Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo oferecer subsídios para compreender, segundo a concepção fenomenológico-existencial, o processo de formação de atletas competitivos apresentando possíveis contribuições dessa perspectiva no contexto esportivo e ressignificando a visão de mundo sobre o atleta, sua formação e o esporte competitivo. Enquanto procedimento, foram realizadas quatro entrevistas com atletas de ambos sexos das modalidades voleibol e basquetebol que se encontram em diferentes passagens da carreira esportiva. As etapas de formação consideradas foram iniciação esportiva, especialização esportiva, profissionalização, e saída do processo. Orientada pela metodologia fenomenológica e pela concepção existencial a análise buscou explicitar o vivido expressado pelos atletas participantes da pesquisa. Dos discursos centrais dos entrevistados os atletas competitivos - foram extraídas as unidades de significado das experiências de processo e dos aspectos convergentes dos relatos para compreensão da estrutura do fenômeno estudado o processo de formação. A partir dos relatos das experiências vividas foram encontradas dez unidades de significado constitutivas do processo de formação de atletas competitivos: 1 - relação de empatia entre atleta e olheiro; 2 - importância da presença da família; 3 - vínculo do atleta com educador-técnico; 4 - vínculo afetivo do atleta com a modalidade praticada; 5 - jogar como projeto de serno- mundo; 6 - vivência da emoção à excitação; 7 - natureza do ser atleta competitivo; 8 - dores próprias da carreira esportiva; 9 - projeto de ser atleta e projeto de futuro; e 10 - transformações pessoais importantes. As unidades de significado se expressaram com frequências diferentes em cada passagem do processo de formação esportiva e, no todo, revelaram a importância da rede de apoio para o envolvimento dos atletas com a prática da modalidade, o jogar como forma de experiência singular de significação e o processo vivido como caminho de construção constante do existir destes atletas. Pensar o processo de formação de atletas competitivos a partir da realidade vivida por eles nos permite resgatar a questão do ser atleta em sua totalidade e mobilizar profissionais para uma visão ampliada sobre o trabalho realizado com eles / This research aimed to provide insight to understand, according to the phenomenological-existential concept, the formation process of competitive athletes showing possible contributions of this perspective in the context of sports and redefining the worldview about athletes, their formation and competitive sport. As procedure, four interviews were conducted with volleyball and basketball athletes of both genders that are in different passages of their sports career. The stages of formation considered were sports initiation, sport specialization, professionalization, and the leaving process. Guided by the phenomenological methodology and existential conception, the analysis sought to explicit the lived experience of these athletes expressed during their participation on this survey. From the central discourses of respondents - the competitive athletes - the meaning units were taken from the experiences of the process and from the converging aspects of the reports to understand the structure of the studied phenomenon - the formation process. Based on the reported lived experiences ten meaning units were found that constitute the formation process of competitive athletes: 1 - empathetic relationship between athlete and scout; 2 - importance of the familys presence; 3 - athlete relationship with coach-educator; 4 athletes bonding with sport practiced; 5 - playing as a project of being-in-the-world; 6 from emotion to excitement experience; 7 nature of being competitive athlete; 8 - own pains of the athletic career; 9 - being athlete project and future project; 10 - important personal transformations. The meaning units were expressed with different frequencies in each step of the sports formation process and, as a whole, they revealed the importance of the support network for the involvement of athletes in the sport, playing as form of a unique meaning experience and the lived process as constant building path of existence of these athletes. Thinking of the formation process of competitive athletes from the reality experienced by them allows us to redeem the issue of being an athlete in its entirety and mobilize professionals for a larger view on the work done with them

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo oferecer subsídios para compreender, segundo a concepção fenomenológico-existencial, o processo de formação de atletas competitivos apresentando possíveis contribuições dessa perspectiva no contexto esportivo e ressignificando a visão de mundo sobre o atleta, sua formação e o esporte competitivo. Enquanto procedimento, foram realizadas quatro entrevistas com atletas de ambos sexos das modalidades voleibol e basquetebol que se encontram em diferentes passagens da carreira esportiva. As etapas de formação consideradas foram iniciação esportiva, especialização esportiva, profissionalização, e saída do processo. Orientada pela metodologia fenomenológica e pela concepção existencial a análise buscou explicitar o vivido expressado pelos atletas participantes da pesquisa. Dos discursos centrais dos entrevistados os atletas competitivos - foram extraídas as unidades de significado das experiências de processo e dos aspectos convergentes dos relatos para compreensão da estrutura do fenômeno estudado o processo de formação. A partir dos relatos das experiências vividas foram encontradas dez unidades de significado constitutivas do processo de formação de atletas competitivos: 1 - relação de empatia entre atleta e olheiro; 2 - importância da presença da família; 3 - vínculo do atleta com educador-técnico; 4 - vínculo afetivo do atleta com a modalidade praticada; 5 - jogar como projeto de serno- mundo; 6 - vivência da emoção à excitação; 7 - natureza do ser atleta competitivo; 8 - dores próprias da carreira esportiva; 9 - projeto de ser atleta e projeto de futuro; e 