Showing papers in "Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport in 2009"

Effect of pedometer-based physical activity interventions: a meta-analysis.

Abstract: (2009). Effect of Pedometer-Based Physical Activity Interventions. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 80, No. 3, pp. 648-655.

The Association Between Motor Skill Competence and Physical Fitness in Young Adults

Abstract: We examined the relationship between competence in three fundamental motor skills (throwing, kicking, and jumping) and six measures of health-related physical fitness in young adults (ages 18–25). We assessed motor skill competence using product scores of maximum kicking and throwing speed and maximum jumping distance. A factor analysis indicated the 12-min run/walk, percent body fat, curl-ups, grip strength, and maximum leg press strength all loaded on one factor defining the construct of “overall fitness.” Multiple regression analyses indicated that the product scores for jumping (74%), kicking (58%), and throwing (59%) predicted 79% of the variance in overall fitness. Gender was not a significant predictor of fitness. Results suggest that developing motor skill competence may be fundamental in developing and maintaining adequate physical fitness into adulthood. These data represent the strongest to date on the relationship between motor skill competence and physical fitness.

Instructional climates in preschool children who are at-risk. Part I: object-control skill development.

Abstract: Part I of this study examined the effect of two 9-week instructional climates (low autonomy [LA] and mastery motivational climate [MMC]) on object-control (OC) skill development in preschoolers (N = 117) Participants were randomly assigned to an LA, MMC, or comparison group OC skills were assessed at pretest, posttest, and retention test with the Test of Gross Motor Development–2nd Edition A significant Treatment × Time interaction (p < 001) was present, supporting the effectiveness of both OC instructional climates in improving OC skills over time, while the comparison group resulted in no changes The authors conclude that developmentally and instructionally appropriate climates are beneficial to OC skill learning, along with the need for “planned” movement experiences in motor learning environments

Brief walks in outdoor and laboratory environments: effects on affective responses, enjoyment, and intentions to walk for exercise.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of brief walks completed in outdoor and laboratory environments on affective responses, enjoyment, and intention to walk for exercise. Thirty-five active young women (M age = 22.14 years, SD = 1.73) walked for 10 min at a self-selected intensity in outdoor and laboratory environments. Affective responses were assessed before, during, and following each brief walk. Enjoyment and intention also were assessed following each walk. Results revealed that although both walks resulted in improvements in affective responses, participants reported greater pleasant affective states, enjoyment, and intention for future participation with outdoor walking. Results of correlation analyses also revealed that affective responses were only consistently related to enjoyment in the outdoor environment. These findings suggest that the environment influences the affective responses to brief walks and show that affective states experienced during walking are related to theoret...

Peers and teachers as sources of relatedness perceptions, motivation, and affective responses in physical education.

Abstract: Research has demonstrated the importance of relatedness perceptions to self-determined motivation in physical education. Therefore, studies have begun to examine the social factors contributing to feelings of relatedness. The purpose of this study was to examine teacher (perceived emotional support) and peer (acceptance, friendship quality) relationship variables to feelings of relatedness, motivation, and affective responses in junior high physical education students (N = 411). Results revealed that perceived relatedness mediated the relationship between variables and self-determined motivation and related directly to the amount of enjoyment and worry students experienced. These findings demonstrate that relationships with both teachers and peers are important for students' relatedness perceptions, motivation, enjoyment, and worry in physical education.

Crossing the line: rites of passage, team aspects, and ambiguity of hazing.

Abstract: Framed within the psychosocial context of the sport ethic and social-approval goal orientation, 10 female and 11 male current collegiate or former high school athletes participated in individual interviews about their hazing experiences. Data analysis resulted in seven lower order themes and two higher order themes. The higher order theme of the general aspects of hazing included types of, factors influencing, reasons for, and the effects of hazing. The higher order theme of hazing as deviant overconformity included rites of passage, hazing and the team, and the ambiguity of hazing. Results indicated that athletes reported engaging in risky, hazing behaviors and that both the values of sport as well as the desire to be accepted by teammates encouraged hazing.

