Leah J. Ferguson

Weight-related actual and ideal self-states, discrepancies, and shame, guilt, and pride: Examining associations within the process model of self-conscious emotions

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between womens actual:ideal weight-related self-discrepancies and experiences of weight-related shame, guilt, and authentic pride using self-discrepancy (Higgins, 1987) and self-conscious emotion (Tracy & Robins, 2004) theories as guiding frameworks. Participants (N=398) completed self-report questionnaires. Main analyses involved polynomial regressions, followed by the computation and evaluation of response surface values. Actual and ideal weight self-states were related to shame (R2 = .35), guilt (R2 = .25), and authentic pride (R2 = .08). When the discrepancy between actual and ideal weights increased, shame and guilt also increased, while authentic pride decreased. Findings provide partial support for self-discrepancy theory and the process model of self-conscious emotions. Experiencing weight-related self-discrepancies may be important cognitive appraisals related to shame, guilt, and authentic pride. Further research is needed exploring the relations between self-discrepancies and a range of weight-related self-conscious emotions.

Exploring self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being in young women athletes.

Using a mixed methods research design, we explored self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being in young women athletes. In a quantitative study (n = 83), we found that self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being were positively related (r = .76, p < .01). A model of multiple mediation was proposed, with self-compassion, passivity, responsibility, initiative, and self-determination accounting for 83% of the variance in eudaimonic well-being. In a qualitative study (n = 11), we explored when and how self-compassion might be useful in striving to reach ones potential in sport. Self-compassion was described as advantageous in difficult sport-specific situations by increasing positivity, perseverance, and responsibility, as well as decreasing rumination. Apprehensions about fully embracing a self-compassionate mindset in sport warrant additional research to explore the seemingly paradoxical role of self-compassion in eudaimonic well-being.

Women's Health-Enhancing Physical Activity and Eudaimonic Well Being

In this study, we explored the role of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA; Miilunpalo, 2001) in womens eudaimonic well being (i.e., psychological flourishing at ones maximal potential; Ryff, 1989). We used a quantitative approach (N = 349) to explore the relationship between HEPA and eudaimonic well being. While HEPA was not related to eudaimonic well being, experiencing eudaimonia through HEPA contributed unique variance in eudaimonic well being beyond HEPA and experiencing hedonia through HEPA. As quality of activity was more important than quantity, a qualitative component (N = 10) provided further insight on if and how HEPA contributes to womens eudaimonic well being. Participants supported HEPA in fulfilling their potential through goal setting/striving, providing bonding experiences, allowing for self-refection, and developing a physical/able body.

Narratives of young women athletes' experiences of emotional pain and self-compassion.

Self-compassion is a healthy way of relating to the self when experiencing emotional pain, personal failure and difficult life experiences. However, there is limited research to date in the area of self-compassion and sport even though recent investigation shows it might act as a potential buffer to painful emotions for athletes. The purpose of this study was to explore and present narratives of six young women athletes (15–24 years) from a variety of sports about their experiences of emotional pain and self-compassion. Each woman took part in two individual semi-structured interviews, one of which involved reflexive photography. They were asked to reflect on a difficult experience with a personal failure in sport, followed by discussions around the potential role of self-compassion in their experiences. The interviews, combined with reflexive photography, helped build rich narratives organised around the following themes: (1) Broken bodies, wilted spirits, (2) why couldn’t it have been someone else? (3) I should have, I could have, I would have and (4) fall down seven, stand up eight. Their narratives also suggested that while self-compassion can potentially be beneficial for athletes if developed and learned properly, concerns were expressed that being too self-compassionate may lead to mediocrity. Further research is needed on young women athletes’ difficult emotional experiences in sport, and more specifically on the role that self-compassion plays as both a potential facilitator and barrier to emotional health and performance success in sport.

Training distress and performance readiness: laboratory and field validation of a brief self-report measure.

