Research on burnout has typically focused on individuals in the human service or helping occupations, More recently studies and conceptual models have appeared investigating burnout in the athletic environment, The bulk of research 011 athletic burnout has been conducted on coaches and, consequently, there is a dearth of empirical research on athlete burnout. 'the present study compared tennis players with gymnasts to determine which group is more likely to experience a higher incidence of burnout. The study also sought to investigate whether any relationship was evident between sport specific factors on the one hand, and burnout, tedium and psychological distress on the other. Three objective questionnaires consisting of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MDI). Tedium measure and General Health Questionnaire 28 item scale (GHQ-28), as well as a sport specific questionnaire developed by the author, were used to collect data from 20 provincial and national tennis players (10 male and 10 female) and 20 provincial and elite gymnasts (10 male and 10 female). Statistical analysis of the questionnaires revealed a number of important findings. It was found that sport group was not a significant factor in the assessment of athlete burnout. Gender, however, was highly significant with females more likely to experience burnout than males. It was shown that females experience low levels of sport enjoyment, social support and personal accomplishment and high levels of sport pressure, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, tedium and psychological distress. Key relationships were further identified between the sport specific variables of sport enjoyment, social support and sport pressure, and the burnout, tedium and psychological distress variables. Negative sport performance such as low enjoyment and social support and heightened feelings of sport pressure were strongly related to high levels of burnout, tedium and psychological distress. Recommendations for future research are made on the basis of these findings.

Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation will be to identify a conceptual model to describe the stress and coping process among a group of elite female tennis players during a high stakes performance situation. The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TA model) served as the theoretical basis for this dissertation. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the indirect effect of social support, dispositional coping, coping strategies, tennis ability and cognitive appraisal upon competitive state anxiety. Significance of the investigation: The WTA Tour, the governing body of professional tennis, has identified the priorities of promoting career longevity, development of a balanced athlete, the attainment of a profitable career for its athletes and protecting the TOUR's most valuable commodity, athlete health (AEC Report, 1995). The findings of this investigation serve to guide future interventions for managing stress and coping among elite athletes. This is one of the first investigations with this under-studied population and therefore, contributes to the available body of knowledge in stress and coping among elite athletes. Methods: Ninety-four female tennis players responded to the Competition Questionnaire during a high stakes athletic competition. Questions addressed dispositional coping strategies, current coping strategies as well as perceived competitive state anxiety and perceived sense of social support. Measurement models were used prior to construction of sub-models based upon TA model theory. Goodness of fit was assessed with significant path scores retained to construct a final conceptual model. Findings: The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 was supported as a measure of competitive state anxiety. A parsimonious measure of primary appraisal and secondary appraisal was found for this elite group of athletes. Results yielded support for the strong effect of primary appraisal upon increased competitive state anxiety. In addition, both social support and secondary appraisal demonstrated a significant effect with lower competitive state anxiety. Tennis ability as measured by current rank did not have a significant effect upon appraisal, coping strategies nor competitive state anxiety. Conclusions: Based upon these results, a variation of the TA model as constructed within this investigation was found to be relevant for this elite group. The constructed conceptual model can be used to guide current and future interventions by health care practitioners that interact closely with these athletes during high stress competitive events. Implications for future interventions with this population include the need for enhancement of challenging appraisals and the need for restructuring of threatening appraisals. Though caution must be used when generalizing results, findings add to the body of knowledge regarding this under-investigated population. Future investigations could focus upon replication of results, investigation regarding the function of social support and the comparison of specific coping strategies used by subsets of athletes within this population. / text

