Mental Well-Being or Ill-Being through Coaching in Adult Grassroots Sport: A Systematic Mapping Review.

There is convincing evidence on the effects of sport and exercise on mental health and well-being. Less evidence is provided about how to achieve these benefits in the context of grassroots sport coaching. We systematically reviewed the scientific literature of three databases to narratively synthesize the current knowledge about which coaching-related factors influence well-being or ill-being, and how to promote mental health in adult athletes through sport coaches. The review includes 52 studies with different methodological and theoretical approaches and mental health outcomes. The wide range of themes were mapped and synthesized within two clusters, i.e., coaching behavior, antecedents, and context; and coach-athlete relationship and social support. The results highlight the importance of the promotion of empowering environments, autonomy-supportive coaching behavior, and coach-athlete relationship quality that relate to the satisfaction of basic psychological needs. The review also calls for a critical perspective, in the sense that the coaching context and working environment may not be empowering and supportive to the well-being of coaches and consequently to the athletes, and that coaches who want to provide autonomy-supportive environments may face various obstacles. Finally, the review synthesizes recommendations for the training of coaches, as one piece of a holistic mental health promotion.

"In the Sport I Am Here": Therapeutic Processes and Health Effects of Sport and Exercise on PTSD.

Current evidence suggests positive effects of exercise on posttraumatic stress symptoms; however, knowledge about how these effects are achieved is limited. Thus, this study aims to contribute to a more holistic understanding of these effects. We performed a single case study of a war and torture survivor, who was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and who was participant of the sport and exercise therapy program Movi Kune. Participant observation was conducted as well as semi-structured interviews with the participant and his psychotherapist. Data analysis resulted in the proposal of different processes: The focus on bodily sensations related to an exposure effect, contributing to improvements in body awareness, coping behavior, and affect regulation, whereas the focus on playing related to an improved performance, presence, enjoyment, and mastery experiences, pointing toward distraction and motivational-restorative effects. The findings also advice to be cautious as participants may be exposed to negative sensations and trauma-related triggers.

Centrando la atención en las sensaciones corporales en un programa físico-deportivo terapéutico / Directing attentional focus towards somatic sensations in sport and exercise therapy

Este artículo discute posibles efectos, tanto positivos como negativos, de centrar la atención en las sensaciones corporales en el programa terapéutico de deporte y ejercicio Movi Kune con supervivientes de guerra y tortura, contribuyendo así a un mayor entendimiento de qué posibles procesos psicosociales pueden facilitarse con y en el deporte y el ejercicio. El análisis cualitativo de los datos, procedentes de observación participante y entrevistas con los participantes del programa, reveló que, dependiendo de las actividades realizadas y de dónde se centró la atención, surgieron diferentes procesos y efectos terapéuticos. Centrar la atención en las sensaciones corporales se mostró relacionado con la conciencia corporal y con procesos relacionados con la conciencia plena (mindfulness). Sin embargo, los participantes estuvieron expuestos también a sensaciones negativas (e.g. dolor), lo que produjo conductas de evitación por su parte, para proteger su ‘cuerpo traumatizado’. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones prácticas a la hora de trabajar con el deporte y el ejercicio desde una perspectiva psicosocial con refugiados de guerra y personas con desórdenes mentales (e.g. TEPT, depresión, ansiedad) (AU)

This article discusses possible positive and negative effects of directing attentional focus on somatic sensations in the sport and exercise therapy programme Movi Kune with survivors of war and torture, aiming to contribute to a better understanding of possible psychosocial processes that can be facilitated in sport and exercise. Qualitative analysis of data, from participant observation and interviews with the participants of the programme, revealed that, depending on the activities carried out and the direction of the attentional focus, different processes and effects took place. Directing attentional focus on bodily sensations appeared related to bodily awareness and to processes related to mindfulness. However, participants were also exposed to negative sensations (e.g. pain), which produced avoidance behaviours on their part, to protect the ‘traumatised body’. These results have practical implications for working with sport and exercise from a psychosocial perspective with refugees of war and people with mental disorders (e.g, PTSD, depression, anxiety) (AU)

Evaluation of a psychosocial health programme in the context of violence and conflict.

A psychosocial health programme using movement, games and sport was developed and evaluated in the rural area of Guatemala, with two groups of women who suffered violence. Participatory observation and 32 interviews were conducted; 33 of the 56 participants filled out initial and final questionnaires. Research challenges were discussed and contextualised. Various health factors such as sense of coherence and self-esteem improved. The psychosocial approach and culturally grounded use of movement, games and sport as active and participatory tools in combination with verbal expression, provide a significant way to foster health in the context of violence and conflict.