The purpose of this study was to examine the mental health among young elite athletes aged16-19 years old at Växjö municipality sports high schools. The focus area was anxiety anddepression disorders, which were measured using the General Health Questionnaire. Theprimary issues was to examine how common these disorders are and whether it differsbetween individual and team athletes. By actualizing the subject, there are also hopes that thesubject will be less stigmatized.A quantitative method has been used to reach out to as many people as possible. Thequestionnaire included for example questions about injury background and amount oftraining, to have a material for an analysis. Some of the conclusions are that anxiety anddepression disorders are common among students at Växjö municipality sports high schoolsand that many students consider that they don’t receive sufficient support for mental illness.

Elite athletes often risk their health to achieve the highest level of performance, but this might instead result in decreased performance and health over time. Over the last few years, multiple elite athletes have expressed their struggles with mental health (MH), and it seems like the prevalence for mental illness in elite athletes is comparable to the general population. Multiple factors influence the balance between MH and performance, and it is known that elite athletes experience unique stressors in their careers. The purpose of the study is to explore career narratives of Swedish elite tennis players to learn about how, at different periods of their careers, they searched for, maintained, lost, and restored their perceived optimal balance between MH and performance. The methodology used is narrative inquiry with thematic analysis and composite vignettes to analyze and present the data. Three Swedish elite tennis players were interviewed. The findings show five different themes that create a thematic map which demonstrate the stages the athletes faced and experienced as they attempt to balance MH and high-level performance. It is concluded that sport psychology professionals are obligated to understand how athletes can work towards an optimal balance between MH and performance, and this study provides a step towards that goal. / Elitidrottare riskerar ofta sin hälsa genom att göra allt de kan för att uppnå den högsta möjliga prestationsnivån, men det kan tyvärr resultera i försämrad prestation och hälsa i längden. Under de senaste åren har flera elitidrottare uttryckt deras problem med mental hälsa, och det verkar som att prevalensen av psykisk ohälsa hos elitidrottare är jämförbar med den allmänna befolkningen. Flera faktorer påverkar balansen mellan mental hälsa och prestation, och det är även känt att elitidrottare upplever unika stressfaktorer i sina karriärer. Syftet med studien är att utforska karriärberättelser från svenska elittennisspelare för att lära sig hur de, under olika perioder i karriären, sökte efter, bibehöll, förlorade, och återställde sin balans mellan mental hälsa och prestation. Metodiken som används är narrativ undersökning där tematisk analys och sammansatta vinjetter användes för att analysera och presentera resultatet. Tre svenska elittennisspelare intervjuades. I resultatet hittades fem olika teman som tillsammans skapar en tematisk karta, vilket visar de stadier som spelarna stod inför och upplevde när de försökte balansera mental hälsa och prestation på hög nivå. Slutsatsen är att arbetare och forskare inom idrottspsykologi är skyldiga att förstå hur idrottare kan jobba för en optimal balans mellan mental hälsa och prestation, och denna studie tar ett steg i rätt riktning mot det målet.

This thesis project aims to highlight the complex situation of dual careers, the combination of elite sports and a work life. The up to date research has mainly focused on the combination of elite sport and studies. Therefore this study wished to contribute to the less researched field of elite sports and work. The purpose of the study was to investigate the experience of the combination between elite sport and work. We used three research questions to answer the purpose “What challenges and opportunities do former student-athletes experience when combining elite sports with work?, what are the success factors for successfully combining dual careers in elite sports and work?, and how does the combination of elite sports and work differ from elite sports and study in terms of successfully combining dual careers?.” We conducted semi-structured interviews with eight elite athletes that combined their sport with work. The results indicated that the elite athletes estimated the combination of elite sports and work as tougher than the combination of elite sports and studies. Some challenges were similar in both combinations and they highlighted advantages and disadvantages with both combinations.

Research on talent development has developed to highlight the central role of the environment and have found that good and supportive environments can ease prospective elite athletes’ transition from junior to senior elite level in sport. The aim of this study was to examine a successful athletic talent development environment in female football through a holistic ecological approach, in order to provide a holistic description of the environment. Furthermore, the aim was to explain how factors are influencing the environmental success in developing prospective elite athletes into senior elite athletes. The study was designed as a case-study and data collection included a total of eight interviews from multiple perspectives (prospective elite athletes, head coach, elite athletes and sport manager) and analysis of documents. The environment was characterized by good communication and cooperation, centered around the relationships between prospects, coaches and school. Moreover, the environment included a strong organizational culture characterized by good attitude and motivation, a whole person approach and coordinated and integrated efforts. The results showed many similarities with research conducted in other successful athletic talent development environments.

