Authors:Andreas Kuettel, Anna Melin, Carsten H Larsen, Mia Beck Lichtenstein Pages: 1 - 9 Abstract: Background: The prevalence of depressive symptoms among athletes is an ongoing debate in the scientific literature. Aims: The aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Danish elite athletes and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Major Depressive Inventory (MDI) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) in athletes. Methods: The total sample comprised 996 athletes from two cross-sectional studies using the MDI (n = 409) and the CES-D (n = 587). Results: Using the original cut-off points, the MDI found 8.6% and the CES-D found 22.0% at risk of depression. Using alternative cut-off points recommended in the literature, both instruments detected 10-11% of athletes at risk of depression. No statistically significant differences were found related to age, injury, and type of sport between high risk and low risk groups, whereas female gender was identified as a risk factor for higher depressive symptoms. Principal component analyses confirmed a single factor structure in both instruments with sufficient item loadings on the first component and Cronbach α values of .89 and .88. Discussion: We recommend regular screening of depressive symptoms in elite athletes, with MDI and CES-D as reliable instrument for that purpose. PubDate: 2022-01-27 DOI: 10.7146/sjsep.v4i1.128360 Issue No:Vol. 4, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Bjørn Tore Johansen, Tommy Haugen, Martin Kjeøen Erikstad Pages: 20 - 26 Abstract: This study investigated the association between referee efficacy and self-reported coping with external stressors among elite handball and football referees. The participants were 224 Norwegian elite referees of handball (n = 111, m age = 35.3 years, 13.5% females) and football (113, m age = 30.8 years, 8% females) who had been referees for an average of 14.4 years (sd = 7.77 years; min: 4, max: 37) and a referee at the present level for 6.8 years (sd = 6.20 years, min: 1, max: 32). Referee self-efficacy was measured using the Norwegian version of the Referee Self-Efficacy Scale. Self-reported coping with external stressors was measured using responses to statements related to the referee’s self-perceived decision-making process in the presence of several sources of external stressors. Referee self-efficacy was positively associated with coping with external stressors (b = .24 (se = .11), p = .021). Football referees reported higher levels of coping with external stressors (b = .28 (se = .08), p = .001) than handball referees, and the number of years of elite refereeing was positively related to coping with external stressors. The findings provide evidence of a positive relationship between referee efficacy and coping with external stressors when making decisions. Keywords: Referee Self-Efficacy Scale, decision-making, social pressure, team sport referees PubDate: 2022-09-27 DOI: 10.7146/sjsep.v4i1.129894 Issue No:Vol. 4, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Andreas Bencker, Maria Fors Brandebo, Andreas Ivarsson, Urban Johnson Pages: 27 - 40 Abstract: Military and sport have attracted increased research interest separately as two distinctly demanding performance- and leadership-driven contexts. However, cross-contextual psychological research in leadership is lacking. Such research has potential to expose unique cross-fertilising insights into resemblances in leadership challenges among military and sport leaders, transferable to a broader range of contexts. Thus, the current study simultaneously explored high-level military and sport leaders’ real-life experiences of similarities in demanding conditions and their psychological manifestations. Sixteen participants - eight Swedish high-level military leaders and eight Swedish high-level sport leaders, participated in the study. Using a qualitative inductive cross-contextual design enabled in-depth knowledge and transferability. A reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) of sixteen interview transcripts generated four common themes of demanding conditions: (1) Developing organisations: Leading under an extensive workload and responsibility, (2) Managing destructive superiors and subordinates: Standing up for oneself, (3) Taking care of the minds and moods of others: Leading deliberated difficult conversations, and (4) Periods of extreme concentration: Leading critical coordination, decisions, and timing. The findings tie high-level military and sports leaders together into a high-stress and high-stakes leader role invoked to manoeuvre a complex buildup of demanding conditions. Implications are presented. Keywords: High-level leaders, military, sport, demanding conditions. PubDate: 2022-11-09 DOI: 10.7146/sjsep.v4i1.130547 Issue No:Vol. 4, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Jaakko Nikander, Johanna Saarni, Johanna K. Ihalainen, Maarit Valtonen Pages: 41 - 50 Abstract: This study investigated whether an internet-based intervention aimed at enhancing the psychological well-being of female soccer players before the competitive season could be effective approach to meet the needs of the players. Players (n= 43; 17–26 years old)on the four separated teams in Finland’shighest league were assigned to either a guided six-week online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention (ACTi) or to a control condition (CON). A between-groups pre–post (ACTi vs. CON) design was implemented before the competitive season. Players in the ACTi were offered three group sessions, performed internet-based tasks, and were individually supported by a guide. The results demonstrated that the ACTi players maintained their sports-related well-being (between-group, d = 0.72), while the sports-related well-being of the CON players, especially emotional and social well-being, had declined. In addition, ACTi players’perceived stress (d = 0.60) and depression (d = 0.88) declined, while their psychological flexibility in sports (d = 0.41) increased compared to the CON players. These results suggest that before the competitive season, players’ sports-related well-being decreases. The ACT intervention seemed to prevent this decrease and provide players with the skills to cope with emotional and social stressors related to the competitive season. PubDate: 2022-11-11 DOI: 10.7146/sjsep.v4i1.130136 Issue No:Vol. 4, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Håvard Carlsen, Ingar Mehus Pages: 51 - 58 Abstract: Denne studien undersøker om det er en sammenheng mellom fysisk aktivitet og ensomhet blant unge studenter, kontrollert for andre faktorer som har vist seg å ha sammenheng med ensomhet i gruppen. Undersøkelsen har utgangspunkt i at ensomhet er en følelse som kan føre til en rekke negative helsekonsekvenser og at studenter er en gruppe som kan være spesielt utsatt for ensomhet. Utvalget (N=1733) bestod av studenter mellom aldrene 18 og 34 år (M = 21,9, SD = 2,5) der 51,4% hadde høy ensomhet (M = 44,8, SD = 11,3). Resultatene viser at studenter som trener er mindre ensomme sammenlignet med studenter som ikke trener. Idrettsdeltakelse ser ut til å kunne beskytte mot ensomhet, men ikke ved tidlig frafall. Sosial kompetanse og sosiale relasjoner beskytter studenter mot ensomhet, mens sjenanse, grubling og koronapandemien bidrar til økt ensomhet. Studien viser at det er et sterkt behov for inngripende tiltak i studentpopulasjonen for å begrense følelser av ensomhet. PubDate: 2022-11-11 DOI: 10.7146/sjsep.v4i1.128546 Issue No:Vol. 4, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Joar Svensson, Natalia Stambulova Pages: 59 - 67 Abstract: Gymnastics is a sport with a high risk of injury creating many opportunities for a gymnast to experience injury-related fear. Little is known about how gymnasts experience fear and how coaches perceive gymnasts' fear. The present study was aimed at exploring the experiences of post-injury fear in a gymnast-coach dyad. Two male participants (a gymnast and his coach) were involved in narrative-type interviews about their experiences of the same incident of the gymnast’s fear. The holistic form-structural analysis revealed three narratives: a hero’s journey narrative (coach) and a chaos narrative followed by a redemption narrative (gymnast). The stories had different foci. The coach took a career perspective focusing on the fear incident as a part of the athlete’s personal development. The gymnast focused more on injuries, fear experiences, and how he coped. The findings illuminate how two collaborating people can experience the same incident of fear differently and how those different views complement each other. PubDate: 2022-11-16 DOI: 10.7146/sjsep.v4i1.130134 Issue No:Vol. 4, No. 1 (2022)
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