The Impact of Competitive Trait Anxiety on Collegiate Powerlifting Performance

Dr. David Pearson: A Legacy of Leadership, Education, and Inspiring Excellence in Strength and Conditioning

ABSTRACT

Judge, LW. Dr. David Pearson: A legacy of leadership, education, and inspiring excellence in strength and conditioning. J Strength Cond Res 37(11): 2119-2121, 2023-The field of strength and conditioning mourns the loss of a true pioneer and visionary, Dr. David Pearson. This memorial will commemorate his remarkable life and contributions to the field of strength and conditioning. His leadership left an indelible mark on the profession as a key figure at Ball State University (BSU) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). This memorial delves into his pivotal role in the development of a pioneering master's degree in Sports Performance, his instrumental contributions to the NSCA, and his unwavering commitment to academic and administrative positions at Ball State University.

Psychometric properties of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 for Chinese adolescent athletes taking the National Sports College Entrance Examination

Background

This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2) in Chinese adolescent sports exam candidates.

Methods

One day before the National Sports College Entrance Examination, 965 Chinese athletes rated the Chinese-language SAS-2. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the three-factor structure. Factorial invariance was tested by comparing the configural invariance model to three more constrained models. Construct validity and reliability were determined.

Results

Fit indices meet the critical values: CFI = 0.953, TLI = 0.943, RMSEA = 0.048 [90% CI, 0.041-0.054], and SRMR = 0.042. All path factor loadings exceed 0.5. The changes in CFI and RMSEA across the configural, metric, scalar, and uniqueness invariance are within the critical values, demonstrating strict measurement invariance across gender, years of training, and type of sports. The average variance extracted of the worry sub-scale is above the cutoff criteria, and McDonald's omega coefficients are over 0.70. Significant correlations exist between the SAS-2, SCAT, and CSAI-2. Factor correlations are all below 0.8. The measurement also distinguishes the known gender effect, with females showing a probability of 58.6% higher anxiety levels. The intraclass correlation coefficient ranges from 0.706 to 0.801.

Conclusion

This study validated the Chinese-language SAS-2 in measuring competitive anxiety among Chinese adolescent athletes taking the National Sports College Entrance Examination. The development of the scale's applicability in China is discussed.

National vs. Non-National Soccer Referee: Physiological, Physical, and Psychological Characteristics

Purpose: The objectives of the present study were to analyze the relationship between psychological variables (self-esteem, anxiety and self-confidence) assessed before the competition and physical and physiological responses demonstrated during the competition in soccer referees and to compare these psychophysical and physiological responses by category (CAT; national and non-national). Method: A total of 153 soccer referees participated (age Mage = 23.2; SD = 4.8 years; experience Mage = 6.0; SD = 4.5 years) in the study. The CSAI-2 and Rosenberg questionnaires were conducted before the match, and match performance data were collected using GPS devices. Results: The results showed significant differences in self-esteem and self-confidence across CATs (p < .001; d > .84). The national referees had higher psychological and physical-physiological responses (mean and maximum heart rate) Some correlations were observed among the psychophysical and physiological responses, CAT and age, demonstrating that the age could explain up to 48.4% of the variance the referee CAT (p < .001) and this CAT could explain self-esteem, anxiety and self-confidence by up to 20% of the variance. Conclusions: national referees presented better psychological responses prior to the competition, and also obtained greater physical and physiological records, which could be translated into a better position on the pitch in conflicting plays in order to make a right and just decision.

What are the odds? Identifying factors related to competitive success in powerlifting

Background

The ability for athletes to gain a competitive advantage over their opponents is well recognised. At times, this advantage may be considered a marginal gain. However, in the context of competition, marginal advantages may be the difference between winning and losing. This investigation explores how competition factors influence the odds of competitive success (i.e. winning) in powerlifting (PL) to assist athletes and coaches in achieving a competitive advantage.

