A Comparison of the External and Internal Demands Imposed during Conditioning Training and Match-Play in Semi-Professional and Development Female Netball Players

This case series, team-based study aimed to compare the demands imposed during conditioning training and match-play in netball players. Female netball players competing at semi-professional (n = 9, age: 22.2 ± 3.8 years) and development (n = 9, age: 22.3 ± 2.9 years) levels had their internal (rating of perceived exertion (RPE)) and external (relative PlayerLoad (PL) in total and in the forwards, sideways, and vertical vectors) loads measured during conditioning-based training sessions and matches in a season. Demand variables were compared between conditioning and match-play across all players and according to position in each playing level. Conditioning training imposed higher relative PL in total and in each vector compared to match-play in semi-professional and development players (small to large effects). In contrast, RPE was significantly (p = 0.006) higher during match-play than conditioning training in semi-professional and development players (medium effects). Furthermore, according to playing position, significantly higher relative PL variables were evident during conditioning training than match-play in wing attack and goalkeeper semi-professional players and in goal attack, goal shooter, goal keeper, and goal defence development players. These results suggest conditioning training practices elicit adequate external intensities but inadequate internal intensities relative to match-play across positions in semi-professional and development netball players.

Effectiveness of Body Psychotherapy. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Despite the growing relevance and applicability of elements based on and derived from the embodied mind paradigm, body psychotherapy (BPT) appears not to be a well-established treatment option. This might be due to a lack of proof for its efficacy. We searched electronic databases (Pubmed MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and PSYNDEX) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining predefined BPT interventions. A total of 2,180 references were screened, of which 113 studies were scrutinized in detail and 18 RCTs finally included. The observed effect size (ES) demonstrated medium effects of BPT on primary outcomes psychopathology and psychological distress. In case of significant statistical heterogeneity, exploratory subgroup analyses revealed diagnosis and the degree of control group activity as noteworthy moderators. For secondary outcomes, evidence was scarce, and an improvement could be demonstrated only for coping abilities. The identified evidence indicates that BPT is beneficial for a wide spectrum of psychic suffering. There is a strong need for high-quality studies with bigger samples and for well-defined diagnostic entities to underpin its effectiveness.

Dark matter absorption via electronic excitations

We revisit the calculation of bosonic dark matter absorption via electronic excitations. Working in an effective field theory framework and consistently taking into account in-medium effects, we clarify the relation between dark matter and photon absorption. As is well-known, for vector (dark photon) and pseudoscalar (axion-like particle) dark matter, the absorption rates can be simply related to the target material’s optical properties. However, this is not the case for scalar dark matter, where the dominant contribution comes from a different operator than the one contributing to photon absorption, which is formally next-to-leading-order and does not suffer from in-medium screening. It is therefore imperative to have reliable first-principles numerical calculations and/or semi-analytic modeling in order to predict the detection rate. We present updated sensitivity projections for semiconductor crystal and superconductor targets for ongoing and proposed direct detection experiments.

Changes in trauma-related cognitions and emotions after eliciting moral elevation: Examining the effects of viewing others’ virtuous behavior on veterans with PTSD

Moral elevation is described as feeling inspired after witnessing someone perform a virtuous act. Past work suggests moral elevation may be antithetical to PTSD, yet few studies have directly tested its impact on relevant symptoms. This experimental stud¬y assessed changes in trauma-related cognitions and emotions from after a trauma reminder task to after an elevation induction exercise. We hypothesized that higher elevation after the induction exercise would be associated with greater reductions in cognitions and emotions. Veterans with probable PTSD (N=64) completed measures of trauma-related cognitions and emotions, once after a written trauma narrative exercise (T1) and again after watching two videos designed to elicit elevation (T2). Veterans also completed measures of state elevation after each video. Results suggest veterans experienced small significant decreases in self-blame, medium significant decreases in guilt, shame, and negative beliefs about others, and large significant decreases in negative beliefs about self between T1 and T2. As hypothesized, higher elevation predicted significantly greater reductions in all outcomes except self-blame, with a large effect for views of self and medium effects for guilt, shame, and views of others. These findings suggest elevation may be well-suited to target trauma-related symptoms and future research should examine its clinical utility.

Self-Care Options for Resilient Educators (SCORE) Teaches Aspiring Teachers How to Manage Stress in Light of COVID-Related Disruptions

Self-Care Options for Resilient Educators (SCORE) is an 8-week, asynchronous virtual training program that teaches stress management skills relevant to educators’ job-related responsibilities and interpersonal interactions. From January-April 2020, 28 pre-service teachers participated in a quasi-experimental study of SCORE’s feasibility and preliminary efficacy. Volunteers chose to either complete SCORE concurrent with their teaching internship or to complete the same assessments for comparison purposes. Recruitment and implementation took place prior to COVID-19 disruptions. Then, six weeks into SCORE, the participants encountered unanticipated school closures and uncertainties associated with their internships (e.g., Would they be able to complete their internships and degree programs? Would they be eligible to teach the next school year?). Despite disruptions to their teaching internships, the remote format of SCORE allowed the study to continue and for participants to complete the full training. Pre-intervention to post-intervention changes in outcomes for the intervention group reflected large effect sizes for decreases in burnout and increases in teacher efficacy. There were medium effects for increased self-compassion and small-to-medium effects for increased cognitive reappraisal. However, pre-to-post intervention differences for the comparison group were relatively unchanged on most indicators. Results for secondary traumatic stress was remarkable, as the comparison group demonstrated a medium-to-large effect for an increase at post-intervention. This measure, however, revealed no effect in change for program participants. This finding is noteworthy and suggests that participation in SCORE or a similar program may help mitigate the potentially harmful effects of exposure to secondary trauma. Overall, this study’s results support arguments for including stress management training during pre-service teaching internships.