The present study investigated the career maturity levels of student-athletes as compared to non-athletes with a special professional athletic aspirations of male athletes as well as consistency of match between their career expectations and choice of college majors. The sample included 101 male college football and basketball players and 76 male non-athletes from a Division IA university in the Midwest. The participants were given the Career Maturity Inventory (Crites, 1995) and an author-generated demographic questionnaire which covered topics such as age, race, year in school, and career plans.Five research hypotheses were examined: (1) More athletes would choose majors inconsistent with their career expectations than would choose consistent majors. The results did not support this hypothesis, x2 (2, N = 101) = 3.347, p = .188. (2) Athletes who reported a consistent match between their college major and career choice would have higher levels of career maturity than their less consistent counterparts. No significant differences were found when comparing consistency and career maturity levels (F = .144, p = .866). (3) White athletes would choose majors which were more consistent with their interests and values than would their Black counterparts. The results did not support this hypothesis (F = .381, p = .539). (4) As a group, male athletes emphasis on racial differences. The study also investigated the would display lower levels of career maturity when compared to their non-athletic counterparts. The results did indicate that the career maturity levels of athletes were not as developed as those of non-athletes in relation to the planning skills needed for effective career decision-making (F = 11.03, p < .001). However, both sets of scores were above the possible mean scores of the instrument, indicating that the athletes in this sample were less mature than the comparison group of non-athletes but not immature in terms of the overall possible mean scores. (5) A significant percentage of male student-athletes would report expectations for entering the professional sports arena. Athletes were found to have high expectations for obtaining a professional sports career (i.e., National Football League or National Basketball Association), with higher percentages of Black athletes (77.3%) than White athletes (22.7%) endorsing such expectations.The conclusions drawn from the research demonstrated that athletes may be at a slight disadvantage in an area critical to the education process. This disadvantage may prevent them from developing alternative career options should a professional sports career not come to fruition. Placing the athletes in some type of comprehensive career intervention program upon entering college may be helpful in raising the athletes' career planning skills to that of their non-athlete counterparts, giving them a wider range of options upon graduation. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Competitive ice skating is a sport in which thinness is stressed and is expected of these athletes. This obsession with thinness leads to decreases in body weight, psychological effects, and eating disorders. This study sought to investigate whether there was a relationship between body image, dietary intake, iron status, percent body fat, and menstrual dysfunction in 11 to 16 year old female ice skating competitors in the United States. Little research has been conducted with ice skaters in the area of body image. However, ice skaters, ballet dancers, and many other athletic groups are involved in an area of our culture in which a lean body image is encouraged.The experimentally accessible population for this study included those U.S. competitive ice skaters attending the Sports Medicine and Science Testing Program at the Indiana World Skating Academy. The target population included females ages 11 to 16.Statistical analysis of the data revealed:(1) A significant relationship between thiamin, calcium, and riboflavin intake and eating attitude test score (body image) in female ice skaters, ages 11-16.(2) A significant relationship between menstrual dysfunction and the weights of female ice skaters, ages 11 to 16.When dietary records were evaluated, the mean caloric intake of the skaters was low at 1781 calories. Caloric intakes were 445 calories less than estimated necessary to support normal growth (Benson et al, 1985). None of the vitamin levels fell below 96% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA), however, minerals which were less than 75% of the RDA included calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and potassium. There were more than 14 participants who consumed greater than 100% of the RDA for vitamin C, vitamin E, folacin, vitamin B-12, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin.Of the 19 participants who participated in hematological assessment, four were found to have an impaired iron status. The contributor to this low iron state may have been poor dietary iron consumption, as 10 of the 20 skaters consumed less than 67% of the RDA for iron.The participants' body image, measured by the Eating Attitude Test (EAT), revealed that two participants had scores greater than 30, indicative of eating disorders.The participant's age may have played a role in the tendency towards an eating disorder, for when age was correlated with EAT scores, a positive relationship existed, indicating that as age increased, the tendency towards an eating disorder increased.Training has posed enormous changes on the body composition of these female ice skaters. Ranges of 21.5% to 25.4% body fat are expected