Expected values for pedometer-determined physical activity in youth.

Abstract: This review assembles pedometry literature focused on youth, with particular attention to expected values for habitual, school day, physical education class, recess, lunch break, out-of-school, weekend, and vacation activity. From 31 studies published since 1999, we constructed a youth habitual activity step-curve that indicates: (a) from ages 6 to 18 years, boys typically take more steps per day than girls; (b) for both sexes the youngest age groups appear to take fewer steps per day than those immediately older; and (c) from a young age, boys decline more in steps per day to become more consistent with girls at older ages. Additional studies revealed that boys take approximately 42–49% of daily steps during the school day; girls take 41–47%. Steps taken during physical education class contribute to total steps per day by 8.7–23.7% in boys and 11.4–17.2% in girls. Recess represents 8–11% and lunch break represents 15–16% of total steps per day. After-school activity contributes approximately 47–56% of to...

Assessment of differing definitions of accelerometer nonwear time.

Abstract: Measuring physical activity with objective measures, such as accelerometers, is becoming more common with researchers, as evidenced through the increasing number of research articles using accelerometers (R Troiano, 2005). Accelerometers measure acceleration multiple times within a given frequency and summarize this as a count over a pre-specified time period or epoch. The resultant count represents acceleration over the epoch length. Accelerometers are advantageous because they eliminate language or literacy difficulties, recall bias, and social desirability bias present with self-report measures of physical activity. With the increasingly widespread use of accelerometers, standardization of how the data are collected, cleaned, and reported across studies would be useful. In 2005, Masse et al (Masse et al., 2005) identified five methodological issues regarding accelerometer data reduction, the process of reducing the data in order to derive summary measures. These included (1) identifying wearing time of the accelerometer, (2) defining minimal wear time for a valid day, (3) identifying spurious data, (4) computing summary variables and aggregating days of data, and (5) extracting bouts of activity. This paper focuses on the first issue, namely identifying nonwearing time of the accelerometer. Understanding whether the accelerometer is being worn is used to assess compliance and to determine if the participant’s data will contribute to the resultant analyses. Defining wearing and nonwearing time also affects the derivation of summary physical activity measures based on this time, such as average counts per hour worn or minutes in sedentary, light, moderate, or vigorous activity (Corder, Brage, & Ekelund, 2007). How to define and assess nonwearing time of the accelerometer is not currently standardized across research studies. Participants are typically instructed to wear the accelerometer during all waking hours and to remove the device for showering or swimming activities, although some devices are now waterproof. The challenge is that participants often take the accelerometer off for other personal reasons. When an accelerometer such as an ActiGraph or an Actical is not being worn, it will typically register as zero counts over the epoch. However, it is possible for a person to be still (such as sleeping or sitting without movement), while wearing the accelerometer, and also register zero counts over the epoch. This can occur for multiple minutes at a time and are likely more common among those who are very sedentary throughout the day. Some have recommended that participants keep a log sheet to help determine when the participant is not wearing the monitor (Esliger, Copeland, Barnes, & Tremblay, 2005; Trost, McIver, & Pate, 2005). The challenge with this approach is that the process of keeping a log introduces a self-reporting aspect of data collection and compliance can be hampered. For this reason the use of a log was included for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) pilot study and subsequently dropped for the deployment into the main study in 2003-04 (R Troiano, 2006; RP Troiano et al., 2008). An alternative to a log kept by participants is to deduce the most reasonable nonwearing time based on the accelerometer data. This approach is more commonly used by researchers. Some recent studies of youth and adults utilizing the ActiGraph have, for example, used 10 minutes (Brage et al., 2004; Ekelund, Yngve, Brage, Westerterp, & Sjostrom, 2004; Riddoch et al., 2004), 15 minutes (Rousham, Clarke, & Gross, 2005), 20 minutes (Jilcott, Evenson, Laraia, & Ammerman, 2007; Savitz et al., 2006; Treuth et al., 2004), 30 minutes, or 60 minutes (Matthews et al., 2008; RP Troiano et al., 2008) to define the timespan of zeros on the accelerometer to indicate nonwearing time. Many other studies do not indicate how nonwearing time is defined. Dr. Masse and colleagues (Masse et al., 2005) explored the effect of differing definitions of nonwearing time on results, comparing 20 minutes and 60 minutes of consecutive zeros as an indicator of nonwearing time among a sample of 40 to 70 year old African American and Hispanic women. However, in the same analyses this study also varied other accelerometer data reduction decisions, making the interpretation of the influence of the varying of nonwear time only difficult. The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of changing the definition of accelerometer nonwear time on an aggregated sample of participants, prior to using the data to analyze physical activity by individuals, and to assist others in replicating this process. To do this, we utilized data from the third Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition (PIN3) Postpartum Study, which collected accelerometer data on women at 3- and 12-months postpartum.

