FEPSAC Position Statement: Athletes' dual careers in the European context.

The aim of this FEPSAC Position Statement is to summarize current knowledge about athletes' dual careers (DCs) in the European context and propose recommendations for future DC research, practice, and policy. Inspired by the European Union's Guidelines on Dual Careers of Athletes (European Commission, 2012), researchers, practitioners, and policy makers collaborated over the last decade to create the European DC discourse as a context-informed and negotiated body of DC knowledge. In this paper, we proceed from analyzing this body of knowledge using recent review papers and European DC psychological research projects to formulating seven postulates summarizing DC research findings on factors influencing athletes in their striving for DC excellence. These factors include (1) context, (2) pathways and transitions, (3) challenges, (4) resources and coping, (5) support and empowerment, (6) student-athletes' mental health, and (7) DC development environments. In the final section, we acknowledge the contributions of European DC discourse in serving athletes in their pursuit of DC excellence and European DC culture. We also provide a critical discussion on DC knowledge gaps and, on behalf of FEPSAC, offer recommendations for DC research, practice, and policy in Europe.

Perfectionistic Environments and Irrational Beliefs on the Transition to Elite Athletic Performance: A Longitudinal Study.

This study aimed to longitudinally evaluate talented athletes' levels of perfectionism, irrational beliefs, and motivations with regard to their athletic careers. A total of 390 athletes from U14, U16, and junior categories (MageT1 = 15.42) answered shortened versions of the Sport-MPS2, iPBI, and BRSQ during two consecutive seasons, along with questions referring to their current and predicted prioritization of sports and education. Participants reported high levels of perfectionistic strivings and medium to low levels of socially prescribed perfectionism and concern over mistakes decreasing from T1 to T2. A decrease was also found for demandingness and awfulizing, but increased levels were found for depreciation in T2. Participants report very high intrinsic motivation with low levels of external regulation and amotivation, but intrinsic motivation decreased from season to season. This general profile varied depending upon future expectancies toward dedication to sports and education. Those who foresaw a prioritized dedication to sports presented significantly higher levels of socially prescribed perfectionism, perfectionistic strivings, and intrinsic motivation, while those who considered that sports would not be prioritized in the following 5 years reported higher levels of demandingness, awfulizing, depreciation, and amotivation. Additionally, while current levels of motivation (T2) seemed to be predicted mainly by previous motivation levels (T1), significant predictive capacity was also detected for socially prescribed perfectionism positively predicting external regulations and amotivation, perfectionistic strivings negatively predicting amotivation, and depreciation negatively predicting intrinsic motivation and positively predicting both extrinsic regulation and amotivation. We discuss the potential perils of developing extremely demanding environments, as they could potentially result in poor motivational profiles of athletes in their talent development stage during the junior to senior transition.

Experiencias de carrera dual y salud mental en estudiantes deportistas de alto rendimiento / Dual career experiences and mental health in high-performance student athletes / Experiências de dupla carreira e saúde mental em atletas estudantes de alto desempenho

RESUMEN Estudiantes deportistas de alto rendimiento enfrentan demandas en distintas áreas de su vida al realizar una Carrera Dual (CD). En este estudio exploramos la relación entre experiencias de CD y Salud Mental (SM). Un total de 128 estudiantes deportistas de alto rendimiento respondieron los cuestionarios DCES, MHLS-12, y MHC-SF. Los resultados muestran que las experiencias de CD y alfabetización en SM influyen positivamente en el estado de SM de los estudiantes deportistas. Estos resultados subrayan la importancia de potenciar la interacción investigación-aplicación, involucrando al entorno para fortalecer la SM a través de experiencias positivas y alfabetización.

ABSTRACT High-performance student athletes face demands in different areas of their lives when pursuing a dual career (DC). We explored the relationship between DC experiences and mental health (MH). A total of 128 high-performance student athletes completed questionnaires (DCES, MHLS-12, MHC-SF). The results show that DC experiences and MH literacy contribute to MH status. These results reinforce the need to continue to strengthen the research-application relationship by engaging the entourage to enhance MH through positive experiences and literacy.

RESUMO Estudantes-atletas experimentam diferentes demandas em suas vidas para equilibrar a condição de dupla carreira (DC). Neste estudo, exploramos a relação entre essas experiências e a saúde mental (SM) dos estudantes-atletas. Aplicamos questionários (DCES, MHLS-12, MHC-SF) e obtivemos 128 respostas do público-alvo. Os resultados mostraram que o equilíbrio na DC e saber sobre SM contribuem ao estado de SM dos estudantes-atletas. Por fim, reforçamos a necessidade de fortalecer a pesquisa aplicada, visando o envolvimento do ambiente social do estudante-atleta nas suas experiências positivas na DC, auxiliando-o no seu bem-estar de SM.

