Search Results (50)

Background: Mothers’ health significantly affects their well-being and that of their families. The early years of motherhood can be tough and impact mental health. This study examined the associations between mothers’ self-compassion, social support, and self-care behaviors and their physical and mental well-being. Methods: In August 2023, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 514 Israeli mothers with children under three. Mothers’ physical and mental health was assessed using SF12. Self-compassion was measured by the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Social support was evaluated through the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and self-care was assessed via the Pittsburgh Enjoyable Activities Test (PEAT). Results: Respondents’ average age was 31.5 years. Their self-reported physical health was relatively high, with a mean of 78.36 (SD = 21) on a 0–100 scale (n = 442). Mental health scores were lower, with a mean of 65.88 (SD = 20.28, n = 401). Perceived physical health was higher among Jewish mothers, younger mothers, and those with higher income levels. Additionally, greater social support and self-compassion correlated with better perceived physical health (Adj R² = 0.11, p < 0.001). For mental health, higher scores were observed among Jewish mothers, younger mothers, and full-time employed mothers. Furthermore, higher social support, self-compassion, and self-care practices were associated with improved perceptions of mental health (Adj R² = 0.39, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Promoting the well-being of mothers is crucial for their health, their children’s well-being, and the family unit. Health professionals working with mothers of young children should emphasize and help promote social support, self-compassion, and self-care activities. Full article

This study aimed to explore the relationship between perceived stress, burnout, and mental toughness, and investigate how mental toughness mediates the relationship between perceived stress and burnout among Hungarian coaches. Three hundred and thirty-three active coaches completed anonymous self-report questionnaires assessing burnout (CBQ), mental toughness (SMTQ), and perceived stress (PSS). In the international comparison, Hungarian coaches indicated significantly higher burnout levels than those investigated in previous international research. PLS-SEM results showed that coaches with higher stress levels are less likely to experience burnout. Furthermore, mental toughness serves as a buffer between stress and burnout; however, the buffering effects of its various subfactors on different dimensions of coaching burnout vary. Consequently, further research is necessary to fully understand the mitigating effects of mental toughness, particularly by analyzing coping strategies, motivation, and success. Our research unequivocally indicates that the integration of targeted stress management training into coaching education is crucial for effectively addressing the emotional challenges inherent in the profession. By incorporating workshops that focus on self-awareness and emotion regulation strategies, coaching programs can substantially reduce the risk of burnout and promote the well-being of coaches. These findings underscore the vital importance of embedding practical stress management interventions within coach development initiatives to cultivate more resilient and effective coaching professionals. Full article

This study interrogates whether mental toughness (MT) and self-compassion (SC)—historically framed as oppositional constructs—can coexist synergistically among NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA collegiate athletes, with mindfulness as a hypothesized mediator. A cross-sectional survey of 396 participants (mean age: 19.8 yrs ± 1.9 SD; females: 51%), revealed a robust MT–SC correlation (r = 0.46), which attenuated to 0.31 when mindfulness was modeled, signaling its role as a partial mediator. Hierarchical regression controlling for sex showed that MT and sex together explained 22% of the SC variance (ΔR² = 0.22, p < 0.001). Adding mindfulness increased the total explained variance to 39% (ΔR² = 0.17, p < 0.001). Females scored slightly lower on SC (β = –0.14, SE = 0.05, p = 0.008). Sobel testing confirmed significant partial mediation (Z = 7.22, p < 0.001), with mindfulness explaining 33% of MT’s total effect on SC. Mindfulness-based interventions that exploit athletes’ intrinsic attentional resources can simultaneously enhance mental toughness and self-compassion. By reconciling performance-oriented rigor with resilient self-regard, such strategies hold promise for athletes operating at diverse competitive levels. Full article