Methods

A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of competition data from raw/classic, Australian powerlifting competitions 2010–2019 was conducted. Data included 10,599 competition entries (males: n = 6567 [62%], females: n = 4032 [38%]). Independent t-tests were used to compare continuous data between sexes or winners and non-winners at an event. Cohen’s d and the 95% confidence interval (d [95% CI]) were calculated. Univariate odds of winning an event based on independent variables (age [irrespective of category], sex, body weight and weight of first lift attempt [regardless of success]), were assessed by separate simple logistic regression.

Results

When compared to males, the odds of winning for females were 50% greater (OR [95% CI] 1.500 [1.384, 1.625]; P < 0.001). Athletes who had larger first lift attempts (Squat: + 7.0 kg P < 0.001, Bench Press: + 3.2 kg P < 0.001, and Deadlift: + 6.1 kg P < 0.001and competed for a longer period (winners: 401 vs non-winners: 304 days, P < 0.001) had an increased likelihood winning. Age was associated with increased odds of success for males (OR [95% CI] 1.014 [1.009, 1.019], P < 0.001) per additional year of age for males, but not females (P = 0.509).

Conclusions

Multiple factors appear to contribute to the likelihood of winning a PL competition. These results may help coaches to develop competition and training strategies that optimise athletes’ likelihood of competitive success in PL.

Development of a Revised Conceptual Framework of Physical Training for Use in Research and Practice

A conceptual framework has a central role in the scientific process. Its purpose is to synthesize evidence, assist in understanding phenomena, inform future research and act as a reference operational guide in practical settings. We propose an updated conceptual framework intended to facilitate the validation and interpretation of physical training measures. This revised conceptual framework was constructed through a process of qualitative analysis involving a synthesis of the literature, analysis and integration with existing frameworks (Banister and PerPot models). We identified, expanded, and integrated four constructs that are important in the conceptualization of the process and outcomes of physical training. These are: (1) formal introduction of a new measurable component 'training effects', a higher-order construct resulting from the combined effect of four possible responses (acute and chronic, positive and negative); (2) explanation, clarification and examples of training effect measures such as performance, physiological, subjective and other measures (cognitive, biomechanical, etc.); (3) integration of the sport performance outcome continuum (from performance improvements to overtraining); (4) extension and definition of the network of linkages (uni and bidirectional) between individual and contextual factors and other constructs. Additionally, we provided constitutive and operational definitions, and examples of theoretical and practical applications of the framework. These include validation and conceptualization of constructs (e.g., performance readiness), and understanding of higher-order constructs, such as training tolerance, when monitoring training to adapt it to individual responses and effects. This proposed conceptual framework provides an overarching model that may help understand and guide the development, validation, implementation and interpretation of measures used for athlete monitoring.

Particularities of the changes in young swimmers' body adaptation to the stimuli of physical and mental stress in sports training process

Background

A factor favoring the swimming performance increase is the adaptation and readaptation of body energetic and functional systems to the physical and mental stress stimuli in training and competitions. The efficiency of monitoring the young swimmers’ training is based on a precise determination of the changes in the specific adaptations. The evaluation and control of the biochemical, mental and motor changes ensure the knowledge of the particularities of body adaptation in different training stages.

Methods

Six young swimmers aged 12–16 years specialized in 100 m event participated in this study, conducted in four stages (E1–general, E2–specific, E3–pre-competitive and E4–competitive). The distress occurrence during adaptation to training and competition stimuli was studied in 3 levels: mental (Cohen & Williamson Test (CWT), Cohen Perceived Stress Test (CPST), Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT), Crăciun Test (CT)), motor (workouts monitoring, planning of means on training areas, anaerobic threshold assessment and average training speed calculation) and biochemical (blood lactate (La) and blood glucose (Glu) before and after effort—5 and 15 minutes; level of metabolic biochemical parameters, lymphocytes and blood glucose, and also hormonal parameters—norepinephrine, prolactin and cortisol—before and after competition effort).