The Third Half: A Pilot Study Using Evidence-Based Psychological Strategies to Promote Well-Being among Doctoral Students.

Over the last few years, various studies have reported decreasing well-being levels among doctoral students, who show a higher risk of suffering from psychological distress than the general population. Accordingly, European policies in higher education encourage well-being promotion programs among doctoral studies to enhance young researchers' well-being. However, programs using evidence-based practices for well-being promotion are not yet generalised in public universities. The present study describes a pilot experience designed to evaluate the efficacy of a well-being program among doctoral candidates of a public European university, the Autonomous University of Barcelona. 25 doctoral students (67% women) participated in a pre-post study consisting of six sessions of 3 h each and structured by the big five criteria coming from evidence-based practices for well-being promotion: outdoor green spaces exposure, physical activity, gamification, mentoring, positive and coaching psychology techniques. Results showed how participants experienced significant increases in several indicators of emotional well-being and decreased psychological distress after the Third Half program. These positive pilot results encourage further research and future replications to assess the impact of this evidence-based psychological program among the academic community. Results also lead the way towards the creation of healthier academic workplaces by implementing cost-effective interventions that improve researchers' psychosocial support and their overall well-being.

Positive and negative spontaneous self-talk and performance in gymnastics: The role of contextual, personal and situational factors.

The purpose of this study was to analyse whether contextual (perception of motivational climate and positive and negative spontaneous self-talk in sports), personal (positivity) and situational variables (positive and negative spontaneous self-talk employed in competition and precompetitive anxiety) predict performance in a competition of ensembles of rhythmic gymnastics. 258 female gymnasts between ages14 and 20 (M = 15.24, SD = 1.46) participated in the study, completing pre- and post-competition measures. The results of the path-analysis showed that both the task-involving climate and positivity predicted positive self-talk in sport. This predicted self-confidence which, in turn, positively predicted positive situational self-talk in competition. For its part, the perception of an ego-involving climate positively predicted the use of both negative and positive self-talk in sport. Negative self-talk in sports predicted negative situational self-talk in competition and somatic and cognitive anxiety. In turn, cognitive anxiety positively predicted negative situational self-talk. Finally, performance was positively predicted by positive situational self-talk and negatively by negative situational self-talk. These results explain the functioning of spontaneous self-talk at different levels of generality and its relationship with sports performance.

Effects of the COVID-19 Health Crisis on Sports Practice, Life Quality, and Emotional Status in Spanish High-Performance Athletes.

Spain is one of the many countries highly affected by the COVID-19 crisis, establishing very restrictive measures with a complete lockdown for more than 3 months. This situation forced the complete closure of sport practice and national or international competitions, leading to a negative impact on physical and psychological health of high-performance athletes. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (a) to determine the effects of the COVID-19 health crisis on Spanish high-performance athletes in terms of sports practice, life quality, and emotional state and (b) to identify the profile with the greatest difficulties during and after the lockdown. A sample of 130 high-performance athletes aged between 18 and 34 years (67 women and 63 men) participated in this study (83.1% achieved a medal in National-International elite competitions; 86.9% were considered student-athletes). Measures included socio-demographic data through a 5-dimension ad hoc survey: physical activity and exercise using an adapted version from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); health status and limitations using an adapted version of SF-12 Health Questionnaire; Perceived stress (Short-PSS); and Mood States (29-item POMS). All participants have shown a significant decrease pre-post-lockdown in both health and performance perception, especially in women, individual athletes, medalists, and student-athletes. Strong limitations of training, attention, and motivation as well as a moderate negative emotional state during lockdown were reported, in women, individual athletes, medalists, and student-athletes. Even with an improved emotional state and energy level in the post-lockdown period, moderate-to-high stress scores were reported by women and medalists. Our findings highlight the importance of paying attention to the physical and psychological health of elite athletes on three profiles: team athletes (due to social distance), student-athletes (dual-career issues), and women athletes (prevalence of implicit gender inequalities in sport).

Career Planning in Elite Soccer: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy, Career Goals, and Athletic Identity.