Eight-Week Traditional Mat Pilates Training-Program Effects on Adult Fitness Characteristics.

Abstract: We investigated responses of adult, novice practitioners (n = 9) to an 8-week traditional mat Pilates program (P) that met 1 hr/day three times/week. Classes consisted primarily of beginner and intermediate level exercises. Compared to an active control group (C; n = 13) that showed no improvements, those in P significantly (p < .05) improved relative body fat (-1.2% BF), sit-and-reach (+7.5 cm), shoulder reach (+6.9 cm), curl-up (+14 reps), and low back extension (+7 reps) scores, as well as circumferences at the waist (-2.7 cm), chest (-1.7 cm), and arm (-0.5 cm). Baseline differences were noted only for curl-ups and low back extensions, with P being lower than C Body composition, muscular endurance, and flexibility significantly improved after 8 weeks of traditional mat Pilates.

The Relative Age Effect in Elite Sport: The French Case

Abstract: The relative age effect (RAE) is considered a common phenomenon in elite sport. However, it has not been examined systematically in previous research, and the mechanisms likely to generate or to limit such an effect are little understood. This paper investigates the prevalence of the RAE in French professional championship-level players, taking into account the potential influence of gender. Among all investigated sports, no statistically significant RAE was found, except for male ice hockey. For male handball and rugby union a trend was detected, but the RAE did not appear statistically significant. In line with previous studies, no significant RAEs were found in female elite sports. The results are discussed with regard to the potential mechanisms underlying RAE.

1958-2008: 50 Years of Youth Fitness Tests in the United States.

Abstract: The AAHPER Youth Fitness Test, the first U.S. national fitness test, was published 50 years ago. The seminal work of Krause and Hirschland influenced the fitness world and continues to do so today. Important youth fitness test initiatives in the last half century are summarized. Key elements leading to continued interest in youth fitness testing at the start of the 21st century include (a) concerns about children and youth fitness levels, (b) AAHPER(D)-led youth fitness battery development, (c) differentiation between performance-related and health-related fitness testing, (d) the numerous youth fitness tests developed, (e) collaborative discussions on development and adoption of a unified national youth fitness battery, (f) computerization of youth fitness test results, (g) differentiation between norm-referenced and criterion-referenced evaluation of student results, and (h) concern about youth fitness levels (again, but with a focus on health). We have come full circle on youth fitness interests. This article summarizes the key youth fitness tests in the second half of the 20th century and projects future considerations.

How Many Days Are Enough? A Study of 365 Days of Pedometer Monitoring

Abstract: This study was designed to determine the number of days of pedometer monitoring necessary to achieve reliable and valid estimates of a 1-year average of step counts in adults based on either consecutive days (CD) or random days (RD) of data collection. Twenty-three participants (16 women; M age = 38 years, SD = 9.9) wore a Yamax SW 200 pedometer and recorded their step counts for 365 consecutive days. Nine measurement periods of various lengths were selected (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21, and 30 days). Each measurement period was randomly selected 10 times each for CD and RD from the larger database. For reliability and validity, two-way intraclass correlation coefficients and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were calculated, respectively. The year-round average was considered the criterion measure of the “true” habitual physical activity. Data were analyzed separately by CD and RD. At least 5 CD or 6 RD were necessary to achieve an ICC of .80. A minimum of 30 CD or 14 RD were necessary to achieve an MAP...

