Laura Bortoli

The effects of motivational climate interventions on psychobiosocial states in high school physical education

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of task- and ego-involving climate manipulations on students climate perception and psychobiosocial (PBS) states in a physical education setting. Method: Two subsamples of female students (N = 108, 14–15 years of age) participated in 12 lessons on either a task- or an ego-involving climate intervention as grounded in the TARGET (tasks, authority, recognition, grouping, evaluation, and time) model. Results: At the end of the treatment, the participants of the ego-involved group reported lower scores in the perceived task-involving climate and higher scores in the perceived ego-involving climate compared with their peers in the task-involved group. Lower scores in pleasant/functional PBS states and higher scores in unpleasant/dysfunctional PBS states were also observed in the ego-involved group as a consequence of the intervention. Conclusion: Findings suggested that teachers induced achievement motivational climates can influence students perceptions and prompt PBS states consistent with the motivational atmosphere.

Attentional Focus and Functional Connectivity in Cycling: An EEG Case Study

This study aimed to test the efficacy of associative and dissociative attention-based strategies derived from the MAP model to improve performance in endurance activity, and to verify whether specific cortical functional networks are associated with the different types of performance foreseen in the MAP model. The findings from one cyclist support the hypothesis that dissociative strategies induce electrophysiological conditions facilitating flow performance states, which are mainly characterized by extensive functional connectivity across all brain areas in the alpha band. Associative strategies do not seem to conform to this framework, although focusing on the core components of action minimized the awareness of unpleasant afferent feedback, thus delaying detrimental increments of perception of effort, which manifest as a predominant frontal-motor coupling in the alpha band and fronto-occipital coupling in the beta band.

Perceived Control and Hedonic Tone Dynamics During Performance in Elite Shooters

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the individuals dynamics of perceived control and hedonic tone over time, with respect to the 4 performance states as conceptualized within the multiaction plan (MAP) model. We expected to find idiosyncratic and differentiated trends over time in the scores of perceived control and hedonic tone, typified by fluctuations among 2 optimal and 2 suboptimal types of processing during performance. Method: Ten elite-level shooters participated in the study. They were asked to identify the most relevant, idiosyncratic core component of their shooting action and perform 120 shots distanced 10 m from the target. Subjective accounts of perceived control and hedonic tone of the core component of action were assessed prior to and after each shot. We used a probabilistic approach to derive the 4 performance categories according to 2 × 2 interactions of perceived control and performance and hedonic tone and performance. Results: Logistic ordinal regression analysis enabled the identification of 4 idiosyncratic performance types for each athlete with respect to perceived control and hedonic tone intensity scores. Within- and between-individual differences in intensity bandwidth and probability levels were apparent across the 4 performance types. Changes among 4 types of processing were also observed during performance. Conclusion: Consistent with the MAP model conceptualization, the findings provided support for the different patterns of perceived control and hedonic tone intensity scores during performance. The results suggest applied arguments for using action- and emotion-centered strategies to help athletes in reaching and sustaining optimal performance states.

ERD/ERS Patterns of Shooting Performance within the Multi-Action Plan Model

The multi-action plan (MAP) model reflects the notion that different psychophysiological states underlie distinct performance-related experiences. Previous empirical evidence suggested that attentional focus, affective states, and psycho-physiological patterns differ among optimal-automatic (type 1), optimal-controlled (type 2), suboptimal-controlled (type 3), and suboptimal-automatic (type 4) performance experiences.

Stress/recovery balance during the Girobio: profile of highly trained road cyclists

The purposes of this study were to (a) determine and compare the magnitude of pre–post recovery and stress scores among highly trained cyclists participating in the “Girobio”, and (b) identify stress/recovery balance factors that remained constant from pre- to post-race testing. Sixty-seven cyclists with extensive international experience and representing various teams participated in the study. Data were collected during the Girobio-2012, a multi-stage competition for Under 23 and Elite cycling categories, held annually in Italy. Participants responded to the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Sport 1xa0day before the first stage (test, T1) and on the day of the ninth/final stage (i.e., 5xa0h prior to the start) (retest, T2). Compared to test scores, at retest we expected to find higher stress and lower recovery values for all subscales with the exception of self-efficacy and self-regulation, which reflect goal-oriented experiences rather than psychophysical states linked to a given race. Overall, results were in this expected direction. No significant effects were found for one general stress subscale (i.e., Conflict/Pressure), two general recovery subscales (i.e., Success and Social Recovery), and two sport-specific recovery subscales (i.e., Personal Accomplishment, and Self-Efficacy), thus suggesting the stability of these stress/recovery factors over time. Collectively, these findings reinforce the importance of assessing multiple indicators of stress/recovery balance to establish mental training guidelines aimed at addressing and preventing both temporary and relatively chronic maladaptation among cyclists.

Implementing the TARGET Model in Physical Education: Effects on Perceived Psychobiosocial and Motivational States in Girls

Grounded in achievement goal and self-determination theories, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of mastery and performance climate interventions on students’ psychobiosocial (PBS) states and self-determined motivation. A first study was conducted to determine the validity of the measures. In a second study, two groups of female students (N = 65, 14–15 years of age) took part in the investigation. A mastery-performance group participated in eight task-involving lessons and then in another set of eight ego-involving lessons. A performance-mastery group participated in ego-involving lessons and then in task-involving lessons. Findings revealed that the program was effective in changing PBS states and self-determined motivation in the performance-mastery group. In particular, participants in this group reported lower scores on pleasant/functional PBS states and self-determined motivation after the first phase of the intervention. Furthermore, lower levels of self-determined motivation were maintained after the second phase of the intervention, thereby suggesting detrimental carryover effects.