John Kremer

Sport, Leisure and Perceived Self-Competence among Male and Female Adolescents:

The relationship between gender, perceived self-competence and physical activity has come under increasing scrutiny over recent years. Males are more likely than female >to consider themselves to be competent in the physical domain and to derive height >ened self-worth from physical activities, including sport.The present study considere >patterns of physical activity, with a particular focus on involvement with sport, amon >a sample of 602 young people.The study was based on diary reports and face-to-fac >interviews, along with measures of perceived self-competence and self-worth a >derived from the work of Harter. The results indicated that boys spent more tim >participating in sport than girls and that boys reported higher perceptions of ‘athleti >self-competence’ and ‘global self-worth’ than girls. At the same time, both boys an >girls who were more active in sport were more likely to be characterized by hig >levels of self-worth than their more sedentary counterparts.

Psychology in sport.

What makes an athlete? (personality and individual differences) exercising your mind (cognitive psychology) helping athletes help themselves (clinical psychology) moving in sport (motor behaviour) sport in context (social psychology) growing through sport (developmental psychology) sport and drugs and runners high (psychophysiology).

Cutting the cord: student‐led discussion groups in higher education

As the world of higher education has become increasingly sensitive to employers’ needs so attention has focused on the development of skills and competences which will equip graduates to function effectively in the labour market. High on the list of graduates’ desired qualities are first, the ability to work in a team and second, the capacity for independent thought and action. At the same time, there has been a growing recognition that traditional methods of teaching (primarily tutorials and lectures) may be serving to perpetuate the opposite, namely dependency and passivity. With these issues in mind, the article outlines the experience of using leaderless group discussions and associated peer assessment as an integral part of an undergraduate degree programme. The practicalities of running the groups, the lessons which have been learnt over time, and the benefits for student learning are also discussed.

Women’s Experiences of Appearance Concern and Body Control across the Lifespan: Challenging accepted wisdom

This study adopted a lifespan approach to women’s experiences of appearance concern and body control. Thirty-two women (aged 16 to 77) were interviewed about their exercise and food regulation. Results of the grounded theory analysis challenge social constructions of appearance concern as associated principally with the reproductive years, and of the body as malleable, and highlight the complexity of the relationship between appearance concern and body control. Despite frequent persistence of (or increase in) appearance concern beyond young adulthood, ‘healthier’ responses to appearance concern occurred due to changing priorities and increasing awareness. Findings highlight the utility of an inclusive and qualitative approach, and the absence of simple and sovereign factors determining an individual’s levels of appearance concern or body control.

Physical Exercise and Psychological Well-being among People with Chronic Illness and Disability A Grounded Approach

This qualitative study describes the effect of exercise on psychological well-being among individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities such as stroke, cancer, diabetes and arthritis. Eleven users of a physical disability daycentre completed a novel, six-month, group-based programme of seated exercise provided by the first author. Results from grounded analyses of in-depth interviews provide evidence that exercise offers a powerful means to actively manage mood problems associated with disability, to preserve and cultivate personal identity in a positive manner and to connect with others and ones own body in ways which limit the development of illness-related psychological distress. Implications for the development of further research and future provision of similar services are discussed.

Feminist Identifications in a Troubled Society

This article reports selected findings from a programme of postgraduate research which examined womens identifications with feminism in Northern Ireland. This qualitative study used repertory grids and semi-structured interviews to explore the meanings of feminism with a total of 31 women. It shows how women `s perceptions of feminists have affected their decisions about whether or not to identify themselves as such. The data reported here are from case studies of 26 women. The repertory grids uncovered perceived commonalities and differences between women `s present and ideal selves and feminists, while the interviews revealed some of the conflicts women negotiate in their daily lives and the compromises they must make in attempts at conflict resolution. A conflicting picture emerges in which many women support feminist ideals but do not identify as feminists because of a negative stereotype of feminists. While this stereotype has specific connotations in the context of Northern Ireland, it seems likely that certain aspects of it, and the ways in which it is used, may apply to other patriarchal and heterosexist societies.

Understanding the psychology of pain in sport

While sport and exercise psychology has devoted considerable energies towards understanding the effects of injury, the psychology of pain itselfhas received far less attention. The paper briefly re...

Applying Social Psychology

Introduction The Environment Work Health and Illness The Community Communication and the Media Education Economic Life and Consumerism Crime and the Law Sport, Exercise and Leisure

Key concepts in sport psychology

PART ONE: INTRODUCING SPORT PSYCHOLOGY The History of Sport Psychology Practising Sport Psychology Ethical Issues Organizations, Sources and Resources PART TWO: ANXIETY AND STRESS Anxiety and Arousal Measuring Stress and Anxiety Pre-Performance Routines Choking Under Pressure Coping Strategies PART THREE: MOTIVATION AND COMMITMENT Sport Participation Motives Burnout and Dropout Goal Setting Fear of Failure and Need to Achieve Self-Determination Theory Achievement Goal Theory Self-Efficacy and Perceived Competence PART FOUR: COGNITIVE PROCESSES IN SPORT Mental Imagery Mental Practice Attention and Concentration Positive Self-Talk and Thought Control Mental Toughness PART FIVE: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT Team Cohesion Team Building Causal Attribution Social Facilitation and Social Loafing Leadership and Effective Coaching Home Advantage Aggression Fans and Spectators PART SIX: MOTOR SKILLS Motor Development Expertise Decision-Making Practising Motor Skills Analysis and Measurement of Motor Performance PART SEVEN: SPORT AND WELL-BEING Gender Issues Overtraining and Exercise Addiction Injury and Retirement

Socio-cultural identity and attitudes to sport in Northern Ireland

A representati ve sample of 1007 adults was interviewed to obtain a view of popular attitudes towards sport and physical activities in Northern Ireland. The study complements previous research which has focused on other stakeholder groups in Northern Ireland. This paper focuses on those aspects of the survey relating to the sensitive and often controversial interface between sport and issues of culture and identity in Northern Ireland. It investigates ways in which sport may be used as an expression of social identity and explores the role played by sport in building bridges between the two communities. The study lends support to the traditional view that sporting activities are heavily influenced by religious and community background. Drawing on recent research in social psychology, ideas are also proposed for promoting sport as a means of expressing an inclusive and shared ‘Northern Irish’ identity. The study demonstrates that the weight of adult opinion is behind the construction of a community relatio...