Using sport science data in collegiate athletics: Coaches’ perspectives

Towards medical education neuroscience: pilot results of integrative affective analytics from clinical skills workshops

The assessment of mental status is an important task in psychiatry. But the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic has reduced the number of face-to-face assessments with physicians, and thus making it difficult. In recent years, some studies have used EEG (electroencephalogram) to help assess depression or mental state. Users can thus further assess mental state through simple EEG measurement. Since the EEG measurement will obtain multiple frequency bands related to mental or emotion state, if only one frequency band is used to evaluate a specific emotion or mental state, it may be insufficient. Some studies have proposed an ensemble method of multiple frequency bands for emotion recognition. In this study, we will use ensemble multi-bands EEG frequency to do and assist mental state or depression assessment. Through the method of ensemble learning, we integrate the frequency bands which is mainly related to mental state to assist the evaluation of mental state. From the experimental results, we can find that this method has a good effect.

Objective To assay the clinical observation about the influence of psychological intervention to the mental state after chemotherapy of breast cancer patients in the rural area. Methods A total of 120 breast cancer patients in the rural area were randomly divided into the treatment group (n=60) and the control group (n=60). The treatment group was treated with the active psychological interventions, and the control group was treated with the routine nursing and health education. The mental health states of the two groups were measured by SCL-90 self measuring scale and self rating depression/anxiety scale designed by Zung, then the changes of mental health states before and after the intervention were compared. Results The score of SCL-90 self-measuring scale of the treatment group was (1.54±0.33), which was significantly lower than (1.82±0.43) in the control group after the psychological interventions. The grades of depression and anxiety of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group. The differences between the two groups had statistical meanings (P＜ 0.05). Conclusions The nuring on basis of traditional therapy, combined with systemic psychological intervention, can improve the mental state of breast cancer patients with chemotherapy. Key words: Psychological intervention; The rural area; Breast cancer; Chemotherapy

To investigate the relationship of social support and psychological and physical states among Japanese women with breast cancer and to compare the variables before and one year after breast surgery. A prospective longitudinal study. A general hospital in northern Japan. 61 Japanese women with breast cancer. Measures were the Japanese versions of the Interpersonal Relationship Inventory, the General Health Questionnaire, and the Physical States Interview Form. Data were collected at four time points: before (time 1), three months after (time 2), six months after (time 3), and one year after (time 4) breast surgery. Social support (support, reciprocity, and conflict), social support network, and psychological and physical states. Psychological and physical states correlated significantly at all four time points. Significant correlations also were found between psychological states and support at times 2 and 4 and between psychological states and reciprocity at time 4. Repeated measures analysis of variance showed significant differences in support, reciprocity, conflict, and physical states but no significant differences in social support network or psychological states. The results of the study suggest that healthcare professionals need to consider social support as an important factor when helping Japanese women adjust to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Healthcare professionals need to provide appropriate social support for Japanese women with breast cancer not only at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer but also after breast surgery.

To determine the relationships between attachment style, social support, and mental health states, as well as the mediation mechanism within this relationship, we conducted a survey among healthcare workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic quarantine. The survey assessed their mental health states, adult attachment style, social support, and some other relevant information. Mental health states were represented by the overall state of sleep, physical and emotional assessment. A multiple mediator model was used to explain how social support could mediate the relationship between attachment and mental health states during COVID-19 quarantine. Our findings revealed that 33.3% of the participants experienced emotional issues, 8.5% had sleep problems, and 24.9% reported physical discomfort. The direct effect of adult attachment styles on mental health states during COVID-19 quarantine was significant (c' = -0.3172; p < 0.01). The total indirect effect also showed statistical significance (ab = -0.1857; p < 0.01). Moreover, the total effect of adult attachment styles on mental health states was -0.5029 (c = -0.5029; p < 0.01). Subjective social support and utilization of social support play mediating roles in the relationship between attachment style and mental health states, respectively (ab1 = -0.1287, 95% CI: -0.9120 to -0.3341, ab2 = 0.0570, 95% CI: -0.4635 to -0.1132). These findings highlight social support played a mediation role between attachment style and mental health states. Thus, offering social support during a crisis might be useful for those individuals with an insecure attachment.

