Gender equity in sport from the perspective of European women athletes and sport managers, physical education teachers and sport coaches.

Introduction: For years, gender inequality has conditioned women's participation in sport, exposing them to difficult situations and numerous barriers to face. However, no previous research has analyzed the situation of women in sport from the perspective of the athletes themselves, or from the perspective of the coaches, teachers or managers who work with them. Methods: This study examines the perspectives of European women athletes, sports managers, physical education teachers, and sports coaches, on gender equity in sports across six European countries: Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. The research design was consistent with a critical realist epistemology, and the sampling method was non-probabilistic by convenience. A total of 42 female athletes (mean age: 24.37 ± 8.27 years old; mean sport experience: 6.67 ± 7.76 years) and 45 sports managers, physical education teachers or coaches (mean age: 47.00 ± 11.99 years old; mean sport experience: 9.62 ± 10.60 years), participated in six focus groups in the same countries, in groups of 6 to 10 participants per focus group. Focus groups were conducted to stimulate collective discussions, build upon and question ideas, and reach a consensus on questions drawn up by a group of experts, following previous methodologies. The data analysis involved transcribing, translating, and contextualizing the focus group recordings into English. Inductive thematic analysis, reflexive thematic analysis, and codes and themes within the data were created using NVivo 12 Pro. Results: The main topics discussed by the female athletes were "gender inequality in general and in sport," "barriers to gender equity," "reasons for abandonment," "needs," "environment role models" and "tools for the gender equity in sport." The main topics discussed by the sports managers, physical education teachers, and coaches were "gender inequality in general," "gender inequality in sports," "tools" and "reasons, motives, drivers." The results of the study revealed that gender inequality in sports is influenced by a broader social context, where stereotypes, biases, and discrimination persist. The participants also highlighted the challenges, barriers, and needs that women athletes face in their careers, such as a lack of resources, support, visibility, and recognition. Moreover, the participants suggested some strategies to promote gender equity in sports, such as increasing investment, awareness, and education, creating policies and legislation, fostering women's leadership and role modeling, and developing mixed and inclusive sports projects. Discussion: According to athletes and sports managers/teachers/coaches, gender inequality is still present in sport. There are barriers and challenges that need to be addressed such as lack of resources, visibility, and recognition for female athletes. Among the strategies that can be used to reverse this situation are increasing investment, awareness, and education, creating policies and legislation, fostering women's leadership, and developing mixed and inclusive sport projects.

Effects of Vibrotherapy with Different Characteristics and Body Position on Post-Exercise Recovery after Anaerobic Exercise.

The aim of this project was to indicate the optimal parameters such as frequency, duration of a single vibrotherapy, and body position, which will be used as a form of recovery modality after physical exercise. Sixteen healthy male volunteers were involved in this study. The aerobic and anaerobic capacity of participants was assessed. Each of the subjects performed a set of intensive physical exercises and then underwent vibrotherapy treatment. In random order, each of the men tested the effectiveness of eight of the combinations of frequency, duration, and body position. The effect of the procedure accelerating recovery was assessed 24 h after physical exercise with the Wingate test. Changes in oxygen saturation and biochemical markers (interleukins: Il-1ß, Il-6, and creatine kinase: CK), hemoglobin (Hb), and hematocrit (Hct) were assessed 1 h and 24 h after the physical effort. Lactate concentrations were measured 3, 15, 30, and 60 min after the end of the vibration. It was indicated that the optimal treatment should be based on lower ranges of frequency values (2-52 Hz). The procedure with raised feet is also more beneficial than the flat, supine position. To improve the overall work, and a number of biochemical markers (CK and Il-1ß), a 45 min treatment will be more efficient, because significantly lower CK activity was indicated for the 45 min treatment. For this duration, higher values of Il-1ß were indicated in the measurement carried out for samples collected 60 min after the treatment and lower in the measurement carried out 24 h after the treatment.

Exploring the perception of barriers to a dual career by student-athletes with/out disabilities.

In recent years, there has been an increase in knowledge about the barriers experienced by people with disabilities in the education system or sports. However, no studies have analyzed the barriers for those who try to succeed in both disciplines (dual career). The purpose of this study was to examine the barriers faced by student-athletes with/out disability to a dual career combining studies and sport. Two groups were involved in the study (n = 162): student-athletes with disabilities (n = 79) and student-athletes without disabilities (n = 83). Data collected included: (a) socio-demographic aspects; and (b) barriers towards achieving a good balance between sport and academics during the dual career, through the "Perceptions of dual career student-athletes" (ESTPORT) questionnaire. The results showed that student-athletes with disabilities were more likely to perceive in a greater extent the barriers, the university is far from my home (p = 0.007) and the university is far from my training site (p = 0.006), I find myself unable to balance study and training time (p = 0.030), I have to take care of my family (p<0.001), and my current job does not allow me to study enough (p<0.001). The MANOVA analysis showed that the factors gender, competitive level, and employment status had an influence on the perception of some barriers between groups. In conclusion, student-athletes with disabilities perceived barriers more strongly than those without disabilities, and measures are needed to ensure their inclusion in the education system.

