Search Results (26)

Background: Athletic success depends not only on physical performance and psychological well-being but also on the effective emotional regulation of adaptive processes to prevent sports injuries in stressful situations such as competition. This study analyzes the relationship between emotional state, pre-competitive anxiety, and injury incidence in female volleyball players throughout an entire competitive season. Methods: The POMS and CSAI-2 questionnaires were administered before 16 league matches to 21 high-performance players (mean age = 29.66 ± 5.19 years). Results: Players exhibited an iceberg mood profile with low levels of pre-competitive anxiety. Negative moods were higher at the start and decreased over time, while positive moods increased as matches progressed (p < 0.05). Anxiety remained stable throughout. Additionally, 28.6% of players experienced injuries; injured players showed higher cognitive anxiety, lower self-confidence, and emotional instability, suggesting a potential psychological risk profile for injury, even though group differences did not reach statistical significance. Significant correlations were found between Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) and cognitive anxiety (r = 0.49, p < 0.05) and between vigor and self-confidence (r = 0.52, p < 0.01), indicating a bidirectional relationship. A bidirectional relationship between mood and anxiety was confirmed, highlighting the POMS Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) index as a global emotional indicator. Conclusions: These findings suggest that managing worries, self-confidence, and emotional balance are key factors in injury prevention, emphasizing the importance of regularly monitoring and managing psychological indicators as part of injury prevention strategies. Full article

The demands of the labor market are a constant challenge for universities, emphasizing the crucial importance of competency-based education to make our students more academically and professionally competitive. The benefits of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Subjective Well-Being (happiness/life satisfaction) (SWB) have been evidenced as necessary competencies in personal, academic, and professional contexts. Our research assessed these variables in a sample of 300 university students from Madrid (Spain), comprising 68 (22.7%) men and 232 (77.3%) women, aged between 18 and 47 years (M = 21.72; SD = 0.42). Our objective was to determine their baseline levels, study their relationship with Academic Achievement (AA), analyze their changes after a positive emotional intervention, and determine if they are predictors of AA. For this, we used a quasi-experimental pre/post-test design with experimental/control groups. Our results show medium–high baseline levels of EI, SWB, and AA in our students; positive correlations, which improved in intensity in the post-test, between EI (clarity and repair) and SWB, between AA and EI (attention), and between AA and happiness (OHI); and better scores in EI and happiness in the post-test compared to the pre-test, and in the experimental group compared to the control group, as a result of our intervention. Finally, the findings indicate that EI (attention) and SWB (life satisfaction) jointly predict a small part of AA. The data are discussed for their implications for change in higher education, towards competency-based education interventions that improve the outcomes and employability of our students and bridge the university/industry gap. Full article

Carbohydrate supplementation is a common practice among endurance athletes participating in long-distance competitions. However, glycogen storage regulation, in-competition blood glucose levels, and their relationship with athletic performance are influenced by multiple factors. This review summarizes the recent research progress on carbohydrate supplementation, addressing its applications in the pre-, during-, and post-competition phases. It explores variables that influence the effectiveness of carbohydrate supplementation and provides a summary of strategies, based on six key aspects: carbohydrate properties, multi-nutrient interactions, gastrointestinal function, individual differences (such as age and gender), environmental conditions, and psychological factors. The combination of different types, ratios, and concentrations of carbohydrates has been demonstrated to enhance the efficiency of carbohydrate digestion and absorption. The synergistic combination of protein, sodium, and caffeine intake demonstrates enhanced efficacy in carbohydrate supplementation strategies. Gastrointestinal tolerance training for carbohydrate supplementation has been identified as an effective measure to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort during high-dose carbohydrate intake. The adjustment of the carbohydrate-to-fat ratio and the type of carbohydrate intake has been found to mitigate the impact of gender and menstrual cycles on glycogen storage and substrate utilization. Modifying the timing of glycogen storage and regulating the concentration and temperature of carbohydrate solutions during competition have been demonstrated to facilitate coping with the elevated energy expenditure and metabolic substrate shift from fat to carbohydrates, triggered by a combination of environmental and psychological factors, including special environmental and climatic conditions (e.g., high altitude, high temperature, high humidity, and cold) and emotional states (e.g., pre-competition stress and anxiety during the competition). To achieve precise carbohydrate supplementation for athletes in major events under various competitive environments, it is necessary to quantitatively assess the effects of carbohydrate supplementation, supported by mechanistic studies. This can be achieved by utilizing wearable devices to monitor the entire competition, coupled with data collection technologies, such as high-throughput profiling. Furthermore, emerging data analytics techniques, such as machine learning and causal inference, should be leveraged to refine supplementation strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Socio-affective relationships have garnered increasing attention in recent years as a means to enhance coexistence and well-being. Within this context, educational institutions play a pivotal role in shaping peaceful coexistence and promoting well-being among future generations. Physical Education (PE) is particularly significant, because it integrates cooperative–opposition activities, which blend collaboration and competition, fostering socio-emotional development. This systematic review aimed to investigate how PE contributes to coexistence and socio-affective well-being in adolescents aged 12 to 18. Methods: Using the PRISMA 2020 framework, 15 empirical studies were analyzed from seven databases. Studies were selected based on PICOS criteria: secondary education students (Population), cooperative–opposition activities (Intervention), control groups or pre-post designs (Comparison), relational and emotional dimensions (Outcomes), and quantitative methodologies (Study design). Results: Interventions grounded in the Motor Conduct Education and Sports Education Model significantly reduced interpersonal conflicts and improved social skills and emotional well-being. Positive emotions predominated in these activities, fostering stronger peer relationships within classroom groups. Approaches emphasizing task-oriented pedagogies were less effective than those centered on peer support in eliciting positive emotional responses. Conclusions: This review underscores the transformative potential of innovative educational strategies in PE to enhance coexistence and socio-affective well-being. Future research should explore the comparative efficacy of various pedagogical models and their long-term impact. These findings provide valuable guidance for educators and policymakers seeking to promote holistic development in adolescents through PE. Full article