Results

Quantity results of the mental, motor and biochemical tests were analyzed in groups; the quality results for each subject in dynamics were analyzed by comparison and correlation. Psychological tests showed increases in athletes’ mental behavior by 34% at CWT (p < 0.05), by 37.5% at CPST (p < 0.05), average stress level at SCAT and 70% stress in self-confidence at CT (p < 0.01). Biochemical tests revealed an ascending dynamics of La accumulated after specific effort, with peaks in E2 period (p < 0.05) and decreases in E3 compared to E2 (p < 0.05), revealing the adaptation to specific effort and the increase in anaerobic capacity. The Glu values decrease in pre-effort and increase in minute 5 and 15 post-effort (p < 0.05) in E2 and decrease in pre- and post- effort in E3 (p < 0.05), showing the effort impact on body and ability to recover after effort. Athletes’ individual metabolic results were 50% above maximum values, mainly post-effort (42%); hormonal results were 17% over maximum values, mainly post-effort (14%). Spearman’s correlative analysis of the induced-stress stimuli in workouts revealed 6.06% significant correlations at p < 0.05 and 9.1% strong connections in competitions: 4.67% significant correlations at p < 0.05 and 6.4% strong connections.

Conclusion

The research demonstrated that the mental and biochemical tests results correlation with the specific motor tests facilitated the correct individualization of effort orientation in training and recovery and contributed to the knowledge of the particularities of young swimmers’ body adaptation to training and competition effort.

Injury risk profile of amateur Irish women soccer players and players' opinions on risk factors and prevention strategies

OBJECTIVE

To explore injury profile, opinions on risk factors and injury prevention, among Irish amateur women soccer players.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional online survey.

SETTING

Irish amateur winter league.

PARTICIPANTS

Active players ≤18 years of age.

MAIN OUTCOMES

Differences were found between injured and uninjured groups, and risk factors that significantly predict soccer injury were identified.

RESULTS

168 injuries were reported by 83 respondents during the winter season. An increased prevalence of competition anxiety was observed in (53.8%:n = 85 of respondents) compared to other risk factors. There was a negative association between injuries and players' general health state (OR = 0.820, 95% CI 0.7-0.9, p = 0.007). Players' knowledge about some risk factors including playing position, joint hypermobility, and playing during menses contradicts current evidence. 50%; n = 67 of the respondents had not received any education on injury risk or prevention.

CONCLUSION

This study identified that Irish amateur women soccer players that responded have different characteristics, prevalence of risk factors and injury profiles to women players from different levels and countries. The findings suggest that some players may not be aware of the existing evidence base pertaining to common risk factors for injury. Further research is required to confirm the findings and explore the implementation of injury prevention strategies.

Investigation of a Progressive Relaxation Training Intervention on Precompetition Anxiety and Sports Performance Among Collegiate Student Athletes

This study aims to investigate whether simple and convenient progressive relaxation training (PRT) is effective in enhancing collegiate student athletes' mental health and sports performance. An experimental group of 14 (6 female) and a control group of 10 (5 female) collegiate student athletes were recruited from among track and field athletes who were preparing for provincial competition. The experimental group was exposed to a PRT intervention in 30-min sessions conducted twice per week for a duration of one month. At baseline, the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Short Scale for Chinese (EPQ-RSC) were completed, while only the CSAI-2 was reassessed at one, two, and three weeks after initiation of the intervention. Additionally, within half a day after completing all one's individual competition events, the CSAI-2 was again assessed in the two groups recalling their memory of their precompetition state anxiety. Then, the differences in the three dimensions of the CSAI-2 between the two groups at the five time points introduced above were compared. This study also explored whether PRT affected sports performance, defined by the athletes reaching their best records or not, by logistic regressive analysis. This study found significant between-group differences in the self-confidence dimension score at the second and third time points. Through logistic regression analysis, a positive effect of PRT was found for the enhancement of sports performance. In sum, PRT showed positive effects on precompetition state self-confidence and enhanced sports performance among collegiate student athletes.