This study proposed a model to examine the role of self-efficacy, career goals, and athletic identity (AI) on the career planning of elite soccer players. Two hundred and eighty-one elite soccer players (males) participated in this study. Means, SD, and bivariate correlations were calculated for the variables under analysis. The hypothesized effect of self-efficacy, career goals, and AI on career planning was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results supported the adequacy of the proposed model in explaining the career planning. Career planning is positively influenced by the level of self-efficacy of players through the definition of career goals and is negatively influenced by the level of AI. At the same time, the self-efficacy of players through the definition of career goals positively influenced AI. These findings reinforce the important role of self-efficacy and career goals for the development of AI and career planning and at the same time the opposite relationship between AI and career planning. Thus, it is suggested that a balance on AI, maintaining high levels of self-efficacy and career goals, is required to improve the process of career planning and retirement.

Fuelling the passion: Psychological needs and behavioural regulations as antecedents of passion for football.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the motivational antecedents of passion for sport by testing a model where players' satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs was expected to predict their harmonious and obsessive passions through the mediation of autonomous and controlled motivations. Four-hundred eighty-seven elite U18 male football players (Mage = 17.43, SD = 0.71) completed measures of psychological need satisfaction, behavioural regulations and passion for sport. Measurement models were defined using exploratory structural equation models. The results support the model where autonomous and controlled regulations partially mediate the relationship between psychological needs and passion. In this model, the need for relatedness positively and directly predicts harmonious passion and indirectly predicts obsessive passion, which supports its key role in discriminating between the two types of passion. Moreover, autonomy and competence satisfaction present direct and indirect effects on both types of passions. Finally, autonomous regulations positively predict obsessive and harmonious passion, although the strength of the relationship was stronger for the latter. In sum, our results highlight that (a) satisfaction of each need is crucial to promote harmonious passion and (b) both autonomous and controlled regulations contribute to the understanding of how passion is developed in football.

Where Did All the Sport Go? Negative Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Life-Spheres and Mental Health of Spanish Young Athletes.

During the 2020, the pandemic caused by the massive spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) resulted in a global crisis. In Spain, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a lockdown for almost 100 days and forced the sudden stop of sport practices and competitions. This interruption had a negative impact on high-level athletes' mental health. However, its impact on young athletes, who are intrinsically developing a high-demanding dual career, remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed at (1) describing and characterizing the general impact that COVID-19 lockdown had on Spanish young athletes' life-spheres and mental health, and (2) identifying different profiles of athletes regarding life-conditions and sport-related variables. A sample of 544 young athletes (M = 15.9; SD = 1.51) participated in this study. Measures included life-conditions and sport-related information along with the Holistic Monitoring Questionnaire (HMQ) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). After the screening and description of the data, profiles were defined using a two-level cluster analysis using HMQ and GHQ-12 subscales. We explored differences in demographic and sports information between profiles using MANOVA and subsequent ANOVA. Results suggest a general negative impact of COVID-19 on young athletes' life-spheres and mental health, but with three different clusters regarding the degree of such impact. Cluster 1 grouped the 54.78% of the sample and exhibited a low negative impact of COVID-19 lockdown on life-spheres and few mental health issues. Cluster 2 grouped a 29.96% of the participants who reported a medium negative impact on life-spheres and moderate mental health issues. Cluster 3 represented 15.26% of the sample including participants who showed a high negative impact of the COVID-19 lockdown with high mental health issues. The paradigmatic participant in this third group would be a female student-athlete from a medium or low socioeconomic status with high academic demands and poor or inexistent training conditions during lockdown. Current findings emphasize the need to pay attention to young athletes' mental health and suggest possible influencing contextual variables. We suggest some applied recommendations aimed at helping clubs and sports institutions to mitigate the negative effects of such difficult circumstances on athletes' mental health.

The Influence of Basic Psychological Needs and Passion in Promoting Elite Young Football Players' Development.

Motivational variables and cognitive skills have been identified as important in an athlete's development. The aim of this study is to explore the influence of each basic psychological needs satisfaction on player's development regarding reflection and concentration disruption with the mediation of types of passion in Spanish young elite football players. A total of 487 elite U18 male football players (Mage = 17.43, SD = 0.71) completed measures of basic psychological needs satisfaction, passion for football, reflective thinking, and concentration disruption. Measurement models were defined using exploratory structural equation models. The results provide support for the model, where each psychological needs satisfaction prompted reflection and had a negative influence on concentration disruption with the mediation of harmonious passion. In addition, obsessive passion mediated the positive relationship between competence satisfaction and concentration disruption. Finally, competence and relatedness satisfaction influenced the development of reflection directly and positively and, exclusively, relatedness satisfaction had a negative influence in a direct way on concentration disruption. In sum, our results highlight that (a) the environment of young footballers through psychological needs satisfaction has a positive (i.e., reflection) or negative (i.e., concentration disruption) influence on the field, but only with the mediation of harmonious passion, (b) in a competitive environment, the perception of competence can have a positive influence on concentration disruption, but only with the development of obsessive passion as a mediator, and (c) relatedness satisfaction plays a key role in distinguishing between reflection and concentration disruption.