Volleyball referees, as athletes and staff members, are exposed to different stress levels which can be determined by measuring pre- and post-match levels of salivary cortisol (C) and alpha-amylase (AA). This study aimed to determine the dynamics of stress biomarkers in referees during official volleyball matches and the connection to the roles or level of competition. The participants in this study were nine international volleyball referees (three females and six males) with a mean chronological age of 48.23 ± 2.31 years. In this study, saliva samples were collected during 24 official matches during the European championship for senior women’s teams (Eurovolley 2021). The AA activity and C concentrations were determined from saliva samples. When the referees’ roles were assessed in line with their duties, the first referees’ salivary C levels showed a significant increase between the pre- and post-match measurements (p = 0.01), while in the second referees remained low. The reserve and challenge referees demonstrated a significant drop in their C concentrations (p = 0.00 and p = 0.02, respectively). Additionally, when assessing AA which accounts for the responsibilities of referees and the intensity of competition, the first (p = 0.06 and p = 0.07) and second referees (p = 0.01 and p = 0.00) showed an increase between the pre- and post-match measurements, respectively. At the same time, the AA activity did not show any significant change concerning the reserve and challenge referees. Our results indicate that referees’ roles and the level of competition may cause higher responses in “active referee roles”—mainly the first and second referees—while reserve and challenge referees showed no increase or even a decrease in the measured biomarkers. The observed changes in the stress markers can be explained by psychological or emotional effects and are dependent on the level of competition and the role referees are fulfilling. Full article

Technologies, such as Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT), are prime examples of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is a constantly evolving area. SMEs, particularly startups, can obtain a competitive edge, innovate their business models, gain business value, and undergo a digital transformation by implementing these technologies. Continuous but gradual experimentation with these technologies is the foundation for their adoption. The experience that comes from trying new technologies can help entrepreneurs adopt new technologies more strategically and experiment more with them. The urgent need for an in-depth investigation is highlighted by the paucity of previous research on ChatGPT uptake in the startup context, particularly from an entrepreneurial perspective. The objective of this research study is to empirically validate the Generative AI technology adoption model to establish the direction and strength of the correlations among the adoption factors from the perspectives of the entrepreneurs. The data are collected from 482 entrepreneurs who exhibit great diversity in their genders, the countries in which their startups are located, the industries their startups serve, their age, their educational levels, their work experience as entrepreneurs, and the length of time the startups have been on the market. Collected data are analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique, which results in a statistical examination of the relationships between the adoption model’s factors. The results indicate that social influence, domain experience, technology familiarity, system quality, training and support, interaction convenience, and anthropomorphism are the factors that impact the pre-perception and perception phase of adoption. These factors motivate entrepreneurs to experiment more with the technology, thereby building perceptions of its usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived enjoyment, three factors that in turn affect emotions toward the technology and, finally, switching intentions. Control variables like age, gender, and educational attainment have no appreciable effect on switching intentions to alternatives of the Generative AI technology. Rather, the experience factor of running businesses shows itself to be a crucial one. The results have practical implications for entrepreneurs and other innovation ecosystem actors, including, for instance, technology providers, libraries, and policymakers. This research study enriches the Generative AI technology acceptance theory and extends the existing literature by introducing new adoption variables and stages specific to entrepreneurship. Full article

