Beliefs and Self-Perceptions of Spanish Mental Health Professionals about Physical Therapy in Mental Health: An Observational Survey Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to understand the image, perception, and beliefs regarding the role of the physiotherapist in the field of mental health physiotherapy, both among the professional community and other multidisciplinary teams. METHODS: An observational phenomenological qualitative study through the administration of an ad hoc survey comprising both categorical and open-ended as well as quantitative questions was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 368 responses were analysed. The participants comprised 78.4% women with a mean age of 37.5, an average professional experience of 14.33 years, and 88.3% practicing physical therapists. From the qualitative analysis conducted, three categories emerged in relation to the obtained responses: (a) functions with codes of "improving quality of life" and "intervening in physical pathologies"; (b) objectives with codes of "Improving quality of life", "Intervening in physical pathologies", "Functional rehabilitation", "Health promotion", and "Intervening in mental disorders"; and (c) image with codes "unfamiliarity", "holistic vision", "necessity", and "importance". Regarding the tools, the findings highlight a strong focus on physical exercise interventions due to their well-established benefits. Cognitive strategies like therapeutic relationships and cognitive-behavioural techniques were also prominent. Additionally, embodiment techniques involving movement, relaxation, breathing, and voice usage were notable. Lastly, manual therapy and physical agents formed another distinct category. CONCLUSIONS: The vision and role of this professional profile were unknown to the respondents. Despite being perceived as having a holistic view of the patient and being considered an essential need, the actual image remains vague. However, there is significant interest, indicating a promising future, although the lack of specialized training is noted. Therefore, the need for specialized education and awareness campaigns among professionals in the mental health field is highlighted.

Classification of pain intensity with the pain beliefs and perceptions inventory (PBPI) and the pain catastrophizing scales (PCS).

PURPOSE: The pain beliefs and perceptions inventory (PBPI) and the pain catastrophizing scales (PCS) characterize beliefs or distress dimensions of the pain experience. It is relatively unknown, however, to what degree the PBPI and the PCS are well suited to classifying pain intensity. METHODS: This study applied a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) approach to these instruments against the criterion of a visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain intensity with fibromyalgia and chronic back pain patients (n = 419). RESULTS: The largest areas under the curve (AUC) were moderate and limited to the constancy subscale (71%) and total score (70%) of the PBPI and to the helplessness subscale (75%) and total score (72%) of the PCS. The best cut-off scores for the PBPI and PCS were better off at detecting true negatives than true positives, with larger specificity than sensitivity values. CONCLUSION: Whereas, the PBPI and PCS are certainly useful instruments to evaluate diverse pain experiences, they may be inappropriate to classify intensity. The PCS performs marginally better than the PBPI for classifying pain intensity.

Work-family conflict, wellbeing and strain: Sex differences and children at home.

The work and family interface elicits work-family conflict (WFC) leading to positive and negative outcomes. Sex is a central element in WFC, with a wealth of studies reporting either sex differences or similarities. The presence of children at home, however, is a rather understudied moderator. This study aimed to contrast whether two main components of WFC, work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW) associated differentially with wellbeing and strain depending on sex or children. There were data from 762 Spanish individuals (455 females) in dual-earner families. A structural equation model with four latent variables (WIF, FIW, wellbeing and strain) was contrasted across two moderators, sex and children. Males and females endured a similar association between WIF and FIW with wellbeing and strain compared with workers with children. Childless workers experienced lower associations between FIW with wellbeing and strain compared with workers with children. Children at home rather than sex alone elicit stronger links of WFC with wellbeing and strain. Examining the presence of children at home, including children ages, should be conducted regularly in WFC research.

The Role of Mindfulness in Business Administration (B.A.) University Students' Career Prospects and Concerns about the Future.