Experiencias del entorno deportivo de origen al asesorar a esgrimistas migrantes / Supporting Migrant Fencers in a Sporting Environment / Experiências do entorno esportivo de origem ao assessorar a esgrimistas migrantes

Resumen Objetivo. Explorar las experiencias de entrenadores y profesionales de la salud, al asesorar la transición cultural y la carrera deportiva transnacional de esgrimistas colombianos migrantes. Método. Se conformaron dos grupos focales en los que participaron nueve personas (seis hombres y tres mujeres), de un equipo multidisciplinario de alto rendimiento en esgrima: cinco entrenadores y cuatro profesionales de la salud. Los datos se analizaron por medio del análisis temático reflexivo. Resultados. Se evidencia que acompañar la transición cultural de esgrimistas migrantes impacta en el bienestar y las dinámicas de asesoramiento de entrenadores y profesionales de la salud. Se generaron dos temas centrales: (a) en guardia y (b) marchar y romper. En el primero comentaron haber experimentado sorpresa, dilemas y la sensación de pasar a un segundo plano respecto a su rol como asesores técnicos y de la salud. En el segundo, se evidenció el cambio en las dinámicas de asesoramiento (comunicación virtual) y el carácter reactivo de las relaciones a distancia. Conclusión. La migración en el deporte genera nuevos desafíos para el equipo multidisciplinario que acompaña y asesora a los deportistas, tanto mujeres como hombres. Se proponen recomendaciones prácticas para entrenadores y profesionales de la salud, basadas en la praxis cultural de la Psicología Cultural aplicada al deporte.

Abstract Objective. To explore the experiences of coaches and health science professionals while supporting the cultural transition and the transnational sports career of migrant Colombian fencers. Method. Two focus groups were conducted with the participation of nine people of the top-class, multidisciplinary team in fencing (men = 6 and women = 3), coaches (n = 5) and health sciences professionals (n = 4). A reflexive thematic analysis was performed. Results. Supporting the cultural transition of migrant fencers impacts the well-being and supporting dynamics of coaches and health professionals. Two main issues were generated: (a) En garde; and (b) Marche and retraite. Regarding En garde, participants expressed that they faced dilemmas, surprise and the feeling of fading into the background regarding their role as technical and health support providers. In Marche and retraite, the change in the counseling dynamics (e.g. virtual communication) and the reactive nature of distance relationships was clear. Conclusion. The sport migration create new challenges for the multidisciplinary team that supports and assists athletes' transnational careers. Hence, practical recommendations for coaches and health professionals based on the cultural praxis of Cultural Sport Psychology are suggested.

Resumo Escopo. Explorar as experiências de treinadores e profissionais da saúde, ao assessorar a transição cultural e a carreira esportiva de esgrimistas colombianos migrantes. Metodologia. Foram conformados dois grupos focais nos que participaram nove pessoas (seis homens e três mulheres), da equipe multidisciplinar de alto rendimento em esgrima: cinco treinadores e quatro profissionais da saúde. Os dados foram analisados por meio da análise temática reflexiva. Resultados. Foi evidenciado que acompanhar a transição cultural de esgrimistas migrantes impacta no bem-estar e as dinâmicas de assessorar de treinadores e profissionais da saúde. Foram gerados dois temas centrais: (a) em guarda e (b) marchar e quebrar. No primeiro comentaram ter experimentado surpresa, dilemas e a sensação de passar a um segundo plano respeito a seu controle como assessores técnicos e da saúde. No segundo, foi evidenciada a mudança nas dinâmicas de assessorar (comunicação virtual) e o caráter reativo das relações a distancia. Conclusão. A migraçao esportiva gera novos desafios para a equipe multidisciplinar que acompanha e assessora aos atletas, tanto mulheres como homens. São propostas recomendações práticas para treinadores e profissionais da saúde, baseadas na práxis cultural da Psicologia Cultural ao esporte.

