Joanne Thatcher

Psychological responses to injury in competitive sport: a critical review.

Research has attempted to examine the psychological impact of athletic injury to assist rehabilitation personnel when treating injured athletes. Sports trainers, sports therapists, physiotherapists, medical staff and sports psychologists should be aware of psychological factors impacting on the injury experience when involved in an athletes rehabilitation. A number of models have been proposed as useful frameworks for investigating and describing the psychological response to athletic injury. Many researchers have relied upon applying or adapting grief and cognitive appraisal models originally derived from the clinical and stress related psychology literature in an attempt to describe the psychological response to athletic injury. This article provides an overview of these models and offers a critical appraisal of this research, specifically focusing on the grief response models and the integrated model of response to sport injury and rehabilitation. Criticisms focus on the lack of research supporting a uniformed sequence of stages as a feature of response to athletic injury. Further grief criticisms centre on the absence of denial in much of the research to date. The article then focuses on the dynamic core of the integrated response to sport injury and rehabilitation model. It is argued that the interrelationships between emotional responses, behavioural responses, cognitive appraisals and recovery outcomes are not as simple as suggested in the model.

A Student-Centred Tutor-Led Approach to Teaching Research Methods.

Many institutions acknowledge that students find courses in research methods difficult and challenging. To overcome the problems associated with teaching this subject we have replaced the traditional didactic teaching approach, which did not facilitate student learning, optimize student achievement or adequately prepare students for their dissertation, with a student‐centred, tutor‐led approach. Staff training is an inherent part of the new approach, providing staff with the opportunity to refresh or develop their skills and knowledge in research methods. The approach is based on a comprehensive student study pack that has been written by staff and incorporates both ongoing assessment in the form of weekly seminar sheets and summative assessment comprising a research proposal and a statistical assignment. Since its introduction, the module has been extremely well received by both students and staff. The new approach is successful, as demonstrated by the low failure rate, the observation that students are more confident in approaching their dissertation and the fact that many now enjoy the module and find it relevant and academically challenging. External review also testifies to the success of the approach, which has been commended by external examiners and the QAA review team during their subject review.

Effects of Instructional and Motivational Self-talk on the Vertical Jump

Tod, DA, Thatcher, R, McGuigan, M, and Thatcher, J. Effects of instructional and motivational self-talk on the vertical jump. J Strength Cond Res 23(1): 196-202, 2009-The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of instructional and motivational self-talk on performance and the kinematics of the vertical jump. After completing a 10-minute warm-up on a stationary bike, 12 men (mean ± SD; 20.8 ± 3.0 years, 77.8 ± 13.5 kg, 1.78 ± 0.07 m) and 12 women (22.1 ± 5.8 years, 62.6 ± 6.7 kg, 1.65 ± 0.05 m) performed 4 vertical jumps, 3 minutes apart, on a force plate set at a 1000-Hz sampling frequency. Before each trial, participants engaged in 1 of 4 counterbalanced interventions, verbalized out loud, which included motivational self-talk, instructional self-talk, neutral self-talk, or no instruction. One-way analysis of variance with repeated measures, followed by paired t-tests with a Bonferroni adjustment, were used to analyze data. Both instructional (0.415 m) and motivational (0.414 m) self-talk led to greater center-of-mass displacement than neutral self-talk (0.403 m, p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively, alpha set at 0.008). Both instructional (263.9 N·s) and motivational self-talk (261.2 N·s) led to greater impulse than neutral self-talk (254.1 N·s, p = 0.005 and 0.004, respectively, alpha set at 0.025). Both instructional self-talk (582.6°·s−1) and motivational self-talk (592.3°·s−1) led to quicker angular rotation about the knee than neutral self-talk (565.8°·s−1, p = 0.001 and 0.018, respectively, alpha set at 0.025). These results may indicate that self-talk leads to greater angular velocity about the knee, thus generating greater impulse and increased jump height-a conjecture that needs empirical testing. Self-talk may contribute to improved performance in sports requiring power-based skills.