Effects of Different Hydration Strategies in Young Men during Prolonged Exercise at Elevated Ambient Temperatures on Pro-Oxidative and Antioxidant Status Markers, Muscle Damage, and Inflammatory Status.

Physical exercise is associated with an increase in the speed of metabolic processes to supply energy to working muscles and endogenous heat production. Intense sweating caused by the work performed at high ambient temperatures is associated with a significant loss of water and electrolytes, leading to dehydration. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of different hydration strategies in young men during prolonged exercise at elevated ambient temperatures on levels of pro-oxidative and antioxidant status, oxidative status markers (TAC/TOC), muscle cell damage (Mb, LDH), and inflammatory status (WBC, CRP, IL-1ß). The study was conducted on a group of 12 healthy men with average levels of aerobic capacity. The intervention consisted of using various hydration strategies: no hydration; water; and isotonic drinks. The examination was di-vided into two main stages. The first stage was a preliminary study that included medical exami-nations, measurements of somatic indices, and exercise tests. The exercise test was performed on a cycle ergometers. Their results were used to determine individual relative loads for the main part of the experiment. In the second stage, the main study was conducted, involving three series of weekly experimental tests using a cross-over design. The change in plasma volume (∆PV) measured im-mediately and one hour after the exercise test was significantly dependent on the hydration strategy (p = 0.003 and p = 0.002, respectively). The mean values of oxidative status did not differ signifi-cantly between the hydration strategy used and the sequence in which the test was performed. Using isotonic drinks, due to the more efficient restoration of the body's water and electrolyte balance compared to water or no hydration, most effectively protects muscle cells from the negative effects of exercise, leading to heat stress of exogenous and endogenous origin.

Exploring dual career quality implementation at European higher education institutions: Insights from university experts.

INTRODUCTION: This paper examines the convergence of the opinions of European higher education institution (HEI) experts on possible implementation of dual career policies and provision areas at university level. METHODS: An online 32-item questionnaire encompassing 26 dual career aspects collected the opinion of European HEI experts as the last phase of a Delphi method preceded by i) focus groups with student-athletes who aimed to identify needs for dual careers and ii) a workshop with 21 dual career experts to generate the statements to be included in the survey. Seventy-one HEI experts from 12 EU member states participated in the survey, rating each dual career aspect identified in previous phases. RESULTS: The relative position of each aspect has been plotted based on relevance (x-axis) and feasibility (y-axis). The Quadrant IV of the resulting scatterplots identified the following nine aspects rated as highly relevant and highly feasible for implementation: tutorship/mentorship, psychological support, programmes based on integration of academic departments and sports services, and adaptable programmes to the needs of each student-athletes (assistance/tutorship area), individual study plans and distance learning (curricula requirements area), publicity for student-athletes and initiatives for increasing the awareness of student-athletes and knowledge of dual career issues (social support area), and access to educational facilities (logistic support area). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The HEI experts' views represent a coherent and useful starting point to develop a deep understanding of the considered 26 aspects founded on a phenomenological lifeworld-led approach and emphasizes the need for a minimum standard for dual career policies and provisions.

Spanish Pre-Olympic Athletes' Motivations and Barriers to Pursuing Dual Career as a Function of Sociodemographic, Sport and Academic Variables.

The dual career allows elite athletes to attain their maximum competitive and academic performance, but the COVID-19 pandemic hindered their development and changed their perception of the importance given to the sporting and educational environment. For this reason, the aim of the present study was to determine the differences in the motivations and perceived barriers, the importance given to academic qualifications, and the perception of the dual career from a multifactorial perspective, of elite athletes according to sex, type of sport practiced, job performance, time of sports career, type of athlete, and type of scholarship received. A total of 100 student-athletes participated in the research study by completing the "Perceptions of dual career student-athletes" questionnaire. The results showed that athletes from individual modalities (p = 0.012) and those who did not receive any scholarships described more barriers (p < 0.001). In addition, women studied more because they enjoyed it (p = 0.007); athletes from individual modalities studied to work later (p = 0.008); athletes who do not work perceived a greater influence between study and sports performance (p = 0.029); at the beginning and at the best stage of their sports career, a greater influence of academics on performance was perceived (p = 0.016); and athletes who considered themselves professionals, and athletes who did not receive any scholarships (p = 0.025), reported that the conciliation between sports and academic life was difficult (p = 0.034). The results obtained point to the importance of dual career scholarships for student-athletes, as well as the need for the programs implemented for these athletes to consider sex, sport modality or type of scholarship granted.