Can Multi-Item Measures and Single-Item Measures be Trusted to Assess Self-Determination Theory Constructs in the Elderly?

BACKGROUND: Measuring complex constructs, such as those from self-determination theory models, is challenging in the elderly due to the response process, particularly in collective data gathering. In order to examine this construct in physical activity settings we aimed at determining whether single-item measures were as good as pre-existing multi-item measures. For that reason, we developed seven single-item measures targeting perceived interpersonal styles, basic needs satisfaction, and well-being. METHOD: We gathered evidence of validity and reliability for multi-item measures and single-item measures based on a sample of 128 elderly adults. Another sample of 62 elderly adults provided test-retest reliability for the single-item measures. RESULTS: Favourable evidence of the expected internal structure, concurrent validity, and reliability was obtained for competence- and relatedness-supportive styles, and for satisfaction of the basic psychological need of relatedness, fairly good evidence was obtained for subjective vitality, whereas mixed evidence was obtained for autonomy-supportive style and the satisfaction of the basic psychological needs of autonomy and competence. CONCLUSIONS: Single-item measures proved to be psychometrically sound substitutes for their multi-item counterparts, but the autonomy constructs need to be reconsidered. Furthermore the response process and consequences of testing should play a prominent role when devising questionnaires for the elderly.

Living Life Through Sport: The Transition of Elite Spanish Student-Athletes to a University Degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences.

Interest in studying the different transitions faced by elite athletes throughout their careers has grown significantly in recent years. While transition from secondary school to university is an important research area in Europe, there is a void of studies on how student-athletes experience the transition to specific degrees. One of the most sought-after university degrees among elite athletes in Spain is a degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (PASS). The first aim of this study was to investigate the main demands, barriers, and resources perceived by elite student-athletes in various phases of dual career transition to a university degree in PASS. The second aim was to identify the transition pathways pursued depending on the subjective importance they attached to sport and education. Eleven elite student-athletes (M age = 20.7, SD = 1.6 years) who were in their second and third year of the degree in PASS participated in semi-structured interviews. Deductive-inductive thematic analysis of the interview transcripts revealed three main themes: (a) general university transition issues, (b) PASS-specific transition issues, and (c) transition pathways. Our results show that the close link between sport and the content of the degree was perceived by the elite student-athletes as their main resource. This link, however, was also perceived as a major barrier as the compulsory practical subjects entailed a risk of injury or overtraining that could affect both athletic and academic development. We noticed how the importance they attached to sport or studies varied at different moments of the transition period, a phenomenon we termed "fluid transition pathways." Dual career promotion for elite athletes is an important part of European sports policy, and our findings provide new knowledge that could help Spanish PASS faculties develop specific assistance programs to support transitioning student-athletes.

Goal-directed self-talk used to self-regulate in male basketball competitions.

This study examined how goal-directed self-talk may help basketball players to self-regulate in stereotypical competitive situations: seconds before a challenging game, while clearly winning or clearly losing, and at the close of a tight game. Participants were recruited in groups of three to four, until preliminary inspection of the data indicated that data saturation was reached. In the end, 34 basketball players voluntarily took part in individual interviews, writing up to three self-instructions they had used in each of the four competitive situations to self-regulate. Content analyses revealed that self-talk in competitive basketball situations serves cognitive functions (e.g., regulating cognition and behaviour), motivational functions (e.g., promoting mastery goals) and emotion and activation-regulating functions (e.g., creating activated states). More specifically, the results also indicated that athletes' self-talk may serve functions specific to the psychological demands experienced in each situation. It is argued that knowing how athletes counsel themselves, could prove important for applied sport psychologists to design psychological skill training.

Career Termination of Portuguese Elite Football Players: Comparison between the Last Three Decades.

The aim of this study was to explore the process of career termination of elite soccer players, comparing the quality and the resources to support career termination over the last three decades. To this end, was developed a questionnaire defined by four sections: (a) biographical data, (b) athletic career, (c) quality of career termination and (d) available resources at the moment of career termination. Ninety male former elite Portuguese soccer players participated in this study. The results highlighted a decrease in the length of athletic career as football players and an increase in the number of years as youth players over the last 30 years. The results also revealed that the quality of career termination was difficult. The analysis of resources for career termination revealed an increase in a high level of education over the years. Despite the evolution in the level athletes' education in the last three decades, the athletic career termination remained difficult and it was reported that they did not plan their career termination. In line with previous studies, the results highlight that the lack of plans for career termination is one of the most important factors that constrain the quality of career transition.