Samuel Zizzi

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Performance Among College Basketball Players

Emotional intelligence, often referred to as EQ, is a relatively new theoretical construct that has emerged in both popular press and academic publications in the last decade. Popular press definitions of EQ include a wide range of skills such as motivation, empathy, communication, persistence, and personal warmth (Goleman, 1998). More conservative definitions from academic research focus on EQ as involving an individualx92s capacity to recognize and utilize emotional states to change intentions and behavior (Mayer, 1999; Mayer & Salovey, 1995; Salovey & Mayer, 1990). Due to these discrepancies, it is important to develop a clear perspective on the theoretical development of EQ and how this theory may or may not overlap with traditional forms of intelligence and with psychological skills and strategies as they relate to athletic performance. This brief review of EQ theory development focuses on empirically driven research as opposed to the popular press applications of EQ. The foundation of emotional intelligence theory is based on the evolution of x93intelligence.x94 Gardnerx92s (1983) work on multiple intelligences expanded the traditional definition of intelligence that focused on verbal, analytical and quantitative abilities to include skills such as kinesthetic, musical, intrapersonal, and interpersonal intelligences. This dramatic change in the conceptualization of intelligence broadened the focus from internal cognitive capacities (e.g., logic and reason) to abilities that involve some interaction with emotional states or the external environment. These presumably adaptive abilities are considered personality traits similar to previous components of intelligence. Following Gardnerx92s multiple intelligences theory, work began on developing a theory specifically in the area of interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence. Salovey and Mayer (1990) defined EQ as x93the ability to monitor onex92s own and othersx92 feelings and emotions, to

Use of Protection Motivation Theory, Affect, and Barriers to Understand and Predict Adherence to Outpatient Rehabilitation

Background and Purpose: Protection motivation theory (PMT) has been used in more than 20 different health-related fields to study intentions and behavior, albeit primarily outside the area of injury rehabilitation. In order to examine and predict patient adherence behavior, this study was carried out to explore the use of PMT as a screening tool in a general sample of people with orthopedic conditions. Subjects and Methods: New patients who were more than 18 years old and who were prescribed 4 to 8 weeks of physical therapy treatment (n=229) were administered a screening tool (Sports Injury Rehabilitation Beliefs Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and a barriers checklist) prior to treatment. Participants’ adherence was assessed with several attendance measures and an in-clinic assessment of behavior. Statistical analyses included correlation, chi-square, multiple regression, and discriminant function analyses. Results: A variety of relationships among affect, barriers, and PMT components were evident. In-clinic behavior and attendance were influenced by affect, whereas dropout status was predicted by affect, severity, self-efficacy, and age. Discussion and Conclusion: The screening tool used in this study may assist in identifying patients who are at risk for poor adherence and provide valuable information to enhance provider-patient relationships and foster patient adherence. However, it is recommended that more research be conducted to further understand the impact of variables on patient adherence and that the screening tool be enhanced to increase its predictive ability.

Critical issues confronting the advancement of applied sport psychology

Abstract Despite considerable progress over the last 10 years, applied sport psychology confronts several persistent issues that continue to limit the growth and development of the field. Specifically, issues requiring more comprehensive and proactive attention and initiatives include: the training of graduate students, the accreditation of graduate programs, the job market, and the establishment of systematic educational outreach programs. Suggestions are offered regarding how enhancements in each of the aforementioned issues can be initiated, and potential benefits gained by students, faculty, and the general public are identified and discussed. Given the climate in many academic institutions emphasizing program downsizing, sport psychology may be approaching and confronting one of the most crucial crossroads in its existence. Without direct efforts to assure academic credibility and public confidence in the standards of training and practice, sport psychology may fail to actualize a meaningful future r...

An Assessment of Patient Behavioral Requirements Pre- and Post-Surgery at Accredited Weight Loss Surgical Centers

BackgroundWithout changes to diet and exercise behaviors, weight losses achieved through surgical procedures may be short lived. There is no data currently available on how accredited bariatric facilities are implementing best-practice guidelines related to behavioral and psychological care to help patients make long-lasting change.MethodsOne hundred twenty-three ACS-accredited facility websites were analyzed using document and content analyses to determine behavioral and psychological services. Categories of common facility practices were identified according to best-practice recommendations and website data was coded by category. Descriptive statistics were then generated to summarize the implementation of services.ResultsBehavioral and psychological services were more likely to be required prior to surgery than after surgery. In addition, there is great variance in the staff employed by facilities to assist patients, with more facilities employing dietary staff than exercise staff. Data patterns are reported across the categories of psychological assessment, pre- and post-surgical behavioral requirements, type of support groups, follow-up protocol, and staffing.ConclusionsMost facilities implement some type of dietary counseling or consultation; however, few include services related to helping patients improve physical activity patterns. Greater incorporation of behavioral and psychological services following surgery is recommended to prevent weight regain and to help patients adopt and maintain regular physical activity.