Lean bodybuilder athletes may encounter challenges in adapting their eating habits during ad libitum refeed, either intuitively or consciously. Aims: This paper investigates whether there is a relationship between adaptive eating and energy intake coping strategies in a refeed model for bodybuilders. Methods: Fourteen male bodybuilders (29.6 ± 3.1 years; 85.6 ± 6.8 kg, ≥6 competitions) completed a 4-week regimen consisting of 5 days of energy restriction followed by 2 days of refeed. Dietary assessment, body composition (ultrasound), recovery stress questionnaire (REST-Q) and Brunel mood scale (BRUMS) were utilized pre- and post-regimen. Coping function questionnaire (CFQ), mindful eating scale version 2 (MES 2) and the intuitive eating scale-2 (IES-2) were evaluated at the 4th week. Results: Compared to the initial values, the refeed day resulted in a daily caloric increase of 44% compared to the average energy intake on the energy restriction days, culminating in a weekly calorie deficit of 27% and a drop in body mass of 3.1 ± 1.4%. Most participants showed reduced body fat and preserved or gained lean mass. The energy consumption during the refeed maintained an inverse relationship with the perception of satiety (r = −0.9; p < 0.01), the IES 2 total scores (r = −0.82; p < 0.01), as well as the confidence in hunger and satiety cues (r = −0.62; p = 0.02) and congruence in food–body choice dimensions (r = −0.56; p = 0.04). Emotional coping maintained an inverse relationship with the IES 2 total scores (r = 0.54; p < 0.05) and an inverse relationship with energy intake during refeed (r = −0.42; p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that a heightened perception of internal hunger and satiety signals and higher scores in intuitive eating may contribute to adequate energy intake, even when high scores of emotional coping are present. Full article

Tennis can be a mentally challenging sport, and emotional intelligence (EI) contributes significantly to an athlete’s psychological well-being. Thus, this study investigated the effects of 6 weeks of a combined Change of Direction (CoD) and reactive agility (RA) intervention program on emotional intelligence (EI) in pubertal tennis players. A total of 28 youth tennis players, aged 11 to 14 years, were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EXP-G, n = 15, 13 boys [age = 13.34 ± 0.98 years, maturity offset (MO) = −0.19 ± 0.96], and 2 girls [age = 12.77 ± 0.23 years, MO = 0.78 ± 0.04]) or a control group (CON-G, n = 13, 8 boys [age = 13.37 ± 0.75 years, MO = 0.00 ± 0.71], and 5 girls [age = 13.50 ± 0.92 years, MO = 1.41 ± 1.07]). The EXP-G performed combined CoD and RA training across the 6-week intervention period. The CON-G continued with the normal five 20 min regular tennis-specific training sessions per week, including technical and tactical drills and a small-sided games format. The overall training volume was similar between groups. Pre- and post-training, Profile of Emotional Competence (PEC, [EC TOTAL: global score of emotional competence level; EC INTRA: score of intra-personal emotional competence; EC INTER: score of inter-personal emotional competence]) and d2 attention tests were assessed. The present study employed an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) with pre-test covariance to assess between-group differences (EXP-G vs. CON-G) at the post-test phase, utilizing baseline values as covariates. Noteworthy outcomes were observed, indicating statistically significant and substantial between-group disparities at post-test for various measures. Specifically, these differences were evident in the attention domain (effect size, d = 1.08 [Large], p = 0.001), the EC TOTAL test (effect size, d = 0.70 [Medium], p = 0.017), the EC INTA (effect size, d = 1.35 [Large], p = 0.001), and the EC INTER (effect size, d = 0.83 [Large], p = 0.009) tests. Due to the importance of agility training for overall competitive performance in tennis, our results suggest that young players should perform such training programs as part of conditioning training if the goal is to improve emotional intelligence and mental well-being. Full article

