The aims of this thesis were to study the incidence, severity and pattern of injury in male and female elite football players; to study time trends in injury risk; to identify risk factors for injury; and to test the effectiveness of an intervention programme aimed at preventing re-injury. All studies followed a prospective design using standardised definitions and data collection forms. Individual training and match exposure was registered for all players participating. Time loss injuries were documented by each team’s medical staff. The amount of training increased by 68% between the 1982 and 2001 Swedish top male division seasons, reflecting the shift from semi-professionalism to full professionalism. No difference in injury incidence or injury severity was found between seasons. The injury incidence was 4.6 vs. 5.2/1000 training hours and 20.6 vs. 25.9/1000 match hours. The incidence of severe injury (absence >4 weeks) was 0.8/1000 hours in both seasons. The Swedish and Danish top male divisions were followed during the spring season of 2001. A higher risk for training injury (11.8 vs. 6.0/1000 hours, p<0.01) and severe injury (1.8 vs. 0.7/1000 hours, p=0.002) was observed among the Danish players. Re-injury accounted for 30% and 24% of injuries in Denmark and Sweden respectively. The Swedish top male division was studied over two consecutive seasons, 2001 and 2002, and comparison of training and match injury incidences between seasons showed similar results. Players who were injured in the 2001 season were at greater risk for injury in the following season compared to non-injured players (relative risk 2.7; 95% CI 1.7-4.3). Players with a previous hamstring injury, groin injury and knee joint trauma were two to three times more likely to suffer an identical injury to the same limb in the following season, but no such relationship was found for ankle sprain. Age was not associated with an increased injury risk. The effectiveness of a coach-controlled rehabilitation programme on the rate of re-injury was studied in a randomised controlled trial at amateur male level. In the control group, 23 of 79 injured players suffered a recurrence during the season compared to 10 of 90 players in the intervention group. There was a 75% lower re-injury risk in the intervention group for lower limb injuries (relative risk 0.25; 95% CI 0.11-0.57). The preventive effect was greatest during the first weeks after return to play. Both the male and female Swedish top divisions were followed during the 2005 season. Male elite players had a higher risk for training injury (4.7 vs. 3.8/1000 hours, p<0.05) and match injury (28.1 vs. 16.1/1000 hours, p<0.001) than women. However, no difference was observed in the rate of severe injury (0.7/1000 hours in both groups). The thigh was the most common site of injury in both men and women, while injury to the hip/groin was more frequent in men and to the knee in women. Knee sprain accounted for 31% and 37% of the time lost from training and match play in men and women respectively. / Serienumret i serien Linköping University medical dissertation är fel. Det korrkta numret är 988. The serial number in the series Linköping University medical dissertation is incorrect. The correct number is 988.

This thesis seeks to examine why the Lavalas elite faction and its oppositions have failed to make and implement mutual agreements, to resolve regime crises and to create an environment conducive to democratic norms. The study derives explanations stemming from three alternative models: modernization, rational choice and misperception. Three periods of consensus-building attempt between the Lavalas elite and its oppositions (1991-1995: Consensus-Building attempt I; 1996-2000: Consensus-Building attempt II; 2000-2004: Consensus-Building attempt III) are considered. By using interpreted models a la Graham Allison, the thesis applies the criteria produced by each model to help interpret the failure of consensus-building in these three historical periods. The thesis' conclusion then assesses the models' strengths and weaknesses, prompting interesting questions for further research in the near future.