10 - transformações pessoais importantes. As unidades de significado se expressaram com frequências diferentes em cada passagem do processo de formação esportiva e, no todo, revelaram a importância da rede de apoio para o envolvimento dos atletas com a prática da modalidade, o jogar como forma de experiência singular de significação e o processo vivido como caminho de construção constante do existir destes atletas. Pensar o processo de formação de atletas competitivos a partir da realidade vivida por eles nos permite resgatar a questão do ser atleta em sua totalidade e mobilizar profissionais para uma visão ampliada sobre o trabalho realizado com eles / This research aimed to provide insight to understand, according to the phenomenological-existential concept, the formation process of competitive athletes showing possible contributions of this perspective in the context of sports and redefining the worldview about athletes, their formation and competitive sport. As procedure, four interviews were conducted with volleyball and basketball athletes of both genders that are in different passages of their sports career. The stages of formation considered were sports initiation, sport specialization, professionalization, and the leaving process. Guided by the phenomenological methodology and existential conception, the analysis sought to explicit the lived experience of these athletes expressed during their participation on this survey. From the central discourses of respondents - the competitive athletes - the meaning units were taken from the experiences of the process and from the converging aspects of the reports to understand the structure of the studied phenomenon - the formation process. Based on the reported lived experiences ten meaning units were found that constitute the formation process of competitive athletes: 1 - empathetic relationship between athlete and scout; 2 - importance of the familys presence; 3 - athlete relationship with coach-educator; 4 athletes bonding with sport practiced; 5 - playing as a project of being-in-the-world; 6 from emotion to excitement experience; 7 nature of being competitive athlete; 8 - own pains of the athletic career; 9 - being athlete project and future project; 10 - important personal transformations. The meaning units were expressed with different frequencies in each step of the sports formation process and, as a whole, they revealed the importance of the support network for the involvement of athletes in the sport, playing as form of a unique meaning experience and the lived process as constant building path of existence of these athletes. Thinking of the formation process of competitive athletes from the reality experienced by them allows us to redeem the issue of being an athlete in its entirety and mobilize professionals for a larger view on the work done with them

O futebol é um esporte coletivo, em que desempenhos individuais podem definir o resultado de um jogo ou de um campeonato. Especialmente em cobranças de pênalti, o destino da partida encontra-se nos pés do cobrador. A ansiedade no momento das cobranças de pênalti em jogos de futebol de campo é um dos motivos que podem fazer com que um jogador de futebol não converta a cobrança em gol. Neste estudo experimental controlado foi testado um protocolo de biofeedback e psicologia cognitivo-comportamental com o objetivo de reduzir o estado de ansiedade em atletas de futebol amadores de futebol de campo de 15 e 16 anos de idade. Os participantes do grupo experimental foram avaliados antes de duas competições de pênaltis, que aconteceram antes e depois de quatro encontros de intervenção com o protocolo de biofeedback e psicologia cognitivo-comportamental para a redução de ansiedade dos jogadores de futebol que participaram do grupo ativo, em relação ao grupo controle / Soccer is a collective sport in which individual performances can define the outcome of a game or a championship. Especially at penalties shootouts, the destination of the match is at the feet of the penalty taker. Anxiety at the time of penalty kicks at soccer matches is one of the reasons why a soccer player may not score the goal. In this controlled experimental study, a protocol of biofeedback and cognitive-behavioral psychology was tested with the objective of reducing the state anxiety in 15 and 16 year old amateur soccer athletes. Participants in the experimental group were assessed before two penalty shoot-outs, which took place before and after four intervention sessions with a biofeedback and cognitive-behavioral psychology protocol. The results showed that the protocol was efficient as a method and effective in reducing the anxiety state of soccer players who participated in the experimental group, in comparison to the control group

As social beings, people naturally form identifications with various social groups within their environment. Individuals gain benefits by forming identifications with groups, such as increased self-esteem and psychological support. Past research has examined the identification people form with various social groups, but no research has examined with which of these social groups people form the strongest identification. This study examines the strength of identification with various social groups within one’s life. It is predicted that individuals will indicate a stronger identification with a sport team than with any other social group. Secondly, it is predicted that identification with a sport team will provide better psychological benefits than identification with another social group. The analysis of 226 participants’ responses indicated that individuals form a stronger identification with a sport team than with a religious group, a school activity, or with a form of community involvement. A similar level of identification was found between identification with a sport team and a social activity as well as one’s occupation. The study’s results also indicated that identification with a sport team contributed slightly more to one’s social psychological health than identification with another form of social group.

