Participation In Individual Sports Research Articles

Ace I/d And Actn3 R577x Polymorphism In Elite Athletes

Increasing evidence has shown that genetic traits play a role in the speed and endurance performance of athletes. Among these genetic traits, genes involved in the regulation of cardiovascular (e.g. angiotensin-converting-enzyme, ACE) and muscular (e.g. α-actinin–3, ACTN3) physiology have been speculated as the potential candidates. Recent studies have suggested that ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X polymorphism might be associated with some aspects of speed and/or endurance performance in athletes. PURPOSE To examine the role of ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X polymorphism in elite athletes in Taiwan. METHODS Subjects were recruited from athletes training for the 2002 Asian Games. Subjects were classified based on their participation in individual sports (IND, 71 males and 54 females) or team sports (TEAM, 62 males and 72 females). The control group (CON, 361 males and 242 females) was selected from the Taiwanese general population. The genotype of ACTN3 and ACE genes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS 1) There was no linkage association in genotypes of ACTN3 and ACE genes in CON. 2) The distribution of ACTN3 and ACE genotypes was not significantly different between athletes and the CON. For females, the frequency of the ACTN3 577XX genotype was significantly (p<.05) lower in IND (11%) as compared to CON (23%) and TEAM (31%). However, this phenomenon was not seen in male athletes. 3) None of the athletes who participated in this study exhibited both the ACTN3 577XX and ACE DD genotypes. CONCLUSION There was no significant difference in ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X polymorphism between the athletes and the controls. Since none of the athletes had both ACTN3 577XX and ACE DD genotypes, speed and endurance performance may be determined by multiple genetic traits. Supported by NSC Grant 92–2413–H–003–061, Taiwan

Attributions of Athletes on Collegiate Sports Teams

This study investigated the patterns of attributions for success made by intercollegiate athletes in three categories: more versus less successful teams, men versus women athletes, and individual versus group sport participants. 74 men and 83 women on 17 varsity teams across a number of sports took the Sports Attribution Style Scale, measuring internal, stable, controllable, intentional, and global attributions. It was hypothesized that (a) the athletes on more successful teams would have higher internal, stable, controllable, and intentional attributions, (b) that athletes in individual sports would have lower internal, stable, and controllable attributions, and (c) that women would score higher on all five attributions. Profile analyses of the attributions led to the confirmation of the first hypothesis. For the second hypothesis, the pattern of sport attributions did not differ for individual and team athletes. The third hypothesis was not confirmed. Women athletes scored higher on the attributional dimensions (except globality).

Physical exercise, sports, and lung function in smoking versus nonsmoking adolescents.

Associations between adolescent smoking habits and exercise, particularly participation in sports and lung function were studied. All students aged 13-19 yrs in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway, 1995-1997, were invited to join a cross-sectional study. Information on smoking habits and exercise was obtained by self-administered questionnaire. Spirometry was performed in accordance with American Thoracic Society standards. Of the 6,811 students (aged 13-18 yrs, without asthma), 2,993 (44%) reported never-smoking, and 1,342 (20%) reported current smoking (90% daily). Frequency of physical exercise was inversely associated with smoking, but participants in individual sports with lesser endurance, especially body-building and fighting sports, were more likely to be daily smokers than nonparticipants. Both daily (53%) and occasional smokers (43%) were more likely to have quit sports than never-smokers (26%)). Never-smokers showed a positive dose-response between physical exercise and lung function (forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second, adjusted for age and height). No similar significant association was observed in daily smokers. These data suggest that smoking habits in different sports should be considered when promoting physical activity as smoking prevention, and sports organizations should include smoking prevention programmes. Adolescents with better lung function may self-select into sports; this possibility needs to be studied in a longitudinal design.

Childhood and adolescent physical activity patterns and adult physical activity.

A major research priority is the influence of childhood and adolescent physical activity patterns on adult physical activity. The research in this area is inconsistent. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships among specific components of physical activity during childhood and adolescence and exercise habits in adulthood. We analyzed preteen and teenage experiences, individual and team sports, and several psychosocial variables. One hundred and five male volunteers completed questionnaires about their current (estimated energy expenditure (EE)) and historic physical activity and a treadmill stress test. Based on correlations and regression analyses, without and with controlling for potentially confounding variables (treadmill run time and sum of skinfolds), the frequency of being forced to exercise and the frequency of being encouraged to exercise during the preteen years were inversely related to adult physical activity. Being forced to exercise during the preteen years was more related to participation in individual sports than to participation in team sports or both individual and team sports. Being forced to exercise during childhood may have potentially negative consequences for later activity. The findings indicate that experiences related to participation in activity during childhood and adolescence may influence adult physical activity. The implications of our findings are discussed and future research is recommended.

EXPLAINING PAIN AND INJURY ATTITUDES AND EXPERIENCES IN SPORT IN TERMS OF GENDER, RACE, AND SPORTS STATUS FACTORS

This article presents data from a survey of college athletes in a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletic program showing how well gender, race, and 4 sports status variables (team or individual sports participation, contact or noncontact sports participation, status as a lineup regular, and status as an athletic scholarship holder) explain differences in sports-related pain and injury attitudes and experiences. Attitude was measured by 3 scales—concerning toughness, rational choice in decisions about playing hurt, and pressure from coaches and fans to play while hurt—which were constructed for this study. Injury experience measures indicated whether the college athletes had lingering effects from sports injuries, how many sports injuries they had sustained, how many times they had had surgery for sports injuries, and how long they were disabled by their most serious sports injury. Gender, race, status as a lineup regular, and status as a scholarship holder were found to explain variations in attitudinal or experiential factors, with gender explaining more of these differences than any other variable. Thus gender is given special emphasis in the discussion of findings.

