Background Information Questionnaire Research Articles

Fear of falling and its related factors in older adults following a fall in Kashan, Iran (2023–2024)

BackgroundFalling is a significant challenge in old age, often leading to isolation, self-imposed limitation, reduced movement, and muscle strength. This study aimed to explore the fear of falling and its related factors in older adults following a fall in Kashan, Iran.MethodsThis cross-sectional study followed 200 older adults who visited medical centers in Kashan from July 2023 to May 2024. Continuous sampling was carried out. Data collection involved a background information questionnaire, the shortened version of the falls efficacy scale-international in older adults, the independence scale of activities of daily living, and the short-form state-trait anxiety inventory. Data were gathered before, one month, and three months after the fall. Data analysis utilized SPSS-24, including t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and repeated measures analysis of variance.ResultsParticipants had a mean age of 71.34 ± 8.36 years (ranging from 65 to 96 years). There was a significant increase in fear of falling scores one month and three months after the fall (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression revealed that factors such as illiteracy, old age, and previous falls were predictors of fear of falling before the fall (P < 0.05). One month after the fall, predictors included illiteracy, hip fracture, and high anxiety scores (P < 0.05). Three months after the fall, predictors encompassed illiteracy, hip fracture, high anxiety score, and internal fixator placement as a treatment intervention (P < 0.05), explaining 15% of the variance in fear of falling.ConclusionsIdentifying predictive factors for fear of falling can assist health policymakers in developing a holistic care plan to enhance the quality of life for older adults post-fall. It is essential to screen for fear of falling levels, particularly after trauma, offer educational counseling services, particularly in mental health, after discharge, and prepare training programs related to fall prevention.

A Study of Chinese University Students’ English Learning Motivation, Anxiety, Use of English and English Achievement

Research has found that contact with a second language (L2), L2 motivation and foreign language anxiety are important variables affecting L2 learning. Nevertheless, not much research has explored the relationships among these variables and their interactive effects on L2 learning outcomes. The present large-scale survey study examined the relationships between English learning motivation, English classroom anxiety and use of English, as well as their predictive effects on Chinese university students’ English achievement. A total of 439 randomly sampled students from two Chinese universities in Beijing answered the background information questionnaire, the 8-item English Classroom Anxiety Scale and the 35-item English Learning Motivation Questionnaire. The major findings were as follows: (a) English learning motivation, English classroom anxiety and use of English were significantly correlated with one another, and (b) English classroom anxiety, use of English and English learning motivation generally significantly predicted the students’ English achievements. These findings confirm the importance of L2 motivation, foreign language anxiety and contact with the L2 for second language learners. Hence, specific suggestions (e.g., reading and listening to more of a second language, creating a supportive and relaxed L2 classroom environment, etc.) are discussed regarding how to enhance L2 learning motivation, reduce foreign language anxiety and increase contact with the L2 in second language learning, so as to ensure sustainable development in second language learning.

Aesthetics of everyday life and its related factors among older adults in Kashan (2021–2022)

BackgroundAesthetics of everyday life are associated with the physical, mental, and social health of older adults, leading them to experience a successful old age. This study aimed to examine the aesthetics of everyday life and its related factors among older adults in Kashan from 2021 to 2022.MethodsThis cross-sectional study consisted of 350 older adults who were referred to Urban Comprehensive Health Service Centers (UCHSC) in Kashan. Sampling was done by a two-stage method (cluster, random). The data collection was performed with a background information questionnaire and the Elderly’s Perception of Everyday Aesthetics scale (EPEA-S). Data were analyzed using an independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression tests in the SPSS software.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 69.56 ± 6.63 years. The mean score of aesthetics of everyday life in older adults was 133.02 ± 14.73, with the family and others subscale receiving the highest score. The univariate test indicated a statistically significant correlation between age, employment status, education, income, smoking, social activities, physical activities, interest in artistic works, and the aesthetics of everyday life in older adults (P < 0.01). Multivariate linear analysis showed that age, employment status, smoking, income, social activities, physical activities, and interest in artistic works predicted and explained 28% of the variance of life aesthetics in older adults (R2 = 0.28).ConclusionsThe aesthetics of everyday life of the Iranian older adults were in a good range. Healthcare providers and families of older adults can use this concept to enhance the elderly’s physical, mental, and social health.

