Help-Seeking for Mental Health Issues in Professional Rugby League Players.

BACKGROUND: Despite the prevalence and negative consequences of mental health issues among elite athletes, studies suggest many do not seek professional help. Understanding barriers and facilitators to help-seeking is imperative to reduce the burden of mental health symptoms and disorders. AIMS: This study aimed to elucidate factors associated with actual help-seeking behavior in professional rugby football league (RFL) players in England and one club in France. DESIGN: A mixed-methods cross-sectional online survey design was used, and completed by 167 professional RFL players. METHODS: The survey consisted of measures of mental health, perceived psychological stress, athletic identity, knowledge of player welfare, and actual help-seeking. Additionally, one open-ended question allowed free-text comments about barriers to help-seeking. RESULTS: Those who had sought help reported significantly higher psychological stress compared to those who had not sought help. Help-seeking was associated with better mental health literacy and higher perceived psychological stress in a multivariate analysis. The qualitative analysis revealed a number of perceived barriers to help-seeking, of which lower mental health literacy and stigma were the most prominent. CONCLUSION: In one of the first studies to examine actual help-seeking behavior, professional rugby players who had sought help for mental health and personal issues were characterized by having greater mental health literacy and experiencing greater psychological stress. Players also identified feelings of embarrassment, pride, fear and shame act as barriers to seeking help for mental health issues. These results suggest focusing on increasing mental health literacy and reducing stigma may increase help-seeking behavior for mental health symptoms.

Social physique anxiety and physical activity behaviour of male and female exercisers.

Despite females consistently reporting greater social physique anxiety (SPA), previous literature has yet to demonstrate whether SPA gender differences are linked to the way males and females perform physical activity. This study investigated an association between SPA and physical activity frequency, history of exercise, and physical activity intensity. Participants were represented by currently active users (N = 33 males; N = 31 females) of an on-campus university-run gym and completed a background physical activity questionnaire and the nine-item Social Physique Anxiety Scale. Participants also performed an exercise session at a self-selected level of exertion, with the intensity of each session measured via heart rate monitor. SPA was not associated with physical activity frequency, history of exercise (length of gym membership), or intensity for male and female exercisers. With respect to male participants, females reported higher SPA and a preference for performing higher intensity physical activity. Females and males also indicated a preference for performing aerobic and anaerobic physical activity respectively. Our findings suggest the experience of SPA does not deter body-conscious individuals from the performance of regular physical activity. Findings also suggest the discrepancy in male and female SPA is not linked to differences in the way physical activity is performed.

Breast cancer survivors' perceptions of participating in a supervised exercise intervention: An exploratory review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Despite the reported beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) during and after cancer diagnosis, current research data suggest that the percentages of breast cancer survivors who adhere to PA recommendations are low. The objective of the present systematic, critical review was to identify, analyze, and provide a summary of qualitative literature findings, which have explored breast cancer survivors' experiences of participating in an exercise/PA intervention after cancer treatment. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using CINAHL, PsychINFO, PubMed, and Scopus electronic databases to search for qualitative literature published during 2000-2016. A total of six studies that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Thematic synthesis, following Thomas and Harden's methods, were used to analyze the data. FINDINGS: Seven descriptive themes were developed: control, focus, transitioning phase, regaining a sense of confidence, enhanced spirits, social support, and safe environment. The findings suggested that participation in supervised exercise interventions enhanced the self-confidence and mood of breast cancer survivors. It allowed them to regain control and provide a focus, thereby allowing them to move forward in their lives. CONCLUSION: The results of this systematic critical review indicated that the supervised exercise was a positive experience for breast cancer survivors.

Opportunistic health promotion among overweight children.

AIM: To explore children's nurses' attitudes to providing health promotion advice to overweight children and their families during hospital admissions. METHODS: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted in a private room in the ward setting. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis of the transcripts was undertaken. FINDINGS: The six themes generated from responses were: responsibility for health promotion; sensitivity of the topic; long-term benefits; parents--a barrier; need for training; and need for institutional support. CONCLUSION: Further research with acute care children's nurses in the UK is required to validate the study findings. More work is also needed to explore the ethics of health promotion in the acute care setting.

Women's experiences of coping with pain during childbirth: a critical review of qualitative research.