The purpose of the study is to examine the participants experienced motivation during subeliteathletes careers, as well at the end of their career. The purpose is also to disclosewhich factors that influenced their decision to end their career in sports. In order to investigatethe purpose, twelve qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted. The participants inthe study were twelve former sub-elite athletes who were active in their sports between theages of 15-20. The result of this study revealed that sub-elite athletes experienced bothinner motivation and external motivation through their career. The result showed that theparticipants experianced inner motivation through the satisfaction of the three psychologicalbasic needs in SDT. The result showed that the participants experienced moore externalmotivationat their career end, this because the participants didn’t satisfy the three basicpsychological needs as before. The result also showed that there are various factors thatinfluenced the participants’ decision on a career end, for example; increased demands fromcoaches. / Syftet med studien var att undersöka sub-elitidrottares upplevelse av motivation underkarriären samt vid karriäravslutet. Syftet ämnar även att undersöka vilka faktorer subelitidrottarnaupplevde influerade deras beslut att avsluta sin idrottskarriär. För att undersökasyftet genomfördes tolv kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer. Deltagarna i studien var tolvföre detta sub-elitidrottare som varit aktiva idrottare mellan åldrarna 15–20. Resultatet frånstudien visade att sub-elitidrottarna upplevde både inre motivation och yttre motivation underderas karriär. Resultatet visade att deltagarna upplevde inre motivation genomtillfredsställelsen av de tre psykologiska grundbehoven inom SDT. Resultatet visade attdeltagarna upplevde mer yttre motivation vid deras karriäravslut, detta då deltagarna inteuppfyllde de tre psykologiska grundbehoven som tidigare. Resultatet visade även att det finnsmånga olika faktorer som influerade deltagarnas beslut om ett karriäravslut, t.ex. ökat kravfrån tränaren.

<p>This study aims to compare the sexual behaviour patterns of male elite student athletes, male student recreational sports (RSP) and male student non-athletes at the University of Botswana in relation to high-risk sexual behaviours. High-risk behaviors in the domain of sexual behaviour were investigated in relation to the determinants of risk behaviour such as multiple partnerships, condom use, and history of sexually transmitted infections, the partners past sex life, current sexual life, casual sexual partners and age of first exual experience. The purpose was to establish which group of the male students is more at risk of HIV infection due to its engagement in high-risk sexual behaviour. Data was collected by means of an anonymous self-report questionnaire. Participants included 235 male students (94 non-athletes, 92 athletes and 50 elite athletes) at the University of Botswana. Selfreport questionnaires were administered, which included items from the 2005 Youth Risk Surveillance System (YRBSS), Student Life Style questionnaire, as well as items from a questionnaire assessing knowledge and practice of safe sex amongst Rhodes University students (Simpson, 1996).</p>

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamics of motivational forces in career stages in legendary table tennis players. Participants invited for this study were two highly recognized Swedish table tennis players who achieved major titles during their competitive career. The theoretical frameworks included the self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan &amp; Deci, 1985, 2000), achievement goal theory (AGT; Nicholls, 1989), and the developmental model of transition faced by athletes (Wylleman &amp; Lavallee, 2004). The study was based on in-depth narrative interviews on the field where the researcher stimulated participants to tell their stories in retrospect based on their perceptions of motivational drives across different stages. Results revealed that participants were (a) strongly driven by multiple personal goals (e.g., self-determined, winning major titles), (b) had high perception of ability (e.g., high task and high ego), (c) table tennis was central to their lives, and (d) they were surrounded by facilitative environment. Results are discussed in relation to theoretical frameworks and previous research. / Syftet med föreliggande studien var att undersöka dynamiken i motivationsprosessen genom olika karriärövergångar hos legendariska bordtennisspelare. Två välkända svenska bordtennisspelare deltog i studien som har vunnit stora titlar under sina professionella karriärer. De teoretiska ramverk som användes var self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan &amp; Deci, 1985, 2000), achievement goal theory (AGT; Nicholls, 1989) och developmental model of transition faced by athletes (Wylleman &amp; Lavallee, 2004). Studien var baserad på två djup-narrativa intervjuer där deltagarna stimulerades att i retrospekt berätta hur de upplevde dynamiken i deras motivation i olika karriärövergångar. Resultaten visade att deltagarna var (a) stärkt drivna av multipla personliga mål (själv-bestämd, vinna stora titlar), (b) hade hög upplevd förmåga (hög uppgift och hög prestationsmål), (c) bordtennis var central i deras liv, och (d) de var omringade av stödjande miljöer. De erhållna resultat diskuteras i relation till teoretiska ramverk och tidigare forskning.

