Let's Talk About Mental Health and Mental Disorders in Elite Sports: A Narrative Review of Theoretical Perspectives

The objective of this article is to discuss: (a) the various theoretical perspectives on mental health and mental health disorders adopted in sport psychology, and (b) how the adoption of these various theoretical perspectives in studies might impact upon the interpretations and conclusions in research about the mental health of participants in elite sports. Well-being as a target construct, holistic models, the single continuum or stage models, and Keyes' dual-continuum model of mental health are described, together with a sports psychiatric view of mental health. The strengths and limitations of various mental health perspectives are discussed. We conclude that mental health is a complex construct and that the sport psychology literature, much like the clinical psychology literature, has struggled to reach a consensus regarding a definition or a feasible approach to investigating mental health. For the researcher, it becomes important to make explicit the underlying theoretical perspective adopted and the operationalization upon which conclusions about elite athletes' mental health are based so that an increased knowledge base with high scientific credibility can be established and consolidated over time.

Your Coefficient Alpha Is Probably Wrong, but Which Coefficient Omega Is Right? A Tutorial on Using R to Obtain Better Reliability Estimates

Measurement quality has recently been highlighted as an important concern for advancing a cumulative psychological science. An implication is that researchers should move beyond mechanistically reporting coefficient alpha toward more carefully assessing the internal structure and reliability of multi-item scales. Yet a researcher may be discouraged upon discovering that a prominent alternative to alpha, namely, coefficient omega, can be calculated in a variety of ways. In this Tutorial, I alleviate this potential confusion by describing alternative forms of omega and providing guidelines for choosing an appropriate omega estimate pertaining to the measurement of a target construct represented with a confirmatory factor analysis model. Several applied examples demonstrate how to compute different forms of omega in R.

An Integrated Organisational Culture for Sustainable Environmental Performance in the Nigerian Context

To remain competitive within the present inherent business environment, there is a demand for organisations to embrace an integrated culture-behaviour for performance that enables them to adopt a critical engine for a more sustainable working environment. Organisational culture, which is a reflection of predominant valued beliefs, is expected to influence a sustainable environmental performance. Evidence abounds of several organisational activities with adverse impacts on humans and the environment. The study examines an organisation’s processes that can be incorporated as a culture to ensure a more sustainable working environment. This paper proposes the use of six organisational culture practices (core value, reporting system, task performance, clarity of roles, careful deliberations, and distinctive identity) to find out organisation values, as well as individual preferences in enhancing an immediate sustainable environment. The study selected 480 employees of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) firms who are active in their organisational work processes; 358 responded, and as such, was deemed as a valid research sample. The empirical analysis was carried out using a variance-based Structural Equation Modelling with partial least squares for the path-modelling (PLS-SEM), both for the Algorithm Model, and the Bootstrapping Model with β and p-values obtained from the findings. The findings provide empirical evidence that there is a significant level of influence of organisational culture on environmental performance. However, among the organisational practices, task performance has the least influence on environmental performance. This implies that organisations should invest more in the dimensions of organisational culture with higher performance-importance, while adequate attention should be given to variables with the least influence on the target construct of environmental performance.

Unemployment Blues: Analysis of the Dual Mediating Effects of Knowledge and Perception on Entrepreneurial Intentions in the Environment

The rate of youth unemployment has been a major challenge for preceding and consecutive Ghanaian governments. There is evidence to suggest how different economic interventions to bridge this gap have failed to yield the expected results. The intended beneficiaries of these interventions are caught in a quagmire of what they perceive as opportunities within the environment which are sometimes divergent from that of government. This is due to the influencing role of two main factors: their knowledge and perception. We carry out a study to reveal the relationship that exist between entrepreneurial environment and entrepreneurial intentions and how knowledge and perception of the youth mediate this relationship. A sample survey of 187 youth using questionnaires were administered and the results analyzed using the partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Overall, entrepreneurial knowledge and perception variables showed a partial mediation in their relationship with entrepreneurial environment and entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurial perception showed a higher mediating effect of the two mediators on the target construct, entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurial perception showed the highest Cronbach’s alpha of .90 of all the variables. We advance the theory of entrepreneurship intention to show how the dual mediating interactivities are influenced by the entrepreneurship environment. The need to build a supportive entrepreneurial environment is critical in transforming the youth perception to boost their knowledge in entrepreneurship to engage in business enterprises. These are critical for policy makers, implementers, and entrepreneurial trainers.

Identification of critical brand community variables and constructs using importance-performance analysis and neural networks

Purpose This paper aims to use a unique statistical analysis tool to examine the importance and performance of critical brand community constructs and indicators to make concrete recommendations for brand community managers going forward. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was used to gather 501 responses from North American members of the Qualtrics panel. The data was analyzed with partial least squares (PLS) modeling software SmartPLS and neural networks available in statistical software JMP by SAS. Findings Using the brand community motives by Madupy and Cooley (2010), the results of this paper indicated that there was significant room for improvement in customer engagement. Based on further analysis, entertainment and identification with the brand community were the most important constructs in driving community engagement so that the identification construct received a “do better” ruling meaning that the improvement of the indentification construct score would enhance significantly the score of the target construct engagement score. Originality/value For brand community managers, it is important to know the true importance of the critical brand community constructs and indicators, along with an assessment of current performance. This helps to increase satisfaction and relationship quality among brand community members. The current study uses unique statistical analysis tools to make such concrete recommendations.