Effects of Teacher Autonomy Support and Students Autonomous Motivation on Learning in Physical Education

Abstract: This study applied self-determination theory to investigate the effects of students' autonomous motivation and their perceptions of teacher autonomy support on need satisfaction adjustment, learning achievement, and cardiorespiratory fitness over a 4-month personal conditioning unit. Participants were 253 urban adolescents (121 girls and 132 boys, ages = 12–14 years). Based on a series of multiple regression analyses, perceived autonomy support by teachers significantly predicted students' need satisfaction adjustment and led to learning achievement, especially for students who were not autonomously motivated to learn in physical education. In turn, being more autonomous was directly associated with cardiorespiratory fitness enhancement. The findings suggest that shifts in teaching approaches toward providing more support for students' autonomy and active involvement hold promise for enhancing learning.

Instructional climates in preschool children who are at-risk. Part II: perceived physical competence.

Abstract: In Part II of this study, we examined the effect of two 9-week instructional climates (low-autonomy [LA] and mastery motivational climate [MMC]) on perceived physical competence (PPC) in preschoolers (N = 117). Participants were randomly assigned to an LA, MMC, or comparison group. PPC was assessed by a pretest, posttest, and retention test with the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance. A significant Treatment x Time interaction (p < .001) was present, supporting that MMC participants reported significantly higher PPC scores over time, while no positive changes were present in LA and comparison participants. The results show that an MMC leads to psychological benefits related to achievement motivation. These findings should encourage early childhood educators to consider the effect of instructional climates on children's self-perception.

Knowledge of Results After Good Trials Enhances Learning in Older Adults

Abstract: In recent years, some researchers have examined motor learning in older adults (e.g., Carnahan, Vandervoort, & Swanson, 1996; Daselaar, Rombouts, Veltman, Raaijmakers, & Jonker, 2003); Smith et al., 2005; Wishart & Lee, 1997). Some of these studies have specifically looked at the effectiveness of different manipulations of extrinsic feedback, or knowledge of results (KR). While in young adults decreasing the “usefulness” of feedback often enhances learning (for reviews, see Schmidt, 1991; Swinnen, 1996; Wulf & Shea, 2004), this evidence appears to be somewhat mixed for older adults. While some studies found similar effects of different KR manipulations for younger and older adults (e.g., Carnahan et al., 1996; Swanson & Lee, 1992), others did not find unqualified benefits of making KR more difficult to use for learning in older adults (e.g., Behrman, Vander Linden, & Cauraugh, 1992; Wishart & Lee, 1997; Wishart, Lee, Cunningham, & Murdoch, 2002). In the study by Carnahan et al. (1996), for example, older adults (average age: 75.0 years) practiced a computer-keypressing task with a specified goal time. KR was provided either in a summary format, where KR about each trial was provided only after the completion of a given block of trials, or after every single trial. Similar to what studies with younger adults have shown (e.g., Gable, Shea, & Wright, 1991; Schmidt, Young, Swinnen, & Shapiro, 1989; Schmidt, Lange, & Young, 1990; Yao, Fischman, & Wang, 1994), summary KR resulted in more effective retention performance than did KR provided after every trial. In contrast, other studies did not find learning advantages of more “difficult” KR manipulations, such as reduced KR frequencies, for motor skill learning in older adults (e.g., Behrman et al., 1992; Wishart & Lee, 1997; Wishart, Lee, Cunningham, & Murdoch, 2002). Behrman et al. (1992) used a task that required participants (average age: 69 years) to reproduce a force-time curve, presented on an oscilloscope, by modulating isometric force production of their right elbow extensors. Similar to what Vander Linden, Cauraugh, and Greene (1993) found for young adults using a similar task, concurrent knowledge of performance (KP) was not beneficial to learning, compared to terminal KP (100% or 50%). However, the 50% KP condition did not result in more effective learning than the 100% condition, contrary to Vander Linden et al.’s (1993) findings. Furthermore, Wishart and Lee (1997) did not find differential learning effects as a function of different KR frequencies (100% versus 67%) for older adults (average age: 66.2 years) on a task that required participants to produce a continuous movement comprising three distinct spatial segments with specific timing requirements (although no KR frequency effects were found for younger participants [average age: 19.8 years] either). In the Wishart et al. (2002) study, younger (19–27 years) and older (65–70 years) participants practiced a bimanual coordination task under concurrent or reduced feedback conditions. Older participants not only performed generally less effectively than younger participants, but they also benefited more from concurrent feedback relative to terminal feedback. Finally, in Van Dijk and Hermens’ study (2006), younger adults (20–35 years) were able to utilize myofeedback (i.e., display of electromyographic signal) in a task requiring them to lower trapezius muscle activity, whereas older adults (55–70 years) were not. Knowledge of Results After Good Trials Enhances Learning in Older Adults