College Students' Attitudes toward Anticipated Sport Participation

This study examined the recall of sport participation of 100 college students from childhood through adulthood with emphasis on postcollege participation. Response to a questionnaire showed 79% of students planned to continue sport involvement after college. There was a significant shift in participation during the college and postcollege years from a competitive to a recreational sport involvement. During the postcollege years, the difference between team and individual sport participation was nonsignificant. The most frequent reason for postcollege sport involvement was for enjoyment which supports literature on motivation toward sport participation throughout the life cycle. Consequently, sport organizations should develop a fun-based recreational orientation to promote greater involvement.

Relationship between Preference for a Type of Sport and Two Aspects of Personality: Revised Data

An article bearing the title above appeared in the last volume of Perceptaal and Motor Skills (de Man & Blais, 1982). Since that time it has been discovered that the computer programme used to process some of the data had been malfunctioning. calculations require some revisions in the Results and Discussion section. Please accept our sincere apologies. Please make the following changes and additions on p. 13: In the last paragraph replace the reported t test values by t = 2.02 (P < .05) and t = -2.14 ( p < 0.05), respectively. After A similar analysis performed on the self-esteem scores produced one significant effect, the interaction of sex X type of sport ( F 2 . g 0 = 3.38, p < 0.05) add: Subsequent r tests showed a significant difference between the means for individual sport males and individual sport females (MI = 34.5, SD = 3.85, M2 = 31.37, SD = 3.50; t = 2.40, p < .02), but all others groups were similar. Replace the last paragraph by: The self-esteem findings indicate that higher levels of self-regard are found among male individual sport participants than females in individual sports. Further differences are found between the mean for males in individual sports ( M = 34.5, SD = 3.85) and the means for the one-to-one (M = 32, SD = 3.56) and team males ( M = 32.18, SD = 3.62) if one is willing to accept the results of t tests at the .10 level. Assuming that the qualitative nature of one's self-esteem influences one's selection of kind of sport, these findings suggest that for females self-esteem is not a factor of importance in such selection. For the males, however, results appear to support the speculation presented in the Introduction.

Children in Sport: Participation Motives and Psychological Stress

Recent research on children's sport participation motives is examined to provide insight about potential sources of stress in organized youth sports. It is concluded that affiliation, skill development, success and status, excitement, and fitness represent the most important general motive factors for young athletes. A four-stage model of stress is outlined, extant empirical literature on stress in youth sports is briefly reviewed within this framework, and implications of these findings with regard to the stressfulness of athletic competition for children are discussed. It is proposed that future stress research in youth sports examine coach-player and parent-player interactions, the antecedents of competitive trait anxiety, other sources of stress in addition to performance-and success-related demands, and the role of participation motivation as a moderator variable in players' responses to various stressors. The need for research with younger children and participants in individual sports also is addre...

Children's Anxiety in Sport and Nonsport Evaluative Activities

Comparisons of pre-event state anxiety (A-state) were made among 9- to 14-year-old boys participating in required school activities (classroom tests and physical education class), nonrequired nonsport activities (band solos and band group competition), and nonschool sports (baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, hockey, swimming, and wrestling). Participants in all three groups were significantly different from each other with those in the nonrequired nonsport activities manifesting the highest A-state levels followed by boys in the nonschool sports and then those in the required school activities. Comparisons across sports revealed higher A-states among individual sport participants than team sport participants. No differences were found between contact and noncontact sport participants, but a significant interaction showed that the highest A-states were reported among those in individual-contact sports and the lowest in team-contact sports. The differences in A-state levels among the activities studied were discussed in terms of the evaluation potential existing in each activity.

Social class influence on female sport involvement

The purpose of this investigation was to analyze specific socioeconomic variables that may influence female participation in various sport types (team, individual, dual, and mixed). The first hypothesis predicted that sport type would be function of socioeconomic status. This hypothesis was verified, since team sport participants tended to come from a lower class background, while individual and dual sport participants had a higher social class status. The second hypothesis examined the relationship between reference group influence (family versus peer) and type of sport participation. No relationship was found between sport type and reference group influence. In addition, no relationship was found when socioeconomic status and type of reference group influence were examined together.

Internal-external control of reinforcement and participation in team, individual, and intramural sports.

167 high school freshmen were given the Rotter I-E scale. Ss were categorized into those participating in team sports, individual sports, intramural sports, and no athletic activities. An analysis of variance of mean I-E scores for the four groups yielded a nonsignificant F ratio. This outcome does not support the previous research which shows team-sport participants scored higher on internal control.

Beliefs in internal-external control of reinforcement and participation in group and individual sports.

Three groups of 30 12- to 15-yr.-old males, students of California junior high schools, matched for age and IQ, were tested on the Rotter I-E Scale. Group A (school basketball players) were considered to be group sports participants, Group B (gymnasts) individual sportsmen, and Group C non-participants in any school activity. A significant difference in the direction of internal control for group sports participants was noted. Individual sports participants and non-participants were alike in being significantly higher in external control than group players. Further research on the relationship between internal control and self-esteem seems warranted for group sports participants.