scholarly journals Mental health screening: severity and cut-off point sensitivity of the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire in male and female elite athletes

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Rice ◽  
Lisa Olive ◽  
Vincent Gouttebarge ◽  
Alexandra G Parker ◽  
Patrick Clifton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Roc Curve Analysis ◽  
Psychological Strain ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Cut Points ◽  
Injury Status

ObjectivesTo examine the sensitivity/specificity of the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ) in both male and female elite athletes, and also assess internal consistency and convergent/divergent validity, and determine discriminative validity relative to current injury status.MethodsData were provided by 1093 elite athletes (males n=1007; females n=84). Scale validity and reliability values were benchmarked against validated measures of general psychological distress and well-being. ROC curve analysis determined a range of optimal severity cut-points.ResultsBias-corrected area under curve (AUC) values supported three APSQ cut-points for moderate (AUC=0.901), high (AUC=0.944) and very high (AUC=0.951) categories. APSQ total score Cronbach coefficients exceeded those observed for the Kessler 10 (K-10). Gender ×injury status interactions were observed for the APSQ total score and K-10, whereby injured female athletes reported higher scores relative to males and non-injured female counterparts.ConclusionBy providing a range of cut-off scores identifying those scoring in the marginal and elevated ranges, the APSQ may better facilitate earlier identification for male and female elite athletes vulnerable to mental health symptoms and developing syndromes. Use of the APSQ may support sports medicine practitioners and allied health professionals to detect early mental ill health manifestations and facilitate timely management and ideally, remediation of symptoms.

scholarly journals Validating a Japanese Version of the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasutaka Ojio ◽  
Asami Matsunaga ◽  
Shin Kawamura ◽  
Masanori Horiguchi ◽  
Goro Yoshitani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Japanese Version ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Strain ◽  
Confirmatory Factor

Abstract Background There is increasing international interest in clinical practice and research related to mental health in the international sports society. The athlete-specific psychological distress assessment tool that addresses potential mental health needs can help promote early detection and recovery of mental illness, as well as physical illnesses. Currently, little is known about the applicability of the useful assessment tool for Japanese elite athletes. The Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ) is a brief, effective and reliable screening tool to identify early signs of athlete-specific distress and potential mental health symptoms. We examined the applicability and reliability of a Japanese version of the APSQ (APSQ-J) in a Japanese elite athlete context. Further, we examined the construct validity of the APSQ-J. Methods We collected web-based anonymous self-report data from 219 currently competing Japanese professional male rugby players. A two-stage process was conducted to validate the factor structure of the APSQ-J using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in a randomly partitioned calibration sample and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in a separate validation sample. Cronbach’s alpha is used to assess internal consistency. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated to determine if the APSQ-J was significantly associated with measures of psychological distress and well-being using Kessler-6 (K6) and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, respectively. Results We identified a one-factor structure for the APSQ-J. Confirmatory factor analysis supports this one-factor model, revealing good model fit indices. The standardized path coefficients for each of the items were β = 0.41–0.83 (p < 0.001). A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.84 was obtained for the APSQ-J. The APSQ-J demonstrated significant correlations with the K-6 (r = 0.80, p < 0.001) and WHO-5 (r = −0.58, p < 0.001). Conclusion The APSQ-J can be an appropriate and psychometrically robust measure for identifying athlete-specific distress in elite athletes in Japan. Widely disseminating and utilizing this scale in Japanese sports society may support athletes' mental health via early detection of symptoms of psychological distress.

scholarly journals P091 The impact of cognitive fitness and gender on sleep quantity and timing and mental health of competitive athletes

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A50-A51
Author(s):  
L Mascaro ◽  
S Drummond ◽  
J Leota ◽  
J Boardman ◽  
D Hoffman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Intolerance Of Uncertainty ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sleep Time ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Sleep Quantity ◽  
Competitive Athletes ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Mental fitness is increasingly considered key to an athlete’s competitive arsenal. Its active ingredients include cognitive fitness factors, such as impulse control, and recovery factors, such as sleep, which may differ between male and female athletes. Our study investigated: 1) gender differences in cognitive fitness; and 2) the associations of gender and cognitive fitness with sleep and mental health in competitive athletes during the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods 84 athletes competing at levels from regional/state to international (42F, mean age=23.2) completed a questionnaire battery containing validated measures of: a) depression, anxiety, and stress; b) sleep (Total Sleep Time, Sleep Latency, mid-sleep time on training- and competition-free days); and c) self-control, intolerance of uncertainty, and impulsivity (representing cognitive fitness constructs). Results Female athletes reported significantly higher depression, anxiety, and stress, a later mid-sleep time on free days, lower self-control, higher intolerance of uncertainty, and higher positive urgency impulsivity compared with male athletes. Self-control was negatively associated, and intolerance of uncertainty was positively associated, with depression, anxiety, and mid-sleep time on free days. Discussion Female athletes in our sample reported poorer mental health and cognitive fitness, and later sleeping times on free days. Greater cognitive fitness was associated with better mental health, independent of gender. Overall, these findings are consistent with prior work in community samples. Future work should examine the source(s) of these gender differences. If replicated, our findings would suggest a need to develop interventions aimed at improving athlete well-being, potentially with a particular focus on female athletes.

