Daniel J Brown1, Rachel Arnold2, Martyn Standage3, James E Turner4, David Fletcher5. 1. Centre for Motivation and Health Behaviour Change, Department for Health, University of Bath, United Kingdom; School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom. 2. Centre for Motivation and Health Behaviour Change, Department for Health, University of Bath, United Kingdom. Electronic address: R.S.Arnold@bath.ac.uk. 3. Centre for Motivation and Health Behaviour Change, Department for Health, University of Bath, United Kingdom. 4. Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism, Department for Health, University of Bath, United Kingdom. 5. School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine (i) whether levels of, and changes in, athletes' basic psychological need satisfaction (BPNS) and challenge appraisals predicted in-match thriving; and (ii) if salivary biomarkers could be defined that were related to thriving. DESIGN: Prospective study design. METHODS: Fifty-one elite male hockey players (Mage=24.94 years, SDage=4.73) completed questionnaires measuring their BPNS and challenge appraisals on seven consecutive days prior to a competitive match, as well as providing saliva samples immediately on waking, and then +0.5, +3, and +5.25h on the day of the match. Saliva was assayed for catabolic (i.e., cortisol) and anabolic (i.e., dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]) hormones. In-match thriving was assessed retrospectively using measures of subjective performance and well-being. RESULTS: Latent growth curve modelling showed pre-match levels of BPNS and challenge appraisals to positively predict thriving. Although not statistically significant, small and moderate negative associations were found for thriving with cortisol concentration (+5.25h sample) and total cortisol exposure across the morning of the match, respectively. DHEA concentration shared a small positive, yet non-significant, association with thriving. CONCLUSIONS: Athletes' pre-match levels of BPNS and challenge appraisal predict in-match thriving; thus, offering potential mechanisms through which both high-level performance and the experience of well-being can be facilitated. Furthermore, associations suggest that total cortisol exposure across the morning of the match, and cortisol and DHEA levels in pre-match samples may offer sport science and sports medicine practitioners potential biomarkers for thriving. Future research is required to substantiate this initial finding.
OBJECTIVES: To examine (i) whether levels of, and changes in, athletes' basic psychological need satisfaction (BPNS) and challenge appraisals predicted in-match thriving; and (ii) if salivary biomarkers could be defined that were related to thriving. DESIGN: Prospective study design. METHODS: Fifty-one elite male hockey players (Mage=24.94 years, SDage=4.73) completed questionnaires measuring their BPNS and challenge appraisals on seven consecutive days prior to a competitive match, as well as providing saliva samples immediately on waking, and then +0.5, +3, and +5.25h on the day of the match. Saliva was assayed for catabolic (i.e., cortisol) and anabolic (i.e., dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]) hormones. In-match thriving was assessed retrospectively using measures of subjective performance and well-being. RESULTS: Latent growth curve modelling showed pre-match levels of BPNS and challenge appraisals to positively predict thriving. Although not statistically significant, small and moderate negative associations were found for thriving with cortisol concentration (+5.25h sample) and total cortisol exposure across the morning of the match, respectively. DHEA concentration shared a small positive, yet non-significant, association with thriving. CONCLUSIONS: Athletes' pre-match levels of BPNS and challenge appraisal predict in-match thriving; thus, offering potential mechanisms through which both high-level performance and the experience of well-being can be facilitated. Furthermore, associations suggest that total cortisol exposure across the morning of the match, and cortisol and DHEA levels in pre-match samples may offer sport science and sports medicine practitioners potential biomarkers for thriving. Future research is required to substantiate this initial finding.
Authors: Rosemary Purcell; Vita Pilkington; Serena Carberry; David Reid; Kate Gwyther; Kate Hall; Adam Deacon; Ranjit Manon; Courtney C Walton; Simon Rice Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2022-02-16
Authors: Marc Vincent Jones; Nathan Smith; Danielle Burns; Elizabeth Braithwaite; Martin Turner; Andy McCann; Lucy Walker; Paul Emmerson; Leonie Webster; Martin Jones Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-10-03 Impact factor: 3.752