Impacts of squat attempt weight selection and success on powerlifting performance

BACKGROUND

To date, there is no evidence to support the optimal competition strategy for success in powerlifting competitions. The purpose of this study was to analyse Powerlifting (PL) competition data to assess the relationship between squat attempts, the success of each lift attempt, and weight increase between attempts, with winning.

METHODS

10,672 individual competition entries (males: n = 6617, females: n = 4,055) were included within the analysis from 'raw' Powerlifting Australia sanctioned competitions held between 2008 and 2019. We reported Cohen's d, statistical significance, 95% confidence intervals and the univariate odds of winning an event. Factors were assessed by separate simple logistic regression and reported as an odds ratio.

RESULTS

Overall, first squat attempt weight for those who won was on average 7.0kg greater (P<0.001, d=0.14 [0.10, 0.18]) than for non-winners. In the total sample, athletes selected opening attempts which were an average of 92% of their achieved maximum on the day with 93.5% of competitors improving on this weight in subsequent attempts. Winners had a 0.5kg (P<0.001, d=0.10 [0.06, 0.14]) greater absolute increase in weight between first and second lift attempts than non-winners. Overall, ~68% of winners successfully lifted their third attempt weight compared to ~64% of non-winners (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A powerlifting athlete's odds of winning a competition overall are significantly increased by selecting a larger opening squat attempt weight than competitors and completing the attempt successfully. The opening squat may be one of the most important lifts during competition.

The Effect of Coach Gender on Competitive Weightlifting Performance for Men and Women Weightlifters

Gender of coaches relative to their athletes has recently garnered substantial attention in the public, the media, and academia. Relative to sports engulfed in controversy pertaining to men athletes being coached by women, such as professional baseball, basketball, and football, it is more common to see women coach men in competitive weightlifting, though only a small percent of men weightlifters are coached by women. In competitive weightlifting, coaches are responsible for both physically and mentally training athletes, and with the social barriers faced by women in a sport traditionally perceived as masculine, there may be mental training or communication benefits to training with a coach of a certain gender. Examining the gender of competitive weightlifters and their coaches, total weight lifted in the snatch and clean and jerk events are analyzed using OLS regression. Results indicate that men weightlifters perform better with men coaches. Women weightlifters perform better with men coaches until the age of 43, then they perform better with women coaches. The difference in performance may be due to several factors including historical bias against women in the sport.

Caffeine and Exercise Performance: Possible Directions for Definitive Findings

Caffeine is one of the most studied supplements in the world. Studies correlate its use to increased exercise performance in endurance activities, as well as its possible ergogenic effects for both intermittent and strength activities. Recent findings show that caffeine may increase or decrease exercise performance. These antagonist responses may occur even when using the same dosage and for individuals with the same characteristics, making it challenging to explain caffeine's impact and applicability. This review article provides an analytic look at studies involving the use of caffeine for human physical performance, and addresses factors that could influence the ergogenic effects of caffeine on different proposed activities. These factors subdivide into caffeine effects, daily habits, physiological factors, and genetic factors. Each variable has been focused on by discussions to research related to caffeine. A better understanding and control of these variables should be considered in future research into personalized nutritional strategies.

Global Challenges of Being a Strength Athlete during a Pandemic: Impacts and Sports-Specific Training Considerations and Recommendations

The ongoing global pandemic brought about by Coronavirus II (SARS-Cov-2 or COVID-19) has caused an ongoing cessation of sporting competitions and training facility closures. This is a fundamental challenge for amateur and elite sporting professionals. Although recommendations have been provided for team-sport athletes to maintain general and sport-specific conditioning, these methods are often not optimal for strength athletes (i.e., powerlifting (PL) and weightlifting (WL)) due to the unique and narrow set of performance requirements posed by these sports. The purpose of this review is to provide evidence-based information and recommendations and highlight potential strategies and approaches that may be used by strength (PL and WL) athletes during the current global crisis. Collectively, we provide evidence from resistance training literature regarding the loss of muscle strength, power and mass, minimum training frequencies required to attenuate such losses and training re-adaptation. Additionally, we suggest that time off training and competition caused by ongoing restrictions may be used for other purposes, such as overcoming injury and improving movement quality and/or mobility, goal setting, psychological development and emphasizing strength sports for health. These suggestions are intended to be useful for coaches, strength athletes and organizations where existing training strategies and recommendations are not suitable or no longer feasible.