In a challenging work environment, entrepreneurship orientation (hereafter, EO) can be an important asset for university students. In this study, we investigated the EO and concerns about the future of B.A. students, focusing on the role of mindfulness levels. A total of 204 students, including those coming from family businesses (hereafter, FB), were asked about their intention of creating their own business and future concerns with an ad hoc questionnaire, and about their mindfulness levels with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. The results showed no differences in concerns about the future between those students coming from a family business and those who did not. However, in that group of students who were uncertain about starting a business career, a negative association between mindfulness and future concerns was found. This paper sheds light on the relationship between mindfulness and concerns about the future in Business Administration (hereafter, B.A.) students, concluding that, in the face of uncertainty, higher levels of mindfulness help to reduce concerns about the future. Finally, we indicate the relevance of this study for entrepreneurs, family business members, policymakers and B.A. Faculties and Business schools.

Effects of Acute Psychological and Physiological Stress on Rock Climbers.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the effects that psychological and physiological stressors have on indoor rock climbers, as well as to identify sex differences. METHODS: 14 intermediate rock climbers participated in the study, 10 males and 4 females. Mean age was 31 ± 8 years for males and 21 ± 2 years for females. Day 1 consisted of test familiarization and baseline measurements. Day 2 included two test conditions, startle and fatigue, separated by 20 min. In the startle condition, participants had to lead climb a route, and a loud audio stimulus was presented near the top of the climb. In the fatigue condition, participants were required to climb as fast as they could until muscular failure. The competitive state anxiety inventory second review (CSAI-2R) questionnaire was used to assess somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety, and self-confidence. The four-square step test (FSST) was used to assess motor control, and cortisol levels were acquired via passive drool (PD). RESULTS: Cortisol concentrations were highest in the pre-startle condition (1.72 µg/dL ± 0.66), and values decreased post-startle (1.67 µg/dL ± 0.74) and post-fatigue (1.42 µg/dL ± 0.72). However, cortisol concentrations increased post-startle in females (1.57 µg/dL ± 0.96). Somatic anxiety in males was significantly higher post-startle (16.36 ± 5.54) than pre-startle (14.23 ± 5.09). Females had significantly higher somatic anxiety post-startle (18.00 ± 8.76), and they had lower self-confidence levels (30.00 ± 5.89) than males. CONCLUSIONS: There are differences in the way that males and females prepare and respond to stressful situations. Furthermore, time of day may have had a significant impact on cortisol concentrations.

Efficacy of the FIBROWALK Multicomponent Program Moved to a Virtual Setting for Patients with Fibromyalgia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Proof-of-Concept RCT Performed Alongside the State of Alarm in Spain.

FIBROWALK is a multicomponent program including pain neuroscience education, therapeutic exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness training that has recently been found to be effective in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). This RCT started before the COVID-19 pandemic and was moved to a virtual format (i.e., online videos) when the lockdown was declared in Spain. This study is aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a virtual FIBROWALK compared to Treatment-As-Usual (TAU) in patients with FM during the first state of alarm in Spain. A total of 151 patients with FM were randomized into two study arms: FIBROWALK plus TAU vs. TAU alone. The primary outcome was functional impairment. Secondary outcomes were kinesiophobia, anxiety and depressive symptomatology, and physical functioning. Differences between groups at post-treatment assessment were analyzed using Intention-To-Treat (ITT) and completer approaches. Baseline differences between clinical responders and non-responders were also explored. Statistically significant improvements with small-to-moderate effect sizes were observed in FIBROWALK+TAU vs. TAU regarding functional impairment and most secondary outcomes. In our study, the NNT was 5, which was, albeit modestly, indicative of an efficacious intervention. The results of this proof-of-concept RCT preliminarily support the efficacy of virtual FIBROWALK in patients with FM during the Spanish COVID-19 lockdown.

Protective role of mindfulness, self-compassion and psychological flexibility on the burnout subtypes among psychology and nursing undergraduate students.