Individual information-centered approach for handling physical activity missing data.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to validate individual information (II)-centered methods for handling missing data, using data samples of 118 middle-aged adults and 91 older adults equipped with Yamax SW-200 pedometers and Actigraph accelerometers for 7 days. We used a semisimulation approach to create six data sets: three physical activity outcome measurements (i.e., step counts, activity counts, and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity) for both groups (i.e., middle-aged adults and older adults). After analyzing each data set separately, we replaced missing values with two II-centered and two group information (GI)-centered methods. Root mean square difference (RMSD), mean signed difference, paired t tests, and Pearson correlations were used to determine the effectiveness of the various recovery methods. Overall, the II-centered methods showed smaller RMSDs than the GI-centered methods for each data set in both groups. We found no significant mean differences between the known values and the ...

Body Mass and Circumference of Upper Arm Are Associated with Race Performance in Ultraendurance Runners in a Multistage Race-The Isarrun 2006

Abstract: In the present study, we investigated the association of anthropometric parameters with race performance in ultraendurance runners in a multistage ultraendurance run, in which athletes had to run 338 km within 5 consecutive days. In 17 male successful finishers, calculations of body mass, body height, skinfold thicknesses, extremity circumference, skeletal muscle mass (SM), and percentage body fat (%BF) were performed before the race to correlate anthropometric parameters with race performance. A positive association was shown between total running time and both body mass (r2 = .29, p .05). We concluded that in a multistage ultraendurance run, body mass and upper arm circumference were negatively associated with race performance in well experienced ultraendurance runners. In contrast, body height, skinfold thicknesses,...

Intrateam Communication and Performance in Doubles Tennis

Abstract: Verbal and nonverbal communication is a critical mediator of performance in team sports and yet there is little extant research in sports that involves direct measures of communication. Our study explored communication within NCAA Division I female tennis doubles teams. Video and audio recordings of players during doubles tennis matches captured the communications that took place between and during points. These recordings were coded and sequential analysis computed using the Discussion Analysis Tool software (Jeong, 2003). Results indicated that most communications were emotional (i.e., > 50%) or action statements (i.e., > 25%). Winning teams exhibited significantly different communication sequences than losing teams. In particular, winning teams had a more homogeneous model of communication, which perhaps makes message interpretation more reliable. Finally, winning teams exchanged twice as many messages as losing teams.

African American football athletes' perspectives on institutional integrity in college sport.