Understanding dual career views of European university athletes: The more than gold project focus groups.

Previous studies have found that student-athletes (S-As) have difficulties in achieving dual career (DC) success. However, no studies have analysed the opinion of the S-As on the functioning of DC with a qualitative methodology. The aim of the present work was to collect the opinions of elite university S-As in relation to DC policy adopted by their academic institutions in different European countries. In total, 77 athletes (F = 35, M = 42; age range: 20-25 years) participated in 15 national face-to-face focus groups in five different countries, to discuss aspects that higher education institutes should implement in relation to: 1) the athletes' needs; 2) assistance/tutorship: 2) curricula requirements; 3) financial support; 4) logistic support; 5) social support; and 6) dual career policies. Fifty of the athletes competed in individual sports and twenty-seven team sports. Of them, 57 was enrolled at undergraduate, 17 was enrolled in a master and 3 in a PhD. The athletes were presented with 13 open-ended questions one by one, and were ensured freedom to interact. All the discussions were recorded. After this, a general discussion took place in which the participants identified and agreed on a final list of statements from their focus group deemed to be relevant to DC athletes as university students. Then, at a consensus meeting, the findings were combined, repetitions were eliminated, and fragmented statements were condensed into broader ones. A final list of 31 statements, organized in six related content units, were identified in relation to the athletes' needs (n = 5), assistance/tutorship (n = 5), curricula requirements (n = 4), financial support (n = 4), logistic support (n = 4), social support (n = 6), and DC policies (n = 3), respectively. In conclusion, this cross-national qualitative research study synthesized the S-As views about their needs and the most relevant DC policies and provisions that higher education institutes should provide to ensure them with positive academic experiences towards the achievement of a degree.

Gender Stereotypes among Teachers and Trainers Working with Adolescents.

Previous scientific literature has not determined the influence exerted by trainers and teachers of adolescents on the development of gender stereotypes in sport. For this reason, the aims of the present research were to establish differences in gender stereotypes in sport among teachers and trainers as a function of profession and sex and to analyze the influence of age and years of experience of male and female trainers and teachers on the gender stereotypes in sport. For this purpose, 127 teachers and trainers completed the questionnaire "gender beliefs and stereotypes towards physical activity and sport". The results showed a significantly higher score of the teachers in "beliefs about physical activity and gender" (p = 0.048) and of the trainers in "physical education classes and gender" (p = 0.006). Concerning sex, women showed higher scores in "sport and gender" (p = 0.005), and men in "beliefs about physical activity and gender" (p = 0.045). Regarding covariates, age showed significant differences in "sport and gender" (p = 0.029), with female teachers showing higher values with respect to female trainers and male teachers, while years of experience showed differences in "beliefs about sport and gender" (p = 0.044), with male teachers showing higher values than male trainers and female teachers.

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).

Performance of high-level Spanish athletes in the Olympic Games according to gender.

No studies have been found that analyzed the probabilities of high-level athletes according to gender for accessing programs that promote the professionalization of sports, and participation and success in the OG in Spain. This could explain the gender differences in these parameters and the trend towards more egalitarian data in recent years. The objective of this study was to analyze the probabilities of Spanish high-level athletes for participating and achieving sporting success in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games (OG). Data relating to a sample of 3757 high-level Spanish athletes (2398 men and 1359 women) between 2005 and 2016 were examined. The variables of gender, having obtained a scholarship from the Association of Olympic Athletes (ADO) program, training in a High Performance Center (CAR), participation and performance in the OG were analyzed. It was found that high-level female athletes were more likely than male athletes to belong to the ADO program (χ2 = 26,151; r* = 0.083; p = 0,000) and CAR (χ2 = 13,847; r* = 0.061; p = 0,000), and to qualify for an OG (χ2 = 22,838; r* = 0,078; p = 0,000), the same trend was found in the three Olympic cycles analyzed. With respect to the results in the OG, in general, no differences were found according to gender, although women were more likely to be finalists (χ2 = 4,406; r* = 0.071; p = 0,036), and more prominently in the 2016 OG (16.118; r* = 0.228; p = 0.000). The same applies to winning a medal (χ2 = 5.939; r* = 0.145; p = 0.015), more specifically bronze at the 2012 OG (χ2 = 6.215; r* = 0.149; p = 0.013). In conclusion, high-level female athletes in Spain have a higher percentage of access to high-level athlete support programs such as ADO and CAR, as well as participation in OG.

Dual Careers of Athletes During COVID-19 Lockdown.