Social participation of school-aged survivors of pediatric brain tumors: A daily diary report.

Difficulties with social functioning are common among survivors of pediatric brain tumors. Social participation is an understudied measure of social functioning that is associated with emotional health across the lifespan. This paper uses a diary method to assess the social participation of survivors of pediatric brain tumors in middle childhood. Survivors of pediatric brain tumors (N=47; age 10.6±1.4years; 51.1% male, 89.4% White) who were 5.3 (SD=2.4, range: 2-9.9) years post therapy completed a daily diary assessment of social interaction (5-7days) and an objective measure of facial affect recognition. The participant's caregiver completed the NIH Toolbox Emotion Measures and a background information questionnaire. Overall, frequency and quality of reported social interactions were low for survivors, with a large subset of survivors (n=16, 34%) endorsing fewer than 10 social interactions over the course of a typical school week, and almost half of parents (48.9%) reporting that their child participates in zero social activities outside of school during a typical week. Participants engaged in more positive social participation exhibited stronger social skills (facial affect recognition (F(2,44) =4.85, p<.05). School-aged survivors of pediatric brain tumors seemed to be infrequently engaged in social participation and quality interaction with peers. More specifically, the interactions most commonly reported on the diary assessment are not indicative of friendship development and maintenance. Survivors of pediatric brain tumors would likely benefit from interventions designed to increase quality time spent with peers.

English Classroom Anxiety, Learning Style and English Achievement in Chinese University EFL Students

The present study examined the relationship between English classroom anxiety (ECA) and learning style and their predictive effects on students’ English achievement. In total, 691 Chinese university EFL (English as a foreign language) students answered the English Classroom Anxiety Scale, the Perceptual Learning Styles Preferences Questionnaire and a background information questionnaire. Major findings were: (a) the two scales were highly reliable and significantly inversely related to each other, (b) the respondents generally had a medium ECA level and selected auditory, kinesthetic, visual, tactile, group and individual styles as their minor preferences, (c) no significant differences occurred in ECA levels between students of varying genders and disciplines, (d) male students preferred group learning significantly more and individual learning significantly less than their female peers, and engineering students preferred group learning significantly more and individual learning significantly less than their peers of social sciences and humanities, (e) ECA was significantly negatively correlated with and predicted students’ English achievement, and (f) each learning style was significantly positively correlated with students’ English achievement, and visual and group styles significantly positively predicated the latter. These findings confirm the role of foreign language anxiety and learning style in second/foreign language learning.

Factors and Reasons Influencing Thai EFL University Students' Use of Language Learning Strategies

The present study has the following goals: 1) To consider the variety of language learning strategies and their relative frequencies as chosen by English majors studying at public universities in the northeast of Thailand; 2) to understand what may be the underlying factors that guide these choices as reported by the participants; and 3) to answer why those strategies and their frequencies. The participants were 579 students at 6 public universities in the northeast of Thailand, all of whom majored in English. The tools to gather the data were a background information questionnaire, LLS questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. A selective sample of 30 participants took part in the guided lightly-structured interviews. The tools used for a quantitative analysis were obvious descriptive data and factor analysis. Further analysis of the qualitative results were done using content and thematic analyses. The quantitative results tell us that their overall use of language learning strategies were at a predictable moderate frequency of overall use and only small variations at category levels. At the individual level, high frequencies were reported for 6 strategies, moderate usage for 37 strategies and infrequent to zero usage were shown for 2 strategies. Four underlying factors where derived from a factor analysis. The qualitative results revealed that 16 reasons can be ascertained for the frequent use of certain strategies, and 3 reasons for infrequently used strategies.

Does Background Music Affect Silent Dining Emotions? An Empirical Study of Restaurants during COVID-19.

The music environment of a restaurant is an important factor that affects consumer behaviors during the dining experience, especially silent dining behaviors among people who are not encouraged to talk in the context of COVID-19. This study empirically analyzed the influence of consumers' background music preferences on their emotions and behavioral responses during their dining experience at a high-end Chinese restaurant. A total of 393 valid samples were obtained through purposive sampling and snowball sampling. The research tools used in this study included a personal background information questionnaire, four Oriental and Western music conditions, a background music preference scale, a scale for evaluating emotions during the dining experience, and a behavioral response scale. The results showed that the subjects preferred the Chinese classical music-the Butterfly Lovers&amp;nbsp;Concerto. Background music affected the participants' emotions during their dining experience, and different background music conditions resulted in significant differences in emotions and behaviors. The consumers' emotions, during their dining experience significantly predicted their behaviors under all four music conditions. The greatest contribution and value of this study stem from the finding that the background music at a restaurant can arouse specific positive emotions in consumers during their dining experience and thus affect their eating behavior.