Background/Objective: Although some studies conducted in Western cultures have identified positive influences of social support on the psychological and physical states of elderly women with breast cancer, few studies have investigated the relationships between social support and its effects on health outcomes in elderly Japanese women with breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to describe and investigate the relationships among social support, social support network, and psychological and physical states among elderly Japanese women with breast cancer. Methods: Elderly Japanese women with breast cancer (n=65) participated in the study. Measures used in this study were the Japanese versions of instruments with established reliability and validity: (1) the Social Support Scale for Japanese Elderly (SSSJE); (2) the Visual Analogue Scale for Social Support (VASSS); (3) the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and (4) the Physical States Interview Form (PSIF). Data analysis included descriptive, t-tests, and Pearson’s correlations. Results : Descriptive statistics showed that the size of the social support network ranged from 2 to 34 (M=9.09; SD=6.57). Comparisons of psychological states showed a significant difference between the women who were over and under 70 years old. Psychological states significantly correlated with social support network and conflict among elderly Japanese women with breast cancer. Conclusions: The results reveal that there are significant relationships among social support, social support network, and psychological and physical states among elderly Japanese women with breast cancer. The results reveal that there are significant relationships among social support, social support network, and psychological and physical states among elderly Japanese women with breast cancer. Nurses should provide information on social support as an important factor to help elderly Japanese women with breast cancer.

INTRODUCTIONWe present the report of a young male athlete who cycled 100+ miles·d−1 for 50 consecutive days in the 50 United States. The purpose of this ultra-event, titled Ride for Your Life (RFYL), was to raise awareness and funding for cancer research and treatment. RFYL began August 18, 200

An external focus of attention, as opposed to an internal focus of attention, has been shown to increase performance and enhance learning. However, little research has examined whether these findings have been integrated into collegiate coaching and adopted by student-athlete performers. The purpose of this study was to examine the verbal instructions and instructional feedback provided by NCAA division 1 collegiate coaches during practice and how it influenced student-athletes’ focus of attention during competition. Thirty-one student-athletes completed a questionnaire that inquired about coaches’ verbal instructions and instructional feedback during practice and student-athletes’ focus of attention during competition. Fifty percent of participants reported that their coaches instructed them to focus their attention internally and only four participants reported that their coaches instructed them to focus externally. Our results also showed that coaches provided an equal amount of internal and external instructional feedback. During competition, however, the majority of participants reported statements that fell under the category of “winning and strategy.” These results suggest that the beneficial effects of an external focus of attention have not been integrated into NCAA division 1 collegiate coaching and the focus of attention adopted by student-athletes may be more complex than what is studied in laboratory research.

This study was a sub-analysis of 20 consecutive elderly participants who underwent outpatient rehabilitation at a geriatric health services facility from January 2020 to the end of May 2020, based on our previous report. This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal changes in their physical and psychological states with respect to gender in rehabilitation outpatients between the pre-nationwide (T1) and post-nationwide state of emergency (T2) caused by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Gait speed (GS), timed up and go (TUG), handgrip strength (HG), and maximum phonation time (MPT) were measured as indices of physical status. The Japanese version of the Apathy Scale and five-level EuroQoL five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) were used to assess the psychological state. Both states were measured in the male and female groups at T1 and T2 and then were compared. The final analysis was comprised of 13 outpatients. In males, the physical (GS, p = 0.463; TUG, p = 0.600; HG, p = 0.753; and MPT, p = 0.249) and psychological (Apathy Scale, p = 0.891 and EQ-5D-5L, p = 0.249) states did not change significantly between T1 and T2. In the females, the physical (GS, p = 0.600; TUG, p = 0.735; HG, p = 1.000; and MPT, p = 0.310) and psychological (Apathy Scale, p = 0.588 and EQ-5D-5L, p = 0.176) states also did not show significant change between T1 and T2. In both sexes, the continuance of outpatient rehabilitation might be recommended as one activity that can maintain physical and psychological states during a COVID-19-related state of emergency.

The Rhetorical Alternative in Neurocinematics

“Geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid.” The old German proverb reflects the fact that sharing a bad emotion or feeling with someone else may lower the psychological strain of the person experiencing sorrow, mourning or anger. On the other hand the person showing empathy will take literally a load from its counterpart, up to physiological reaction of the peripheral and central nervous pain system. Though subjective, mental and physical states can be shared. Visual perception of suffering may be important but also narrative description plays a role, all our senses are mixing in. It is hypothetized that literature, art and humanities allow this overlap. A change of mental states can lead to empirically observable effects as it is the case for the effect of role identity or placebo on pain perception. Antidepressants and other therapeutics are another choice to change the mental and bodily states. Their development follows today's notion of “rationality” in the design of therapeutics and is characterized solely by an atomic resolution approach to understand drug activity. Since emotional states and physiological states are entangled, given the difficulty of a physical description of emotion, the future rational drug design should encompass mental states as well.

