Remco Polman

Coping in sport: A systematic review

Abstract The aim of this paper was to systematically review the literature on coping in sport, examining evidence for both the trait and process perspectives, the types of coping strategies used by athletes, gender differences, age-related differences, and coping effectiveness. A comprehensive literature search of SPORTdiscus, PsychLIT, and PsychINFO in November 2004 yielded 64 studies spanning 16 years (1988 – 2004). The results indicated that athletes use a variety of coping strategies. Forty-six papers supported or adopted the process perspective (Lazarus, 1999; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). There were also gender and age-related differences. Evidence was found to support three of the different models of coping effectiveness (goodness-of-fit approach, choice of coping strategy, and automacity). Based on this evidence, future research should address some of the methodological and measurement limitations of the sport psychology coping literature. In particular, prospective research designs that minimize the time delay between recall and the stressful experience are required to assess how coping changes over time. More attention to developmental issues to guide the formulation of sport-specific models to enhance our theoretical understanding is also required. Finally, coping effectiveness should be examined both in the short and long term, as a greater understanding of coping effectiveness has the potentional to make a significant impact on applied practice.

Criteria for Determination of Maximal Oxygen Uptake: A Brief Critique and Recommendations for Future Research

Although the concept of maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) was conceived as early as 1923, the criteria used to establish whether a true V̇O2max has been attained have been heavily criticised. Consequently, an improvement in the methodology of the existing criteria, or development of new criteria, is required. In order to be valid across experimental studies, new or improved criteria need to be independent of exercise modality, test protocol and subject characteristics. One procedure that has shown potential for yielding valid V̇O2max criteria is the verification phase, which consists of a supramaximal constant speed run to exhaustion performed after the incremental phase of a V̇O2max test. A peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) in the verification phase that is similar (within the tolerance of measurement error, e.g. within 2%) to the V̇O2max value attained in the incremental phase would indicate that a true V̇O2max has been elicited. Verification of the maximal heart rate would also indicate that a subject has given a maximum effort. Although the validity of the present methodology for identifying an oxygen uptake (V̇O2) plateau is questionable, a V̇O2 plateau criterion based on the individual slope of the V̇O2-work-rate relationship should improve its validity. This approach also allows determination of the ‘total VO2 plateau’, which is in contrast to currently used V̇O2 plateau criteria that are based on the difference in V̇O2max between only two test stages or V̇O2max data points. The ratings of perceived exertion scale has been criticised for being a one-dimensional measure of physical effort and V̇O2max criteria based on a multidimensional psychophysiological approach should increase validity. Visual analogue scales can be used to assess aspects such as muscular pain, determination and overall perceived effort. Furthermore, they are easy to complete and have demonstrated good reliability and validity in clinical and health settings. Future research should explore these and other potential approaches to developing new or improved V̇O2max criteria, so that, ultimately, a standardised set of V̇O2max criteria can be established. At present, however, the greatest challenge is identifying V̇O2max criteria that remain valid across studies.

Effects of sleep deprivation and exercise on cognitive, motor performance and mood

This study examined the effect of 30 h of sleep deprivation and intermittent physical exercise, on both cognitive and psychomotor function as well subjective ratings of mood. Six subjects with the following physical characteristics participated in the study (Mean +/- S.D.): age 22 +/- 0.3 years, height 180 +/- 5 cm, body mass: 77 +/- 5 kg, VO2peak 44 +/- 5 ml kg(-1) min(-1). Three subjects engaged in normal sedentary activities while three others cycled on a cycle ergometer at 50% VO2peak for 20 min out of every 2 h during 30 h of sleep deprivation. One week later sleep deprivation was repeated with a cross over of subjects. Every 4 h, subjects completed simple and two-choice reaction time tasks at both rest and during exercise, a computerized tracking task, a number cancellation task, and an assessment of subjective mood state as measured by the POMS questionnaire. A 3 x 4 repeated measures ANOVA revealed that resting but not exercising reaction times were significantly slower with sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation was also associated with significantly greater negative disturbances to subjective vigour, fatigue and depression assessed by the Profile of Mood States questionnaire. Compared to those who have been deprived of sleep alone, individuals that performed 5 h of intermittent moderate exercise during 30 h of sleep deprivation appeared to be more vulnerable to negative mood disturbances and impairment in reaction times. This could result in greater risk of accident due to a reduced capacity to respond quickly.