This study aimed to investigate the student-athletes' capability to face the academic, sport, and social challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown and to disclose novel aspects of dual careers. A 32-item online survey encompassing demographic characteristics, sport and university engagement, support and dual-career benefits, physical activity, sitting time, and the time deemed necessary to recover the previous level of performance was developed. Four hundred sixty-seven student-athletes (males: 57%, females: 43%) from 11 countries, competing in 49 different sports (individual: 63.4%, team: 36.6%) at regional (17.5%), national (43.3%), and international (39.2%) levels, and enrolled at high school (21.9%) and university (78.1%) levels completed the survey. During the lockdown, the respondents decreased the time dedicated to sport and academics, although they maintained an active lifestyle. Student-athletes from countries under severe contagion were more likely to train at home, dedicate to academics, and receive support from the coach but less likely receive support from their teachers. With respect to their team sport counterparts, athletes competing in individual sports trained more and were more likely to receive support from their coaches. International athletes showed the highest training time and support from their coaches and as student-athletes. High school students received more support from their coaches and teachers, whereas university students were more likely considering dual careers useful to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. This study substantiates the relevant role of competitive sports participation in the maintenance of active lifestyles, with student-athletes considering home training and e-learning valuable resources during the lockdown. Furthermore, their sport and academic commitments helped student-athletes cope with the emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Influencia del género, nivel educativo y práctica deportiva de los progenitores sobre hábitos deportivos en escolares / Influência do gênero, nível educacional e prática desportiva dos pais nos hábitos esportivos das crianças em idade escolar / Influence of gender, educational level and parents' sports practice on sports habits of school children

Resumen La importancia de los padres en la actividad física de sus hijos durante la adolescencia ha sido constatada previamente, pero pocos estudios han establecido cuáles son las variables más determinantes. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar las diferencias en la práctica deportiva de los adolescentes según el nivel educativo, el nivel de práctica deportiva y los estereotipos de género de sus progenitores. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 965 adolescentes y 1599 progenitores de la Región de Murcia. Los resultados mostraron diferencias en la práctica deportiva de los adolescentes al considerar el nivel educativo de las madres, la actividad física realizada por los padres para los varones, la frecuencia de práctica de las madres para las mujeres y los estereotipos de género de las madres. Como conclusiones, señalar que los estereotipos de género y el nivel educativo de los progenitores influyeron en la práctica deportiva de los adolescentes.

Resumo A importância dos pais na atividade física dos seus filhos durante a adolescência foi previamente afirmada, mas poucos estudos determinaram quais são as variáveis mais determinantes. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a influência dos estereótipos de gênero, o nível educacional e o nível de prática desportiva dos pais sobre a prática desportiva dos seus filhos. A amostra foi composta por 965 adolescentes e 1599 pais da Região de Múrcia. Os resultados mostraram diferenças na prática desportiva dos adolescentes ao considerar o nível educacional das mães, a atividade física realizada pelos pais para os homens, a frequência da prática das mães para as mulheres e os estereótipos de gênero das mães. Como conclusões, é de notar que os estereótipos de gênero e o nível de educação dos pais influenciaram a prática do desporto pelos adolescentes.

Abstract The importance of parents in the physical activity of their children during adolescence has been previously established, but few studies have determined which are the most important variables. This study analyzes the influence of gender stereotypes, educational level, and the level of parents' sports practice on their children's practice. The sample included 965 adolescents and 1,599 parents from the Region of Murcia. The results showed differences in the sports practice of the adolescents when considering the educational level of their mothers, the physical activity carried out by the fathers on male children, the frequency of practice of the mothers for female children and gender stereotypes of the mothers. It found that gender stereotypes and parents' educational level influenced adolescents' sports practice.

Effect of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Elite Spanish Student-Athletes' Perception of the Dual Career.

The aim of the present research was to assess elite student-athletes' perception of the dual career during the lockdown caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, compared with a group of elite student-athletes who could develop their dual career under normal conditions. A total of 150 elite athletes who were also undergraduate or postgraduate students self-completed the "Perceptions of dual career student-athletes (ESTPORT)" questionnaire. From them, 78 did it during the mandatory lockdown period due to the state of emergency caused by COVID-19 (COVID-19 group) and 72 completed it in the previous year to Rio 2016 Olympic Games (control group). The COVID-19 group was found to spend a significantly higher number of hours per week studying, while no significant differences were observed between groups in any training time variable. Student-athletes of the COVID-19 group showed better perception of whether their sport career could help them cope with their academic career and better general perception of remote learning and the use of tasks and videoconferencing as learning support tools. A lower percentage of athletes of the COVID-19 group than of the control group wished to continue with their sport career once they finished their studies. To conclude, student-athletes of the COVID-19 group show adaptations with regard to the organization of their studies and the importance they give to them and to the services provided by dual-career programs, compared with student-athletes from an ordinary pre-Olympic year. In general, student-athletes' perception of the dual career is very positive.