Mental toughness attributes in Judo: perceptions of athletes / Atributos de fuerza mental en el Judo: percepciones de los atletas / Características de força psicológica no Judo: percepções de atletas

Perceptions of mental toughness attributes were explored among Judo competitors. Twelve Portuguese judokas from different levels of achievement underwent a semi-structured interview, based on Personal Construct Psychology "sociality" and "dichotomy" corollaries (Kelly, 1991). Properties and dimensions of each conceptual category arose from the data among the verbatim transcribed interviews. Inductive content analysis revealed 22 attributes that composed mental toughness in competitive Judo. Emotional regulation, resilience, self-confidence, attention regulation, self-motivation and optimism were reported by all subjects of the sample. In relation to previous single-sport researches that explored mental toughness attributes, our results supported the existence of large conceptual similarities across sports, despite subtle differences in Judo discussed in reference to optimism, self-improvement, pragmatism and self-presentation regulation. Self-esteem and adaptability emerged as a novelty in the sport’s mental toughness literature. Combativity was suggested to be the only mental toughness attribute rather peculiar to Judo

El objetivo del presente estudio fue explorar las percepciones de los atributos de fuerza mental entre los competidores de Judo. Doce judocas Portugueses de diferentes niveles de realización deportiva fueron sometidos a una entrevista semiestructurada, basada en corolarios de sociabilidad y dicotomía de la teoría Personal Construct Psychology (Kelly, 1991). De las entrevistas realizadas resultaron 148 páginas de datos transcritos verbatim. A partir del análisis de contenido de manera inductiva surgieron las propiedades y dimensiones de cada categoría conceptual, totalizando 22 atributos que compusieron la fuerza mental en el Judo de competición. La regulación emocional, la resiliencia, la autoconfianza, la regulación de la atención, la automotivación y el optimismo fueron mencionados por todos los sujetos de la muestra. En relación con las investigaciones anteriores de un solo deporte que exploraron los atributos de la fuerza mental, nuestros resultados apoyaron la existencia de grandes similitudes conceptuales en los deportes, a pesar de las diferencias sutiles en Judo discutidas en referencia al optimismo, el auto-perfeccionamiento, el pragmatismo y la regulación de la autopresentación. La autoestima y la adaptabilidad surgieron como un nuevo aporte a la literatura de fuerza mental en el deporte. Se sugirió que la combatividad fue el único atributo de fuerza mental bastante peculiar al Judo

Percepções dos atributos de força psicológica foram exploradas em competidores de Judo. Doze judocas Portugueses, com diferentes níveis de realização competitiva, foram individualmente submetidos a uma entrevista semi-estruturada, assente nos corolários de sociabilidade e dicotomia da teoria Personal Construct Psychology proposta por Kelly (1991). Das entrevistas realizadas resultaram 148 páginas de dados transcritos verbatim. Da análise indutiva de conteúdo emergiram as propriedades e dimensões de cada categoria conceptual, totalizando 22 atributos que compuseram a força psicológica no Judo de competição. A regulação emocional, a resiliência, a autoconfiança, a regulação da atenção, a auto-motivação e o optimismo foram reportados por todos os sujeitos da amostra. Por comparação a estudos anteriores que exploraram os atributos de força psicológica num só desporto, os nossos resultados apoiaram a existência de grandes semelhanças conceptuais entre desportos, pese embora a obtenção de diferenças subtis no Judo discutidas em referência ao optimismo, ao auto-aperfeiçoamento, ao pragmatismo e à regulação da auto-apresentação. A auto-estima e a adaptabilidade emergiram enquanto novidade na literatura de força psicológica no desporto. A combatividade foi sugerida como sendo o único atributo de força psicológica bastante peculiar ao Judo

Effects of structured exercise and pharmacotherapy vs. pharmacotherapy for adults with depressive symptoms: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Physical exercise has been consistently documented as a complementary therapy in the treatment of depressive disorders. However, despite a higher prevalence among women compared to men, the trials developed in women are scarce. In addition, the optimal dosage of exercise capable of producing benefits that reduce depressive symptoms remains unclear. This clinical trial is designed to measure the effect of a structured physical exercise program as a complement to antidepressant medication in the treatment of women with depression. METHODS: From July 2013 to May 2014, we implemented a randomized controlled trial (HAPPY BRAIN study). A total of 26 women (aged 50.16 ± 12.08) diagnosed with clinical depression were randomized either to a supervised aerobic exercise group (45-50 min/week three times a week for four months) plus pharmacotherapy (intervention group), or only antidepressant medication (control group). RESULTS: The exercise group presented a decrease in BDI-II and DASS-21 total score scales. Relatively to DASS-21, it showed a significant decrease in anxiety and stress. The exercise group when compared to a control group showed improvement in relation to physical functioning parameters between baseline and post-intervention. Moreover, anthropometric parameters presented only significant differences between groups in fat mass percentage. Nonetheless, no differences were found between groups in weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and self-esteem. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that supervised structured aerobic exercise training could be an effective adjuvant therapy for treating women with depression, reducing depressive symptomatology and improving physical fitness. A key factor of this improvement included strict control of exercise workload parameters and adjustment to each subject's capacity. In our study, due to the sample size there is an increase in the probability of type II errors.

Sobre o desenvolvimento do talento no desporto: um contributo dos modelos teóricos do desenvolvimento desportivo / Athlete development models

Con este artículo, se pretende, globalmente, sintetizar algunos de los avances más importantes de las últimas décadas sobre el tema del talento en deporte, pero también contribuir para que los diferentes agentes deportivos, particularmente dirigentes y entrenadores, los pueden reconocer y aplicar en sus prácticas. Así, inicialmente se presenta una breve evolución histórica que procura explorar como si ha pasado de una perspectiva basado en la idea de la detección de rasgos innatos que podrían predecir el éxito deportivo, para una perspectiva de desarrollo del talento y para un marco holístico de lo atleta y de su contexto. En seguida, lo artículo presenta una retrospectiva sobre varios modelos teóricos que han sido avanzados en lo ámbito de la psicología del deporte, a saber, modelos basados en las transiciones de la carrera y los basados en lo desarrollo del talento y de la pericia. Finalmente en cuanto modelo conceptual más referenciado en la literatura, se hace una análisis con detalle del Modelo de Desarrollo de la Participación Deportiva (Côté, Baker y Abernethy, 2007), en particular con respecto a los procesos de desarrollo relativos a las normas de entrenamiento (e.g., diversificación y especialización) y las influencias psicosociales, aspectos que están en la base de todo el desarrollo del atleta (AU)

With this article, we aim to offer a conceptual synthesis of some of the most important developments in past decades on the subject of talent in sport, while also helping sports stakeholders, particularly managers and coaches, to recognize and apply these conclusions in their practices. The article starts with a brief historical review, which explores how there has been a shift from a talent detection perspective to a talent development perspective and to a holistic vision of athletes and their background context. Secondly, the article presents an overview of the main theoretical models put forward in literature on sport psychology, including career-transition-based models and talent-and-expertise-based models. Finally, as the conceptual model most widely referred to in literature, a detailed analysis of the Development Model of Sports Participation (Côté, Baker & Abernethy, 2007), is made, especially with regard to development processes relating to standards of practice (e.g. diversification and specialization) and psychosocial influences, aspects that form the basis of all-round athlete development (AU)