Background: In 2021, Taiwan’s healthcare workers faced significant stress due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aims to enhance healthcare workers’ self-awareness of their stress and improve their work efficiency by using symphonic poetry to inspire resilience. Methods: This qualitative study involved in-depth interviews with a panel of physicians, nurses, and specialist nurses. The interviews were conducted using ATLAS—ti 7.5 qualitative analysis software for content analysis. Participants must have attended the “Meeting Mahler, Meeting Myself” concert organized by the medical center. The concert was based on the poetry from the fifth movement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection”, and included symphonic poetry and a manual. The manual combined pictures and a complementary interview guide to facilitate participants sharing their pandemic experiences and health. Results: A total of 19 healthcare workers participated in the interviews. All participants had attended the institute’s symphonic poetry concert “Meeting Mahler, Meeting Myself”. The average age of the participants was 44.1 ± 11.4 years, and their average working experience was 19.1 ± 13.1 years. The group included nine physicians (47.4%), eight nurses (42.1%), and two specialist nurses (10.5%). The results were categorized into three major themes: “Pandemic-Induced Physical and Mental Exhaustion”, “Symphonic Poetry as a Tool for Building Resilience”, and “Enhancing Mental Toughness to Overcome Adversity”. Conclusions: Healthcare workers experienced stress and exhaustion during the pandemic. Symphonic poetry can serve as a supportive tool to inspire resilience and enhance mental toughness among healthcare professionals facing pandemic-related challenges. Full article

This study examined the relationships between motivational processes and mental toughness in college skiers based on the self-determination theory (SDT). A total of 332 participants from four skiing items completed four psychological scales assessing motivational factors and mental toughness. The findings revealed that a task-involving climate is positively associated with basic psychological needs, eliciting a positive pathway to autonomous motivation and controlled motivation, thereby positively affecting mental toughness. In contrast, an ego-involving climate is negatively associated with basic psychological needs, eliciting a negative pathway to amotivation, thus negatively affecting mental toughness. The findings highlight the complex interplay between a series of motivational factors and athletes’ mental toughness, underscoring the need to integrate mental-toughness-related factors into the motivational framework. Full article

Emergency medical service (EMS) ambulance employees play a critical role in emergency healthcare delivery. However, work-related experiences can compromise their mental health and job satisfaction. Despite available supportive services offered by EMS organizations, employee uptake remains low, while mental ill health and suicide rates remain higher than those of the general population. Understanding barriers to and enablers of such support is crucial for addressing factors that connect employees with the services designed to help. This systematic review identified 34 relevant articles and utilized an innovative process of integrating quantitative and qualitative aspects of the primary and gray literature to provide a qualitative synthesis of barriers and facilitators as perceived by EMS employees. Themes of employee (in)ability to ask for help, tailored person-centered support, and education and training about mental health were overarched by organizational culture. Barriers included perceived organizational obligation rather than genuine care, alongside machismo and stigma. Enablers included valuing and acknowledging employee risk by providing time and normalizing support utilization at work. Reframing machismo from dominance, competition, and toughness to respect, perseverance, and courage; promoting adaptive coping; and providing time and training were essential. Future research should aim to understand the factors influencing employee utilization of supportive interventions based on these themes. Full article

This study aimed to develop the Five Cognitive Biases in Risk-Taking Scale (5 CBR-S) to measure five cognitive biases associated with risk-taking: overconfidence, illusion of control, belief in the law of small numbers, escalation of commitment, and optimism. Firefighters completed a series of five questionnaires: cognitive biases related to risk-taking, emotional intelligence, self-regulation behaviors, personality traits, and mental toughness. Data were collected from two distinct samples, each consisting of 202 firefighters. A series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses conducted on an initial version of the 5 CBR-S with 50 items provided structural evidence supporting a 5-factor, 19-item solution. Evidence of validity and reliability for the 5 CBR-S scores was provided by examining correlations with emotional intelligence, personality traits, and mental toughness. Overall, despite certain limitations, the 5 CBR-S constitutes a robust measure, offering the advantage of highlighting the five main cognitive biases related to risk-taking. It can be used both among firefighters and in other professional contexts involving high-intensity emergency decision-making. Full article