Performance anxiety amongst trauma and orthopaedic surgical trainees

BACKGROUND

This study aims to assess performance anxiety amongst orthopaedic trainees. Operating is equivalent in its skill level, both dexterous and mental, to that of elite sport. This study uses a slightly altered version of the validated Sports Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT), making it relevant to operating, rather than to sport, to evaluate peri-operative stress and anxiety in orthopaedic surgeons.

METHODS

The SCAT questionnaire was sent to trainees across 3 UK. deaneries via email. A score of <17 suggests low-levels of anxiety, 17-24 suggests medium-levels of anxiety and >24 suggest high-levels of anxiety. Data was anonymised except from training grade and sex.

RESULTS

109 of 273 (40%) responded to the survey, 71% of respondents were male (n = 77). The mean SCAT score amongst Core Surgical Trainees was 16.9 (n = 21, range 12-23), Specialist Trainees years 3-5 was 18.7 (n = 51, range 12-28), Specialist Trainees years 6-8 was 16.8 (n = 26, range 11-24) and consultants was 16 (n = 11, range 11-28). Across all groups, when sub-divided by sex, females had higher mean scores, this was statistically significant for Specialist Trainees years 3-5 (p = 0.029) and Specialist Trainees years 6-8 (p = 0.042) groups.

DISCUSSION

Surgical performance anxiety exists amongst orthopaedic surgeons, with females scoring higher than males. Five respondents scored "high-levels of anxiety" including 2 consultants level surgeons, suggesting experience does not entirely eliminate anxiety. Stress and anxiety are known to lead to surgical mistakes and "burnout" amongst surgeons which is highly topical at present. It is important to highlight this significant issue and it could be taken forward as a national survey to evaluate further.

Effect of Competition Frequency on Strength Performance of Powerlifting Athletes

Pearson, J, Spathis, JG, van den Hoek, DJ, Owen, PJ, Weakley, J, and Latella, C. Effect of competition frequency on strength performance of powerlifting athletes. J Strength Cond Res 34(5): 1213-1219, 2020-Powerlifting (PL) requires athletes to achieve the highest possible "total" weight lifted across squat, bench press, and deadlift. Athletes compete multiple times per year; however, it is not well understood how often PL athletes should compete to facilitate maximal strength performance. This study investigated the effect of competition frequency on strength (relative and absolute) in PL athletes over a 12-month period. Results across all male (n = 563, mean ± SD; age; 28 ± 10 years, body mass; 89.3 ± 19.3 kg) and female (n = 437, age; 31 ± 11 years, body mass; 70.1 ± 15.8 kg) PL athletes were collated. Total competition scores were used to calculate absolute and relative strength for each competition. Linear mixed models with random effects, and effect sizes ± 95% confidence intervals compared competition frequency and total score for (a) all, (b) male, and (c) female competition entries, respectively. The association between total score at each competition was assessed with Pearson's correlation coefficient for the same independent variables. Results demonstrate greater absolute strength at competition 2 for all athletes (5.1%: p = 0.043: d = 0.16) and males (2.9%: p = 0.049: d = 0.15). For females, absolute strength was greater at competition 5 compared to 1 (12.0%: p = 0.001: d = 0.65) and 2 (9.6%: p = 0.007: d = 0.50). Weak positive correlations for relative strength and number of times competed for males were evident between competitions 1 to 4 (r = 0.070-0.085, p = 0.003-0.043). For females, 3 competitions weakly correlated with absolute strength (r = 0.106, p = 0.016). PL athletes who compete multiple times per year are more likely to achieve higher totals; however, there is an upper limit to the number of competitions (4 per year) that seem to allow a performance increase.

