The marriages of professional athletes have been examined for years, but the positive factors in those marriages have rarely been examined. This study focuses on the factors that contribute to the strength and happiness in the marriages of professional athletes. Five professional athletes and their wives were interviewed in effort to determine the factors that contributed to the strength of their marriages. Open communication, shared values, religion/faith, and trust were consistently found to be important components contributing to the strength of these marriages. This study adds to the limited literature available discussing the positive aspects of professional athlete marriagess / Master of Science

Thesis (M.A.)--Liberty University, 2007.

Thesis (M. F. A.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-81).

No description available.

With the longstanding popularity of American team sports having now lead us to a point where athletes are multi‐million dollar investments capable of impacting culture beyond the playing field, the teams and leagues that provide a platform for these athletes to perform are more concerned with image and brand management now more than ever. Consequently, star athletes have become an increasingly vital part of building and sustaining league and team brands. The public relations methods utilized by these groups, especially the teams, when a star athlete has committed a PR blunder have varied over time. This content analysis uncovers whether the public relations tactics used by teams when a star athlete is accused of sexual assault has any impact on fan support. The study also seeks to find the public relations best practices that teams use in this situation, and whether or not there is any relationship in methods used by leagues and their corresponding teams and front offices. Newspaper articles pertaining to the sexual assault accusations of Kobe Bryant, Ben Roethlisberger and Johan Santana were used in this analysis, with two major news publications from each athlete’s home city providing the content. / Department of Journalism

The purposes of the investigation were to determine if status of professional sports and professional athletes increases as male participation increases, if perceived status of 'athlete' increases with participation in sports that contain 'male' attributes, and if gender differences are related to status indicators. Sixty-eight students were administered a status-determinants questionnaire. A one-way ANOVA (gender) and a 2 x 12 ANOVA (gender x sport) were employed to determine status ratings of sports. A 3 x 2 (increase/decrease/no change x gender) Chi square was employed to determine status of sports, perceived masculinity of males/femininity of females, and status of the athlete related to gender attributes of sports.

Thesis advisor: Richard McGowan / Can statistical analysis of professional basketball players lead to a more efficient evaluation of a player's worth? Following the recent success of statistic-driven baseball franchises, many basketball executives and followers are beginning to mine the sport's production in search of an all-encompassing player value rating. Teams could thus exploit undervalued players, leading to increased team and fan welfare. My thesis addresses this ongoing debate by examining various player and team statistics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). While I find significant relationships between individual efficiency statistics and team success, I also discover the paramount importance of defensive statistics and balanced team payrolls. This paper proposes a model that would help team executives find players who promote team efficiency, rather than individual production. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2006. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Žmonių populiacijų tyrimai atskleidžia jų fizinio pajėgumo genetinę įvairovę. Tokių ypatumų turi ir Lietuvos populiacija. Sportininkų individualaus genomo žinojimas ypač svarbus sporto teorijai, praktikai ir medicinai. Darbas skirtas svarbiausiems klausimams, susijusiems su genetinių veiksnių įtaka sportinio fizinio pajėgumo komponentams. Darbo metu buvo sukaupta Lietuvos didelio meistriškumo sportininkų imtis, kuri ištirta genetiškai ir pagal fenotipą. Sukurtoje Lietuvos didelio meistriškumo įvairių sporto šakų sportininkų DNR mėginių biobazėje sukaupta informacija apie sportininkų genotipus ir sportininkų fizinio išsivystymo bei funkcinio pajėgumo fenotipiniai duomenys. Parinkti stipriausi genai kandidatai, siejami su žmogaus fiziniu pajėgumu. Didelio meistriškumo sportininkai pirmą kartą Lietuvoje buvo tirti pagal 6 genų kandidatų DNR žymenų alelių, dažniausiai asocijuojamų su fiziniu pajėgumu, paplitimą. Tirtų genų kandidatų žymenų genotipų/alelių dažnių įvairovė išskirtose sportininkų grupėse ir bendroje Lietuvos populiacijoje turi savitumų. Visų tirtų Lietuvos sportininkų fizinio išsivystymo ir funkcinio pajėgumo rodikliai atitinka didelio meistriškumo sportininkų lygį. Fenotipinių rodiklių statistinė analizė parodė sportininkų organizmo įgimtus gebėjimus ir prisitaikymą prie fizinių krūvių. Kiekvienos išskirtos sporto šakų grupės sportininkams būdinga genotipų/alelių kombinacija. Tirtų genetinių variantų genotipai turi skirtingos įtakos vyrų bei moterų fiziniam... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The genetic diversity of physical capacity in the Lithuanian population has a pattern similar to that of other populations. The knowledge of the individual genomes of the athletes is especially important for sports theory, practice and medicine. This research is devoted to the issue of the effect of genetic factors on the components of sporting physical capacity. We have accumulated a sample of the Lithuanian elite athletes which was studied genetically according to a phenotype. We have created a DNA biobase of the Lithuanian elite athletes of various sporting disciplines and collected information about the genotypes and phenotypes of physical development and functional capacity of the athletes. This is the first time in Lithuania that the elite athletes were investigated according to allelic distribution of 6 candidate gene variants most associated with physical capacity. The genetic diversity of the physical capacity in the Lithuanian population has a pattern manifested by variation in the allele/genotype frequencies of the selected candidate gene markers in the Lithuanian athlete groups and general population. The indexes of physical development and functional capacity of the Lithuanian athletes correspond to the elite levels. Inherited qualities and adaptation to physical loads of the athletes can be assessed by statistical analysis of phenotypic indexes. Each group of athletes investigated had a typical genotype/allele combination. The genotypes of the gene variants... [to full text]