Studien syftar till att undersöka vilka faktorer som haft betydelse för sex elitidrottares nya karriärval efter avslutad idrottskarriär. Den metod som användes var kvalitativ med inslag av både hermeneutiken och det narrativa synsättet för att få fram respondenternas egna beskrivningar av brytpunkten. Resultatet visar att upplevelsen av karriäravslutet skiljer sig mellan elitidrottare som slutat frivilligt och elitidrottare som slutat ofrivilligt, på grund av mättnad respektive skada. Processen mot att välja en ny karriär beskrevs av samtliga respondenter som svår samtidigt som alla kände sig motiverade inför det nya valet och i efterhand upplevde sin nya roll samt det nya karriärvalet som tillfredsställande. Respondenterna fattade ett praktiskt rationellt beslut utifrån tidigare erfarenheter av yrket, värderingar och känslor vid valet av ny karriär. Före detta elitidrottares karriärval är ett outforskat område inom vägledningsområdet vilket gör studien intressant för vidare forskning inom studie- och yrkesvägledningen. / This study will aim to explore the major important factors that influenced six elite athletes in their new career choices after retirement. The method used was predominantly qualitative, with hermeneutics and narratives added in order to encapsulate the respondents own descriptions of point break. The result shows that the experience of retirement differs between those whom retired wilfully, and those who were forced to; because of injury or lack of motivation. The process to choose a new career was described by all respondents as difficult. However, they all felt motivated in their new choices, and were, ultimately, satisfied. The respondents made a practical rational choice based on earlier experiences of the particular line of work, values and emotional content. The post-retirement careers of elite athletes is a field relatively unexplored within vocational guidance counselling, which makes this study interesting for further development of this field.

The aim of this study was to investigate how four families in the Stockholm area reason, what kind of preconception they have and what their horizon of expectations is when they make the choice between sending their children to the profile class of municipal/free schools and sending them to the general classes in those schools. The main research questions asked were: What kind of preconception do the parents have about profile classes? What reasons do the interviewed parents have to send their children to a profile class? What are the interviewed parent’s expectations of the profile class choice? The study is built on qualitative interviews with the parents of the families. The empirical data has been analyzed using a framework of theories drawing on the theory of reproduction, the forms of social capital, the ideas created from the word profile and elite and the horizon of expectations. The results show that the parents of the families have a similar degree of preconception about profile classes. They presumed they were better than the general classes and had better teachers. The reasons they voice about the choice of classes are that they would like the children to have better way of life than themselves and that profile classes improve and nurture further studies through discipline and concentration improving assignments and activities. Their expectations were better conditions for further studies, reaching a higher social status through acquiring better tools and a better technique of studying.

Denna undersökning riktades mot att studera motivation hos elit- och motions handbollsspelare, vad som kännetecknar motivationen hos respektive grupp. Vidare var syftet med studien att undersöka  personliga egenskaper och motiv till idrottsdeltagande samt studera eventuella samband mellan personlighets egenskaper och motiv till idrottsdeltagande mellan grupperna. Urvalet bestod av elit- (n= 47) samt motionärs (n= 54) handbollsspelare. Totala antal deltagare uppstod till 101 stycken spelare. Deltagarna var av både manligt och kvinnligt kön fördelade på ett herrlag samt sex damlag, där tre lag spelar i handbollens högsta serie (elitserien) och fyra lag i lägre divisioner (division tre och fyra). Instrumentet som användes var ett frågebatteri med tre olika delar (1) bakgrund och demografiska fakta, (2) NEO-FFI samt (3) Participation Motivation Questionnaire (PMQ). Egenskapsdimensionerna extraversion och trevlighet/ vänlighet samt motiven hälsa och form, miljöfaktorer och socialt erkännande visade signifikanta skillnader. Elitspelarna uppvisade högre värden i extraversion, trevlighet/ vänlighet och laganda, medan motionärerna rapporterade högre värden i neuroticism och samvetsgrannhet. Resultatets kan främst tillämpas av tränare, då kunskap kring varför individer spelar handboll samt förståelse angående personlighets drag kan öka förståelsen kring spelarnas träning. Intressanta framtida studier är att undersöka ledares påverkan på spelarna utifrån individernas personlighets drag och motiv till idrottsdeltagande. / The purpose of this study was to examine motivation of elite and exercise handballplayers and what characterizes the motivation of each group. The study aimed to examine personal traits and motives for sport participation and study possible interactions between these two factors among players at elite and exercise level. The study consisted elite (n = 47) and exercise (n = 54) handballplayers. Total number of participants was 101 players. Participants were both males and females divided into one men's and six women's team. Three teams playing in the highest division and four teams in lower divisions. The instrument used was a battery of questions with three different parts (1) background and demographic data, (2) NEO-FFI, and (3) Participation Motivation Questionnaire (PMQ). The personality traits extraversion and agreeableness and the motives fitness, environmental and social recognition showed significant differences. Elite players showed higher levels of extraversion, agreeableness and teamspirit, while exercise players were higher in neuroticism and conscientiousness. The result can be applied by coaches, because knowledge about why people play handball and understanding regarding personality traits can enhance the understanding about players physical activity. Interesting future studies is to study coaches effects on players based on their motives for participating in sport and personality traits.