Meaningful Description of Target Component of the System of Social and Pedagogical Work on Prevention of Social Orphanhood in the Territorial Community of City

The article presents meaningful description of target component of system of socio-pedagogical work on prevention of social orphanhood in the territorial community of city which includes purpose, objectives and results of socio-pedagogical work on prevention of social orphanhood in TCC. The goal hierarchy of the state system of social work with family, children and youth in the direction of prevention of social orphanhood in Ukraine is defined; and the strategic social purpose of preventive work with family, children and youth on reduction of risks of social orphanhood, the purpose of social and pedagogical work on the prevention of social orphanhood in the territorial community of city in broad and narrow meanings, as well as the result of socio-pedagogical work on prevention of social orphanhood in TCC are detected. The conceptual content of target construct of prevention of social orphanhood in TCC is revealed which includes the concept: «urban community of social and pedagogical orientation, friendly to children and families» – «healthy family – safe family environment – responsible parenting» – «child welfare». The author notes that the ultimate goal of socio-pedagogical work on prevention of social orphanhood in the territorial community of city is strengthening of family and creation of favorable conditions for upbringing and development of a child in safe family environment, activating resources of both the city community, ensuring the best interests of a child through forming of conscious attitude to parenthood, and responsible attitude of parents to performance of their roles, responsibilities, parental functions in young people.

Using Importance-Performance Matrix Analysis to Evaluate the Financial Performance of American Banks During the Financial Crisis

This research applies a technique that identifies areas of improvement that can be addressed by managerial decisions or policy activities. It extends the application of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using an importance-performance map analysis (IPMA). The IPMA determines priority factors that should receive management’s attention. The PLS path model was tested by comparing 140 failed U.S. banks with the same number of nonfailed banks from 2006 to 2008. This model assembles 15 indicators with four predecessor constructs (i.e., profitability of 2006, profitability of 2007, risk of 2006, and risk of 2007) and one final target construct (i.e., profitability of 2008). Profitability and risk of 2007 mediate the path of profitability and risk of 2006 and profitability of 2008. The IPMA indicated that failed banks were predisposed to decreasing financial performance in 2008 because of their poor performance in 2006 and 2007. Conversely, nonfailed banks were more likely to experience increasing financial performance in 2008 because of their positive performance in 2006 and 2007. This study indicates that managers who use IPMA to prioritize their financial decisions will obtain useful conceptual insights and are unlikely to be misled. Although IPMA can be conducted on the indicator level as well, this article limits its analysis by focusing on the construct level only. The use of IPMA is ubiquitous in end-user surveys, but its application to banking is still in its embryonic state. For originality, this work prioritizes the application of IPMA using secondary data collected from financial statements to assess the performance of American banks during the crisis.

An algebraic perspective on abstract and concrete domains

Looking at isomorphic constructs from an algebraic perspective, this article suggests that every concrete construct is understood by reference to an underlying abstract schema in the mind of comprehender. The complex form of every abstract schema is created by the gradual development of its elementary form. Throughout the process of cognitive development, new features are added to the elementary form of abstract schema, which leads to gradual formation of a fully-developed abstract schema. Every developed abstract schema is the underlying source for understanding an infinite number of concrete isomorphic constructs. It is suggested that the process of the mapping of base domain (base construct) unto target domain (target construct) is conducted and mediated by an abstract domain. This abstract domain, which is free from concrete features of base and target, is isomorphic to both base and target domains. To describe the mediatory role of this abstract domain, it might be argued that the chain process of understanding a less familiar domain in terms of a relatively more familiar domain (salience imbalance model) cannot continue infinitely. This chain must stop at some point. This point is the abstract domain, which is isomorphic to base and target domains.

Speaking in turns and sequences: Interactional competence as a target construct in testing speaking

In the assessment of speaking, a psycholinguistically based speaking construct has predominated. In this paper, we argue for the integration of the construct of interactional competence (IC) in speaking assessments to broaden the range of defensible inferences from speaking tests. IC emphasizes the co-constructed nature of interaction and enables the rating of L2 users’ ability to deploy interactional tools that lead to shared understandings. Recent work on IC shows that levels of development can be distinguished, for example, in the sequential organization of social actions such as requests and refusals. This can in turn inform interactionally specific ratings. Furthermore, an IC perspective allows a fine-grained analysis of interactions between examiners and test takers to detect effects of examiner talk. Apparent misunderstandings or disfluencies by test takers can be examiner-induced with the test taker’s response actually demonstrating interactional ability rather than lack of proficiency. We argue that inclusion of IC as a construct in testing speaking opens new perspectives on oral proficiency and enhances the validity of speaking assessments.