Abstract: This qualitative case study used tenets of critical race theory and a single focus group and individual interviews with 4 African American football athletes at a predominantly White institution of higher education (PWIHE) in an effort to bring the voices of this marginalized group into the dialogue on issues concerning institutional integrity in college sport. Institutional integrity involves an athletic program's actual commitment to the educational interests of college athletes as expressed through their structures, functions, and activities. Three themes emerged from the data: (a) there is a need for more African American role models in leadership positions within the athletic departments of these PWIHE; (b) there is a need for more financial support for athletes; and (c) African American athletes should be given a platform to voice concerns. These findings have implications for those educational stakeholders and researchers who are genuinely concerned with institutional integrity in college sport.

The Effect of Biological Movement Variability on the Performance of the Golf Swing in High- and Low-Handicapped Players

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of neuromotor noise on golf swing performance in high- and low-handicap players. Selected two-dimensional kinematic measures of 20 male golfers (n = 10 per high- or low-handicap group) performing 10 golf swings with a 5-iron club was obtained through video analysis. Neuromotor noise was calculated by deducting the standard error of the measurement from the coefficient of variation obtained from intra-individual analysis. Statistical methods included linear regression analysis and one-way analysis of variance using SPSS. Absolute invariance in the key technical positions (e.g., at the top of the backswing) of the golf swing appears to be a more favorable technique for skilled performance.

How Do Batters Use Visual, Auditory, and Tactile Information About the Success of a Baseball Swing?

Abstract: Bat/ball contact produces visual (the ball leaving the bat), auditory ( the “crack” of the bat), and tactile (bat vibration) feedback about the success of the swing. We used a batting simulation to investigate how college baseball players use visual, tactile, and auditory feedback. In Experiment 1, swing accuracy (i.e., the lateral separation between the point of contact and “sweet spot”) was compared for no feedback (N), visual alone, auditory alone, and tactile alone. Swings were more accurate for all single-modality combinations as compared to no feedback, and visual produced the greatest accuracy. In Experiment 2, the congruency between visual, tactile, and auditory was varied so that in some trials, the different modalities indicated that the simulated ball contacted the bat at different points. Results indicated that batters combined information but gave more weight to visual. Batting training manuals, which typically only discuss visual cues, should emphasize the importance of auditory and tactile ...

Sport Ability Beliefs, 2 x 2 Achievement Goals, and Intrinsic Motivation: The Moderating Role of Perceived Competence in Sport and Exercise

Abstract: We examined whether perceived competence moderated the relationships between implicit theories, 2 x 2 achievement goals, and intrinsic motivation for sports and physical activity. We placed 309 university students into high and moderate perceived competence groups. When perceived competence was high, entity beliefs did not predict the performance-avoidance goal; yet when perceived competence was moderately low, entity beliefs did predict this goal. The mastery-avoidance goal had no relationship with intrinsic motivation when perceived competence was high, but had a significant negative relationship when perceived competence was moderately low. Our findings highlight the importance of reexamining the role of perceived competence when studying implicit beliefs and the 2 x 2 achievement goals.

Pedometry Methods for Assessing Free-Living Youth

Abstract: The purpose of this review is to integrate and summarize specific measurement topics (instrument and metric choice, validity, reliability, how many and what types of days, reactivity, and data treatment) appropriate to the study of youth physical activity. Research quality pedometers are necessary to aid interpretation of steps per day collected in a range of young populations under a variety of circumstances. Steps per day is the most appropriate metric choice, but steps per minute can be used to interpret time-in-intensity in specifically delimited time periods (e.g., physical education class). Reported intraclass correlations (ICC) have ranged from .65 over 2 days (although higher values also have been reported for 2 days) to .87 over 8 days (although higher values have been reported for fewer days). Reported ICCs are lower on weekend days (.59) versus weekdays (.75) and lower over vacation days (.69) versus school days (.74). There is no objective evidence of reactivity at this time. Data treatment in...

A single 30-s stretch is sufficient to inhibit maximal voluntary strength.