OBJECTIVE: to identify and analyse qualitative literature exploring women's experiences of coping with pain during childbirth. DESIGN: critical review of qualitative research. FINDINGS: ten studies were included, conducted in Australia, England, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran and Sweden. Eight of the studies employed a phenomenological perspective with the remaining two without a specific qualitative methodological perspective. Thematic analysis was used as the approach for synthesising the data in this review. Two main themes emerged as the most significant influences upon a woman's ability to cope with pain: (i) the importance of individualised, continuous support and (ii) an acceptance of pain during childbirth. This review found that women felt vulnerable during childbirth and valued the relationships they had with health professionals. Many of the women perceived childbirth pain as challenging, however, they described the inherent paradox for the need for pain to birth their child. This allowed them to embrace the pain subsequently enhancing their coping ability. KEY CONCLUSIONS: women's experience of coping with pain during childbirth is complex and multifaceted. Many women felt the need for effective support throughout childbirth and described the potential implications where this support failed to be provided. Feeling safe through the concept of continuous support was a key element of care to enhance the coping ability and avoid feelings of loneliness and fear. A positive outlook and acceptance of pain was acknowledged by many of the women, demonstrating the beneficial implications for coping ability. These findings were consistent despite the socio-economic, cultural and contextual differences observed within the studies suggesting that experiences of coping with pain during childbirth are universal. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: the findings suggest there is a dissonance between what women want in order to enhance their ability to cope with pain and the reality of clinical practice. This review found women would like health professionals to maintain a continuous presence throughout childbirth and support a social model of care that promotes continuity of care and an increasing acceptance of pain as part of normal childbirth. It is suggested future research regarding the role of antenatal provision for instilling such a viewpoint in preparation of birth be undertaken to inform policy makers. The need for a shift in societal norms is also suggested to disseminate expectations and positive or negative views of what the role of pain during childbirth should be to empower women to cope with childbirth and embrace this transition to motherhood as part of a normal process.

Pupils' and teachers' experiences of school-based physical education: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore pupils' and teachers' experiences of physical education (PE). STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative investigation employing semistructured interviews. Self Determination Theory was used as a guiding theory and Template Analysis was used to analyse the data. SETTING: A secondary school in the North East of England. PARTICIPANTS: 14 pupils (aged 13 and 14, boys and girls) with a range of self-perceived competencies regarding PE and four PE teachers of the pupils (3 male, 1 female). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: (1) Attitudes and perceptions of PE pupils regarding their experiences of compulsory school PE lessons. (2) PE teachers' experiences of teaching PE. RESULTS: Key results from pupils and teachers suggest pupils enjoy participation in PE when they feel competent, in control and supported by others. Feeling competent depended on (1) the activity within PE and (2) the pupils perceived physical capabilities/aptitude. Feeling in control related to (1) having a choice of activities, (2) being able to set exertion levels and (3) control over clothes worn while taking part. Relationships within pupil groups and between pupils and teachers were perceived as important. Teachers could positively influence their pupils' enjoyment by understanding and supporting their personal goals, as opposed to dictating and controlling what they did and for how long, and by promoting a non-threatening atmosphere between pupils. CONCLUSIONS: Rising obesity levels and concerns over the fitness of children and young people has returned the focus of PE to its potential as a vehicle for promoting health. This study suggests schools and PE teachers in particular can positively influence the PE experience of both boys and girls by providing more choice of activities and letting pupils make their own decisions based on their personal needs.

'Is it worth it?' A qualitative study of the beliefs of overweight and obese physically active children.

BACKGROUND: The specific circumstances and contexts that may affect overweight and obese children's participation in physical activity have thus far been given little attention. The qualitative study discussed in this paper explores the experiences of overweight and obese children and young people who have successfully increased their activity levels. METHODS: The study sample was recruited from a community health and fitness scheme for children aged 5 to 16, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above the 91st centile. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 58 children and young people. Data were analyzed using template analysis. RESULTS: The children increased their feelings of capability to undertake physical activity, both while on the scheme and in other physical activity settings. They valued the range of 'noncompetitive' activities available and the nonthreatening atmosphere created. The 'emotional' support offered by the instructors was perceived as being integral to their enjoyment and continued participation. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity providers need to be able to generate opportunities which allow children of any weight status to participate without fear of stigmatization or bullying. The findings of the current study suggest that to be effective what we should be focusing on is improving the physical activity experience from the child's perspective.