<p>This study aims to compare the sexual behaviour patterns of male elite student athletes, male student recreational sports (RSP) and male student non-athletes at the University of Botswana in relation to high-risk sexual behaviours. High-risk behaviors in the domain of sexual behaviour were investigated in relation to the determinants of risk behaviour such as multiple partnerships, condom use, and history of sexually transmitted infections, the partners past sex life, current sexual life, casual sexual partners and age of first exual experience. The purpose was to establish which group of the male students is more at risk of HIV infection due to its engagement in high-risk sexual behaviour. Data was collected by means of an anonymous self-report questionnaire. Participants included 235 male students (94 non-athletes, 92 athletes and 50 elite athletes) at the University of Botswana. Selfreport questionnaires were administered, which included items from the 2005 Youth Risk Surveillance System (YRBSS), Student Life Style questionnaire, as well as items from a questionnaire assessing knowledge and practice of safe sex amongst Rhodes University students (Simpson, 1996).</p>

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2017-04-18T14:38:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Luiz Antonio de Oliveira Ramos Filho.pdf: 569702 bytes, checksum: 63c6814d4aae8118f420c70f566ad50c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-18T14:38:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luiz Antonio de Oliveira Ramos Filho.pdf: 569702 bytes, checksum: 63c6814d4aae8118f420c70f566ad50c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-22 / The relative age effect on sports has already been proven in several modalities and countries, in which athletes born in the initial months of each year have a competitive advantage in physical and psychological maturation compared to those born in the final months. This phenomenon occurs due to mistakes in the decision making of coaches and managers during the selection and promotion of the most talented athletes. However, there are indications that there may be a reverse effect of relative age, where the athletes born at the end of the year reach the adult category with higher technical quality, higher sports performance and higher market value than athletes born earlier in the year. This study analyzes the existence of the reverse relative age effect, based on market value and sports performance in a sample of Brazilian professional soccer athletes from the clubs of the Brazilian Championship 2015 – First Division. The data were collected in the database www.transfermarkt.pt and were analyzed by parametric linear regression and non-parametric chi-square test. The results indicate that the reverse relative age effect was demonstrated in relation to sports performance, but not in relation to market value. This study has the potential to contribute to the conceptual understanding of the phenomenon and to support better decisions in a management environment perspective of coaches and managers. Focusing on the Brazilian context, as an empirical context, contributes to the line of research on these phenomena in the field of sports management in the Brazilian academy and the training of new athletes. / O efeito da idade relativa nos esportes já foi comprovado em diversas modalidades e países, em que atletas nascidos nos meses iniciais de cada ano têm uma vantagem competitiva em maturação física e psicológica comparativamente aos nascidos nos meses finais. Este fenômeno ocorre devido aos erros na tomada de decisão de treinadores e dirigentes durante a seleção e promoção dos atletas mais talentosos. No entanto, há indícios que pode haver um efeito reverso da idade relativa, em que os atletas nascidos no final do ano chegam à categoria adulta com maior qualidade técnica, maior desempenho esportivo e maior valor de mercado que os atletas nascidos no início do ano. Este estudo analisa a existência do efeito reverso da idade relativa, com base no valor de mercado e no desempenho esportivo numa amostra de atletas brasileiros profissionais de futebol dos clubes do Campeonato Brasileiro 2015 – Série A. Os dados foram coletados na base de dados www.transfermarkt.pt e foram analisados pelo teste paramétrico de regressão linear e pelo teste não paramétrico qui-quadrado. Os resultados indicam que o efeito reverso da idade relativa foi comprovado em relação ao desempenho esportivo, mas não em relação ao valor de mercado. Este estudo tem potencial para contribuir na compreensão conceitual do fenômeno e de apoiar melhores decisões numa perspectiva de foro gerencial dos treinadores e gestores. Ao focar o contexto brasileiro, como contexto empírico, contribui-se para a linha de pesquisa sobre estes fenômenos no campo da gestão de esportes na academia brasileira e da formação de novos atletas.

Magister Artium (Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science) - MA(SRES) / This study aims to compare the sexual behaviour patterns of male elite student athletes, male student recreational sports (RSP) and male student non-athletes at the University of Botswana in relation to high-risk sexual behaviours. High-risk behaviors in the domain of sexual behaviour were investigated in relation to the determinants of risk behaviour such as multiple partnerships, condom use, and history of sexually transmitted infections, the partners past sex life, current sexual life, casual sexual partners and age of first exual experience. The purpose was to establish which group of the male students is more at risk of HIV infection due to its engagement in high-risk sexual behaviour. Data was collected by means of an anonymous self-report questionnaire. Participants included 235 male students (94 non-athletes, 92 athletes and 50 elite athletes) at the University of Botswana. Selfreport questionnaires were administered, which included items from the 2005 Youth Risk Surveillance System (YRBSS), Student Life Style questionnaire, as well as items from a questionnaire assessing knowledge and practice of safe sex amongst Rhodes University students (Simpson, 1996). / South Africa