Objectives: Taekwondo performance is influenced by a complex and dynamic interplay of physical, nutritional, and psychological factors, all of which contribute to competitive success. However, the gender-specific relationships among these factors in young high-performance athletes remain understudied. This study aimed to fill in this knowledge gap. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 35 elite taekwondo athletes (male: n = 20, female: n = 15, age: 13 ± 1 years). Participants underwent anthropometric assessments, dietary evaluations, and psychological skill assessments during an 8-week training camp before the World Taekwondo Championships. Physical performance was assessed using the Frequency Speed of Kick Test (FSKT_mult) and the Taekwondo-Specific Agility Test (TSAT). Statistical analyses included independent t-tests, correlation analyses, and regression models. Results: Males exhibited significantly higher fat-free mass (FFM: 42.8 ± 2.9 kg vs. 36.3 ± 1.6 kg, p < 0.001), skeletal muscle mass (SMM: 31.1 ± 2.2 kg vs. 28.2 ± 1.6 kg, p < 0.001), and energy intake (32.4 ± 4.6 kcal/kg vs. 29.3 ± 3.1 kcal/kg, p = 0.032) than females. Males also had greater dietary intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, and iron (all p < 0.05). There were no gender differences in any psychological attributes associated with emotional intelligence, sport success perception, and mental toughness. Although the total kick count in the FSKT_mult was similar for male and female taekwondo athletes (100.2 ± 4.6 vs. 97.5 ± 5.9 kicks, p = 0.139), males outperformed females in round 4 (19.4 ± 1.1 vs. 18.6 ± 1.4 kicks, p = 0.048) and round 5 (18.2 ± 1.0 vs. 17.2 ± 1.0 kicks, p = 0.007) of this test, suggesting higher physical performance maintenance during the test. Regression models indicated that body mass (β = 0.901, p < 0.001) and calcium intake (β = 0.284, p = 0.011) predicted performance in males, while body mass (β = 1.372, p < 0.001), protein intake (β = 0.171, p = 0.012), and emotional regulation (β = 0.174, p = 0.012) were key predictors in females. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of an integrated approach to training, nutrition, and psychological preparation in optimizing taekwondo performance. While males and females demonstrated similar psychological resilience and total kick output in a taekwondo-specific test, males exhibited superior endurance in later test rounds of this test. Performance optimization in young elite taekwondo athletes may require the implementation of gender-specific training and nutrition strategies, emphasizing body weight control and calcium intake for males and protein intake for females. Full article

Physical and psychological distress frequently challenges athletes throughout their careers. The perception of pain and coping strategies are often crucial factors in achieving victory. These factors not only reflect their commitment to daily training, but can also indicate their level of athletic performance. This study is a cross-sectional research using convenience and snowball sampling methods. It explores the relationship between mindfulness and athletes’ distress tolerance, revealing the mediating roles of cognitive reappraisal and mental toughness. A sample of 285 athletes was drawn from universities, youth training centers, and sports academies in Hunan, Hubei, and Sichuan provinces in China. To assess the proposed hypotheses, structural equation modeling was conducted using AMOS v23. The findings identified a significant positive correlation between mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, and mental toughness. Additionally, both cognitive reappraisal and mental toughness were positively associated with distress tolerance. Further analysis demonstrated that cognitive reappraisal and mental toughness function as mediators in the mindfulness–distress tolerance relationship. These results indicate that athletes with higher mindfulness levels exhibit enhanced cognitive reappraisal skills, greater mental toughness, and improved distress tolerance. This means that athletes with higher mindfulness levels are more likely to detach from negative psychological states in a timely manner, utilizing emotional regulation skills such as cognitive reappraisal, and face training and competition with greater mental resilience. This can help athletes alleviate negative psychological states and, to some extent, reduce their experience of pain, enabling them to better cope with challenges. Therefore, athletes can actively engage in mindfulness practices combined with cognitive reappraisal strategies to achieve better psychological states, which can support their adherence to training and rehabilitation plans. Full article