AIMS: To explore the relationship between mindfulness, self-compassion and psychological flexibility, and the burnout subtypes in university students of the Psychology and Nursing degrees, and to analyse possible risk factors for developing burnout among socio-demographic and studies-related characteristics. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 644 undergraduate students of Nursing and Psychology from two Spanish universities. METHODS: The study was conducted between December 2015 and May 2016. Bivariate Pearson's correlations were computed to analyse the association between mindfulness facets, self-compassion and psychological flexibility, and levels of burnout. Multivariate linear regression models and bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regressions were also computed. RESULTS: The three subtypes of burnout presented significant correlations with psychological flexibility, self-compassion and some mindfulness facets. Psychological flexibility, self-compassion and the mindfulness facets of observing and acting with awareness were significantly associated to burnout. Among the risk factors, 'year of study' was the only variable to show significantly higher risk for every burnout subtype. CONCLUSION: The significant associations found between mindfulness, self-compassion, psychological flexibility and burnout levels underline the need of including these variables as therapeutic targets when addressing the burnout syndrome in university students. IMPACT: Undergraduate students, especially those of health sciences, often experience burnout. This study delves into the protective role of some psychological variables: mindfulness, self-compassion and psychological flexibility. These should be considered as potentially protective skills for developing burnout, and therefore, undergraduate students could be trained on these abilities to face their studies and their future profession to prevent experiencing burnout syndrome.

Factors influencing student choice of a degree in physiotherapy: a population-based study in Catalonia (Spain).

BACKGROUND: In other healthcare professions, there has been extensive research into students' motivation, but studies aiming to determine what leads individuals to choose a degree in physiotherapy are scarce. This research study had three main objectives: to obtain a sociodemographic profile of first-year physiotherapy students in Catalonia; to determine the factors that lead individuals to choose a degree in physiotherapy; and to determine potential differences, according to gender and country of origin. METHODS: This is an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study. Data were collected by means of a self-administered, ad-hoc questionnaire, consisting of 15 Likert scale questions, options ranging from "not influencing at all -1-" to "extremely influencing -5-". Ten out of the twelve universities in Catalonia (Spain) that offer a degree in physiotherapy participated in this study. The sample consisted of 941 first-year physiotherapy students (55.2% men; mean age 20.1, SD: 3.4). RESULTS: The most determinant factors leading individuals to pursue a degree in physiotherapy were: helping others (95.6%); the relationship between physiotherapy and sports (79%); physiotherapy involving manual work (76.4%); and it being perceived as providing multiple job opportunities (75.9%). Male and French students were attracted due to its relation to sports (MD = 0.369, p < 0.001 and MD = 0.130, p < 0.027), perception of it being an easy degree (MD = 0.148, p < 0.001 and MD = 0.091, p < 0.037), admiration for a known physiotherapist (MD = 0.223, p = 0.006 and MD = 0.265, p = 0.001), employability (MD = 0.297, p < 0.001 and MD = 0.706, p < 0.001), good income (MD = 0.190, p = 0.002 and MD = 0.609, p < 0.001) and social recognition (MD = 0.164, p = 0.011 and MD = 0.286, p < 0.001). Helping others (MD = -0.149, p < 0.001) and interest in the sciences (MD = -0.164, p = 0.030) were more determinant for female students. Male students were more guided by recommendation (MD = 0.234, p = 0.001) and to complement previous studies (MD = 0.237, p = 0.016). French students tended to present more interest in the selection of physiotherapy as a wish since childhood (MD = 0.595, p < 0.001), due to its multiple job opportunities (MD = 0.427, p < 0.001) and because of manual work, and did not choose it to complement previous studies (MD = -1.122, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The desire to help and care for others, the relation to sports, and involving manual work are the predominant factors that lead students to pursue a degree in physiotherapy. Female students favour helping others and science, whereas male students favour its relation to sports, complementing studies, social factors (admiration, recommendation, friendship) and socioeconomic determinants such as employability, good income or social recognition. When compared to Spanish students, French students were more motivated by its connection to sports, social and socioeconomic factors and some vocational determinants such as being a wish since childhood and interest in a manual profession.