Three studies were conducted to validate the Training Distress Scale (TDS), a 19‐item measure of training‐related distress and performance readiness. Study 1 was a randomized, controlled laboratory experiment in which a treatment group undertook daily interval training until a 25% decrement occurred in time‐to‐fatigue performance. Comparisons with a control group showed that TDS scores increased over time within the treatment group but not in the control group. Study 2 was a randomized, controlled field investigation in which performance capabilities and TDS responses were compared across a high‐intensity interval training group and a control group that continued normal training. Running performance decreased significantly in the training group but not in the control group, and scores on the TDS mirrored those changes in performance capabilities. Study 3 examined the relationship between TDS scores obtained over a 2‐week period before major swimming competitions and subsequent performance in those competitions. Significantly, better performance was observed for swimmers with low TDS scores compared with those with moderate or high TDS scores. These findings provide both laboratory and field evidence for the validity of the TDS as a measure of short‐term training distress and performance readiness.

‘I would love to blast some pow music and just dance’: First Nations students’ experiences of physical activity on a university campus

Abstract Although physical activity is valued in Aboriginal communities, an in depth understanding of the physical activity experiences among urban Aboriginal people in Canada is absent from the literature. The primary purpose of this study was to explore First Nations students’ physical activity experiences on a university campus. A secondary purpose was to identify ways to create and promote positive physical activity experiences for First Nations university students. Five First Nations students (ages = 18–28 years) engaged in a talking circle and one-on-one interviews. Three main themes emerged from the students’ narratives: (1) we are similar but unique, (2) a longing for tradition, and (3) extending a personal connection with physical activity. The participants’ stories included challenges with physical activity on campus, some of which were unique to the First Nations student experience (e.g. lack of traditional activities) and grew increasingly complex as their narratives unfolded (e.g. experiencing racism). The participants shared strategies they use to deal with challenges related to physical activity, including self-talk, incorporating significant others, and attempting to integrate traditional beliefs and practices. Changes made at the institutional-level were also considered as ways to manage personally difficult physical activity experiences. Further research and collaborative approaches are needed to: (1) develop university initiatives that generate more physical activity options as well as enhance the quality of physical activity for Aboriginal students, and (2) explore culturally-relevant resources that might be useful for Aboriginal students dealing with difficult physical activity experiences.

Eudaimonic Well-being: A Gendered Perspective

In this chapter we attempt to present a nuanced approach to eudaimonic wellbeing by considering it from a gendered perspective. Beginning with a discussion on two traditions of wellbeing – hedonic and eudaimonic – we briefly overview some literature on the similarities and differences for women and men on indices of wellbeing. Stemming from the position that gender differences in wellbeing are generally equivocal, we consider key methodological and philosophical issues that may enhance our knowledge on eudaimonic wellbeing from a gendered perspective. The development and validation of psychometrically sound measurement instruments – including examination of gender invariance – openness to explore eudaimonic wellbeing from a more social constructivist philosophical worldview, and embracing a fluid conceptualization of gender have merit for advancing this research area and furthering our understanding of wellbeing from a gendered perspective.

Women athletes’ self-compassion, self-criticism, and perceived sport performance.

Many difficult and painful sport experiences for young women athletes are at least partially due to their harsh self-criticism and negative performance evaluations. One potential resource for young women athletes to manage these experiences is self-compassion, a healthy self-attitude premised on being kind and understanding toward oneself during times of pain and failure. The purpose of this study was to explore if self-compassion was related to sport performance and if self-compassion accounts unique variance beyond self-criticism in women athletes’ perceived sport performance. Women athletes (N = 82, Mage = 18.77 years) from a variety of sports and competition levels completed measures of perceived sport performance, self-compassion, and self-criticism in sport around a scheduled competition. Self-compassion was negatively correlated with self-criticism, r = −.61, p < .001 and positively correlated with perceived sport performance, r = .29, p < .01. Further, self-criticism was not related to women athletes’ perceived sport performance. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that self-compassion contributed 5.4% unique variance beyond self-criticism in women athletes’ perceived sport performance. The results of this research suggest that extending compassion toward the self may be important for women athletes’ sport performance, whereas self-criticism does not play a role in perceived sport performance.