Reasons for Career Termination in Danish Elite Athletes: Investigating Gender Differences and the Time-point as Potential Correlates

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 49-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Moesch
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Peak Performance ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Being There ◽  
Career Termination ◽  
Time Point

Abstract Introduction: Career termination, an inevitable step in every athlete’s career, has received increased attention within sport psychological research. A career termination that results in psychological problems is of special concern for sport federations, organizations and clubs. Research has shown that it is crucial to consider an athlete’s the reason for career termination. There is evidence that the causes of an involuntary and unplanned career termination are disadvantageous for athletes’ well-being. There are many important aspects of career termination, such as cultural and social aspects, gender, and the time-point of the occurrence. The present study therefore aims at investigating the causes of career termination and possible correlates with gender and the time-point thereof among Danish elite athletes. Method: Data was gathered from 68 retired Danish elite athletes about their reasons for career termination and about its time-point. A qualitative analysis with the reasons mentioned by the athletes was performed. Moreover, t-tests and chi-square tests were conducted to analyze differences between males and females, and among athletes ending their career at different time-points in their career. Results: The results revealed 10 different reasons given for career termination with lack of motivation, injury or health problems and family related reasons being the top three. Female athletes mentioned that they ended their career due to family-related reasons more often than their male peers. More than a third of all athletes ended their career before their perceived achievement of peak performance. Financial reasons seemed to be of more importance for career termination for athletes ending their career before or at peaking, whereas family-related reasons were more often mentioned by athletes during or after their performance peak. Discussion and conclusion: The results of the study provide an overview of the career termination reasons of Danish elite athletes, which can provide practitioners and organizations with helpful insight when designing respective interventions. When planning such interventions it could be advantageous to deliver specific support for women to enable them to optimally combine family life with an elite sport career.

scholarly journals Gender Socialization: Differences between Male and Female Youth in India and Associations with Mental Health

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usha Ram ◽  
Lisa Strohschein ◽  
Kirti Gaur
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Gender Socialization ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Social Worlds ◽  
Male Youth ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Female Youth ◽  
Poisson Models

This paper describes patterns of gender socialization among youth in India and evaluates how these patterns are associated with their mental health. Data come from the Youth in India: Situation and Needs Study (N=44,769), a subnationally representative survey conducted during 2006–2008. Descriptive results underscored the gendered nature of socialization experiences, showing that male and female youth inhabit different social worlds. Female youth expressed more gender-egalitarian attitudes than male youth but reported greater restrictions to their independence than male youth. Male youth recognized more gender-discriminatory practices within their households than did the female youth. Poisson models revealed that female youth experienced more mental health problems when their households engaged in practices that favoured males over females, even as these same practices were associated with fewer mental health problems among male youth. Family violence and restrictions to independence were associated with mental health problems for both male and female youth. When males and females engaged in behaviours contravening sex-specific gender norms, there were corresponding increases in mental health problems for both sexes. Together, these findings suggest that gender inequality permeates family life in India, with corresponding consequences for the mental well-being of male and female youth.

scholarly journals Effects of Physical Activity and Training Routine on Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Curfew

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Sokić ◽  
Stanislava Popov ◽  
Bojana M. Dinić ◽  
Jovana Rastović
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Sports Participation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Recreational Athletes ◽  
And Training

This research aimed to explore the effects of physical activity and training routine on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and the proclaimed emergency state and curfew. To measure the mental health components of psychological distress and subjective well-being, two studies were conducted on different samples: Study 1 during the beginning of curfew in Serbia (N = 678) and Study 2 during the ending phase (N = 398). The results of Study 1 showed that elite athletes as well as those with high level of physical activity experienced the lowest distress. Furthermore, effects of the changes in the training routine on distress among physically active individuals depended on the level of sports participation with elite athletes who reduced trainings showing lower anxiety compared to recreational athletes who reduced trainings as well or kept the same training routine. Thus, we could conclude that in the early stage of the pandemic, elite athletes showed better mental health and adaptability to the crisis situation. Results of Study 2 showed that although all the participants had decreased well-being during the curfew, compared to the period before the pandemic and the curfew, there were no differences in well-being between elite and recreational athletes, who had higher well-being compared to non-athletes. However, this effect held both before and during the curfew showing that physically active individuals did not additionally benefit from this decrease compared to the non-active. Furthermore, athletes who became physically inactive showed lower well-being compared to those who kept the same training routine. Thus, in the later stage of the pandemic, prolonged physical inactivity had negative effects on mental health.

