ECSS Paris 2023: CP-SH16
Background: Dance with an aesthetic-cultural approach (Rudi, 2021) enables people to engage directly and creatively with movement and their own body. This non-verbal experience allows for critical-reflective self-awareness and supports people in developing a personal connection to their movement and sensation (Kappert, 1990). In particular, for obese individuals who have difficulties in body perception (Syper et al., 2023), it opens up the possibility of rediscovering vibrant physicality and identity and of distancing themselves from physical discomfort. These experiences are relevant in the context of body image and self-esteem (ibid.), because body image influences affective attitudes and emotional well-being, which in turn affects self-esteem as a stable trait, well-being and self-satisfaction (Frey, 2016). Method: The intervention study in a mixed-method design aims to use semi-structured guided interviews, body image drawings created by subjects to visually capture their individual feelings, and diary entries for reflection to examine the development of subjective attributions of meaning and to assess the influence on body image and self-esteem. Results: Initial results show a positive effect of the dance intervention on body perception and emotional experience. Participants reported an improved connection to their own body and increased self-acceptance. The detailed analysis of the data and an insight into the research results of a more extensive study based on this research will be presented in the lecture. Conclusions: The results show that creative movement classes can promote emotional well-being and contribute to positive self-perception. Frey, D. (2016). Psychology of Values. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-48014-4 Kappert, D. (1990). Dance training, sensory training and personal development. Publisher for Aesthetic Education. Rudi, H. (2021). Personality development through dance: Theoretical derivation and empirical analysis of the dance-based self-concept in children. Research. Springer. Syper, A., Keitel, M., Polovsky, D. M. & Sha, W. (2023). Dance/Movement Therapy for Individuals with Eating Disorders: A Phenomenological Approach. American Journal of Dance Therapy. Online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-023-09379-
Read CV Luisa HeynECSS Paris 2023: CP-SH16
Background The COVID-19 pandemic seriously impacted peoples lifestyles, leading to changes in physical activity, sleep and mental health. This study aimed to assess the recovery of these indicators in Chinese university students post-COVID-19 pandemic, and explore the association between lifestyle changes and psychological problems. Methods A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted with 2,748 college students in Hebei, China. Self-report questionnaires measured physical activity, sleep and psychological variables (depression, anxiety symptoms, and perceived stress) in 2022 and 2024. McNemar chi-square test compared differences between the two waves. Additionally, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the independent and joint associations between changes in lifestyle behaviors and psychological problems across this period. Results Proportion of physical inactivity decreased from 22.5% to 16.2%, and poor sleep quality reduced from 18.3% to 16.2% after the pandemic (P < 0.05). Depression and anxiety also declined (P < 0.05), while perceived stress remained high (64.5%). Compared to consistently inactive students, those becoming physically active (depression OR = 40, anxiety OR = 0.34, stress 0.56) and those persistently active (depression OR = 0.43, anxiety OR = 0.38, stress 0.47) had reduced psychological symptoms. However, after adjusting for confounders, the association between improved physical activity and mental health problems was insignificant (p > 0.05). Improved sleep (depression OR = 0.42, anxiety OR = 0.24, stress 0.42) and consistently good sleep (depression OR = 0.20, anxiety OR = 0.20, stress 0.37) also demonstrated a protective effect after fully adjusting for demographics and socioeconomic status. Conclusions This study found that high perceived stress persisted. Although physical activity improved across this period, its change was not significantly associated with mental health after adjustments. However, improved sleep quality was significantly associated with reductions in depression, anxiety, and perceived stress. These findings highlight the importance of sleep and physical activity in mental health recovery post-pandemic and the need for targeted interventions.
Read CV Haonan WangECSS Paris 2023: CP-SH16
Introduction Grounded in the theoretically integrated framework of the motivational climate (Duda, Balaguer & Appleton, 2024), research has found athletes to report greater well being and exhibit more adaptive engagement in sport when the coach-created climate is empowering. Disempowering climates have been linked to athlete ill-being and desires to discontinue one’s involvement. This study investigated whether differential mental health and participation-related outcomes (enjoyment, commitment, dropout intentions) associated with empowering and disempowering motivational climates are explained (mediated ) by)the degree to which the coach creates an environment marked by ‘psychological safety.’ In psychologically safe sporting environments (Vella et al., 2022), there is open communication and athletes feel safe and able to take interpersonal risks including talking to and receiving support from the coach about mental health issues. Methods 516 participants (45% women; M age = 21.3 yrs) British athletes who competed in a variety of sports at the local community (25%), regional (44%), national (26%), and international (6%) levels completed an online survey comprising validated scales tapping the targeted variables. Results All scale scores had acceptable reliability (a > .70). A path analysis was conducted; direct and indirect effects were tested for significance at p < .01. An empowering motivational climate significantly predicted a perceived psychologically safe environment (B=.59), which positively predicted enjoyment (B=.93) and commitment to one’s sport (B=.59) and negatively predicted intention to dropout (B=-91). The hypothesized indirect relationships to the outcomes via psychological safety were supported. A disempowering motivational climate did not significantly predict psychological safety but, consistent with previous research, was a negative predictor of enjoyment (B=-.66) and commitment (B=-.80) and positively related (B=1.57) to dropout intentions. Discussion The findings provide an empirical link between the coach-created motivational climate (particularly its empowering features) and the degree to which athletes perceive their coach to create a ‘mentally healthy’ environment, based on the recent conceptualisation of ‘psychological safety’ in sport. Athletes were optimally engaged (they enjoyed and were committed to their sport and expressed lower intentions to dropout) when coaches are empowering and they feel their sport experience is psychologically safe. Disempowering coach behaviours linked to indicators of compromised sport participation. References Duda, J. L., Balaguer, I., & Appleton, P. R. (2024). Empowering and disempowering coach-created motivational climates. In L. Davis, S. Jowett, & R. Keegan (Eds.), Social psychology in Sport (pp. 141–155). Human Kinetics. Vella, S.A., et al. (2022). Psychological safety in sport: a systematic review and concept analysis. Int Rev of Sport & Exer Psych, 17.
Read CV Joan DudaECSS Paris 2023: CP-SH16