A preliminary development of the Re-Injury Anxiety Inventory (RIAI)

OBJECTIVES The present paper outlines the initial development of an instrument to measure re-injury anxiety. METHODS Face, content and factorial validity were examined over three stages of exploratory factor analyses. PARTICIPANTS 248 injured sport participants completed the scale. RESULTS A 28-item measure was produced to measure re-injury anxiety, comprising of two factors: re-injury anxieties regarding rehabilitation (RIA-R: 15 items) and re-injury anxieties regarding returning to training/competition (RIA-RE: 13 items). These two factors accounted for 80.56% of the total variance. The internal consistency for both factors was above the .70 criterion value; rehabilitation re-injury anxiety (alpha=.98); re-entry into competition re-injury anxiety (alpha=.96). CONCLUSIONS Future research needs to test the proposed 2-factor model presented in the current research using confirmatory factor analysis.

Changes in need satisfaction and motivation orientation as predictors of psychological and behavioural outcomes in exercise referral

Employing Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) as a theoretical framework, this study examined psychological need satisfaction and motivational regulations as predictors of psychological and behavioural outcomes in exercise referral (ER). ER patients (N = 293; mean age 54.49) completed the measures of motivational regulations, psychological need satisfaction, health-related quality of life, life satisfaction, anxiety, depression and physical activity at entry, exit and 6 months following the end of a supervised exercise programme. Change in (Δ) intrinsic motivation during the scheme significantly predicted adherence and Δ habitual physical activity. Δ psychological need satisfaction from entry to exit significantly predicted Δ habitual physical activity from exit to 6-month follow-up. Δ psychological need satisfaction significantly predicted Δ motivational regulation and Δ psychological outcomes. Contrary to expectations, Δ self-determined regulation did not significantly predict Δ psychological outcomes during the structured part of the scheme, however, it did significantly predict Δ in psychological outcomes from exit to 6-month follow-up. These findings expand on cross-sectional research to demonstrate that psychological need satisfaction during supervised ER longitudinally predicts motivational regulation and psychological outcomes up to 6 months after a structured programme.

The causes of and psychological responses to lost move syndrome in national level trampolinists

Lost Move Syndrome (LMS) can be described as a psychological condition in which athletes find themselves unable to perform a skill that was previously automatic. This study examined the psychological causes of and responses to LMS using semi-structured interviews with 15 elite trampolinists. Responses were analyzed using inductive content analysis, which led to a total of 54 raw data themes forming 6 general dimensions. Results showed that despite positive experiences before the recognizable start of the syndrome LMS could be traced back to initial skill acquisition and a gradual increase in pressure from various sources. This then lead to negative emotional reactions including self-presentation concerns and perceptions of poor coping strategies. A change in cognitions surrounding the initial motor program of the move also left the sufferer with altered perceptions and visual memory of the skill. Participants expressed that coping strategies were unsuccessful due to the current lack of knowledge surrounding the syndrome. Applied suggestions are offered for sport psychology consultants working with athletes suffering from LMS.

Telic dominance influences affective response to a heavy-intensity 10-min treadmill running session

Abstract In this paper, we examine the hypothesis that telic dominance is one of the psychological variables that may influence the exercise–affect relationship according to the dual-mode model of exercise and affect (Ekkekakis, 2003). Thirty-three participants with high or low telic dominance rated their affect at 3-min intervals as they ran on a treadmill while the speed was adjusted to maintain their respiratory exchange ratio at a target value of 1.00 ± 0.02 for a period of 10 min. Compared with baseline scores (which were not statistically different between the two groups), the mean decline in pleasure at the end of the run was twofold greater in participants with high telic dominance. This was observed after having controlled for individual differences in aerobic fitness (as measured by [Vdot]O2max). We also detected an earlier onset of decreases in pleasure in high telic dominant participants. Our data extend the burgeoning research on variables influencing ones ability to continue exercising at an imposed intensity that can produce pain or discomfort (i.e. tolerance of exercise intensity). Additionally, results from this study support continued promotion of tailor-made prescriptions for maximizing positive affective outcomes during exercise, which ultimately may lead to increased adherence to an exercise programme.