English use anxiety, motivation, self-efficacy, and their predictive effects on Chinese top university students' English achievements.

The present study examined English use anxiety, motivation, self-efficacy, use of English, and their predictive effects on top university students' English achievements. Two hundred and twenty-three students of the Top-Notch Students of Basic Disciplines Training Program in a top Chinese university answered a battery of questionnaires, which consisted of the 8-item English Use Anxiety Questionnaire, the 5-item Motivational Self-Talk Questionnaire, the 3-item Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, the 19-item Language Learning Orientations Questionnaire, and a Background Information Questionnaire. Analyses of the data revealed the following major findings: (1) the participants had a low level of extrinsic motivation-introjected regulation, a low-to-medium level of English use anxiety, extrinsic motivation-external regulation, intrinsic motivation-knowledge, and a medium-to-high level of motivational self-talk, self-efficacy, extrinsic motivation-identified regulation, intrinsic motivation-accomplishment, and intrinsic motivation-stimulation, (2) use of English anxiety (UAE) and language learning orientation were generally significantly negatively correlated with each other, and significantly correlated with other measured variables, (3) UAE and intrinsic motivation-knowledge significantly predicted the participants English achievements, measured both by standardized test scores and self-rated overall English proficiency, and (4) use of English and self-efficacy mediated the effects of English use anxiety and language learning orientations on the participants' English achievements. These findings further pinpoint the importance of anxiety and motivation in second/foreign language learning.

EFEITO DO EXERCÍCIO AERÓBICO SOBRE A QUALIDADE NEUROMUSCULAR EM IDOSOS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Physical activity has a good effect on improving the health of the elderly, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases of the respiratory, digestive, and cardiovascular systems. Many studies have proven that exercise, especially strength training, can delay and even reverse the decline in neuromuscular and motor function caused by aging, with a safe return to activities of daily living. The elderly generally choose an aerobic exercise for cardiovascular and endocrine benefits, but research on neuromuscular benefits has inconsistent results. Objective: Investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on neuromuscular quality in the elderly. Methods: Medical screening, background information questionnaire, and exercise habits were collected from 80 elderly people aged 65 to 80 years in two nursing homes in a given city. They were randomly divided into four groups without statistical difference. The male and female control groups maintained normal daily activities. In contrast, the male and female experimental groups practiced aerobic training exercises with progressively increasing intensity three times a week for 12 weeks. BMI, lean muscle mass and 6-minute walk test scores were collected. The software SPSS10 approaches t-test and data between groups compared by ANOVA (P&lt;0.05). Results: The 6-minute walking distance of patients in the aerobic exercise group increased by an average of 20%. After aerobic exercise training, the 6-minute walking distance can increase by 10% to 18%. It shows that a certain intensity of aerobic exercise training can improve the submaximal exercise capacity of the patient, thus increasing the walking distance under the same exercise time. Conclusion: The aerobic exercise group is better than the control group at changing the body shape of the elderly by reducing fat and increasing lean body mass, while the control group has apparent effects on increasing muscle mass, strengthening muscle strength, and strengthening muscle function.Evidence Level II; Therapeutic Studies - Investigating the result.

Family correlates of emotional and behavioral problems in Nepali school children.

There is a substantial gap in our knowledge about family correlates of child emotional and behavioral problems in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The present study contributes to filling this gap by examining such correlates in a larger population study in Nepal. Our study is a cross-sectional, observational study among 3840 Nepali children aged 6-18 years from 64 schools and 16 districts in the three main geographical regions in the country. We used the Nepali version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)/6-18 to assess children's internalizing and externalizing problems and an additional background information questionnaire to assess possible family correlates which included parental education, family structure, migrant worker parents, parental mental and physical illness, family conflicts, and child-rearing. The associations between family variables and child internalizing and externalizing problems were analyzed using bivariate correlations and multiple regression. Using bivariate analysis, we found that mental and physical illness in parents, conflict in the family, parental disagreement in child-rearing, and physical punishment of child correlated positively with both Internalizing Problems and Externalizing Problems. The same associations were found by using multiple regression analysis. In addition, parental education, family structure, and migrant worker mothers were associated with Externalizing Problems. However, the effect sizes were small. The results suggest that in Nepal, child mental problems were associated with several family risk factors. Further, the study points to the need of strengthening prevention- and intervention measures to minimize family risk factors of child mental health disorders.