for the age group of 11 to 16. However, 71% of the ice skaters had a body fat less than 22%, and 38% of the skaters had a body fat less than 17%.This study identified numerous menstrual dysfunctions in among the participants as 9 of the 21 participants had irregular menses, and 4 have never menstruated and their ages were 15, 14, 13 and 11. The weights of these ice skaters may have a role in the menstrual dysfunctions, as a significant relationship was found between menstrual dysfunctions and the weights of these skaters. Those participants who had never menstruated, had four of the five lowest weights at 72 lbs, 90 lbs, 95 lbs, and 103 lbs. Those participants who had irregular menses, had weights below 117 lbs.The data indicated the main concerns about the diets of subjects in this study were the low caloric, calcium, and iron intakes. Ice skaters need to be aware of the benefits of a "normal caloric" intake, which can provide adequate amounts of calcium and iron in the diet. In addition, an adequate caloric intake could increase body weights of the ice skaters, and help alleviate amenorrhea and associated health complications. / Department of Home Economics

Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The purpose of this study was to interview elite First Nations, Inuit, and Métis athletes to gain an in-depth understanding of their personal journeys to excellence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and a narrative analysis was used to analyze the research findings. The three objectives were to find success strategies, obstacles and advice the elite athletes would provide to Aboriginal youth. The main success strategies were found to be Aboriginal elements, focus, mental preparation for competition, parental support, passion, and positive self-talk. Multiple obstacles were faced by the athletes in this study, with racism and leaving home being the commonalities. The advice they provided for young First Nations, Inuit, and Métis athletes was rich and inspiring. The findings of this study provide useful information for aspiring Aboriginal athletes, and for future ongoing meaningful research, that may lead to reducing the gaps in the literature.

Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This thesis aimed to develop a clearer understanding of the academic and psychological patterns of elite student-athletes. In particular, it takes a psychological perspective on how these dual role individuals cope with potential role conflict and maintain balance in their lives. The thesis is comprised of four studies: Study I investigated the academic outcomes (grade point averages) and academic preparation (A level points) of 120 elite British student-athletes compared to the average of their non student-athlete peers (n = 5395). The results showed that firstly, some student-athletes - in particular those who were male, younger and who played team sports - were more academically 'at risk' than others. Study 2 presented a systematic review of student-athlete psychological outcomes. A variety of research implications were found, including the need to; measure student-athlete role conflict; link objective and psychological outcomes in the same study; measure student outcomes as well as athletic ones; utilise a studentathlete specific measure of career maturity; research the elite British student-athlete experience; and undertake comparative U.S./U.K. student-athlete research. Study 3 took its lead from the implications of the systematic review. Firstly, Study 3a aimed to construct and initially validate a multidimensional and bidirectional measure of student-athlete role conflict, using the conceptualisations of work-family role conflict from the organisational psychology literature (Carlson, Kacmar and Williams, 2000). The outcome of this study was a 23-item measure of student-athlete role conflict. Secondly, Study 3b aimed to use the role conflict. measure to investigate the psychosocial patterns of elite student- athletes finding that objective outcomes (e.g. GPA, sporting level, hours in role), identity, role conflict and career maturity associate and differ in ways that would be anticipated, i.e. sport with sport and academic with academic (including career maturity). In particular, career maturity positively associated with student identity. However, higher nonexclusive and more intrinsically committed identities helped protect against role conflict. Thus, from a personality perspective, to maintain one's identity balance, the study concluded that one could either adopt appropriate role behaviours or increase role commitment. Study 3c compared U.K. and U.S. student-athletes finding that, although no different in terms of overall GPA and career maturity, U.S. studentathletes experienced significantly more role conflict and were motivated significantly more extrinsically in both their sport and study compared to U.K. student-athletes. Study 4 used a cyclical and collaborative action research approach to understand and respond to a specific elite British student-athlete environment. Role conflict issues were identified and tackled bye ither behavioural psychoeducational programming or by structural management recommendations. The programme of research in this thesis highlights the benefit of taking a psychological perspective on the student-athlete experience. In particular it suggests that college sport can be more than developing one's sporting ability whilst becoming academically qualified. When structured in a developmentally appropriate way, sport and study can act as complementary activities to enhance personal development.

