Konstantinos Karteroliotis

The Effect of Physiotherapy-Based Breathing Retraining on Asthma Control

Background. The mechanism of the breathing retraining effect on asthma control is not adequately based on evidence. Objective. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of physiotherapy-based breathing retraining on asthma control and on asthma physiological indices across time. Study design. A 6-month controlled study was conducted. Adult patients with stable, mild to moderate asthma (n = 40), under the same specialist’s care, were randomized either to be trained as one group receiving 12 individual breathing retraining sessions (n = 20), or to have usual asthma care (n = 20). The main outcome was the Asthma Control Test score, with secondary outcomes the end-tidal carbon dioxide, respiratory rate, spirometry, and the scores of Nijmegen Hyperventilation Questionnaire, Medical Research Council scale, and SF-36v2 quality-of-life questionnaire. Results. The 2 × 4 ANOVA showed significant interaction between intervention and time in asthma control (F = 9.03, p < .001, η2 = 0.19), end-tidal carbon dioxide (p < .001), respiratory rate (p < .001), symptoms of hypocapnia (p = .001), FEV1% predicted (p = .022), and breathlessness disability (p = .023). The 2 × 4 MANOVA showed significant interaction between intervention and time, with respect to the two components of the SF-36v2 (p < .001). Conclusion. Breathing retraining resulted in improvement not only in asthma control but in physiological indices across time as well. Further studies are needed to confirm the benefits of this training in order to help patients with stable asthma achieve the control of their disease.

Measuring Children’s Self-Efficacy and Proxy Efficacy Related to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

BACKGROUND Social cognitive theory describes self-efficacy and proxy efficacy as influences on fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC). Proxy efficacy was defined as a childs confidence in his or her skills and abilities to get others to act in ones interests to provide fruit and vegetable (FV) opportunities. The purpose of this study was to develop a scale assessing childrens self-efficacy and proxy efficacy for FVC at after-school programs and at home. METHODS Elementary-aged children (n = 184) attending 7 after-school programs completed a self-efficacy questionnaire relevant to FVC. Questionnaire validity was investigated with exploratory factor analysis and mixed-model analysis of covariance. Internal consistency reliability and readability were also assessed. RESULTS The questionnaire assessed 4 constructs: self-efficacy expectations for fruit consumption, self-efficacy expectations for vegetable consumption, proxy efficacy to influence parents to make FV available, and proxy efficacy to influence after-school staff to make FV available. Children perceiving FV opportunities in after-school had greater self-efficacy expectations for FVC and greater proxy efficacy to influence after-school staff compared to students who did not perceive FV opportunities. Children attending schools of higher socioeconomic status (SES) and less diversity were more confident they could influence their parents to make FV available than students attending lower SES and less diverse schools. Adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities were established. CONCLUSIONS Self-efficacy is a multicomponent construct that can be assessed in children using the reliable and valid instrument evaluated by the current study.

Reliability and Validity of the Greek Version of the STAIC

Summary: This study describes the adaptation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC; Spielberger, Edwards, Lushene, Montuori, & Platzek, 1973) to the Greek population. It was hypothesized that the STAIC would be able to measure childrens state-trait anxiety levels. In the initial phase, a sample of 100 children, aged 9-12 years, was used in order to shape the final form of the inventory. In the final phase, two different samples (N = 875), aged 9-12 years, were used to test the validity and reliability of the inventory, using exploratory (Sample A; n = 425) and confirmatory (Sample B; n = 450) factor analyses. The results indicated that both scales possessed an acceptable internal consistency and reliability. The factor analysis in the total of the items indicated three factors, that is “absence of state anxiety,” “presence of state anxiety,” and “trait anxiety.” Also, confirmatory factor analysis (AMOS; Arbuckle, 1997) verified three factors. It is therefore concluded that the scales h...

Flow theory - goal orientation theory: positive experience is related to athlete's goal orientation.

The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between flow experience and goal orientation theory, as well as, the differences in flow experience based on the orthogonal model of goal orientation theory. Two hundred and seventy eight athletes completed the Task and Ego Orientation Sport Questionnaire based on how they usually feel. The challenge and skills ratings were completed 1 h before the competition, based on how they felt at the exact time of answering. In the following, the Flow State Scale-2 was completed up to 30 min after the competition they just participated, along with the challenge-skill ratings, based on how athletes felt during the competition. The results indicated that the athletes’ task orientation may be an important factor for attaining flow in competitive sport, feeling more skillful and estimating the upcoming competition as challenging, while low ego and low task oriented athletes lack these elements, which are important for them to get into flow. Additionally, not the level of task and ego orientation per se, but the balance between athletes’ goal orientation preferences seems important for the formation of flow experience, indicating that high task – high ego and high task – low ego athletes are experiencing the most positive mental state.

CONFIRMATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS OF THE SPORT ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS SCALE

The purpose of this study was to examine the factorial validity of the 5-factor model of sport organizational effectiveness developed by Papadimitriou and Taylor. This questionnaire has 33 items which assess five composite effectiveness dimensions pertinent to the operation of sport organizations: calibre of the board and external liaisons, interest in athletes, internal procedures, long term planning, and sport science support. The multiple constituency approach was used as a theoretical framework for developing this scale. Data were obtained from respondents affiliated with 20 Greek national sport organizations with a questionnaire. Analysis indicated that the 5-factor model of effectiveness is workable in assessing the organizational performance of nonprofit sport organizations. The application of the multiple constituency approach in studying sport organizational effectiveness was also suggested.

Neighborhood environment, physical activity, and quality of life in adults: Intermediary effects of personal and psychosocial factors

Background Studies have indicated that there is a positive and indirect relationship between physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QoL). The current study examined this relationship through a social cognitive model with consideration to the intermediary effects of exercise self-efficacy, and physical (PCS, physical component summary) and psychological (MCS, mental component summary) health. Additionally, this model was widened to include concepts from the ecological theory, and any causal associations among neighborhood environment, PA, and QoL. Methods Six hundred and eighty-four physically active adults (39.16 ± 13.52 years, mean ± SD), living in Athens, Greece, completed a series of questionnaires measuring PA, QoL, exercise self-efficacy, PCS, MCS, neighborhood environment, and family and friend support for PA. The examined models were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results The social cognitive and ecological models proved to be of appropriate fit. Within the social cognitive model, PA positively affected QoL through the mediating effects of exercise self-efficacy, PCS, and MCS. With regards to the ecological model, neighborhood environment positively influenced QoL through the intermediary effects of family support for PA, exercise self-efficacy, PA, PCS, and MCS. Conclusion Results indicated that the most important mediators in the examined models were exercise self-efficacy and health. Further, findings demonstrated the role of neighborhood environment in enhancing PA and QoL. Future studies should be carried out applying longitudinal data for a better understanding of these associations over time.

Validity and Reliability of Greek Versions of Two Scales Assessing Family and Friend Support for Exercise Behaviour

This study examined the validity and reliability of Greek versions of two scales assessing family and friend support for exercise behaviour. Exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were performed in a sample of 360 students. Additionally, CFAs were applied in a second sample of 726 physically active adults. Finally, associations were examined among scales and physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, and socio-demographic variables. Results indicated (a) a two-factor model for the Family Support for Exercise Behaviour Scale, (b) a one-factor solution for the Friend Support for Exercise Behaviour Scale, (c) satisfactory reliability coefficients, and (d) associations among the scales and physical activity, self-efficacy and socio-demographic variables. Conclusively, the social support scales were valid and reliable.

Psychological and situational determinants of burnout in adolescent athletes

Burnout in sport settings is commonly described as a multidimensional syndrome explained through a variety of antecedents. The present study aims to investigate the predictive relationship of psychological (motives, satisfaction, fatigue, anxiety, self-esteem) and situational (hours of training per week and perceived volume of training) determinants with athlete burnout symptoms (reduced sense of accomplishment, emotional/physical exhaustion, and sport devaluation). Participants were 142 Greek talented competitive athletes, aged 14–18 years, from various individual and team sports. Canonical correlation (CC) analysis indicated that the lack of satisfaction with performance, amotivation, and dysfunctional personality traits undermines athlete perceptions of accomplishment, while those less fatigued, less overloaded, and with a variety of motives protect themselves from feelings of emotional and physical exhaustion. Devaluation factor showed low reliability (.57) and thus was not included within CC analysis. Additionally, multivariate analysis of variance showed that “high burnout” athletes (n = 7) had elevated levels of amotivation, fatigue, and trait anxiety, but lower satisfaction with performance, less self-determined motivation, and lower self-esteem compared to “low burnout” athletes (n = 26). The present results highlight the need to take into consideration a combination of factors to understand burnout occurrence in adolescent athletes. Further, such athletes need to be supported in acquiring strategies to mitigate against threats to amotivation.