Thesis (B.A. (Hons))--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, [1988]. / Includes bliographical references (leaves 55-61).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--Smith College School for Social Work, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-58).

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [100]-103).

Thesis (B.A.)--Haverford College, Dept. of Economics, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: Gershon Tenenbaum, Florida State University, College of Education, Dept. of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 18, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains xv, 185 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of excess CO₂ (ExCO₂) as a determinant of the anaerobic threshold (AT) and the subsequent relationship to blood lactate (La). Four highly trained marathon runners (x values, age=30.6 years; % body fat= 8.2; VO₂max = 6 8 ml-kg⁻¹min⁻¹) volunteered to participate in this study. Metabolic and respiratory exchange variables were assessed by an open circuit method utilizing a Beckman metabolic measurement cart interfaced on-line with a Hewlitt Packard 3052A data acquisition system. VO₂max and the treadmill velocity at the threshold of anaerobic metabolism (V[sub=tam]) were obtained from a progressive, treadmill run (.81 kph. > min.) until volitional fatigue. V[sub=tam] (Kilometers per hour, Kph) was calculated from the point of .a non-linear increase in ExCO₂. Subjects performed set treadmill runs of 10 minutes on alternate days. Variations (latin square) included runs at V[sub=tam], V[sub=tam+1], [sub=tam+2], and [sub=tam-1]. Analysis of variance with preplanned orthogonal comparisons and Scheffe post hoc contrasts were used to determine the effects of the treadmill variations on La and ExCO₂. There was no significance found between V[sub=tam] and V[sub=tam-1] for La or ExCO₂. Significance (p < .05) was evident with V[sub=tam]< [sub=tam+1, V[sub=tam]< [sub=tam+2] for La and V[sub=tam]< [sub=tam+2] for ExCO₂. An overall correlation of .89 (p <. 005) demonstrated a high positive relationship between ExCO₂ and La. Findings indicate V[sub=tam] to be a critical point in determining the anaerobic threshold in marathoners, and performance above this demarcation results in a state of anaerobiosis. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Twenty-one male subjects volunteered to participate in this study of the effects of an u1tramarathon run under competitive conditions. Selected anthropometric measurements were made before and after the race. Blood samples were taken before, and within 10 min. of completing the race. Haematocrit and cortisol concentrations were analysed from each sample. Three ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) - local, central and overall, were obtained at two-hourly intervals throughout the race. The shortened form of the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) was administered before the race. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) test was completed both before and immediately after the race. The average running intensity was estimated to be about 32% VO₂max which would not have caused major lactate accumulation. Repetitive compressive forces as a result of heel-strike resulted in intervertebral disc fluid loss. This resulted in a significant (p<0.05) decrease in stature after the race. Mobilization of glycogen, trig1ycerides and protein for metabolism as well as fluid loss via sweat resulted in significantly decreased body mass after the race. Plasma volume and serum cortisol concentrations were significantly increased after the race compared to pre-race baseline levels. Local RPE responses were dominant throughout the entire race, followed by overall RPE. Running 160 km had an effect on mood state. "Depression", "fatigue" and "confusion" (profile of Mood states) were all significantly increased compared to pre-race scores. Sleep deprivation as a result of running through the night was probably an important contributing factor. The anthropometric profile of the ultramarathon runners in this sample was more like that of the general population than elite marathon runners from the literature. The ultramarathon runners were more extroverted than elite marathon runners, but exhibited a similar Profile of Mood state before the race. The stressor - running 160 km - resulted in a 'strain response'. This was evident in the decreased stature and mass, and increased serum cortisol, "depression", "confusion" and above all "fatigue".

Much research has looked into how aerobic exericse is important to physical and psychological well-being. However, research is less sure of the how exercise produces psychological benefits. To explore this, running is a form of exercise that deserves particular attention given its possible usefulness to public policy discussions. Running is one of the most accessible and inexpensive forms of exercise, and its popularity is demonstrated by the trend of more and more people participating in local annual marathons. This study performed a longitudinal test to better define the conditions under which average people might enjoy psychological benefits from exercise like running. From self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985), motivation is fueled by three basic psychological needs: perceived competence, perceived relatedness and perceived autonomy. In this study, key factors influencing psychological outcomes included runners’ degree of motivation, perceived relatedness and the intensity of their training program. The present study had 59 average runners fill in questionnaires before and after a 12 week marathon training program. The results showed that stress and depression levels were significantly reduced, and perceived relatedness among runners increased. Runners’ degree of motivation, which refers to the degree to which runners felt intrinsically motivated, predicts depression and stress levels after training. It suggested that a higher degree of motivation maximizing stress and depression reduction. In addition, higher levels of perceived relatedness among runners also positively predicts stress reduction. The depression reduction of runners who joined only training was significantly higher than those who joined marathon competition after finishing training. The present study found that this competition effect was fully mediated by the number of long runs runners attended during their training. This finding is tied to the question of how much exercise people need in order to optimally reduce depression. Overall, the present study highlights that a threshold of exercise intensity exists beyond which depression reduction becomes insignificant. In the context of the marathon training under study, four or fewer long runs were the recommended threshold. The present study provided a good overview of the psychological benefits of running for a non-clinical population, and also identified how people might maximize such gains. Application of the findings to the promotion of marathon culture for the betterment of public mental health is discussed. / published_or_final_version / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

No description available.

Seven highly trained male collegiate distance runners were studied throughout a competitive cross-country season. Common laboratory and field measures were used to assess physiological adaptation and performance capacity. The subjects were tested pre-, mid-, and post-season for maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), running economy (RE), heart rate at 268 m-min…1 (HR268), fractional utilization of the aerobic capacity (%VO2max), fraction utilization of the maximal heart rate (%HRmax), ventilatory threshold (VT), and time to exhaustion (TTE). Prior to each scheduled competition submaximal hear rate (HR) and submaximal blood lactate accumulation (bLa) were determined from a one-mile run on an indoor track. Five subjects ran at 5 min 30 sec per mile pace and two ran at a 6 min per mile pace (mean intensity = 83.14 + 4.44% VO2max). VO2max, RE, % VO2max, %HRmax and TTE all significantly improved over the season (p < 0.05). VT and HR268 remained unchanged. % VO2max and %HRmax exhibited the highest correlations to performance within a given competition (range r = .525 to .722 and .571 to .844, respectively). HR and bLa did not change during the season. These results suggest: 1) % VO2max and %HRmax are the best predictors of cross-country running performance among the variables measured whereas 2) field trials employing single HR and single bLa measurements are not indicators of endurance running performance in highly trained distance runners. / Human Performance Laboratory