Female participation in high-contact sports has increased dramatically in the past two decades, raising concern regarding injury to the female breast and the need for protective equipment. While the use of chest/breast protectors by women is advocated, little is known of their efficacy and effect on athletic performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chest/breast protector use on measures of performance and comfort, and to determine the mechanical response of the protectors to applied impacts. The four chest/breast protectors selected for study included rigid polyethylene and flexible closed-cell foam styles. To evaluate physiological and comfort differences among the control (no protector) condition and the protectors, female subjects completed a submaximal treadmill running protocol, during which metabolic, skin temperature and perceived comfort data were collected. To evaluate effects on general agility, subjects completed a timed agility test. To assess cushioning properties, the vertical acceleration-time and force-displacement histories of a projectile during surface contact with each protector were analyzed using a drop test method. Analysis of variance methods were used to compare metabolic, temperature, comfort, agility, and energy absorption variables. Graphic presentations accompanied by qualitative interpretation of data across the time history of the impacts were used to describe cushioning properties of the protectors. The chest/breast protectors in this study did not significantly increase oxygen consumption for submaximal treadmill running. Some but not all protectors produced significantly higher skin temperatures than the no-protector condition. Greater temperatures and temperature differentials between the skin and exterior equipment surface were associated with multiple plastic/fabric layers and closed-cell foam construction. No protectors produced significantly higher ratings of thermal sensation or perceived skin wettedness than the control condition. Two protectors were assessed as similar to the control condition on general comfort sensation while two were deemed to be significantly less comfortable. There was no decrease in general agility associated with protector wear. The closed cell foam protector generally showed better shock attenuation characteristics, while the rigid protectors generally demonstrated superior shock absorption. Relationships with regard to cushioning properties changed in response to systematic variation of missile mass and drop height. / Graduation date: 1992

Most advice for improving physiological strain in the heat includes maintaining hydration using long-term acclimation protocols (>10 days). Therefore, the major aims of this thesis were to examine; (i) effectiveness of short term (5-day) heat acclimation (STHA) with moderately and highly trained athletes; (ii) fluid regulatory strain has a thermally-independent role in heat adaptation; and, (iii) impact of STHA on a marker of thermotolerancè (inducible heat shock protein 70; HSP70). Ten moderately trained males completed heat acclimation (Acc) under controlled hyperthermia (rectal temperature 38.5�C) for 90-min on five consecutive days (T[a] = 40�C, 60% RH), on two occasions separated by a five-week washout, in a cross-over design. One Acc was undertaken with euhydration (fluid replenishment; EUH) and one with dehydration (no fluid intake; DEH) during daily Acc bouts. Participants completed an exercising heat stress test (HST) one week before, then on the 2nd day after Acc for both regimes. HST involved cycling at 40% PPO for 90 min (T[a] = 35�C, 60% RH), 10 min rest and a ramp protocol (2% PPO each 30 s) to volitional fatigue. HSTs were further completed 1, 2, and 3 wks after Acc to track the acclimation decay. On a later occasion eight highly trained male rowers were heat acclimated under the same protocol but with DEH acclimation only and a rowing-specific HST (2000 m rowing performance test). Plasma volume (PV) at rest and cardiac output (Q̇) during HSTs were measured using CO and CO₂ rebreathing, respectively. A number of plasma constituents were measured: PV, AVP, aldosterone, HSP70, total protein, albumin, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻ and osmolality. Short term heat acclimation resulted in physiological adaptation and enhanced exercise capacity for moderately trained participants. Compared to EUH permissive DEH during Acc bouts conferred larger acclimation-induced increases in resting PV by 4.1% (95%CI: -1.5 to 9.8%; p=0.06), Q̇[F]. (4.2: 0.7 to 7.8 mlmin⁻� 100 ml⁻�; p0.009), FVC (0.06: 0.02 to 0.10 ml 100ml Tissue⁻�mmHg⁻�; p=0.006), end-exercise V[s] (45.9: 3.6 to 84.4 mL; p=0.02) and decreased end-exercise f[c] by 17% (19: -29 to 9 b�min⁻�; p=0.08). Cardiovascular adaptations except PV persisted for one wk, but not two wks after Acc indicating that cardiovascular-related benefits from STHA may not be mediated by hypervolaemic