Yannis Zervas

Effects of aerobic exercise on mood of adult women.

The purpose of the present study was threefold, to examine (a) whether participation in an aerobics class produces an enhancement in the mood state of exercising women, (b) whether any effects persist 24 hours later, and (c) whether exercising in the morning or in the afternoon leads to differential effects. 99 women, aged 19 to 55 years, participated. Of 77 members of a fitness club who formed the treatment group, 28 exercised in the morning and 49 in the afternoon. The control group consisted of 22 nonexercising female clerks. The Profile of Mood States was administered just prior to and immediately after an aerobics class, as well as approximately 24 hours later. Members of the control group completed the Profile at their workplaces, following an identical time pattern. Analysis indicated a significant beneficial effect of exercise at both times of day on all dimensions of mood. 24 hours later, mood scores had not fully regressed to pre-exercise levels. The control groups over-all mood profile was poorer and their responses remained basically unaltered across administrations.

Influence of Physical Exertion on Mental Performance with Reference to Training

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of physical exertion (treadmill) on mental performance (matching a comparison design). Nine pairs of monozygotic twins (boys aged 11 to 14 yr.) were randomly divided into two groups, one trained and one untrained, while eight boys of the same age served as a control group. The trained group underwent a specifically designed program lasting six months. The trained and untrained groups performed on the treadmill for 20 min. at a running speed intensity above their individual anaerobic thresholds. Mental performance was evaluated by analysing mean number of correct answers, time taken to reach correct answers (decision time), and wrong answers. A 3 × 2 (group × pre/posttest) analysis of variance with repeated measures on the last factor yielded no significant differences; however, significant pre- versus posttest differences on correct answers and decision times occurred among the exercised groups.

Development and Validation of the Self-Talk Questionnaire (S-TQ) for Sports

The purpose of the present study was to describe the development and validation of the Self-Talk Questionnaire (S-TQ), designed to measure two functions of self-talk strategies, namely the motivational function and the cognitive function, used by athletes to enhance their sport performances. The study was conducted in three phases. The first phase targeted item selection and content relevance. The second phase set out to test the factor structure of the instrument. The aim of the third phase was focused on further examination of the psychometric properties of the instrument. The results of an exploratory factor analysis provided adequate support for the instrument. The S-TQ consists of 11 items, representing two factors (motivational and cognitive). A confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fit to the data. The factors were internally consistent, the correlations with external criteria were significant, and test-retest reliability values were very good. Examining the relationships between the S-TQ and similar constructs supported convergent validity. Discriminant validity was supported by correlations between the S-TQ and a different construct. The S-TQ appears to be a promising psychometric instrument that can be used in research and psychological intervention programs.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the flow state scale in sports

Abstract The present investigation was designed to assess the psychometric properties of the Flow State Scale (FSS) in sports using confirmatory factor analysis. It is a self‐report instrument consisting of 36 items measuring nine different factors. A series of three studies were conducted, using a total of 1083 athletes, men and women, from ten individual sports. The aim of the first study was to translate the FSS into Greek following the back‐translation procedure. The aim of the second study was to test the nine first‐order factor model according to the original structure (Jackson & Marsh, 1996). The results of this second study indicated an acceptable fit to the model. Correlations among the FSS and similar validated instruments were performed, providing further support to the factor structure of the FSS, through construct validity. The purpose of the third study was to test four alternative measurement models through confirmatory factor analysis, a nine first‐order factor model, and three hierarchical models positing one or three second‐order factors. The results of the third study indicated an acceptable fit for the nine first‐order factor model, as well as for the third hierarchical model, whereas the single hierarchical model provided a poor fit. Overall, the present investigation supported the multidimensional nine first‐order factor of the FSS in sports.

EFFECT OF A PHYSICAL EXERCISE SESSION ON VERBAL, VISUOSPATIAL, AND NUMERICAL ABILITY '

The effect of a physical exercise session on verbal, visuospatial and numerical performance was investigated in 186 men and 188 women, university students who were randomly divided into three experimental and three control groups. All subjects were tested on one of Eysencks verbal, visuospatial, and numerical ability tests. The experimental groups were examined after a 40-min. intensive exercise session, while controls were tested without any prior fatiguing task. There was no significant difference among the groups, indicating that an intensive physical exercise session does not impair mental performance as measured here.

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.

Development and validation of the Causes of Re-Injury Worry Questionnaire

Re-injury worry is an important construct in competitive sport that may influence performance and increase the risk of re-injury. However, there are currently no available instruments to measure the causes of re-injury worry. The purpose of this study was to develop the Causes of Re-Injury Worry Questionnaire (CR-IWQ). The study was conducted in three independent research phases to investigate the following: (a) the content relevance, (b) the factor structure and the factorial validity, (c) the concurrent validity, (d) the discriminant validity, and (e) the test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients; ICC), and the internal consistency of the instrument. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was chosen to examine the factor structure of the CR-IWQ. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine further the factorial validity of the instrument. A number of valid constructs were used to assess the concurrent and discriminant validity of the CR-IWQ. The reliability of the new instrument was examined using Pearson r (ICC) and Cronbach α. Three hundred and seventy athletes with an acute musculoskeletal sport injury in the last year participated in the study. EFA revealed a 12-item model, representing two factors (“Re-injury worry due to rehabilitation” and “Re-injury worry due to opponents ability”). CFA supported the two-factor model of the CR-IWQ. The concurrent and discriminant validity of the CR-IWQ was confirmed by examining correlations between the CR-IWQ with other constructs. The ICCs and the Cronbach α indices of the CR-IWQ were acceptable. We have demonstrated that the CR-IWQ is a good psychometric instrument that can be used for clinical and research purposes.

Intensity and direction dimensions of competitive state anxiety: a time-to-event approach.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the temporally patterned changes in intensity and direction of competitive state anxiety prior to and during competition as well as correlations among intensity and direction on the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory–2D subscale scores. 99 athletes completed the inventory one day before and an hour before the competition, based on how they felt during that time, and 30 min. after the competition with reference to how they felt during the competition. Analysis indicated different temporal patterning in subscale scores prior to competition. Correlations were medium (.40) for Intensity and Direction dimensions. Significant differences were noted between scores of those classified as Facilitators and Debilitators on the Intensity dimension. The results support the multidimensional nature of competitive anxiety. Moreover, additional information lies in directional interpretation of competitive anxiety and self-confidence.