Plyometric jump training effects on the physical fitness of individual-sport athletes: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to explore the effects of plyometric jump training (PJT) on the physical fitness of individual sport athletes (ISA). METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we searched through PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS electronic databases. We included controlled studies that incorporated a PJT intervention among ISA (with no restriction for age or sex), that included a pre-to-post intervention assessment of physical fitness (e.g., sprint; jump). From the included studies, relevant data (e.g., PJT and participants characteristics) was extracted. We assessed the methodological quality of the included studies using the PEDro scale. Using a random-effects model, meta-analyses for a given outcome was conducted. Means and standard deviations for a measure of pre-post-intervention physical fitness from the PJT and control groups were converted to Hedges' g effect size (ES). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 statistic. The risk of bias was explored using the extended Egger's test. The statistical significance threshold was set at p < 0.05. Moderator analyses were conducted according to the sex, age and sport background of the athletes. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies of moderate-high methodological quality were included (total participants, n = 667). Compared to controls, PJT improved vertical jump (ES = 0.49; p < 0.001; I = 0.0%), linear sprint (ES = 0.23; p = 0.032; I 2 = 10.9%), maximal strength (ES = 0.50; p < 0.001; I2 = 0.0%) and endurance performance (ES = 0.30; p = 0.028; I2 = 11.1%). No significant effect was noted for sprint with change of direction (ES = 0.34; p = 0.205; I2 = 70.9%). Athlete's sex, age and sport background had no modulator role on the effect of PJT on vertical jump, linear sprint, maximal strength and endurance performance. Among the included studies, none reported adverse effects related to the PJT intervention. CONCLUSIONS: PJT induces small improvements on ISA physical fitness, including jumping, sprinting speed, strength and endurance.

Performance in male and female elite tennis across season of birth.

In the field of sports, there is an overrepresentation of athletes born in the initial months of the selection year, and an underrepresentation of athletes born in the latter months of the selection year. This season of birth effect appears to lead to a disadvantage in performance, even though with a considerable variability regarding age, sex, and skill. This study addressed season of birth effects on performance with the best one hundred male and female tennis players in the world. Specifically, we examined whether season of birth moderates the association of body height and ranking position with tennis performance. The main findings indicated that body height and rank associated in the expected direction with first service wins, break points saved, and a success rate describing the ratio of match wins to match defeats. For females born later in the selection year, however, height was unrelated to the percentage of first service wins or break points saved, and occupying higher positions in the ranking did not contribute to improve the ratio of wins to defeats. These findings suggest that season of birth effects on performance might operate for women but not for men when comparing highly selected populations such as the best tennis players in the world.

Testing the Intermediary Role of Perceived Stress in the Relationship between Mindfulness and Burnout Subtypes in a Large Sample of Spanish University Students.

The burnout syndrome is the consequence of chronic stress that overwhelms an individual's resources to cope with occupational or academic demands. Frenetic, under-challenged, and worn-out are different burnout subtypes. Mindfulness has been recognized to reduce stress, comprising five facets (observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience). This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the relationship between mindfulness facets, perceived stress, and burnout subtypes in a sample of 1233 students of Education, Nursing, and Psychology degrees from different universities of Valencia (Spain). Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was computed showing an adequate fit (Chi-square, CFI, TLI, RMSEA, and SRMR). Four mindfulness facets (all but observing) significantly correlated with general second-order mindfulness. Unexpected results were found: Acting with awareness facet was positively associated with frenetic subtype, while the non-reacting facet was positively associated with frenetic and under-challenged subtype. Ultimately, mindfulness facets negatively predicted the perceived stress levels, which in turn, predicted burnout. However, mindfulness plays different roles in the early stages of burnout syndrome (i.e., frenetic and under-challenged).

The space-time structure of hadronization in the Lund model.