Abstract: While it has been well established that an acute stretching program can inhibit maximal muscle performance, the amount of stretching needed to produce the deleterious response is unknown. Therefore this study examined the dose-response relationship between acute stretching and strength inhibition. Eighteen college students performed a one repetition maximum (1-RM) test of knee-flexion following 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 30-s bouts of hamstring stretching held at the limit of toleration. All seven dose variations were done by each subject, with each variation done on a separate day. One week separated each test, and the order of the stretch variations was balanced across the seven testing days. Stretching significantly (p < .05) reduced 1-RM after one 30-s stretch (5.4%), and continued to decrease 1-RM up to and including six 30-s stretches (12.4%). A single 30-s stretch, if held at the limit of toleration, is sufficient to cause an inhibition in a person's 1-RM. Additional bouts of stretching will further decrease the 1-RM, suggesting that multiple mechanisms may be involved in stretch-induced strength inhibition.

Decreasing sports activity with increasing age? Findings from a 20-year longitudinal and cohort sequence analysis.

Abstract: According to cross-sectional studies in sport science literature, decreasing sports activity with increasing age is generally assumed. In this paper, the validity of this assumption is checked by applying more effective methods of analysis, such as longitudinal and cohort sequence analyses. With the help of 20 years' worth of data records from the German Socio-Economic Panel, the development of sports activity over a lifespan is analyzed. According to inadequate cross-sectional analyses, sports activity decreases with increasing age. In contrast, longitudinal analyses show that sports activity increases with increasing age. Furthermore, cohort sequence analyses indicate that not only age but also cohort and period effects influence sports activity. Thus, different methods of analysis reveal opposite results.

An examination of psychosocial correlates of eating disorders among female collegiate athletes.

Abstract: With female collegiate athletes, we examined the relationship of eating pathology to body image concerns, weight pressures, sociocultural internalization, and mood state Multivariate analyses revealed that the symptomatic and eating disorder groups were similar on seven of eight weight pressures, three of four mood states, on internalization, and on five of six body image measures; in all instances, these two groups reported more pathological scores than the asymptomatic athletes Except for pressures from coaches, the psychosocial variables differentiated the groups, correctly classifying 79% of the cases These findings suggest that athletes symptomatic of eating disorders report similarly high levels of disturbance across a wide range of psychosocial risk factors, and both groups warrant prevention and treatment efforts

Predicting Changes in Athletes' Well Being from Changes in Need Satisfaction over the Course of a Competitive Season.

Abstract: It is commonly believed that participation in structured sport programs leads to positive experiences and beneficial developmental outcomes for children and adolescents (see Coakley, 2007; Weiss, Amorose, & Allen, 2000). For instance, proponents of organized sport cite that participation can help build self-esteem, promote sportspersonship, encourage a valuing of physical activity, and provide a sense of enjoyment and well being. While there is some empirical support for the relationships between sport participation and these outcomes, research shows that children and youth can also experience a number of negative outcomes, such as high levels of stress, burnout, and low self-esteem as a result of their participation (see Brustad, Babkes, & Smith, 2001; Cahill & Pearl, 1993; Weiss et al., 2000). Thus, any positive effects of sport participation on psychosocial development and well being cannot be assumed to be an automatic consequence of participation—simply signing up to play will not guarantee positive results. Rather, the impact of sport on youth will ultimately depend on their experiences while participating. The goal of this study was to better understand how participation in sport leads to more or less positive outcomes for youth by exploring the link between athletes’ psychological need satisfaction and their well being. A beneficial framework for understanding youth sport experiences is self-determination theory (SDT) (Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2000b, 2002), which posits there are three fundamental psychological needs essential for optimal functioning and well being: (a) competence, which reflects the need to perceive our behavior and interaction with the social environment as effective (White, 1959); (b) autonomy, which represents the need to perceive our behaviors and thoughts as freely chosen and that we are the origins of our own actions (deCharms, 1968); and (c) relatedness, which represents the need to perceive we are connected to those around us and experience a sense of belonging (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). According to SDT, the extent to which these needs are satisfied or thwarted in a particular social context, such as sport, will ultimately affect psychosocial development and well being. A recently formalized subtheory of SDT, labeled basic needs theory (BNT), details the link between need satisfaction and well being (see Ryan & Deci, 2002). Specifically, BNT predicts that people who feel their needs are fulfilled will experience positive well being and optimal functioning, whereas a deficiency in need satisfaction will lead to nonoptimal functioning and ill being (Ryan & Deci, 2000a). A number of studies supported the predictions outlined in BNT (see Ryan & Deci, 2002), including a handful of studies in the context of sport (see Gagné & Blanchard, 2007; Weiss & Amorose, 2008). For instance, Gagné, Ryan, and Bargmann (2003) conducted a diary study, which, among other things, examined the relationships between indexes of positive and negative well being and the daily fluctuations young female gymnasts Predicting Changes in Athletes’ Well Being From Changes in Need Satisfaction Over the Course of a Competitive Season

