeholders in elite para-sport to inform support services and improve athlete well-being and performance.

Performance Enhancement

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Developmental Model ◽  
Psychological Skills ◽  
Psychological Skills Training ◽  
Disability Sport ◽  
Athletes With Disabilities ◽  
Training Quality ◽  
And Performance

Athletes with disabilities can perform more consistently and come closer to their potential if they maximize their mental skills as well as their physical skills. The purpose of this chapter is to present of humanistic developmental model of psychological skills training and an examination of disability sport psychology research on psychological skills. A humanistic developmental model prioritizes both athlete performance and well-being as they are viewed as complementary goals that exert a bidirectional influence on each other. In this model foundational factors, psychological skills and qualities, psychological methods, and facilitative and debilitative factors are seen as relatively distinct categories. Researchers have supported the importance of foundational factors, as reported in other chapters. Researchers have also supported the value of imagery and self-talk as methods to enhance confidence, motivation, and psychological skills, which in turn are positively related to performance. A host of facilitative and debilitative factors in disability sport also influence training quality and performance.

scholarly journals The podium illusion: a phenomenological study of the influence of social support on well-being and performance in elite para swimmers

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth Aitchison ◽  
Alison B. Rushton ◽  
Paul Martin ◽  
Andrew Soundy ◽  
Nicola R. Heneghan
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
New Model ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study ◽  
Fourth Theme

Abstract Background The value of social support in enhancing performance is well established in non-impaired and sub-international level athletes with impairments. Despite this, no research to date has explored the experiences of social support in elite para-athletes. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of social support in elite British para-swimmers and the influence on their wellbeing and performance. Methods A hermeneutic phenomenological study involving semi-structured interviews was undertaken with 8 elite British para-swimmers (3 male, 5 female, mean age 24.9 years). Participants represented 5 para-swimming classes and all 10 of the International Paralympic Committee impairment categories. Data were analysed following a modified version of the Framework Method. Research quality and trustworthiness were ensured through employing techniques including data triangulation, member checking and reflexivity. Results Five themes and 11 sub-themes were generated. The five themes were: ‘the coach-athlete relationship’, ‘team bond’, ‘tangible aid’, ‘The Podium Illusion’ and ‘British para-swimming’. The overall findings and the magnitude of support mentioned in the fourth theme led to the development of a new model called ‘The Podium Illusion’ which reflects the magnitude of support that is available to elite para-swimmers to help maximise their performance and wellbeing. Conclusion Social support is essential for athlete wellbeing and performance. Findings underpin a new model, ‘The Podium Illusion’.

scholarly journals Convoys of social support in Mexico

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather R. Fuller-Iglesias ◽  
Toni Antonucci
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Intergenerational Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Frequent Contact ◽  
Gender And Education ◽  
The Social

The Convoy Model suggests that at different stages of the lifespan the makeup of the social support network varies in step with developmental and contextual needs. Cultural norms may shape the makeup of social convoys as well as denote socio-demographic differences in social support. This study examines the social convoys of adults in Mexico. Specifically, it examines whether social network structure varies by age, gender, and education level, thus addressing the paucity of research on interpersonal relations in Mexico. A sample of 1,202 adults (18–99 years of age) was drawn from the Study of Social Relations and Well-being in Mexico. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated older adults had larger, more geographically proximate networks with a greater proportion of kin but less frequent contact. Women had larger, less geographically proximate networks with less frequent contact. Less educated individuals had smaller, more geographically proximate networks with more frequent contact and a greater proportion of kin. Age moderated gender and education effects indicated that younger women have more diverse networks and less educated older adults have weaker social ties. This study highlights socio-demographic variation in social convoys within the Mexican context, and suggests implications for fostering intergenerational relationships, policy, and interventions. Future research on Mexican convoys should further explore sources of support, and specifically address implications for well-being.