“I'm Really Embarrassed That You're Going to Read This …”: Reflections on Using Diaries in Qualitative Research

This article is a critical reflection on the methodological issues encountered when using handwritten diaries as a method of data collection. It provides a reflection on a longitudinal study that used diary data from competitive trampolinists over a three-month period. This article focuses on the advantages and difficulties encountered by the researchers when using this methodology. It is also centered on the participants experience of the research and the potential benefits that may be encountered. Issues discussed include setting the duration of the diary and maintaining the motivation of participants, the type of data collected, and the language used by participants. Also discussed is the potential for diary writing to elicit sensitive information, especially that of an otherwise undisclosed nature. Conclusions are drawn in relation to the use of diaries as a method of data collection and the potential advantages that they may offer.

Perceptual and cognitive responses during exercise: Relationships with metamotivational state and dominance

Abstract In this study, we examined ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and attentional focus during exercise in relation to telic and paratelic metamotivational dominance and state. Thirty regular exercisers (11 females, 19 males), of whom 10 were telic dominant (mean Paratelic Dominance Scale score=6.2±2.9), 10 paratelic dominant (mean PDS score=23.8±1.4), and 10 non-dominant (mean PDS score=15.4±0.7) completed two exercise trials. In the first trial, the participants completed a maximal ramped exercise test on a motorized treadmill to determine their gas exchange threshold (the speed at which determined exercise intensity of the subsequent trial). Throughout the second trial (a 30-min treadmill run), the participants reported their metamotivational state, RPE, and attentional focus (associative or dissociative) at 5-min intervals. Heart rate was recorded at 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, and 28 min and expired air was analysed for oxygen consumption (VO2) between 1–3, 6–8, 11–13, 16–18, 21–23, and 26–28 min. There was no main effect of dominance or dominance×time interaction on any variables (P >0.05). Oxygen consumption did not differ between states but RPE was higher in the telic than paratelic state at 25 and 30 min (t 28=2.87, P <0.05; t 26.77=3.88, P <0.05, respectively). Attentional focus was more associative in the telic than paratelic state at 20, 25, and 30 min (t 28=− 3.73, P <0.05; t 28=− 4.85, P <0.01; t 28=− 5.15, P <0.05, respectively) and heart rate was higher at 23 min in the telic state (t 27=3.40, P <0.05). During the latter stages of exercise, the telic metamotivational state, not dominance, was related to a more associative attentional focus and higher RPE. Our results support the use of reversal theory (Apter, 2001) to understand perceptual and cognitive responses during aerobic exercise, but an experimental design in which state is manipulated is needed to examine the effects of metamotivational dominance and state on perceptual and cognitive responses.

Stress responses during aerobic exercise in relation to motivational dominance and state

Abstract We examined the hypothesis that congruence between motivational dominance and state results in optimal psychological responses and performance during exercise. Twenty participants (10 telic dominant and 10 paratelic dominant) rated their stress at 5 min intervals as they cycled on an ergometer at gas exchange threshold for 30 min in both telic and paratelic state manipulated conditions. Participants then performed a test to exhaustion at a resistance equivalent to 110% of [Vdot]O2max. The hypothesized interaction between condition and dominance was significant for internal tension stress, as paratelic dominants were more stressed than telic dominants when exercising in the telic state and telic dominants were more stressed than paratelic dominants when exercising in the paratelic state. Similarly, the condition×dominance interaction for internal stress discrepancy was significant, as paratelic dominants reported greater internal stress discrepancy exercising in the telic compared with the paratelic state. Findings are discussed in relation to the application of reversal theory for understanding stress responses during aerobic exercise.