Stress and Coping Among International Adolescent Golfers

Participation in competitive sport during adolescence has the potential to be extremely stressful (Goyen & Anshel, 1998). However, little is known about how young athletes cope with the stressors associated with their competitive sport involvement (Crocker & Isaak, 1997). There is a limitation of research findings to date because the inability to cope with stress is a significant factor in athletes’ performance failures (Lazarus, 2000). Adolescent athletes must learn how to cope with stress and respond positively to setbacks if they wish to pursue careers in elite adult sport (Holt & Dunn, 2004).

EFFECTIVE SPEED AND AGILITY CONDITIONING METHODOLOGY FOR RANDOM INTERMITTENT DYNAMIC TYPE SPORTS

Different coaching methods are often used to improve performance. This study compared the effectiveness of 2 methodologies for speed and agility conditioning for random, intermittent, and dynamic activity sports (e.g., soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, rugby, and netball) and the necessity for specialized coaching equipment. Two groups were delivered either a programmed method (PC) or a random method (RC) of conditioning with a third group receiving no conditioning (NC). PC participants used the speed, agility, quickness (SAQ) conditioning method, and RC participants played supervised small-sided soccer games. PC was also subdivided into 2 groups where participants either used specialized SAQ equipment or no equipment. A total of 46 (25 males and 21 females) untrained participants received (mean ± SD) 12.2 ± 2.1 hours of physical conditioning over 6 weeks between a battery of speed and agility parameter field tests. Two-way analysis of variance results indicated that both conditioning groups showed a significant decrease in body mass and body mass index, although PC achieved significantly greater improvements on acceleration, deceleration, leg power, dynamic balance, and the overall summation of % increases when compared to RC and NC (p ≤ 0.05). PC in the form of SAQ exercises appears to be a superior method for improving speed and agility parameters; however, this study found that specialized SAQ equipment was not a requirement to observe significant improvements. Further research is required to establish whether these benefits transfer to sport-specific tasks as well as to the underlying mechanisms resulting in improved performance.

Stressors, coping, and coping effectiveness: Gender, type of sport, and skill differences

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine stressors, coping, and coping effectiveness as a function of gender, type of sport, and skill. The sample consisted of 749 undergraduate athletes (455 males, 294 females) aged 18 – 38 years (mean = 19.8 years). Skill was classified as international/national, county, university, and club standard. Participants completed a stressor and coping concept map (Novak & Gowin, 1984). The results revealed gender, type of sport, and skill differences in relation to stressor frequencies, coping strategy deployment, and coping effectiveness. In contrast to previous research, females used a variety of problem-focused (e.g. planning, communication, technique-orientated coping) strategies more frequently than males. Team sport athletes reported a variety of sport-specific stressors relating to the demands of playing in a team environment. The group of national/international athletes reported using more planning, blocking, and visualization, and also reported that their coping was more effective than that of less-skilled athletes.

Stressors and affective states among professional rugby union players

The purpose of the present study was to examine (a) the sources of sport and non‐sport stress and their associated symptoms on rest days, training days, and match days and (b) the temporal aspects of sources and symptoms of stress and affective states. Professional male rugby union players (n=16) completed the Daily Analysis of Life Demands in Athletes (DALDA) and the Activation Deactivation Adjective Check List (AD ACL) for 28 days. On match days players reported that few stressors were “worse than normal.” Most stressors were “worse than normal” on training days followed by rest days and more stressors were “worse than normal” on the day after a match than on match days. Further, players reported an unpleasant, low activation state across the three analysis days, suggesting they were in an overtrained state. The findings of this study demonstrate that professional rugby players experience negative affect and a multitude of sport and non‐sport stressors. Early detection of stressors and negative affective states could help prevent symptoms of overtraining and burnout and facilitate optimal training and sporting performance. Coaches and practitioners are encouraged to integrate the DALDA and AD ACL in their training and performance monitoring regimes.