The assumption of linear confinement leads to a proportionality of the energy-momentum and space-time pictures of fragmentation for a simple q q ¯ system in the Lund string model. The hadronization of more complicated systems is more difficult to describe, and in the past only the energy-momentum picture has been implemented. In this article also the space-time picture is worked out, for open and closed multiparton topologies, for junction systems, and for massive quarks. Some first results are presented, for toy systems but in particular for LHC events. The density of hadron production is quantified under different conditions. The (not unexpected) conclusion is that this density can become quite high, and thereby motivate the observed collective behaviour in high-multiplicity p p collisions. The new framework, made available as part of the Pythia event generator, offers a starting point for future model building in a number of respects, such as hadronic rescattering.

Intervención mindfulness de rehabilitación de un deportista lesionado: Caso en fútbol profesional / Mindfulness intervention of rehabilitation of an injured athlete: Case in professional soccer

El gran número de lesiones en el deporte y concretamente en fútbol se está convirtiendo en un problema de interés prioritario para los profesionales que trabajan con deportistas. El estudio de la epidemiologia de la lesión y de las complejas variables que intervienen el proceso de recuperación del deportista lesionado nos obliga a incorporar nuevas técnicas de intervención. En este estudio se propone una intervención basada en mindfulness o atención plena como complemento al protocolo de rehabilitación de un futbolista profesional lesionado. La propuesta se desarrolla en ocho sesiones donde se trabajan aspectos teóricos y prácticos y se evalúan variables psicológicas y fisiológicas antes durante y después de la intervención. Aceptando las limitaciones que presenta un estudio aplicado de caso único, podemos sugerir que, con los resultados obtenidos, este tipo de intervenciones pueden ser de utilidad en la rehabilitación de deportistas profesionales lesionados; ya que se observa una mejora de la percepción subjetiva del estado de ánimo durante la intervención y aumento de coherencia cardiaca entre otros componentes. La evaluación de seguimiento mostró la importancia de la fase de incorporación a la competición por la carga emocional que pudimos registrar. Se deben mejorar y ampliar la investigación en este ámbito de aplicación

The big number of sport injuries, especially in soccer, is becoming an important problem for the professionals who work with sportists. The study of sport’s injuries epidemiology and the complexity of the variables that are present in the sportist's recuperation process make us incorporate new intervention techniques. In this study a mindfulness-based intervention is proposed as a complement to rehabilitation of an injured soccer player. Through eight sessions theorical and practical aspects are worked and psychological and physiological variables are evaluated during and after the intervention. With the limitations of a study like this, we can suggest that this kind of interventions can be useful in rehabilitation of injured sportists. There is an improvement in the state's perception and in the cardiac coherence among other variables. The follow-up evaluation showed the importance of the back to competition phase because of the emotional load we were able to record; so it is recommended to increase the research in this field

Intervenciones basadas en Mindfulness (Atención Plena) en Psicología del Deporte / Mildfulness-based interventions in sports psychology / Intervenções baseadas nomindfulness (atenção plena) em psicologia do desporto

En este estudio se pretende analizar los trabajos aplicados de mindfulness (atención plena) en publicaciones de psicología del deporte. Para ello se realiza una revisión sistemática a partir de criterios de inclusión y exclusión de trabajos publicados. Se realiza el análisis de referencias a partir de bases de datos bibliográficos como Medline, Psychinfo, Web of Science, Cochrane, Ebscohost o Isi Web of Knowledge durante el periodo entre 1985 y diciembre 2014. Las palabras claves de búsqueda fueron: psicología del deporte, mindfulness, deporte, estrés y entrenamiento. Inicialmente se partió de 22 artículos, de los que se cribaron 11 por motivos varios (deficiencias metodológicas, conclusiones poco claras, tesis o artículos no publicados). Los 11 artículos analizados realizan intervenciones basadas en mindfulness en el ámbito de la psicología del deporte. Los resultados indican que, aunque se observan deficiencias metodológicas en los diseños de investigación, la mayoría de trabajos muestran mejoras en el rendimiento deportivo, y en variables como ansiedad, burn-out, niveles de flow y niveles de mindfulness. Se recomiendan más estudios y con una mejor metodología para confirmar esta tendencia y continuar profundizando en el conocimiento de la efectividad de la conciencia plena en psicología del deporte