Burundian Teachers’ Conceptualisations of Philosophy-Based Language Teaching Approach in Developing EFL Students’ Speaking Skill

This study investigated the EFL teachers’ conceptualisations of the use of PBLT in EFL instruction. Thirteen EFL teachers selected from two higher education institutions in Burundi participated in the inquiry. The inquiry set out to assess participants’ beliefs and attitudes towards three constructs, namely the use of philosophical questions in the EFL classroom, the use of the EFL classroom as a community of inquiry, and the impact of PBLT in developing the EFL students’ speaking skill. A background information questionnaire, a Likert scale questionnaire, and an online structured interview were used to collect data from participants. The findings revealed participants’ positive views and attitudes towards the role of PBLT in EFL instruction. The use of philosophical questions in the EFL classroom as well as the use of the EFL classroom as a community of inquiry in enhancing EFL students’ productive and receptive skills was found to be highly favoured among participants. Furthermore, it was found that participants believe in the high potential of PBLT in developing the five components of speaking, namely fluency, accuracy, range, coherence, and content. Participants, however, showed a relatively diminished trust in PBLT when it comes to its role in enhancing the accuracy component, and this diminished trust may be attributed to the fact that accuracy relates much more to the linguistic form while PBLT puts greater focus on meaning.

An Exploratory Study of Beliefs about Foreign Language Learning Among Self-Learners of English in Saudi Arabia

This mixed-method exploratory study was conducted to investigate the types of beliefs that Saudi self-learners of English as a foreign language bring to the learning process. It also examined the possible links between those beliefs and self-rated English proficiency and explored whether individual factors, such as age and gender, played a role in shaping the learners’ beliefs. Data were collected from 243 participants, using three instruments, two quantitative and one qualitative. The first was the Background Information Questionnaire, which was designed specifically for this study and consisted of two parts. The first part collected demographic data about the learners, and the second part elicited the participants’ self-rated English proficiency in the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The second questionnaire was a modified version of Horwitz’s (1985) Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) and consisted of 27 items. The qualitative data were collected using one-on-one retrospective interviews, mainly to support and interpret the questionnaire results. The findings revealed that the beliefs of the participants were mostly realistic. Further, a significant positive correlation at the .01 level was found between the learners’ belief that they had foreign language aptitude and their self-rated English proficiency. The results of independent samples t-tests revealed two significant differences in learner beliefs according to gender and four significant ones according to age. The study concluded by offering recommendations and suggestions for further research in the field.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 3 December 2020 / Accepted: 27 January 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Cross-Linguistic Influence on Learner Strategies of Third Language Vocabulary Acquisition: Case of Burundian Speakers of Persian

The present study aimed to inquire how Burundian students in Iran use multilingual competence in their strategies of acquiring the vocabulary of Persian as an L3. Were investigated the frequency of cross-linguistic learner strategies, the distribution of lexical transfer types across strategy types, and the influence of prior linguistic knowledge on learner strategies. A background information questionnaire, a modified version of the Oxford’s (1990) Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), and a questionnaire were used to collect data from fourteen subjects. Findings from the quantitative and qualitative data analyses suggested that, while all strategies were used, the cross-linguistic strategies that were most frequently used by participants were metacognitive, memory, and social strategies. Findings also showed that form transfer was most used by the participants in social strategies, meaning transfer in metacognitive strategies while affective strategies most made use of form and meaning transfer. The findings finally revealed that all languages previously known to participants were influential with English (penultimate acquired language) exerting the greatest role while Kirundi, the participants’ native language appeared to be the least influential.

Transactional Model of Parental Adjustment and Caregiving Burden Following a Children's Acquired Disability.