Student Recreation Centers: A Comparison of Users and Non-Users on Psychosocial Variables

Undergraduate (n = 561) and graduate (n = 104) students at a large mid-Atlantic university were surveyed to determine their usage patterns and beliefs about the climate of a newly constructed student recreation center (SRC) on their campus. Analyses attempted to identify differences between those students who used the facility (n = 547) and those who did not (n = 118) in relation to gender, age, year on campus, stage of change for exercise, and motivational orientation. Results revealed that SRC users were at higher stages along the transtheoretical model (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983) and were significantly more likely to have participated in high school athletics than non-users. Non-users were significantly more likely to live off-campus, smoke, and be female than SRC users. The discussion offers suggestions for enticing non-users to exercise and use the facility, and feel more comfortable while doing so.

Assessing the Impact of New Student Campus Recreation Centers

The student recreation center (SRC) at many colleges and universities has evolved from being a place to lift weights and take aerobics classes to becoming a high-powered recruitment tool (Colleges use recreation, 2002). The present study included the development of an instrument to assess the use and impact of SRCs. Students (N = 655; users = 537, nonusers = 118) were surveyed about their use of and satisfaction with their universitys newly constructed SRC. The overall findings revealed that a majority of SRC users were male (54.9%), felt more at home on campus since the construction of the SRC (61.2%), and felt that the SRC had increased their exercise frequency (79.9%). Forty percent of users adopted regular physical activity after the construction of the SRC. Non-users were primarily female (59.3%), had never visited the SRC (49.6%), and did not participate in any physical extracurricular activities (78.0%). Future SRC research should explore exercise patterns more thoroughly and link facility use to additional social and academic developmental outcomes.

A Web-Based Survey of AAASP Members' Ethical Beliefs and Behaviors in the New Millennium

Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP) members (N = 1121) were contacted via a series of five broadcast e-mail messages and asked to complete a web-based survey about their personal ethical beliefs and practices germane to the practice of applied sport psychology. The survey inquired about professional beliefs and behaviors of AAASP members using a survey similar to that of Petitpas et al. (1994), which was instrumental in the development and adoption of AAASPs ethics code. Surveys were completed and returned by 322 individuals. Several differences with small to moderate effect sizes were found in the ethical beliefs and behaviors between men and women, professionals and students, AAASP Certified Consultants and non-Certified Consultants, and individuals from physical education and psychology backgrounds. Furthermore, many challenges to respondents ethical thinking and conduct were identified. Respondents provided suggestions about the dissemination of ethical information and the role of the Ethics Committee. The results provide initial support for potential changes in the current ethical principles and standards of AAASP.

Using a Multidimensional Approach to Predict Motivation and Adherence to Rehabilitation in Older Adults

Physical therapists working with older adults often encounter problems related to low motivation and adherence. This review article integrates data on factors related to adherence behavior from the fields of sports medicine, sport psychology, athletic training, and physical therapy and applies the results to older adults in rehabilitation. Key factors are highlighted and a model for predicting adherence behavior, based on protection motivation theory, is outlined. The authors advocate complementing orthopedic assessment with a psychosocial assessment in the form of brief surveys or structured interview. The article concludes with several evidence-based recommendations for the practicing physical therapist.

Ethical Training in Sport Psychology Programs: Current Training Standards

Ethical training in graduate programs is an important part of the professional development process. Such training has taken a position of prominence in both counseling and clinical psychology but seems to be lagging behind in the field of sport psychology. A debate exists about whether such training is necessary and, if so, how it should be provided. An important step in better understanding these issues is to identify how such training is currently taking place. This study surveyed the program directors of sport psychology programs listed in the Directory of Graduate Programs in Applied Sport Psychology (Burke, Sachs, & Schrader, 2002) about the ethical training that takes place in their programs and their perceptions of the preparedness of the students in their programs. Of those contacted, 54% (n = 47) responded to the e-mail based survey. The results from these respondents indicated that 64.4% of programs require training in ethics and that the training was most commonly integrated into other nonethics courses. Overall, respondents did not feel as if students were completely prepared for either the ethical or legal issues that they will face in their professional careers. The importance of ethical training and suggestions for improving ethical training are discussed.

Sport psychology in Brazil: Reflections on the past, present, and future of the field†

Sport psychology is not a new field in Brazil. The work of Brazils pioneers in this field brought psychology into sports in the country in the 1950s. Even with this early start, however, sport psychology organisations in Brazil still have important issues to address. We will discuss the past and current status of the field in Brazil and propose future directions using a strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. Brazil Sport and Exercise Psychology (SEP) field is in a stage of development both in applied practice and in research. A strength in the field in Brazil is that SEP is a recognised specialist field of psychology and there are clear pathways for the accreditation. Nevertheless, there are problems in the educational system (undergraduate and postgraduate levels) that hindered the accreditation process. There are a good number of sport psychologists working in applied work. However, due to the above mentioned issues with the accreditation process the standard of service delivery is not ensured. The weaknesses in the educational system not only has an effect on the applied practice, but it also influences the research in SEP in Brazil. The Brazilian research output in international journals is limited due to the existent language barrier and a system of evaluation of scientific journals that does not incentive this type publication. Brazil, with the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio, has a unique opportunity to conduct applied work, build research projects, and increase public awareness of the role of sport psychology in competitive sport.