scholarly journals Toward a dynamic model of Gelotophobia: Social support, workplace bullying and stress are connected with diverging trajectories of life and job satisfaction among Gelotophobes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willibald Ruch ◽  
Alexander G. Stahlmann
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Work Stress ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Workplace Bullying ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Dynamic Framework ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Recent theoretical advances have grounded gelotophobia (Greek: gelos = laughter, phobos = fear) in a dynamic framework of causes, moderating factors, and consequences of the fear of being laughed at. This understanding corresponds to that of vulnerability and translates gelotophobia into a distinguishable pattern of lacking resources (i.e., misinterpretation of joy and laughter) that can result in negative consequences (e.g., reduced well-being and performance) if individuals have no access to further resources (e.g., social support) or are exposed to severe stressors (e.g., workplace bullying). Based on the panel data provided by the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES (N = 2469 across six measurement intervals), this study takes the first step toward empirically testing this model’s assumptions: First, we computed exemplary zero-order correlations and showed that gelotophobia was negatively connected with social support (resource) and life and job satisfaction (consequences) and positively connected with perceived stress, work stress, and workplace bullying (stressors). Second, we used longitudinal cluster analyses (KmL; k-means-longitudinal) and showed that the panel data can be clustered into three stable patterns of life and job satisfaction and that gelotophobia is primarily related to the two clusters marked by lower levels of satisfaction. Third, we computed partial correlations and showed that social support, perceived stress, and work stress (but not workplace bullying) can weaken or completely resolve gelotophobia’s relationships with such diverging trajectories of life and job satisfaction. We concluded that seeing gelotophobia through the lens of vulnerability is useful and that such research warrants further attention using more dedicated, theoretically grounded projects.

Social Support and Well-Being: Preliminary Indicators Based on Two Samples of the Elderly

1986 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary J. Levitt ◽  
Toni C. Antonucci ◽  
M. Cherie Clark ◽  
James Rotton ◽  
Gordon E. Finley
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Network Size ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Geographic Proximity ◽  
Supportive Relationships ◽  
Two Samples

The structure of social support and its relation to health, affect, and life satisfaction are compared for two samples of the elderly. The first is a national representative sample; the second is a distressed sample from South Miami Beach. Although there are similarities in the structure of social support across the two groups, those in the Miami Beach sample report fewer support figures, and far fewer within geographic proximity, than do those in the national sample. This comparative network impoverishment is particularly marked for male respondents and is accentuated by a high number of isolates in this group. In addition, stronger relationships are found between support network size and affect, and among affect, life satisfaction, and health in the South Miami Beach sample. Older men in poor health and without supportive relationships are targeted as a particularly high risk subgroup. The discussion includes a focus on personal, situational, and life span differences related to variations in support and well-being and a consideration of implications for more recent waves of elderly sun-belt migrants.

scholarly journals Professional support during the postpartum period: Primiparous women’s views on professional services, their expectations, and barriers to mobilizing professional help

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiping Nan ◽  
Jingjun Zhang ◽  
Nisar Anum ◽  
Lanting Huo ◽  
Lei Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Professional Support ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Young Infants ◽  
Health Centres ◽  
Primiparous Women ◽  
Women’S Views

Abstract Background: Mothers of young infants, especially primiparous women who lack experience and knowledge, are usually overwhelmed with a multitude of stressors and challenges. Although support from professionals is needed for new mothers, there is indeed a gap between the necessary high-quality service and the currently provided poor services. This study aimed to explore primiparous women’s views on professional services, identify barriers to mobilizing professional support, and further understand women’s expectations of and preferences for the delivery of professional services. Method: A descriptive phenomenological study design was utilized in this study, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 primiparous women who were selected from two community health centres and who had given birth within one year before the interview. Each conversation lasted between 20-86 minutes. Colaizzi’s seven-step phenomenological approach was used for data analysis. Results: Three major themes were identified: (a) dissatisfaction with current professional services for postpartum women, (b) barriers to mobilizing professional support, and (c) primiparous women’s expectations of professional support. Seven related subthemes included primiparous women’s disappointment with clinical services and their low confidence in services provided by communities, social health centres and online platforms; internal personal reasons and external socio-cultural factors that contributed to barriers in obtaining professional help; and primiparas’ new expectations of baby-care-related services, their personal needs for recovery, and their expectations of methods of services delivery. The necessity of professional support in the first month of confinement was emphasized by primiparas. Online methods were perceived by the majority of participants to be the best way to receive services. Conclusion: The results of this descriptive phenomenological study suggested that the professional services currently provided by medical facilities were insufficient and could not meet the requirements of primiparous women. The identified barriers should be analysed and overcome by enhancing education and eliminating stigma. The results also suggested that providing service focused on women’s requirements may be an effective strategy to enhance primiparous women’s well-being and suggested that women believed that the most acceptable and convenient methods should be considered during the delivery of interventions.