responses per se. The highly trained athletes had functional heat adaptations of similar magnitude to lesser fitness-adapted participants across DEH acclimation, including resting PV expansion (4.5: 0.7 to 8.3%) and increased performance (-4.0: -6.3 to 0.6[s]; p=0.02). Plasma total protein-corrected HSP70 concentration increased from rest to end-exercise across acclimation (p=0.001). There was a greater change from rest to end-exercise on day one versus day five Acc (p=0.05), indicating a reduced stress-induced increase and a protective adaptive change. There were weak to moderate relationships between hydration indices in dynamic circumstances indicating that there is no single measure to accurately assess hydration status. In conclusion, short-term (5-day) heat acclimation was effective with adaptations more pronounced after fluid regulatory strain from a dehydration acclimation regime. Similar findings were found using highly trained and lesser- fitness adapted participants. Thermotolerance was increased by dehydration acclimation.

Post-exercise recovery techniques are being used increasingly in elite sport, but scientific study in this area is only emerging. The aim of this study was to collect information on the use and perceived effectiveness of the different recovery techniques used with athletes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Queensland Academy of Sport coaches and other high-performance coaches from seven sports (three team sports and four individual sports). The interview questions sought to examine the coaches’ understanding of recovery, personal experiences, and the modalities and techniques used with their athletes. Interviews lasted an average of 45 minutes and were transcribed for qualitative content analysis and checked for accuracy by the coaches. Triangular consensus was used throughout the coding process to constantly revisit and redefine the open and axial codes that emerged. Three themes emerged: understanding of recovery, recovery modalities used, and monitoring of recovery. Understanding of recovery relates to the coaches’ overall view and general understanding of recovery. Coaches reported that recovery consisted of physical, mental and neural components, and is important to the overall performance, repeated performance, and training of athletes. Coaches gained their recovery knowledge from a variety of sources across their own athlete and coaching pathways. Transferring this knowledge to athletes was perceived as important for enabling athletes to implement and adhere to recovery within their training plans. The recovery modalities used most often were low-intensity activity, stretching, nutrition, massage, contrast water immersion, cryotherapy, sleep and rest. Practicality and accessibility (e.g., time and cost) for the athletes’ daily training environment were key factors influencing use of different recovery modalities. Coaches reported that they applied recovery modalities according to their own past coaching experiences or experiences of other coaches and sport science professionals. It appeared that coaches learn recovery information best by watching and speaking with others, especially other coaches and sports personnel. Factors contributing to use of recovery modalities include convenience and accessibility of a modality. Time restraint was an evident factor. Other factors that seem to contribute to the use of recovery modalities include the awareness of a modality’s existence, perceived modality strength of effect (or negative effect), and the compliance with and attitude of athletes to the modality. The personal experience of a coach using specific recovery modalities also impacted on whether the coach prescribed the modality and encouraged athletes to use the modality. However, it was clear from the study that athletes need to take responsibility for applying the recovery modalities themselves mainly because of logistical reasons. Recovery was monitored most often through informal observation rather than formal investigation. The most common monitoring approaches were coach observation and athlete reporting (diaries and discussions). Some coaches indicated that using a combination of approaches is useful and effective for gaining maximal benefits. Further investigation of monitoring approaches and prioritising them in terms of ease of implementation are needed. In summary, this study provided insight into the use of recovery modalities in elite sport and implications for use by professionals assisting coaches and athletes. In light of the limited research in some areas of recovery, a network could be established to capture the coaches’ learned experiences and information on recovery to share with each other across different sports.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Idaho State University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [160]-167). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.