A common stereotype in our society is that athletes are not as capable of performing well academically as their non-athlete counterparts; they are “dumb jocks”. Do athletes feel that others have lower expectations of them academically? This is important because previous research in education has shown that expectations play a role in academic achievement (for example, Rosenthal and Jacobson’s Pygmalion effect (1968) and self-fulfilling prophecy research). The current study examined student-athletes’ perceptions of this stereotype. Three areas were addressed: athletes’ perceptions of their peers’ awareness that the student is a student-athlete, perceptions of their instructors and peers academic expectations of athletes, and perceptions of their instructors and peers willingness to offer help with coursework because they are athletes. This study not only examined athletes’ perception of how they are treated by their professors and non-athlete students in the academic realm, but also how the athletes view the academic abilities of their athletic peers compared to their own academic abilities. The person/group discrimination discrepancy is a phenomenon indicating that individuals tend to report a higher level of discrimination directed at their group as a whole than at themselves as individual members of that group. This study examined if student-athletes’ report similar feelings about their own academic ability as compared to athletes as a whole. Results of this study indicated that student-athletes perceive professors as having higher academic expectations and being willing to provide academic help because they are athletes. Student-athletes perceived other students as being willing to provide academic help, but having lower academic expectations of athletes. As hypothesized, the personal/group discrimination discrepancy did emerge among student-athletes. Overall, student-athletes assigned the highest grade point average (GPA) to themselves, followed by a lower GPA for teammates, and significantly lower GPAs to university athletes as a whole. Further exploratory analyses were conducted. The exploratory analyses indicated that student-athletes’ perceptions of academic ability for themselves compared to teammates and university athletes as a whole varied by gender, race, and academic scholarship. Results indicated that female athletes and males athletes (excluding football players) perceived themselves as having the highest GPA followed by a decline for teammates and university athletes respectively; however, football players perceived themselves and university athletes obtaining approximately equal GPAs with a significantly lower perceived GPA for teammates. Athletes on academic scholarship assigned the highest GPA to themselves followed by teammates and university athletes, respectively. Finally, African American athletes assigned the lowest GPA to themselves, whereas Caucasian athletes assigned themselves the highest GPA.

Despite there being some changes to the way that people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) are viewed in society, negative attitudes prevail. One of the aspirations of the Paralympic games 2012 organisers was to influence the public’s attitudes towards disabled people. The aim of this study was to investigate whether stimuli depicting people with ID performing at a Paralympic level of sport can change attitudes towards ID. A mixed randomised comparison group design was employed comparing two groups; those who viewed Paralympic level ID sport footage and information, and those who viewed Olympic footage and information on measures of implicit attitudes towards disability and explicit attitudes towards people with ID. One hundred and fourteen students at a UK university were administered the measures pre and post the stimuli presentation. Implicit attitudes significantly changed in a positive direction from T1 to T2 for both groups. Attitudes of empowerment increased from T1-T2, nearing significance. The findings provide evidence that Paralympic (ID) and Olympic footage plus written information seems to change attitudes towards people with ID, at least in the short term. Viewing elite sports information and footage may have at least a short term effect on attitudes towards ID which provides some tentative support to one of the London 2012 legacy promises. However it does not seem to matter which footage people are exposed to. Given both types of stimuli proved effective it suggests the possible role of affect in changing attitudes through the media, which warrants further investigation.