Better mental health through identifying with locals and country of origin among foreign-born people

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Seppänen ◽  
E Lilja ◽  
H Kuusio ◽  
A Castaneda
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Country Of Origin ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Local Identity ◽  
Foreign Born ◽  
Psychological Strain ◽  
Identity Group ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
Origin Identity

Abstract Background Sense of belonging (SoB) is an important determinant of health among foreign-born population and it has previously been found to be associated with perceived health. In this study we examined: 1) which types of SoB are associated with psychological strain (PS), and 2) whether this varies between different country groups. Methods The data were gathered from the cross-sectional Survey on Well-Being among Foreign-Born Population (FinMonik, n = 6 836), conducted in Finland in 2018-19. SoB was assessed by the question “Which of the following areas or groups you feel you belong to?”, classified into 1) both Finns/local municipality and citizens of country of origin CCO (acculturation identity), 2) only Finns/local municipality (local identity), 3) only CCO (origin identity), 4) only Europeans, world citizens, religious, work-related or political group (other identity), and 5) none of the previous. PS was measured by using the MHI-5 (psychological strain: yes; no). Logistic regression was used to test the association between SoB and PS, with age, sex and country of origin as confounding variables. In the analyses, weights were used to reduce non-response bias. Results Compared to the acculturation identity group, PS was more common among those with local identity (OR = 1.60, p &lt; 0.01), origin identity (OR = 1.99, p &lt; 0.001) or other identity (OR = 3.33, p &lt; 0.001) and those with no belonging to any of the groups presented (OR = 5.40, p &lt; 0.001). The last group was more likely to experience PS than the acculturation identity group in all five country groups included in the analysis. Acculturation identity was associated with less PS especially for those born in EU-, EFTA- and North American countries. Conclusions Acculturation identity was strongly associated with less psychological strain, especially when compared with the group reporting no belonging to any of the groups presented. Key messages Sense of belonging is associated with mental health and should be studied more extensively among different foreign-born population groups. Identification with both the local people and one’s own country of origin should be supported.

scholarly journals Leg Volume and Mass Scales of Elite Male and Female Athletes in Some Olympic Sports

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Sevde Mavi Var ◽  
Irfan MARANGOZ
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Team Sports ◽  
Mass Scale ◽  
Weight Class ◽  
Direct Proportion ◽  
Statistics Analysis ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Volleyball Players ◽  
Package Program

This study aims to scale average leg volume and mass scales of elite male and female athletes in some olympicsports. A total of 280 elite athletes comprising of 200 males and 80 females studying at School of Physical Educationand Sports at University of Kirsehir Ahi Evran voluntarily participated in this study. Frustum and Hanavan methodswere used to determine leg volume and mass, respectively. SPSS 22.0 package program for Windows was used fordescriptive statistics analysis of the study. The present study found average leg volume and mass scale of maleathletes in football, basketball, volleyball, handball, gymnastics and wrestling and female athletes in football,basketball, volleyball, handball, gymnastics, box, taekwondo and tennis. It was observed in the related scale that legvolume of the athletes in the lowest weight classes in weight sports were lower. In other words, leg volume and massof the athletes were in direct proportion to their weight class. When the scale of female athletes is analyzed, it can benoted that volleyball players have the highest leg volume and mass among team sports players.

“Just a Normal Bad Part of What I Do”: Elite Athletes’ Accounts of the Relationship between Health and Sport

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Theberge
Keyword(s):  
Sport Participation ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Frame Of Reference ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Sporting Activity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

This article examines elite athletes’ understandings of the relationship between sport participation and health. Data are taken from interviews with 20 male and female athletes. Athletes’ assessments of the impact of sport on health and wellbeing include attributions of negative, positive, and, most often, mixed outcomes. In these elite athletes’ conceptualizations of health, injury and illness are subordinated to a view of health as capacity, and the primary frame of reference in which they consider capacity is their immediate competitive careers. Respondents’ accounts of efforts to manage the threats to their health that are posed by their sporting activity frequently convey a disembodied notion of the athletic body as an object to be managed.

Attitudes of Elite Athletes Toward Female Coaches in Hong Kong

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mee lee Leung
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
T Test ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Chi Square Analysis ◽  
Individual Sports ◽  
Female Coaches

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of 130 male and female athletes toward female coaches in Hong Kong. Athletes, selected from 14 individual sports, responded to a questionnaire that included 34 attitudes’ items using a 5-point Likert Scale and a question involving preference, in which subjects indicated their preferences toward male or female coaches. An independent t-test analysis (p < .05) revealed that athletes reported a favorable attitude toward female coaches. Chi-Square analysis revealed that athletes preferred a male coach to a female coach.

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