All athletes dream of competing to their full potential. Experimenters have shown that mental preparation can enhance performance. Self-efficacy and self-confidence have also been shown to have a direct relationship with performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of team highlight videotapes as mental preparation tools designed to enhance feelings of self-efficacy and sport-confidence, which in turn might lead to enhanced performance. Three-minute video montages of successful shot-making were set to music, with key words (words chosen to encourage or to emphasize a good shot) added throughout. Forty-seven competitive female tennis players were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The highlight videotape group was shown the team highlight videotape, while the control group was shown a neutral videotape. All participants completed Vealey's (1986) State Sport-Confidence Inventory (SSCI) and the Tennis Self-Efficacy Scale for Doubles (TSESD), watched their assigned videotape and then retook the SSCI and TSESD. Participants then completed a set of open-ended questions about the procedure. / The data was analyzed with a Group (2) x Level of skill (4) repeated measures design. The analysis of variance of the TSESD and SSCI scores did not reveal any significant differences between the scores of the treatment and control groups. But comments to the open-ended questions seemed to reveal increased feelings of sport confidence, motivation and arousal associated with the videotapes, suggesting that the team highlight videotapes may have potential as mental preparation tools. Additional research is warranted to further explore the potential uses of this new mental preparation tool.

Thesis (M.S.)--Baylor University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-98). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--Baylor University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-98).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New Mexico, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-134). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New Mexico, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-134).

abstract: Playing tennis professionally is a stressful profession. However, it has the potential to be even more stressful for players who must move from their home country in order to train. If not dealt with, these stresses have the potential of causing many negative outcomes, including increasing levels of distress, in these professional tennis players. It is known that resources play a role in reducing or buffering levels of stress and distress among individuals, but there are competing theories as to how this occurs. Using Ensel and Lin's models of stress processes, this is an exploratory study that identifies the stresses and distresses professional Taiwanese tennis players face and the resources they use to cope. Participants included in this study are professional Taiwanese tennis players (2 males and 2 females) who continuously attend national and international tennis competitions and have both domestic and world ranks. Results from the semi-structured interviews revealed that challenges, frustration, resources, and toughness were four general themes to describe stresses and distresses professional Taiwanese tennis players face and the resources they use to cope. Future research for professional tennis players is also discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Recreation and Tourism Studies 2011

No description available.

Problem Statement: A paucity of research exists describing the relationship between lateral epicondylalgia (LE) and upper extremity (UE) strength, range of motion or joint characteristics, between the shoulder, elbow and wrist despite the close kinetic relationship. The primary purpose of this study was to describe these characteristics of the UE in female tennis players and a control group. Methods: This was a descriptive study of three groups: sample of active adult females with no elbow pain (control), non-symptomatic tennis players (NSTP), and symptomatic tennis players (STP) with LE. A convenience sample of three groups, 21 women each was recruited. A questionnaire was completed by each participant and a screening procedure was performed to confirm group assignment and gather tennis specific information. The dependent variables were collected at a one-time session for the dominant extremity of each subject and included UE passive motion, mean UE adjusted strength values, strength ratios, elbow carrying angle, posterior shoulder tightness, anterior glenohumeral joint (GHJ) laxity and shoulder impingement tests. Results: The STP group demonstrated significantly greater passive forearm pronation, higher internal/external rotation strength ratios, increased frequency of anterior GHJ hyperlaxity and positive Hawkins-Kennedy test results. Grip strength taken in elbow extension was significantly weaker in the STP group compared with the NSTP and control groups. The strength ratio of the upper/lower trapezius was significantly greater in the STP compared to NSTP group, but was not significantly different from the control group. The STP group demonstrated a trend toward greater passive motion in elbow hyperextension and supination, and a higher wrist flexion/extension ratio that did not reach statistical significance. Both tennis player groups demonstrated limited passive wrist flexion and shoulder internal rotation when compared to controls. No significant differences were found in tennis playing factors between the groups. Conclusion: Impairments in strength, range of motion, or motor control are hypothesized to contribute to the altered kinematics of the UE and may potentially lead to LE in recreational tennis players. Recognizing risk factors a priori may provide a framework to guide the physical evaluation, treatment plan and preventative techniques for the tennis player exhibiting symptoms of LE.