The purpose of this study was to examine the explanatory power of a predictive model of bully/perpetrator behaviour in Romanian athletes, consisting of negative pre-competitive emotions (anxiety, sadness, and anger), perception of male gender normativity, and relationships with coaches and teammates. Additionally, we aimed to explore the mediation effect of bully–victim behaviour on the relationship between athletes’ connections with their coaches and bully/perpetrator behaviour. The current research involved a nonexperimental, cross-sectional design exploring the presence of bully/perpetrator behaviour in Romanian male and female athletes. The quantitative methodology was used to collect and analyse the data obtained. Researchers translated, adapted and pretested the questionnaire set to the Romanian cultural background (SEQ, MAMS, CART-Q, In-group Ties Scale, BSQ) before distributing it to 448 participants. 58.7% were male participants, and 41.3% were female participants. The mean age was 21.15 (SDage = 2.37, range = 18–32). The research was conducted in the first half of 2023. SPSS (V. 20) and Hayes’s PROCESS tool were used to investigate the data. The findings demonstrated that in the case of Romanian male athletes, perception of male gender normativity, anger, and weaker connections with coaches are the most important psychological factors in predicting bully/perpetrator behaviour. In contrast, in the case of Romanian female athletes, only weaker connections with coaches and perception of male gender normativity play an essential role in explaining bully/perpetrator behaviour. Additionally, the study demonstrated that bully–victim behaviour mediates the relationship between athletes’ weaker connections with their coaches and bully/perpetrator behaviour. Athletes’ weaker connections with their coaches lead to experiencing a high level of bully/perpetrator behaviour by stressing bully–victim behaviour, which also contributes to achieving a high level of bully/perpetrator behaviour. Full article

Teaching is one of the hardest occupations according to the International Organization of Teachers (IOT), affecting teachers’ emotional and physical well-being and impacting their professional performance. Intervention programs addressing this issue usually result in a significant reduction in stress and an improvement in teachers’ entire quality of life. Physical activity has been recognized as a critical aspect of non-pharmaceutical stress-reduction measures, favorably improving mental health. This quasi-experimental study used pre- and post-intervention assessments to assess the impact of a physical exercise promotion program on stress levels and motivation for regular physical activity among teachers in the first six years of schooling in Portugal and Brazil. This study included 33 instructors from both countries’ educational institutions in an 8-week intervention that included 40 sessions of cardiorespiratory conditioning, muscle strengthening and stretching, relaxation, and meditation techniques. The Stress Perception Scale (EPS-10) and the Motivation Inventory for Regular Physical Activity Practice (IMPRAF-54) were used to assess participants. The findings show a strong link between years of teaching experience and stress levels. After the intervention, there were statistically significant changes in stress levels and motivation to engage in physical exercise. Specifically, 78.9% of teachers reported less stress, and the respondents felt more motivated to exercise for stress control (84.4%), for competitiveness (97%), and for aesthetic enhancement (57.6%). In summary, this study suggests that exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress and increase enthusiasm for physical activity, with Portuguese teachers outperforming their Brazilian counterparts. Full article

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex stress-related disorder induced by exposure to traumatic stress that is characterized by symptoms of re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyper-arousal. While it is widely accepted that brain regions involved in emotional regulation and memory—e.g., the amygdala and hippocampus—are dysregulated in PTSD, the pathophysiology of the disorder is not well defined and therefore, pharmacological interventions are extremely limited. Because stress hormones norepinephrine and cortisol (corticosterone in rats) are heavily implicated in the disorder, we explored whether preemptively and systemically antagonizing β-adrenergic and glucocorticoid receptors with propranolol and mifepristone are sufficient to mitigate pathological changes in synaptic plasticity, gene expression, and anxiety induced by a modified social defeat (SD) stress protocol. Young adult, male Sprague Dawley rats were initially pre-screened for anxiety. The rats were then exposed to SD and chronic light stress to induce anxiety-like symptoms. Drug-treated rats were administered propranolol and mifepristone injections prior to and continuing throughout SD stress. Using competitive ELISAs on plasma, field electrophysiology at CA1 of the ventral hippocampus (VH) and the basolateral amygdala (BLA), quantitative RT-PCR, and behavior assays, we demonstrate that our SD stress increased anxiety-like behavior, elevated long-term potentiation (LTP) in the VH and BLA, and altered the expression of mineralocorticoid, glucocorticoid, and glutamate receptors. These measures largely reverted to control levels with the administration of propranolol and mifepristone. Our findings indicate that SD stress increases LTP in the VH and BLA and that prophylactic treatment with propranolol and mifepristone may have the potential in mitigating these and other stress-induced effects. Full article