Pediatric-acquired disability is often a crossroads in the lives of children and their parents, as they set out to adjust to a new physical impairment. This longitudinal study examined associations between the severity of children's-acquired disability, their parents' caregiver burden and adjustment, and parents' perception of the children's adjustment over time. Participants were parents and medical staff of 140 children with acquired disability, aged 1-18, hospitalized in pediatric or rehabilitation departments. Data were collected about 1 month after diagnosis (T1) and about 4 months later (T2). Parents completed background information, caregiver burden, child, and parental adjustment questionnaires. Medical staff contributed the disability severity indices. The severity of the child's disability was negatively associated with parents' adjustment and perception of the child's adjustment. Caregiver burden was positively associated with the severity of the disability, and negatively with parents' adjustment and perception of their child's adjustment, at both time points. Over time, the severity of the disability and caregiver burden decreased, and parents' adjustment and perception of the child's adjustment improved. At T2, parents' and children's adjustment were strongly associated. The findings revealed the relationship between objective severity indices and caregiver burden. They suggest that parents' adjustment may affect their perception of the child's adjustment to disability, and emphasize the role of parental perceptions over time. Therefore, parents who are less likely to adjust effectively should be identified early on to facilitate professional intervention.

Evaluation of Happiness and its Related Factors among Nurses in Educational Hospitals of Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, 2016

Introduction: The mental health of nurses, as providers of care, has a significant impact on the quality of care. Happiness has a close relationship with many health components. Considering the importance of mental health in nurses, this study was conducted to investigate happiness among nurses in educational hospitals of Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The present descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 210 nurses using stratified sampling method (Proportionate to the number of nurses in each hospital). Data were collected using a 2-part questionnaire including background information and Oxford Happiness Standard Questionnaire with 29 questions and a score range of 0-87. Data analysis was performed by SPSS/16 using Chi-square test and ANOVA. Results: The mean age of nurses was 31.8 ± 6.09 years. In terms of happiness levels, the majority of nurses (57.6%) had moderate levels of happiness and the average score of happiness was 37.54 ± 11.88. A significant relationship was found between happiness with physical activity (P= 0.022), employment status (P=0.025), ward (P = 0.038), work shift at night (P=0.111), satisfaction of health (P &lt;0.0001), love of the job (P = 0.001), and satisfaction of workplace conditions (P&lt;0.0001). Conclusion: The findings showed that the level of happiness was moderate in the majority of nurses. Therefore, the researchers recommend planning and implementing appropriate interventions to increase the happiness of nurses and improve the quality of nursing care.

Human capital development

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the regulation of human capital of rural migrant workers considering how they develop and mobilize their (SC) and how this interacts with strategies to increase productivity implemented by managers.Design/methodology/approachEthnographic research was carried out in ten petrol stations located in Zhejiang Province, Southeast China, which are part of one of China’s state owned oil conglomerates. Semi-structured interviews took place alongside background information questionnaires, observations and participant observations at forecourts.FindingsThe results suggest that migrant workers do not view their HC as being valued by the company. Therefore, to maximize pay and minimalize penalties, they work with the system by meeting performance targets and against it by restricting work effort developing SC that challenges management .Practical implicationsSimilar qualitative research can be usefully undertaken in different work environments and the relationship between HC and SC examined in the growing service industry in China focusing on the negative effects as well as the positivist framework in which it is usually considered.Originality/valueThis paper has an original approach by considering HC and SC in terms of tensions and counteracting forces as opposed to a the more typical positive framework in which they are considered in terms of contributions to profits.

Relationship between elite athletes’ psychological skills and their training in those skills

The objectives of this study were (i) to analyse how differences in psychological skills among elite athletes depend on sex and psychological skills training (PST), and (ii) to identify predictors of whether an elite athlete has sought PST. Three hundred and ninety-six Icelandic members of youth and senior national teams (49.2% men 21.4 ± 7.1 years old) in basketball, equestrian sports, football, golf, handball and weightlifting participated in the study. The participants completed a background information questionnaire and the Test of Performance Strategies questionnaire (TOPS). The former collected information about age, sex, sport practiced, and whether or not the respondent used or was interested in using PST. The latter assessed the psychological skills the respondent used in training and competition. An independent-samples t-test was used to compare the means on the TOPS sub-scales between sexes and between the use or not of PST. A forward stepwise logistic regression model was constructed to determine which of the variables (age, sex and TOPS sub-scales) could predict whether or not the sportsperson had used PST. PST was used by 42% of the respondents, but the 90% were interested in this type of training. Golfers used PST the most (56%), and men used PS more than women, especially in competition. It was possible to correctly classify 59% of the cases (23% of the variance explained) as to whether or not the participant used PST using just five variables: relaxation in practice, negative thinking in competition, age, self-talk in competition and imagery in practice.