Abstract 14127: Measures of Patient Activation and Social Support in a Peer-led Support Network for Women With CVD

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn Witt ◽  
Gretchen Benson ◽  
Arthur Sillah ◽  
Susan Campbell ◽  
Kathy Berra
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Patient Activation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Social support has been recognized as having a strong impact on health and well-being and has also been shown to have beneficial effects in a wide variety of disease states. Social support from friends, family or peers can augment the care offered in traditional healthcare settings by providing advice, encouragement and education However, there is limited research on the impact of peer-led support programs among women living with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Objective: To examine the relationship between patient activation and measures of social support among women who attended a WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease peer-led support program in their local community. We hypothesized that high levels of social support would be associated with high levels of patient activation in this study population. Methods: Participants were recruited from 50 national WomenHeart Support Network groups. A 70 item, online survey was administered and the main analytic sample for this study included 157 women. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between patient activation levels (Lower activation levels: 1,2 vs higher activation levels: 3,4) and social support scores (range: lowest 8 to highest 34), adjusting for age. Results: Study participants reported high levels of social support and patient activation. Those who were at or above the median for the social support measures (indicating high levels of social support) had greater odds of high levels of patient activation (levels 3 or 4) compared to individuals reporting low levels of social support (OR 2.23 95%CI1.04, 4.76, p = 0.012). Conclusions: Results of our survey demonstrate that this group of women with coronary heart disease who regularly attended a peer-led support group and indicated a high level of social support report taking a more active role in self-management behaviors.

scholarly journals Building and Connecting: Family Strategies for Developing Social Support Networks for Adults With Down Syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Roll ◽  
Barbara J. Bowers
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Support Networks ◽  
The Social ◽  
Professional Resources

Being embedded in social networks is crucial for well-being and health. While this is particularly the case for people with Down syndrome (DS), our knowledge of how their support networks are developed is limited. This article investigates the role of family members in developing and maintaining the social support networks of their adult children with DS. Based on 29 interviews with family members, a grounded theory study was conducted. The Family Building and Connecting (BAC) framework was developed, which distinguishes a “building” and a “connecting” approach. The building approach includes strategies that rely on family members and close friends for building a support network for the person with DS. The connecting approach includes strategies that connect the person with DS to external and often professional resources and services. Distinguishing these approaches is important for future research and for strengthening the support networks of people with DS and their families.

Handbook of Disability Sport and Exercise Psychology

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Exercise Psychology ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Disability Sport ◽  
Sport Retirement ◽  
And Performance ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Sport And Exercise

This book seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the research done in sport and exercise psychology with individuals with disabilities. Research from diverse academic disciplines such as psychology, medicine, health, recreation, kinesiology, sociology and disability studies is reviewed. In the first part of the book, covering 5 chapters, philosophy of science issues, models of disability, how to conduct quality research, research controversies, and living with a disability are explored. In a second section on sport psychology, covering 19 chapters, diverse topics such as self-efficacy, athletic and superchip identities, motivation, self-esteem, peer relationships, sport retirement, coaching, and performance enhancement are covered. In the last part on exercise psychology, covering 16 chapters, a range of topic such as obesity and fitness, exercise barriers, body image, quality of life, physical education, wounded warriors, intellectual impairments, and gender issues are discussed. All chapters conclude with extensive directions for new avenues of research and exploration.

From where does my support come? Unpacking the contribution of support for police

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
April D. Schantz ◽  
Stefany Coxe ◽  
Valentina Bruk-Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Social Support Network ◽  
Component Structure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to explore the structure and impact of police officers' social support network on health and well-being. Social integration promotes opportunities for regular positive experiences and a set of stable, socially rewarded roles within one's work and life domains. Identifying the structure and impact areas of police officers' social support network provide guidance for initiatives in improving psychological health for the department and individual officers.Design/methodology/approachSurvey of 162 police officers' sources of support provided a holistic representation of their social network across seven sources. Principle component analyses were conducted to explore the structure of one's social network. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine overall impact of one's social support network and relative contributions of support sources in terms of increased well-being and reduced strain.FindingsA three-component structure of social support was partially supported. Overall models of the impact of one's social support network related to increased well-being and reduced strain was supported. Relative contributions of support sources show different patterns based on outcome of interest.Practical implicationsProvides guidance for addressing the psychological well-being needs for officers holistically. In other words, treating officers as whole beings, whose system of support and psychological health is integrated, not piecemeal.Originality/valueExamination of principle effects of support provides a parsimonious approach to considering the holistic value of one's support system, apart from specific stressors or conditions.

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