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of eating disorder symptoms and differences in exercise motivations in female distance runners at various exercise investment levels. One hundred and seven distance runners, aged 19 to 59 years, who run a minimum of five kilometers, three times per week, were asked to complete three questionnaires. The runners across exercise investment levels were not found to differ in Eating Disorder Inventory sub-scale scores. They differed from college women only in exhibiting fewer symptoms on Drive for Thinness (p < .05), Body Dissatisfaction (p < .001), and Interoceptive Awareness (p < .001). Significant differences in the Exercise Orientation Questionnaire sub-scale scores were found between the least and most exercise-invested runners with the latter scoring significantly higher on Exercise Orientation (P < .0001), Identity (p < .004), and Competition (p < .002). It was concluded that while eating disorder symptoms among female distance runners at various investment levels are no different, exercise motivations are different across levels of exercise.

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att empiriskt undersöka en teoretisk modell för korrelationer mellan dispositionell mindfulness, påverkansmekanismer och idrottspsykologiska färdigheter (Birrer, Röthlin &amp; Morgan, 2012). Modellen testas genom att (1) undersöka korrelationer mellan dispositionell mindfulness och påverkansmekanismer (Emotionsreglering, Klarsynthet och Ältande). (2) Undersöka korrelationer mellan påverkansmekanismer och idrottspsykologiska färdigheter (Motoriska färdigheter, Anspänningsreglering, Motivation och Copingförmåga). (3) Dessutom undersöktes även korrelationer mellan idrottspsykologiska färdigheter och självskattad idrottsprestation (Tävlings- respektive träningsprestation). I studien deltog 242 elitidrottare från idrottsföreningar i sydvästra Sverige. Den aktuella studien stöder Birrer med kollegors (2012) modell då resultatet (1) visade signifikanta korrelationer mellan dispositionell mindfulness och samtliga tre påverkansmekanismer. (2) Vidare visade resultatet i aktuell studie att Emotionsreglering är relaterat till bättre Copingförmåga, Inre motivation och Anspänningsreglering. Resultatet visade att bättre Klarsynthet om sitt inre känsloliv är relaterat till bättre Copingförmåga, Inre motivation och Anspänningsreglering. Resultatet visade även att mindre Ältande är relaterat till bättre Copingförmåga och Anspänningsreglering. (3) Bättre Copingförmåga och högre grad av Yttre motivation visades vara relaterat till högre självskattad tävlingsprestation. Till sist visade resultatet att bättre Copingförmåga och högre grad av Inre motivation är relaterat till högre självskattad träningsprestation. Resultatet diskuterades i relation till forskning och teoretiska referensramar. / The purpose of present study was to empirically examine a theoretical model for correlations between dispositional mindfulness, impact mechanisms and sport psychological skills (Birrer, Röthlin &amp; Morgan, 2012). The model is tested by (1) to examine the correlations between dispositional mindfulness and impact mechanisms (Self-regulation, Clarity and Rumination). (2) To examine correlations between impact mechanisms and sport psychological skills (Motor Control Skills, Arousal Regulation Skill, Motivation and Coping Skills). (3) In addition was also correlations between skills and self-rated sport performance (competitive and training performance) examined. The study involved 242 competitive athletes from sports clubs in southwestern Sweden. The current study supports Birrer with colleagues' (2012) model when the results (1) showed significant correlations between dispositional mindfulness and all three impact mechanisms. (2) Furthermore, the results showed that Self-Regulation is related to better Coping Skills, Intrinsic Motivation and Arousal Regulation Skill. The results showed that better Clarity about its inner emotional life is related to better Coping Skills, Intrinsic Motivation and Arousal Regulation Skill. The results also showed that less Rumination is related to better Coping Skills and Arousal Regulation Skill. (3) Better Coping Skills and higher levels of External Motivation appeared to be related to higher self-rated competitive performance. Finally, the results showed that better Coping Skills and higher levels of Intrinsic Motivation are related to higher self-rated exercise performance. The results were discussed in relation to research and theoretical frameworks.