Background: Previous research has examined to what extent the relationship between bullying/cyberbullying (victims and perpetrators) and psychological well-being is mediated by different cognitive–emotional variables. Objectives: The present study aimed to analyze whether mental toughness acted as a mediating variable in the relationship between bullying, suffered and perpetrated, and subjective vitality. Methods: Three hundred and twelve students in their final year of Primary Education and Compulsory Secondary Education, aged between 11 and 17 years, gave their responses to different self-report measures. Results: The results showed that perceived mental toughness significantly mediated the relationship between victimization and perpetration of aggressive acts through the use of electronic devices and levels of subjective vitality. A similar mediating effect was observed for occasions when the adolescent engaged in bullying acts during face-to-face interactions. Conclusions: It is concluded that high levels of mental toughness may act as a protective mechanism, reducing or mitigating the loss of subjective vitality resulting from being victimized in a virtual environment, as well as from perpetrating aggressive acts during face-to-face interactions and through the use of technological media. Full article

Background/Objectives: The correlation of handgrip strength (HGS) and morphological characteristics with Big Five personality traits is well documented. However, it is unclear whether these relationships also exist in highly trained and specialized populations, such as tactical athletes, and whether there are specific differences compared to the general population. This study aimed to explore the interplay of handgrip neuromuscular, morphological, and psychological characteristics in tactical athletes and the general population of both genders. Methods: The research was conducted on a sample of 205 participants. A standardized method, procedure, and equipment (Sports Medical solutions) were used to measure the isometric neuromuscular characteristics of the handgrip. Basic morphological characteristics of body height, body mass, and body mass index were measured with a portable stadiometer and the InBody 720 device. Psychological characteristics were assessed with the Mental Toughness Index and Dark Triad Dirty Dozen questionnaires. Results: Numerous significant correlations were obtained, as well as differences between tactical athletes and the general population of both genders. The most prominent correlations were between the excitation index with Psychopathy and the Dark Triad (ρ = −0.41, −0.39) in female tactical athletes, as well as Neuroticism with body height, maximal force, and the maximum rate of force development in the male general population (ρ = 0.49, 0.43, 0.41). The obtained results also revealed gender and occupational specific patterns of researched relationships. Conclusions: Although the results of this study indicated the possibility of the existence of correlations between handgrip neuromuscular, morphological, and psychological characteristics in tactical athletes of both genders, nevertheless, at the moment, there is not enough solid evidence for that. That is why new research is needed. An analysis of muscle contractile and time parameters as neuromuscular indicators in the HGS task proved to be a possible promising method, which brought numerous new insights about the researched relationships. For practical application in the field, we propose including Mental Toughness and the Dark Triad traits in the selection process for future police officers and national security personnel based on the obtained results. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sport persistence is the embodiment of sports performance and mental toughness. It refers to our attempts concerning the performance plateau, failures, injuries, or even the resolution and processing of stressful situations associated with success and positive events. In our research, we used qualitative methods based on Bronfenbrenner’s socio-ecological model to investigate the factors influencing sport persistence among high school and university athletes. Methods: The research was based on semi-structured interviews with 133 athletes. ATLAS.ti software and the grounded theory methodology were applied for data analysis. Our analysis grouped the responses according to Bronfenbrenner’s categorisation system, highlighting motivational factors at the microsystem level. Our research question was as follows: What kind of factors dominate the development of sport persistence among adolescent (high school) and young adult (university) athletes along Bronfenbrenner’s dimension of the microsystem? Results: Regarding the microsystem, family, peers, and coaches were mentioned as influential factors. Concerning the family, general, person-specific, family value-related, future-oriented, introjected, and disadvantage-compensating motivational components were identified. General, individual, community and relational factors were identified concerning peers. Concerning the coach, general, individual, community, and coach personality-driven motivational segments were detected. Conclusions: By recognising the complex interplay of systemic factors, we can design interventions targeting these factors at various socio-ecological levels, promoting youth sports and increasing physical activity among young people. These findings instil hope and motivation for the future of sports and physical activity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Firefighters, tactical police officers, and warriors often engage in periodic, intermittent, high-intensity physical work in austere environmental conditions and have a heightened risk of premature mortality. In addition, tough decision-making challenges, routine sleep deprivation, and trauma exacerbate this risk. Therefore, identifying strategies to bolster these personnel’s health and occupational performance is critical. Creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation may offer several benefits to firefighters and tactical athletes (e.g., police, security, and soldiers) due to its efficacy regarding physical performance, muscle, cardiovascular health, mental health, and cognitive performance. Methods: We conducted a narrative review of the literature with a focus on the benefits and application of creatine monohydrate among firefighters. Results: Recent evidence demonstrates that CrM can improve anaerobic exercise capacity and muscular fitness performance outcomes and aid in thermoregulation, decision-making, sleep, recovery from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and mental health. Emerging evidence also suggests that CrM may confer an antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effect, which may be particularly important for firefighters and those performing tactical occupations exposed to oxidative and physiological stress, which can elicit systemic inflammation and increase the risk of chronic diseases. Conclusions: This narrative review highlights the potential applications of CrM for related tactical occupations, with a particular focus on firefighters, and calls for further research into these populations. Full article