The aim of this article is to identify work on the mindfulness concept in sports psychology research. Research into published works was undertaken using the Medline, Psychinfo, Web of Science, Cochrane, Ebscohost and Isi Web of Knowledge databases and references to articles retrieved from 1985 to December 2014, using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The main search terms were sports psychology, mindfulness, sport, stress and training. From the initial 22 articles we excluded 11 for various reasons (methodological problems, vague conclusions, theses or unpublished articles). The 11 final articles set out different mindfulness-based interventions in the field of sports psychology. Despite methodological limitations in the research design, the results show some improvements in sports performance and variables such as anxiety levels, burn-out, flow and mindfulness levels. To confirm these preliminary results, and to continue to enhance knowledge about the effectiveness of mindfulness in sports psychology, further research, with improved methodology, is recommended

Neste estudo pretendeu-se analisar os trabalhos aplicados de mindfulness(atenção plena) em publicações de psicologia do desporto. Paratal, realizou-se uma revisão sistemática a partir de critérios de inclusão e exclusão de trabalhos publicados. Foi realizada uma análise de referências apartir de bases de dados bibliográficos como Medline, Psychinfo, Web of Science, Cochrane, Ebscohost ou Isi Web of Knowledge durante o períodoentre 1985 e Dezembro de 2014. As palavras-chave de busca foram: psicologia do desporto, mindfulness, desporto, stress e treino. Inicialmente partiu-se de 22 artigos, dos quais foram eliminados 11 por motivos vários (deficiências metodológicas, conclusões pouco claras, teses ou artigos não publicados).Os 11 artigos analisados versam sobre intervenções realizadas com base no mindfulnessno âmbito da psicologia do desporto. Os resultados indicamque, embora se observem deficiências metodológicas nos delineamentos de investigação, a maioria dos trabalhos revelam melhorias no rendimento des-portivo, e em variáveis como a ansiedade, burnout, níveis de flowe níveis de mindfulness. São recomendados estudos adicionais e com uma melhor me-todologia para confirmar esta tendência e continuar a aprofundar o conhecimento da efectividade da consciência plena em psicologia do desporto

Aplicaciones del mindfulness (conciencia plena) en lesión deportiva / Mindfulness apliations in sport injury

The mindfulness construct, defined as "paying attention on purpose, in the present moment and nonjudgementally to the present experience" (Kabat-Zinn, 1982) and considered part of the third generation techniques in cognitive-behavioural therapies, is being applied in several fields with benefits in important variables such as stress or anxiety levels, pain or life quality. It’s been recently used for the first time in sports psychology to increase the performance levels of athletes with very well defined programs (Birrer, 2012). The aim of this article is to analyze the mindfulness-based interventions and see the potential benefits and advantages that mindfulness could bring in the prevention and rehabilitation of sports injuries (AU)

El concepto mindfulness o conciencia plena, definido como un constructo que explica el hecho de prestar atención, en el momento presente y sin intención de juzgar la experiencia vivida (Kabat-Zinn, 1982), y considerado como técnicas de 3ª generación en terapia conductual, siendo aplicado en numerosos campos con beneficios en variables tales como la gestión del estrés, el dolor o la calidad de vida. En el ámbito de la psicología del deporte se está utilizando para mejorar la gestión del estrés y la mejora del rendimiento de los deportistas (Birrer et al., 2012). El objetivo de este artículo es analizar los trabajos empíricos en psicología del deporte con intervenciones basadas en mindfulness y ver los beneficios potenciales de la aplicación de este método de trabajo para su aplicación a la prevención, rehabilitación y recuperación de la lesión deportiva (AU)