SPORT PSYCHOLOGY STUDIES
Year:2019 | Volume:8 | Issue:27|Papers Count:14

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical activities on cognitive function and motor performance of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Through the available sampling method, 45 boys with ADHD were selected as study sample that was equally divided into 3 groups, two experimental groups and one control group, based on pre-test scores. The following tests were administered on participants: Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Numerical Subscale of Wechsler Intelligent Scale for Children-Revised and Visual-Spatial Working Memory of Corsi block-tapping task. The results showed that the verbal working memory and visual-spatial memory of children with ADHD increased during physical activity. Additionally, physical activity led to improve motor performance and manipulation, balance and ball skills of children with ADHD. Our results point to the importance of physical exercise that is effective on the cognitive function and motor performance of children with ADHD.

The purpose of the present study was to set a relational model of self-determind with sport ethics of elite athletes in Iran. In terms of its objective the research was applied using correlation method. The statistical population of the research consisted of all the football players of the Azadegan league in the season, 2016-2017. The statistical sample consisted of 223 players who were selected randomly. To collect data, the researcher used a questionnaire of sports ethics and sport motivation. Its validity was obtained by ten professors and its reliability by Cronbach's alpha, being 0/88 and 0/79 respectively. To analyze the data, the structural equation method was used to study the causal relationships between the observed variables. Findings show that there is a positive and significant relationship between self-determind and sports ethics. The results of the confirmatory path analysis test indicated the fitting of relationship between self-determind and sports ethics. All factor loadings between components and agents were at a reasonable level and the model had a proper fitting which finally confirmed the conceptual model of the research. Therefore, on the basis of these findings, determined, ethical goals and specific performance can excite or direct the fields of the appearance of sports ethics. Also for the formation of ethical behavior, objective backgrounds and real performance over cognitive and mental contexts can have deeper effects. So it's better with applying objective behaviors such as the selection of coaches with good and logical behaviors and employment a sports psychologist and objectivizing the results of good athletic behaviors, action to institutionalize the ethical behaviors of athletes.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of mindfulness trainings on performance and anxiety in young football players. For this purpose, 30 foot-ball players were assigned to an experimental group of 15 players (interven-tion based on Mindfulness) and control group of 15 players. Athletes in the experimental group received 12 30-minute sessions of mindfulness meditation for sport (6 weeks, twice a week). The control group did not receive any in-tervention. Before and after interventions Sport Anxiety Scale Questionnaire and Shooting Performance Test were used to collect data. The results of MANOVA showed that the reduction of anxiety scale scores and improve-ment of athletic performance scores were significantly higher in the experi-mental group than the control group. According to these findings, we con-cluded that mindfulness training is appropriate to decrease the level of sport anxiety and increase athletic performance of football players.

Neurofeedback training are increasingly used for optimizing various brain functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of neurofeedback training on accuracy of novice table tennis players. For this purpose, 16 novice players, aged 10 to 15 years, volunteered to participate in the study, being placed in two “ physical” and “ physical plus neurofeedback” training groups. The “ neurofeedback plus physical” training group performed twelve sessions of a 30-minute neurofeedback training, including sensory motor rhythm protocol. The results of the repeated measure analysis of variance showed significant difference between two groups in accuracy of forehand and backhand strokes, furthermore, the performance results were totally improved for the neurofeedback plus physical training group. The extensive needs for fundamental cognitive processes existing in keeping attention, working memory and psychomotor skills, are facilitated by sensory motor rhythm training.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sport stacking on self-confidence and bimanual coordination of female students. 55 female students from 10 to 12 years old were randomly selected from schools in Qaemshahr. The tool used in this study was the Eysenck self-confidence questionnaire and the bimanual coordination system of the 32532 model developed by Lafayette company. Participants were divided into control and examination groups after pre-test. The examination group spent 36 sessions on the sport stacking exercises. At the end of the fourth, eighth and twelfth weeks, their self-confidence and bimanual coordination were evaluated as the pre-test. The results showed a significant improvement in self-confidence and bimanual coordination of the intervention group compared with pre-test and control group. Therefore, sport stacking is not a one-dimensional sport, which will only reinforce important physical skills such as coordination between the eyes and hands, but also self-confidence.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of attentional games, physical practice and mixed practice on the attention types and cognitive function of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For this purpose, forty children with ADHD were selected and randomly assigned to four groups: physical practice, attention games, mixed practice, and control. The participants practiced for 16 sessions (60 minutes per session) according to their grouping. After respectively 24 and 72 hours, they participated-in posttests. The results of covariate analysis showed that the mixed group almost outperformed the other experimental groups in all subtests. These results were interpreted with respect to the advantages of two practices during mixed practice.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of imagery perspectives with real time and slow motion speeds on dart throw skill learning. 40 students (22. 7 ± 1. 55 age) of Kharazmi University completed Motor Imagery Clearance Questionnaire-2 and based on imagery and pre-test scores were assigned into four groups: internal imagery with slow motion speed, internal imagery with real time speed, external imagery with slow motion speed, and external imagery with real time speed. Results showed that the internal and external imagery perspectives with slow motion and real time speeds had not significant effects on performance and learning participants. Also, at all stages of experiment, there were no significant differences among four experimental groups in dart throwing skill. Therefore, the different speeds of imagery with an emphasis on imagery perspectives did not lead to significant differences between groups.