A STUDY ON IMPACT OF TESTING ON ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING IN A SAUDI ARABIAN UNIVERSITY

Purpose of the study: The aim of this study is to identify if the teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) yield to testing and results, while teaching. The impact of teaching on testing is called washback. Tests have positive and negative results on the students. The attitude of teachers towards washback impacts a lot on students as they play a pivotal role to reduce the impact of negative influence on teaching and learning.&#x0D; Methodology: A background information questionnaire is generated for 57 EFL teachers in Saudi Arabia. Besides, another questionnaire with sixteen statements is provided and the participants are asked to respond on the basis of 5-point Likert scale. The data is analyzed with the support of pi and bar charts, SPSS, students’ t-test, and ANOVA.&#x0D; Main Findings: This study identifies different perspectives of teachers towards the impact of testing on teaching. The experienced faculties teach students and assess them with no washback. On the other hand, the moderately experienced and less experienced teachers get affected by washback. This study identifies that experienced teachers are not influenced by testing.&#x0D; Applications of this study: If the universities create a platform for all EFL teachers, they can learn from one another. This study identifies that the third group, the experienced, are not influenced by testing. If their experience supports the first and the second groups, it will yield a larger benefit not only to students but also to the teaching fraternity.&#x0D; Novelty/Originality of this study: The experienced teachers focus more on teaching but not on testing, which is a positive sign. The moderately experienced teachers focus on both the things. The less experienced teachers are neutral to all statements. Based on the current study, the administrators can create a platform for all EFL teachers so that they can get benefitted from one another.

Anxiety and Depression in Parent Caregivers of Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Parents of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at risk of depression and anxiety symptoms, yet, they are an under-researched group. This national cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of anxiety and depression in parents of children with CF, and examined the associations between these symptoms and their child’s physical health and quality of life. A total of 203 parents of children attending nine paediatric CF clinics across Ireland filled out a questionnaire pack containing: a background information questionnaire; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D); and, the Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Scale—Revised Edition (CFQ-R). According to the HADS, 38% of parents had elevated anxiety and 12% had elevated depression symptoms. Just over a fifth (20.7%) had elevated depression symptoms on the CES-D. Mothers had significantly higher levels of anxiety than fathers. There were statistically significant negative linear correlations between parents’ HADS anxiety and depression scores and their child’s pulmonary function, and between parents’ HADS anxiety and depression scores and their child’s quality of life. These results indicate that parents are at risk of depression and anxiety symptoms, and that these are associated with the physical health and quality of life of their child with CF. The findings support the need for parents to have mental health screening annually in CF services, as recommended in international guidelines. There is also a need to integrate a family-centred approach into CF services with appropriate supports and mental health referral pathways for parents.

Coaching Efficacy, Player Perceptions of Coaches’ Leadership Styles, and Team Performance in Premier League Soccer

ABSTRACTThe coaching competency research has demonstrated the role of coaching efficacy and coaching behaviors on various athlete outcomes. However, athlete perceptions of these relationships and how they affect performance are less understood. Purpose: This study examined if coaching efficacy is predictive of player perceptions of coaches’ leadership styles, team atmosphere, and team performance in a soccer season. Method: Fifteen male premier league soccer coaches (Mage = 45.27, SD = 6.07) and 226 players (Mage = 25.66, SD = 3.96) from Botswana participated in the study. All participants completed a background information questionnaire. Coaches completed the Coaching Efficacy Scale. Players rated their coaches’ leadership styles using the Revised Leadership Scale for Sports as well as team atmosphere. Team performance was based on position in the league log and player ratings of the teams’ performance. Results: Findings showed that coaches’ self-ratings on technique efficacy predicted player perceptions of the coaches’ use of all six leadership styles. Game strategy efficacy predicted higher team atmosphere and team performance. Motivation efficacy was not significantly associated with player perceptions of the coaches’ use of any of the leadership styles, while character building efficacy was negatively associated with the various leadership styles. Conclusion: Findings provide support to previous research evidence linking higher coaching efficacy, leadership styles, and team outcomes. The study expands the emergent research within the coaching competency literature that examines player perceptions of coaches’ behaviors and leadership styles.