Background: The second largest populous country India underwent a complete lockdown to curb the rampant spread and to prepare the health sector of our country to face the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic. The curtailed access to family, friends, and other social support systems caused loneliness and mental issues such as anxiety and depression. Aim and Objectives: The present study was taken to find the impact of social lockdown on the psychological and mental health of the participants and to find out the differences between different sex, age groups, and occupations. Materials and Methods: An online cross-sectional study was administered to 1047 participants in the age group of 16–70 years through Google forms to assess the psychological and mental status of the residents of Delhi-NCR, India. The psychological status was judged by IES(R), while mental health status was checked by Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results: The mean age of the participants was 48.29 ± 26.16 years. About 75.4% of participants had a moderate psychological impact of the lockdown as calculated by the IES(R) scale. DASS-21 scale revealed that the participants suffered from mild to moderate depression, anxiety and stress. Females had higher IES(R) but males scored higher DASS-21 scores. Healthcare workers along with the auxiliary staff suffered maximal mental agony. Conclusion: In the post-COVID-19 days, all efforts should be directed to minimize the toxic emotional and psychological impact of social lockdown by having tele psychological counseling programs with special emphasis to older age groups and medical fraternity.

Athletic Training Educators' ConferenceApril 29–May 1, 2021

The purposes of this study were (1) to characterize psychological states and coping strategies after bereavement among spouses of cancer patients in Japan and (2) to explore the factors associated with psychological states in oncology settings. In March 2009, questionnaires to assess spouses' psychological states, coping strategies, and mental health states (GHQ-28) were sent after patients died at the National Cancer Center of Japan. To address the first purpose, exploratory factor analysis, gender comparison, and calculation of correlation with age, time since bereavement, and mental health states were conducted. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to address the second purpose. A total of 821 spouses experiencing bereavement for 7 months to 7 years participated in the study. Psychological states revealed three factor structures: "Anxiety/Depression/Anger", "Yearning", and "Acceptance/Future-Oriented Feelings". Coping strategies also revealed three factor structures: "Distraction", "Continuing Bonds", and "Social Sharing/Reconstruction". Coping strategies represented 18 % to 34 % of each factor associated with psychological states, whereas the characteristics of bereaved spouses and deceased patients represented 6 % and less than 6 %, respectively. More "Distraction and Social Sharing/Reconstruction" and less "Continuing Bonds" were significantly associated coping strategies for achieving "Acceptance/Future-Oriented Feelings" (p < 0.01). Both psychological states and coping strategies after bereavement revealed three factor structures. Coping strategies was the primary, bereaved spouses' characteristics was the secondary, and deceased patients' characteristics was the tertiary factor associated with psychological states. Enhancing "Distraction" and "Social Sharing/Reconstruction", and reducing "Continuing Bonds" might be promising strategies for achieving positive psychological states of the bereaved.

The purpose of the present investigation was to investigate what being a mentally tough coach means to NCAA Division I collegiate coaches who see themselves as, or becoming, mentally tough coaches. Twelve coaches were recruited who met the criteria concerning years coaching, winning percentage, and years with the same team. Qualitative interviews were conducted with the main question being “what does it mean to be a mentally tough coach in NCAA Division I (DI) collegiate sport today.” Results revealed the themes of Emotional Regulation and Endurance, embracing a particular Philosophy/Way of Thinking, and exhibiting certain Behaviors/Actions. These three themes of coach mental toughness were situated in and interacted with the Contexts of DI Collegiate Sport. In addition, these components of coach mental toughness were Developed Over Time and Required Balance across many areas. In relation to the extant coaching literature, these results suggest that study participants felt that coach mental toughness means productive self-management and modeling, and leadership within inherently inequitable and highly stressful and scrutinized contexts. Future directions for research include more ethnographic and case studies for more in-depth responses as well as including how cultural values may influence the conceptualization of a mentally tough coach. Lay summary: Results from interviews revealed that common themes for mentally tough NCAA Division I coaches included Emotional Regulation and Endurance, embracing a particular Philosophy/Way of Thinking, and exhibiting certain Behaviors/Actions. These components of coach mental toughness were Developed Over Time and Required Balance between being coaches, being educators and focusing on athlete development. Implications for Practice NCAA Division I coaches have to pursue high performance and winning to keep their jobs but also need to balance this with being educators and focusing on athlete development and well-being. Emotional regulation and self-control are key aspects of mental toughness in NCAA Division I coaches, and thus coaches need to develop these psychological skills to complement their other coaching skills (e.g., strategy, instruction). Having a consistent philosophy or way of thinking serves as a foundation for being a mentally tough NCAA Division I coach, including consistency in expectations, setting high standards, being committed to student-athlete development, adopting a growth mindset of professional (coach) development, and being genuine and optimally demanding.