Att samtidigt göra en satsning på sin idrott och skolan ställer krav på individen. Dessa krav kan leda till idrottsrelaterad utbrändhet. Att hitta faktorer som påverkar idrottsrelaterad utbrändhet är viktigt för att kunna förebygga och förhindra problemet. Många olika faktorer har visat sig påverka och en faktor som behöver undersökas noggrannare är den sociala faktorn. En sådan social faktor är tränare- aktiv relationen. Syftet var att undersöka om det finns något samband mellan symptom av idrottsrelaterad utbrändhet och den upplevda kvalitén på tränare- aktiv relationen. En enkätundersökning genomfördes av 107 idrottsgymnasieelever (34 tjejer och 73 killar) i åldrarna 15-18 år. Idrottsrelaterad utbrändhet visade sig vara negativt korrelerat med tränare- aktiv relationen. Underkategorin Complementary visade sig vara den som visade starkast samband med idrottsrelaterad utbrändhet. 16 procent av eleverna på skolan upplevde höga symtom. Instruktörer på skolan bör fundera igenom deras relationer med eleverna och hur dessa kan förbättras för att reducera problemet. Idrottsgymnasier borde fundera kring både hur kraven både inom skolan och inom elevernas respektive idrott ser ut under de tre gymnasieåren.

The process of democratization in the successor states of the former Soviet Union has been widely studied by political scientists, sociologist and experts in area studies. Academic literature mainly focuses on the factors which would facilitate and/or hinder the process of democratization in the post-Soviet era. These include economic development, political culture, the nature of previous regime type, structural factors and the role of elite. This thesis analyzes the process of democratization in Georgia while focusing on the elite choices and initiatives. It mainly focuses on democratic achievements as well as the failures in democratization under the rule of three post-Soviet presidents of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Eduard Shevardnadze and Mikheil Saakashvili. While doing so, it compares and contrasts the practices, priorities and policies of three leaders and evaluates on the impact of different leadership patterns on the process of democratization. This thesis argues that democratization in post-Soviet countries in general and in Georgia in particular is mainly an elite-led process. The success and failure of this process depends on the elite choices and initiatives and the power relations between and within the elite groups.

This dissertation examines the political regime during the single party rule in Turkey between the years of 1923-1950 in relation to the concept of tutelage. The main argument supported in this work is that tutelary tendencies, contrary to the assumptions of Kemalist historicization, do not serve as segue to democracy, but rather make consolidation of democracy difficult, even impossible. In support, this dissertation provides a close examination of the Kemalist nation building process beginning from the Ottoman modernization process extending to the demographic engineering projects of the Republic. The examination reveals that tutelary tendencies are a reflection of the savior mission undertaken by the elite during the Ottoman-Republican modernization process. The political elite, in their mission to save and build the nation, not only ignored the political and social fabric of the time, but they insisted on radical interventions to the demographic fabric of the society in order to transform it to the nation they envisioned. During the execution of the nation-building project increasingly more authoritarian measures were legitimized by declared target of democracy. The social resistance to the radical interventions was suppressed by more authoritarian measures that were perceived as the cost of achieving democracy. The elite perceived themselves uniquely fit for deciding what is in the best interest of the people. Whether the aim of democratization was reached or not was also decided by the tutelary elite. Not wanting to let go of the power, they continuously invented new prerequisites to democracy. This cycle resulted in the persistence of the authoritarian regime. In the final analysis, this dissertation reveals that the tutelary tendencies of the avant-garde elite are the biggest obstacle on the path to democracy.

Dissertation--Universität Basel, 2002. / Bibliogr. vol. 1, p. 411-428.

Thesis (M.A.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Bibliography: leaves 111-114.