Increase of Total Body Water With Decrease of Body Mass While Running 100 km Nonstop—Formation of Edema?

Abstract: We investigated whether ultraendurance runners in a 100-km run suffer a decrease of body mass and whether this loss consists of fat mass, skeletal muscle mass, or total body water. Male ultrarunners were measured pre- and postrace to determine body mass, fat mass, and skeletal muscle mass by using the anthropometric method. In addition, bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to determine total body water, and urinary (urinary specific gravity) and hematological parameters (hematocrit and plasma sodium) were measured in order to determine hydration status. Body mass decreased by 1.6 kg (p < .01), fat mass by 0.4 kg (p < .01), and skeletal muscle mass by 0.7 kg (p < .01), whereas total body water increased by 0.8 L (p < .05). Hematocrit and plasma sodium decreased significantly (p < .01), whereas plasma urea and urinary specific gravity (USG) increased significantly (p < .01). The decrease of 2.2% body mass and a USG of 1.020 refer to a minimal dehydration. Our athletes seem to have been relatively overhydrated (increase in total body water and plasma sodium) and dehydrated (decrease in body mass and increase in USG) during the race, as evidenced by the increased total body water and the fact that plasma sodium and hematocrit were lower postrace than prerace. The change of body mass was associated with the change of total body water (p < .05), and we presume the development of.

Preadolescent female development through sport and physical activity: a case study of an urban after-school program.

Abstract: Youth development research has found that children become more engaged and benefit more from being incorporated as decision makers. Thus participation helps promote development and encourages engagement. Based in theories of engagement and free-choice learning, the current research focused on a program combining sport/physical activity, life skills, and mentoring while promoting healthy life choices for preadolescent girls of color. The co-investigators, all women, conducted two 2-hr visits per week for two 12-week periods with a group of 8 girls at a community recreation center in Hartford, Connecticut, including lessons in nutrition and life skills and participation in a sport/physical activity. Five of the girls completed every stage of data collection, including participant journals and four individual inter views with each participant and her parents, over the course of the 24 weeks. The co-investigators also kept journals throughout the program. The results refected the following themes: self-esteem...

Estimating Energy Expenditure With the RT3 Triaxial Accelerometer

Abstract: The RT3 is a relatively new triaxial accelerometer that has replaced the TriTrac. The aim of this study was to validate the RT3 against doubly labeled water (DLW) in a free-living, mixed weight sample of adults. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured over a 15-day period using DLW. Activity-related energy expenditure (AEE) was estimated by subtracting resting energy expenditure and thermic effect of feeding from TEE. The RT3 triaxial accelerometer was worn over 14 consecutive days. TEE and AEE were estimated using the RT3 proprietary equation. Thirty-six adults ages 18–56 years (56% women) with an average weight of 75.9 kg (SD = 14.8) completed all measurements. Compared to DLW, the RT3 underestimated TEE by 539 kJ (4%) and AEE by 485 kJ (15%) on average. The RT3 provided a relatively accurate assessment of free-living activity-related energy expenditure at the group level and generally underestimated total and activity-related energy expenditure compared to DLW.