The lived experiences of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in relation to exercise.

The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of people diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Seven active exercisers with MS participated in semi-structured interviews regarding their exercise experiences since diagnosis. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA; Smith & Osborn, 2003). Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. The results and interpretations of narratives revealed a number of functional limitations due to the severity of MS symptoms, which were found to have a major effect on the ability of the participants to exercise. Furthermore, psychological problems and the heightened behavioural adjustments to the progressive disability led to re-appraisal of ability to exercise. Previous, relevant exercise experience made participants more determined to continue to be able to exercise after diagnosis. The wider exercise experience narratives were related to concerns about safety, dependability on others to overcome the challenges, and potential environmental hazards. The loss of spontaneous opportunities to exercise because of these actual and perceived barriers was key to this population. This research highlighted the need to rethink the health and social service arrangements in relation to exercise provision for individuals with MS.

Acute sport-related stressors, coping, and emotion among professional rugby union players during training and matches.

The purpose of this study was to examine acute sport‐related stressors, coping, and emotion among a sample of professional rugby union players during training and matches. Five professional rugby union players maintained diaries for 31 days. The diaries consisted of a stressor checklist and an open‐ended stressor response section, an open‐ended coping response section, a Likert‐type evaluation of coping effectiveness, a best‐of‐fit emotional response section, and a Likert‐type evaluation of emotional intensity. Six out of the 10 stressors reported had a higher mean frequency in training compared with matches. Blocking was the most frequently cited coping strategy on match days, whereas increased concentration was the most frequently cited coping strategy on training days. Coping effectiveness was significantly higher during training compared with matches. Additionally, higher levels of emotional intensity were significantly associated with lower levels of coping effectiveness. Significant individual differences were found for both coping effectiveness and emotional intensity.

Postural Responses to Dynamic Perturbations in Amputee Fallers Versus Nonfallers: A Comparative Study With Able-Bodied Subjects

OBJECTIVES To quantify postural responses in amputee fallers versus nonfallers by using computerized dynamic posturography. DESIGN All participants completed standard protocols on the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and Motor Control Test (MCT) of the NeuroCom Equitest. SETTING Human performance laboratory in a university in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS Transtibial amputees (n=9) and able-bodied subjects (n=9) (all categorized into fallers and nonfallers according to their falls history in the previous 9 mo). INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Equilibrium and strategy scores on the SOT. Postural response latency and weight distribution on the MCT. RESULTS Equilibrium scores were highest when somatosensory information was accurate, but there were no differences between the groups. Strategy scores were lower when visual cues and somatosensory information were inaccurate, and the fallers and nonfallers used a combination of ankle and hip strategies to prevent a loss of balance. The amputee nonfallers indicated they had a greater reliance on visual input even when it was inaccurate compared with the amputee fallers, whereas the control fallers used the hip strategy significantly more compared with the control nonfallers (SOT condition 6: 56+/-22 vs 72+/-10, P=.01). Weight distribution symmetry showed that the amputee nonfallers bore significantly more weight through their intact limb compared with the amputee fallers during backward and forward translations (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS The SOT and MCT appeared to be population specific and therefore did not reliably identify fallers among transtibial amputees or distinguish between community-dwelling control fallers and nonfallers. Amputee and control fallers can prevent a fall during challenging static and dynamic conditions by adapting their neuromuscular responses. The results from this study have important implications for amputee gait rehabilitation, falls prevention, and treatment programs.