The genetic diversity of physical capacity in the Lithuanian population has a pattern similar to that of other populations. The knowledge of the individual genomes of the athletes is especially important for sports theory, practice and medicine. This research is devoted to the issue of the effect of genetic factors on the components of sporting physical capacity. We have accumulated a sample of the Lithuanian elite athletes which was studied genetically according to a phenotype. We have created a DNA biobase of the Lithuanian elite athletes of various sporting disciplines and collected information about the genotypes and phenotypes of physical development and functional capacity of the athletes. This is the first time in Lithuania that the elite athletes were investigated according to allelic distribution of 6 candidate gene variants most associated with physical capacity. The genetic diversity of the physical capacity in the Lithuanian population has a pattern manifested by variation in the allele/genotype frequencies of the selected candidate gene markers in the Lithuanian athlete groups and general population. The indexes of physical development and functional capacity of the Lithuanian athletes correspond to the elite levels. Inherited qualities and adaptation to physical loads of the athletes can be assessed by statistical analysis of phenotypic indexes. Each group of athletes investigated had a typical genotype/allele combination. The genotypes of the gene variants... [to full text] / Žmonių populiacijų tyrimai atskleidžia jų fizinio pajėgumo genetinę įvairovę. Tokių ypatumų turi ir Lietuvos populiacija. Sportininkų individualaus genomo žinojimas ypač svarbus sporto teorijai, praktikai ir medicinai. Darbas skirtas svarbiausiems klausimams, susijusiems su genetinių veiksnių įtaka sportinio fizinio pajėgumo komponentams. Darbo metu buvo sukaupta Lietuvos didelio meistriškumo sportininkų imtis, kuri ištirta genetiškai ir pagal fenotipą. Sukurtoje Lietuvos didelio meistriškumo įvairių sporto šakų sportininkų DNR mėginių biobazėje sukaupta informacija apie sportininkų genotipus ir sportininkų fizinio išsivystymo bei funkcinio pajėgumo fenotipiniai duomenys. Parinkti stipriausi genai kandidatai, siejami su žmogaus fiziniu pajėgumu. Didelio meistriškumo sportininkai pirmą kartą Lietuvoje buvo tirti pagal 6 genų kandidatų DNR žymenų alelių, dažniausiai asocijuojamų su fiziniu pajėgumu, paplitimą. Tirtų genų kandidatų žymenų genotipų/alelių dažnių įvairovė išskirtose sportininkų grupėse ir bendroje Lietuvos populiacijoje turi savitumų. Visų tirtų Lietuvos sportininkų fizinio išsivystymo ir funkcinio pajėgumo rodikliai atitinka didelio meistriškumo sportininkų lygį. Fenotipinių rodiklių statistinė analizė parodė sportininkų organizmo įgimtus gebėjimus ir prisitaikymą prie fizinių krūvių. Kiekvienos išskirtos sporto šakų grupės sportininkams būdinga genotipų/alelių kombinacija. Tirtų genetinių variantų genotipai turi skirtingos įtakos vyrų bei moterų fiziniam... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