Despite a sound evidence base, the consideration of exercise as a therapeutic adjunct remains rare in mental health settings. This research project reports a series of studies examining the consideration of exercise as a strategy for promoting mental health in clinical settings. A broad, multi-level and multi-method analysis of exercise and mental health was adopted by focusing on trainers (key stakeholders responsible for treatment dissemination), providers (individuals at the forefront of treatment) and service users (individuals with clinical depression). First, the perceptions of exercise as an adjunctive therapy is qualitatively explored through interviews with Course Directors of UK training programmes in clinical psychology and mental health nurses working in acute, inpatient settings. A range of conceptual barriers are revealed such as the perceived `simplicity' of exercise interventions and the incompatibility of exercise with traditional models of understanding and treating clinical conditions. Second, the nature and extent of exercise promotion are identified within one NHS Mental Health Trust. A lack of training and protocols are the most significant barriers. The Theory of Planned Behaviour variables of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention predict stage of change of physical activity promotion in a health care setting. However, the past promotion of physical activity overrides much of these effects. Third, the role of exercise in the lives of individuals with depression is explored in a case study analysis of four participants of an exercise referral scheme. The context of each person's life is instrumental in understanding adherence and the experiences associated with participation in exercise and/or physical activity. These studies offer insight to some of the conceptual and structural barriers inhibiting the promotion of exercise as well as factors that may contribute to the success of such promotion within mental health settings. Recommendations are offered to enhance the development of comprehensive physical activity provision for people with mental health problems.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / A empatia é considerada uma característica humana que se constrói na relação entre as pessoas e está envolvida no estabelecimento de relacionamentos e interações sociais de qualidade. O termo empatia é usado para descrever sentimentos, expressões e comportamentos que qualificam o indivíduo a reconhecer, perceber e responder apropriadamente aos estados emocionais dos outros. A psicologia estuda a empatia em diversos contextos e em diferentes perspectivas teóricas. Entre essas correntes teóricas, a psicologia evolucionista, que embasa esse estudo, compreende a empatia como sendo uma habilidade evolutivamente importante para a sobrevivência da espécie humana ao aumentar a coesão grupal e para manutenção dos relacionamentos sociais. Particularmente, no contexto esportivo o estudo da empatia entre treinadores e atletas, em comparação com outras áreas da psicologia (como aconselhamento, terapia e educação), quase não existe, principalmente com treinadores brasileiros. Nesse sentido, o objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a empatia em treinadores esportivos brasileiros. Para responder a este propósito foi realizada uma pesquisa descritiva e correlacional. Os dados foram obtidos de um total de cem treinadores que responderam ao Inventário de Empatia (IE) (Falcone et a.l, 2008), ao Questionário de Empatia no Contexto Esportivo (QECE) e ao Questionário de informações sociodemográficas. Os dados descritivos apontam que os treinadores participantes tinham idade média de 37,05 anos (DP = 8,27) e atuavam em média há 12,19 anos (DP = 8,52). Foram realizados Teste t de Student, com os dados coletados por meio do IE, e Qui-quadrado, com os dados coletados pelo QECE. Esses testes de comparações de médicas possibilitaram identificar os efeitos independentes das variáveis explicativas (ex-atleta, nível competitivo, categoria, nível de experiência, grau de instrução e sexo) sobre os escores do IE e do QECE. Houve diferença significativa para o fator TP (p = 0,044) e a variável ex-atleta, sendo o grupo de treinadores que não foram ex-atletas os que tiveram maior média nesse fator. Existiu diferença significativa para o fator sensibilidade afetiva (p = 0,019) e a variável experiência, sendo que a maior média encontrada está para os respondentes com pouca experiência. No fator Flexibilidade Interpessoal com relação à variável nível competitivo, houve diferença significativa (p= 0,038) sendo a maior média para treinadores da iniciação esportiva. Em síntese, esse estudo indica que treinadores que não foram atletas no passado têm maior possibilidade de compreender e atender as exigências dos atletas, treinadores menos experientes tendem a ter maior preocupação ou consideração pelas necessidades dos outros e uma tendência a agir de acordo com essas necessidades do que treinadores mais experientes e treinadores que atuam na iniciação esportiva demonstraram ter mais facilidade em aceitar pontos de vista diferentes do que treinadores do alto rendimento. Conclui-se que o fato do treinador ter sido atleta, a experiência e o nível competitivo contribuem de modo diferenciado na empatia dos treinadores, denominada de empatia esportiva que se desenvolve na ambivalência do contexto esportivo e mostra-se importante na relação treinador e atleta