In the present study, decision making behaviors of elite soccer players at three exercise intensities (rest, 40% maximum and 80% maximum) and three motivational situations (low, moderate and high) were assessed. 14 elite male soccer players with minimum 8 years of playing experience participated in this study (mean age 23/07). Data was analyzed using factorial analysis of variances and repeated measures at significance level of P<0/05. When arousal was medium or high, increasing the exercise intensity was due to decline in accuracy of decision making (P=0/045, P=0/001). But when the arousal was low, there was no difference in accuracy of decision making under three different exercise intensity (P=0/116). Hence, decision making behavior in elite players is affected by interaction of player and environmental constraints during try for reaching specific functional goal.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a course of physical exercise on sustained attention and behavioral inhibition in girls with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. 30 girls' students aged 7-12 years were selected from primary schools in the city of Babolsar using the SNAP– IV and clinical interviews. The participants were randomly assigned to the two groups (experimental and control group). Before and after the training, all participants were assessed with Continuous Performance and Go no go tests. Experimental group received selected exercise program for 18 sessions of 60 minutes. The data were analyzed using MANCOVA. The results demonstrated that the performance of the children in experimental group was significantly different in Continuous Performance and Go no go tsts. These results suggest that the organized exercise program helps to improve sustained attention and behavioral inhibition in girls with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy on cognitive and resilience abilities of blind athletes. The population included all blind athletes in Golestan, Iran (30 individuals) that were selected by available sampling method. Data were collected using cognitive abilities scale and resiliency scale. The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the scores related to cognitive abilities and resilient in post-test among the two experimental and control groups (p<0. 01). It can be concluded that the intervention is effective and improves the cognitive ability and resilient of athletes blind, due to the higher mean scores of the experimental group in the post-test phase. Moreover, mindfulness-based therapy as a cognitive-behavioral third wave therapy can be effective in improving the cognitive abilities and resilience of blind individuals in the field of sports competition.

The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of Persian version of Re-Injury Anxiety inventory in injured athletes. The original form of inventory included 28 questions and two subscales that included: re-injury anxiety regarding rehabilitation and re-injury anxiety regarding returning to competition. For this purpose, 300 questionnaires were completed by 17-39 years-old athletes (%32. 4 woman and %68. 6 man) who took part in different fields of sport. After applying the translation-back translation technique, face validity were confirmed by 7 experts. For determining the construct validity, the confirmatory factor analysis based on structural equations was used. The scale reliability was calculated by using of the Choronbach's alpha method. Also, to examine temporal reliability, test– retest method was used. The result showed that Persian version of Re-Injury Anxiety inventory provided support structure of original form and validity and reliability were confirmed. In conclusion, Persian version of Re-Injury Anxiety inventory can be recommended to measure athlete's re-injury anxiety.

The purpose of this research was to determine the adaptability, validity and reliability of Persian version of the self-presentation in exercise questionnaire among athletes. For this purpose, 381 athletes with different levels of skill completed the self-presentation in exercise questionnaire (Connery et al., 2000). Results of confirmatory factorial analysis, Cronbach’ s alpha and intra-class correlation coefficients showed that this questionnaire was supported the 2-factorial and 14-item structural of the initial questionnaire, and confirm construct validity. Also, the reliability of Persian version of self-presentation in exercise questionnaire was confirmed. Therefore, the Persian version of self-presentation in exercise questionnaire has acceptable reliability and validity in Iranian athletes with different level of skills, and coaches, researchers and athletes can use this questionnaire.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of cognitive strategies in relation to academic stress and motivational beliefs with academic procrastination. The research method was descriptive-correlational and the statistical population of all athletic students in Golestan province in the academic year of 2018-2019 was which 388 people were selected by simple random sampling method. Data were collected using questionnaires of academic stress, motivational strategies, academic procrastination and cognitive strategies and was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis. The results showed that cognitive strategy plays a mediating role in relation to academic stress and motivational beliefs. Based on the results, it can be said that familiarity with cognitive strategies that play a key role in the relationship between stress and motivation with procrastination can play a role in reducing the procrastination of athletic students.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the dark triad traits on happiness and mental toughness among athletes of contact and non-contact sports, and non-athletes. 200 Taekwondo and Gymnastic athletes were selected by federation and 100 non-athletes conveniently, and completed the online questionnaires. Data was analyzed using Structural Equation Model. The results showed that narcissism had no effects on happiness of contact and non-contact sports athletes, and non-athletes; but Machiavellianism trait had significant and negative effect on happiness of non-contact sports athletes, and had no effect in athletes of contact sports and non-athletes. Besides, the happiness of three groups had significant and positive effect on three dimensions of mental toughness (Commitment, Control and Competitive Behavior). It is suggested that the sport psychologist and coaches have to pay attention to these athlete’ s traits.