O tema da presente pesquisa é o burnout no contexto esportivo, mais especificamente os fatores preditores do burnout em atletas brasileiros profissionais de futsal. O objetivo principal foi avaliar e testar o Inventário de Fatores Preditores do Burnout em Atletas (IFPBA-24), tendo como suporte três modelos teóricos: (1) Modelo Afetivo-Cognitivo de Estresse; (2) Modelo de Resposta Negativa ao Estresse de Treinamento Físico e (3) Modelo da Perspectiva Social. Para cumprir esse objetivo foram conduzidos três estudos; cabe ressaltar que a pesquisa faz parte de um estudo maior e continuado sobre os modelos de competições esportivas. Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS – sob o número 271.526. Estudo 1: O primeiro estudo realizou a redução dos itens do Inventário de Sinais e Sintomas do Burnout em Atletas (ISSBA-60), por meio da análise fatorial exploratória, em seguida, testou-se a validade confirmatória do modelo proposto com base nos 24 itens retidos na primeira análise e avaliou-se a consistência interna dos fatores do novo instrumento: Inventário de Fatores Preditores do Burnout em Atletas (IFPBA-24). A amostra foi composta de 130 atletas brasileiros profissionais de futsal, todos do sexo masculino, da faixa etária de 18 a 36 anos, que disputaram a Taça Brasil de Futsal-Adulto-Masculino (Divisão Especial). Os resultados demonstraram que, com base nos procedimentos de análise fatorial realizados, foram selecionados 24 itens, igualmente distribuídos em seis fatores (Sensação de impotência diante dos treinamentos e competições, Exaustão física, Baixa percepção de competência, Dificuldade de conciliar vida esportiva e vida social, Exaustão emocional e Sensação de incapacidade de melhorar o desempenho nos treinamentos e nas competições), que explicaram 61,75% da variância total. Uma análise fatorial confirmatória avaliou o novo modelo do IFPBA-24, e todos os índices ( x2/gl = 1,85; GFI = 0,930; AGFI = 0,912; RMS = 0,082) apresentaram valores adequados. Os seis fatores apresentaram índices Alpha de Cronbach que variaram de 0,67 a 0,75. O conjunto desses resultados indica que o novo modelo apresenta adequado índice de validade e de consistência interna. Estudo 2: Este estudo explorou possíveis semelhanças e diferenças no conjunto dos níveis do burnout em atletas, controlando as variáveis escolaridade, anos de profissionalização (até seis anos e mais de seis anos de prática profissional) e presença, ou não, de lesões no último ano. O estudo contou com a participação de uma amostra de 130 atletas brasileiros profissionais de futsal – dependente do “Estudo 1”, com idades de 18 a 36 anos. Os resultados obtidos indicam não haver diferenças significativas (p < 0,05) nas respostas dos atletas, quando essas variáveis são controladas. Estudo 3: Este estudo apresentou a ocorrência de possíveis diferenças significativas ou semelhanças estatísticas entre fatores preditores de burnout em atletas. A amostra foi a mesma do segundo estudo. Os resultados obtidos indicam que há semelhanças estatísticas (p > 0,05) e diferenças significativas (p < 0,05) entre os escores dos fatores preditores do burnout em atletas. Estes resultados permitem concluir que, os fatores preditores do burnout em atletas brasileiros profissionais de futsal com níveis mais elevados são: “Dificuldade de conciliar vida esportiva e vida social” e a “Exaustão física”; enquanto que os fatores com níveis menos elevados são: “Sensação de impotência diante dos treinamentos e competições” e a “Baixa percepção de competência”. / The theme of this research is burnout in the sporting context, more specifically the predictors of burnout in professional futsal Brazilian athletes. The main objective was to evaluate and test the Inventory Factors Predictors of Burnout in Athletes (IFPBA-24), supported by three theoretical models: (1) Cognitive-Affective Model of Stress; (2) Model Negative Response to Stress and Physical Training (3) Model of Social Perspective. To fulfill this goal three studies were conducted, it should be noted that the research is part of a larger study and continued on models of sports competitions. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS - under the protocol number 271.526. Study 1: The first study was conducted to reduce the items of the Inventory of Signs and Symptoms of Burnout in Athletes (ISSBA-60), through the exploratory factor analysis, and then was tested the confirmatory validity of the proposed model based on the 24 items retained in first review and was evaluated the internal consistency of the dimensions of the new instrument: Inventory Factors Predictors of Burnout in Athletes (IFPBA-24). The sample was composed by 130 brazilian futsal professional athletes, all male, with age ranged 18-36 years who compete in the Cup Brazil Futsal-Adult-Male (Special Branch). The results showed that on the basis of factor analytic procedures conducted 24 items were selected, equally distributed in six dimensions (Sensation of helplessness before training and competitions, Physical exhaustion, Low perception of competence, Difficulty of reconciling sporting life and social life, Exhaustion emotional, Sensation and inability to improve performance in training and competition), which explained 61.75% of the total variance. A confirmatory factor analysis evaluated the new model of the IFPBA-24, and all indexes (x2/gl = 1.85, GFI = 0.930, AGFI = 0.912, RMS = 0.082) showed appropriate values. The six dimensions had Cronbach's alpha indices ranging from 0.67 to 0.75. Taken together, these results indicate that the new model provides adequate level of validity and internal consistency. Study 2: This study explored possible similarities and differences in all the levels of burnout in athletes, controlling variables, education, years of professionalization (up to six years and more than six years of professional practice) and the presence or absence of lesions in the last year. The study involved the participation of a sample of 130 Brazilian futsal professional athletes - dependent "Study 1", aged 18-36 years. The results indicate no significant differences (p <0.05) in the responses of athletes, when these variables are controlled. Study 3: This study showed the occurrence of possible differences or similarities between statistical predictors of burnout in athletes. The sample was the same as in the second study. The results indicate that there are similarities statistics (p > 0,05) and significant differences (p < 0,05) between the scores of the predictors of burnout in athletes. These results suggest that the predictors of burnout in professional futsal Brazilian athletes with higher levels are: “Difficulty of reconciling sporting life and social life and “Physical exhaustion”; and factors at lower levels are: “Sensation of helplessness before training and competitions” and “Low perception of competence”.