Japan is experiencing significant demographic shifts due to an aging and declining population. In 1993, the Japanese Government introduced the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) to accept foreign national workers. While the number of technical intern trainees under this program has constantly increased, many of them face challenges in their daily lives, such as stress, health insecurities and limited access to healthcare. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the mental well-being of technical intern trainees, focusing on psychological distress and its related factors. This study included 304 technical intern trainees from 12 prefectures in Japan, and was conducted from August 2021 to October 2021. We used self-administered questionnaires in the participants’ native languages to assess their sociodemographic conditions, health-related conditions such as health insecurities and healthcare-seeking behaviors, and psychological distress. The K6 Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was applied to evaluate the levels of psychological distress. Among the participants, 26.3% had moderate psychological distress and 2.3% had severe psychological distress. In addition, about 15% of the participants reported health insecurities and did not see a doctor despite wanting to. The multivariate model of logistic regression revealed significant associations between psychological distress and female gender (AOR 2.62, 95% CI 1.12–6.12), nationality other than Vietnamese (AOR 4.85, 95% CI 2.60–9.07), tough financial conditions (AOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.18–4.19), experiencing health insecurity (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.04–4.66) and the health behavior of refraining from seeking medical care (AOR 3.06, 95% CI 1.49–6.30). The top reasons for refraining from seeking medical care were the participants’ limited knowledge about the healthcare system in Japan and their worries about medical bills. These findings highlight the necessity to extend mental health support services, including counseling services, and share information about Japan’s healthcare system to supply medical services to the targeted technical intern trainee population. Full article

Mental toughness (MT), a construct linked to high-stress performance, is predominantly studied via self-assessment in cross-sectional designs. In the firefighting context, where no dedicated MT instrument exists, the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) and the Military Training Mental Toughness Inventory (MTMTI) have been used. However, their reliability and concurrent validity remain unexamined. This study employs a two-wave longitudinal design involving sixty-two male firefighters. Over two days, they completed the SMTQ, while colleagues and officers assessed their MT using the MTMTI. Analyses included concurrent validity and inter-rater reliability tests. Inter-rater reliability exhibited minimal agreement (Day 1: κ = 0.04, p = 0.172; Day 2: κ = 0.05, p = 0.063), low internal consistency (Day 1: α = 0.03, ω = 0.03; Day 2: α = 0.45, ω = 0.45), and weak inter-rater correlations (Day 1: ICC_2k < 0.001, 95%CI [−0.53, 0.35]; Day 2: ICC_2k = 0.13, 95%CI [−0.33, 0.43]). Concurrent validity showed limited correlations between self-assessed SMTQ scores and MTMTI ratings on both days (Day 1: r = −0.09, p = 0.5; Day 2: r = 0.1, p = 0.5). These findings may underscore the necessity to develop firefighting-specific MT tools, recognizing the unique demands and nuances of this high-stress profession. Full article