The Comparison of Psychological Characteristics between Korean and Japanese Women Pro-Basketball Players

OBJECTIVE

Korea (ranked 16th) and Japan (ranked 13th) show similar rankings, skills, and performance in basketball. However, the countries differ in size and the number of players in the national women's basketball system. The current study aimed to compare the psychological factors (anxiety, and temperament and character) and the national teams' players' characteristics between 80 Korean (WKBL players) and 76 Japanese (WJBL players) female basketball players in six professional teams each.

METHODS

All players were asked to complete demographic characteristics including age, career years, position, number of past and presents positions, and clinical scales, including sports anxiety, state anxiety, trait anxiety, and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Hierarchical logistic regression analyses among individual factors, physical factors, basketball status, anxiety factors, and temperamental conditions were conducted.

RESULTS

In all basketball players, all five models were significantly associated with national team players. The TCI factors were the strongest predictive factors for Korean national team players, while the anxiety factors were the strongest predictive factors for Japanese national team players. WKBL players in all positions showed higher sports anxiety and harm avoidance than WJBL players. WJBL players scored higher on self-directedness and cooperativeness than WKBL players.

CONCLUSION

For predicting national team players, temperament and character were crucial factors in WKBL players where anxiety was the most important one for WJBL players.

Psychometric Properties of the Brazilian Version of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2

Competitive anxiety (CA) is an emotional reaction manifested at a somatic and/or cognitive level that regularly appears before or during sports competitions and can significantly impact an athlete's performance. Given the scarcity of validated instruments available for evaluating the competitive-anxiety trait in the Brazilian context, this study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2). The study sample was composed of 238 professional and amateur athletes aged 13 years or older who practice different sports modalities. The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed adequate fit indices of the original three-factor theoretical model of the SAS-2 after including a correlation between the errors for items 6 and 12 of the somatic anxiety subscale (CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.08, WRMR = 1.04). For convergent and divergent validity, the SAS-2 subscales exhibited a positive and strong correlations with the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2R (CSAI-2R; r = 0.52-0.82), weak to moderate correlations with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - only the trait scale (STAI-T; r = 0.49-0.59), weak correlations with the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN; r = 0.29-0.41) and weak to moderate correlations with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9; r = 0.49-0.56). The SAS-2 was also able to discriminate among participants with and without social anxiety, general trait anxiety and depressive symptoms, thus confirming its discriminant validity. According to ROC curve analysis, the cutoff point at a score of 29 indicated the optimal balance of sensitivity (0.74) and specificity (0.82). The internal consistency (α = 0.73-0.86) and the test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.73-0.80) were satisfactory. These results indicated that the Brazilian version of the SAS-2 exhibited satisfactory psychometric performance and could be used in the Brazilian context.

Analysis of USA Powerlifting Federation Data From January 1, 2012-June 11, 2016

Ball, R and Weidman, D. Analysis of USA Powerlifting federation data from January 1, 2012-June 11, 2016. J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 1843-1851, 2018-In this article, we report 47,913 officially judged contestant results from powerlifting matches from January 1, 2012 to June 11, 2016 for the USA Powerlifting Federation. We found age and sex to be the most complex factors in predicting powerlifting results. For women, in general, the younger the woman is the more they can squat; the older the woman is the less they can squat. For men and women, with the 1 exception for women's squat, the peak age of lifting power is between the ages 24-49, at which point lifting power slowly declines. Women's peak performance declines faster than men's peak performance. Women seem to reach their peak sooner than men and decline sooner than men. We also analyzed match attendance. At matches with a large number of competitors, there is a 1:1.7 ratio of women to men, approximately a 2-3 ratio of women to men. Except for the lightest weight category of men, the ratio of weight to lift decreases the more they weigh. For example, a lighter person can generally lift a greater percentage of their weight than a heavier person. In addition, men in general can lift a heavier ratio of their weight when compared with women. The powerlifting stereotype of mostly heavy men lifting extremely large amounts of weights is simply wrong. There is a large amount of variation in age, weight, and sex.