Accurately assessing the intensity of pain from facial expressions captured in videos is crucial for effective pain management and critical for a wide range of healthcare applications. However, in uncontrolled environments, detecting facial expressions from full left and right profiles remains a significant challenge, and even the most advanced models for recognizing pain levels based on facial expressions can suffer from declining performance. In this study, we present a novel model designed to overcome the challenges posed by full left and right profiles—Sparse Autoencoders for Facial Expressions-based Pain Assessment (SAFEPA). Our model utilizes Sparse Autoencoders (SAE) to reconstruct the upper part of the face from the input image, and feeds both the original image and the reconstructed upper face into two pre-trained concurrent and coupled Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). This approach gives more weight to the upper part of the face, resulting in superior recognition performance. Moreover, SAFEPA’s design leverages CNNs’ strengths while also accommodating variations in head poses, thus eliminating the need for face detection and upper-face extraction preprocessing steps needed in other models. SAFEPA achieves high accuracy in recognizing four levels of pain on the widely used UNBC-McMaster shoulder pain expression archive dataset. SAFEPA is extended for facial expression recognition, where we show it to outperform state-of-the-art models in recognizing seven facial expressions viewed from five different angles, including the challenging full left and right profiles, on the Karolinska Directed Emotional Faces (KDEF) dataset. Furthermore, the SAFEPA system is capable of processing BioVid Heat Pain datasets with an average processing time of 17.82 s per video (5 s in length), while maintaining a competitive accuracy compared to other state-of-the-art pain detection systems. This experiment demonstrates its applicability in real-life scenarios for monitoring systems. With SAFEPA, we have opened new possibilities for accurate pain assessment, even in challenging situations with varying head poses. Full article

Training in emotional regulation skills is one of the most important resources for the adaptation of athletes to contexts of sports pressure, especially during competitions. This study explored the effects of a mindfulness programme (Flow Meditation) on levels of impulsivity, mood and pre-competition anxiety-state in a sample of athletes (N = 41, 22.83 ± 5.62 years). Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (N = 21; 14 males and 7 females) which received the intervention over 10 weeks (a weekly session) and a control group (wait-list; N = 20; 13 males and 7 females). The variables under study were assessed through different questionnaires at pre- and post-test (T1–T2) in both groups. The mindfulness intervention was effective in reducing impulsivity (cognitive (t = −4.48, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.40), both motor (t = −4.03, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.20) and unplanned (t = −5.32, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.66)), mood (tension (t = −4.40, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.37), depression (t = −4.56, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.42), anger (t = −7.80, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 2.47), somatic anxiety (t = −5.28, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.65), and cognitive anxiety (t = −6.62, p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 2.07) in the intervention group compared to the control group and with large to very large effect sizes. Mindfulness is a factor that enhances athletes’ ability to cope with high sport pressure and the healthy management of competition (e.g., fear of failure), or with their daily life. Full article

Yoga is a very popular trendy sport all over the world. Since its establishment and promotion, yoga has mostly been practiced in social clubs and studios, often being performed during optional courses in colleges. Basic yoga instruction is generally absent in middle schools. This study investigated and assessed the viability of integrating yoga practice into the sports training program of elite Romanian athletes. The research methods used include documentation and data collection via an online survey in order to design a factor analysis with a structural equation model using SmartPLS software. The research assesses athletes’ opinions about the benefits of yoga practice and its impact on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results highlight the need to integrate yoga classes into educational institutions. The research has demonstrated that Romanian athletes use yoga in the pre- and post-competition phases to increase their focus, balance, muscle, and joint elasticity, create a positive attitude toward victory, manage emotional and post-traumatic stress disorder, visualize their performance in competition, and see themselves as winners. Overall, yoga is a successful strategy to enhance sports training and medical rehabilitation for stress disorders and post-traumatic diseases. Full article

In the field of sport psychology, research on emotional intelligence and its relationship with other psychological variables to determine how it affects the athlete’s performance is becoming more frequent and prevalent. Among these psychological variables, research in this field has focused on the evaluation of the influence of aspects such as motivation, leadership, self-concept, and anxiety. The main objective of this research is to analyze the levels of each of the dimensions of emotional intelligence (attention, clarity, and emotional regulation) and their relationship with each of the SCAT items to measure pre-competitive anxiety. To do so, we analyzed the influence that one psychological construct has on the other, in order to establish the type of relationships that are established between them. The design of this research corresponds to be transversal, observational, quantitative, and descriptive. The sample consisted of 165 students belonging to university degrees (bachelor’s and master’s) related to physical activity and sport sciences. The main finding of this study allows us to affirm the relationship between emotional intelligence and anxiety. This confirms the hypothesis that anxiety is an indispensable component of any competitive situation, and that neither the total absence of anxiety nor high levels of it leads to better sports performance. Therefore, sport psychology should focus on the emotional preparation of athletes so that they can manage and control their anxiety at intermediate levels, which in addition to being typical of a competitive situation, is also synonymous with good sporting performance. Full article