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Despite a growing emphasis on self-compassion in sport, little research has focused exclusively on men athletes. The purpose of this research was to explore the interaction of self-compassion and diverse versions of masculinity on the psychosocial well-being of men athletes. The authors sampled 172 men athletes (Mage = 22.8 yr) from a variety of sports, using descriptive methodology with self-report questionnaires. Self-compassion was related to most variables (e.g., psychological well-being, fear of negative evaluation, state self-criticism, internalized shame, reactions to a hypothetical sport-specific scenario) in hypothesized directions and predicted unique variance beyond self-esteem across most of those variables, as well as moderated relationships between masculinity and both autonomy and attitudes toward gay men. In addition, self-compassion was differentially related to inclusive and hegemonic masculinity. Our findings support self-compassion as a promising resource for men athletes to buffer emotionally difficult sport experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examined the direction of causal flow between global and specific dimensions of self-concept. Adolescent girls completed the Physical Self-Perception Profile and a global self-esteem scale in 9th and 10th grade. Results showed little support for top-down or bottom-up effects over the year. When self-concept was examined over time, there was support for a horizontal-effects-only model as being most parsimonious. (SM)

This article evaluates the validity of a questionnaire designed to assess the coping function of adolescents participating in competitive sports. Findings indicate that the questionnaire is a valid and useful measure of sports related coping in adolescent males and females.

Using a mixed methods research design, we explored self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being in young women athletes. In a quantitative study (n = 83), we found that self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being were positively related (r = .76, p < .01). A model of multiple mediation was proposed, with self-compassion, passivity, responsibility, initiative, and self-determination accounting for 83% of the variance in eudaimonic well-being. In a qualitative study (n = 11), we explored when and how self-compassion might be useful in striving to reach one's potential in sport. Self-compassion was described as advantageous in difficult sport-specific situations by increasing positivity, perseverance, and responsibility, as well as decreasing rumination. Apprehensions about fully embracing a self-compassionate mindset in sport warrant additional research to explore the seemingly paradoxical role of self-compassion in eudaimonic well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of a self-compassion intervention on negative cognitive states and self-compassion in varsity women athletes. Athletes who self-identified as being self-critical were randomly assigned to a self-compassion intervention (n = 29) or attention control group (n = 22). The self-compassion intervention consisted of a psychoeducation session and writing components completed over a 7-day period. Measures of self-compassion, state self-criticism, state rumination, and concern over mistakes were collected pretreatment, at 1 week posttreatment, and at a 4-week follow-up. A mixed factorial MANOVA with follow-up post hoc tests demonstrated moderate-to-strong effects for the intervention at posttest and follow-up (Wilks's Λ = .566, F (8, 42) = 4.03, p < .01, η2 = .43). The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the self-compassion intervention in managing self-criticism, rumination, and concern over mistakes. Fostering self-compassionate mind frames is a potential coping resource for women athletes dealing with negative events in sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-compassion has demonstrated many psychological benefits (Neff, 2009). In an effort to explore self-compassion as a potential resource for young women athletes, we explored relations among self-compassion, proneness to self-conscious emotions (i.e., shame, guilt-free shame, guilt, shame-free guilt, authentic pride, and hubristic pride), and potentially unhealthy self-evaluative thoughts and behaviors (i.e., social physique anxiety, obligatory exercise, objectified body consciousness, fear of failure, and fear of negative evaluation). Young women athletes (N = 151; Mage = 15.1 years) participated in this study. Self-compassion was negatively related to shame proneness, guilt-free shame proneness, social physique anxiety, objectified body consciousness, fear of failure, and fear of negative evaluation. In support of theoretical propositions, self-compassion explained variance beyond self-esteem on shame proneness, guilt-free shame proneness, shame-free guilt proneness, objectified body consciousness, fear of failure, and fear of negative evaluation. Results suggest that, in addition to self-esteem promotion, self-compassion development may be beneficial in cultivating positive sport experiences for young women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to test a model where body-related self-conscious emotions of shame, guilt, and pride were associated with physical activity regulations and behavior. Adult women (N = 389; M age = 29.82, SD = 15.20 years) completed a questionnaire assessing body-related pride, shame, and guilt, motivational regulations, and leisure-time physical activity. The hypothesized measurement and structural models were deemed adequate, as was a revised model examining shame-free guilt and guilt-free shame. In the revised structural model, body-related pride was positively significantly related to identified and intrinsic regulations. Body-related shame-free guilt was significantly associated with external, introjected, and identified regulations. Body-related guilt-free shame was significantly positively related to external and introjected regulation, and negatively associated with intrinsic regulation. Identified and intrinsic regulations were significantly positively related to physical activity (R2 = .62). These findings highlight the importance of targeting and understanding the realm of body-related self-conscious emotions and the associated links to regulations and physical activity behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined the direction of causal flow between global and specific dimensions of self-concept. Although the multidimensionality of selfconcept has been strongly supported in the literature, the hierarchical nature of self-concept has not been established. With the use of structural equation modeling, the hierarchical nature of self-concept was tested using the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP) model both with and without global selfesteem included. Adolescent girls (N = 618) completed the PSPP and Harter's global self-esteem scale during class time in Grade 9 and a year later in Grade 10. When horizontal effects were included in the self-concept models across age, there was little support for either top-down or bottom-up effects. This contrasted with the results found when the analysis was conducted within each time period separately. This research provides further evidence against the hierarchical model of self-concept and highlights the importance of examining the hierarchical nature of self-concept over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In North America, hatha yoga is increasingly popular with middle-aged women. Given its heavy focus on acceptance of the body, yoga may represent an ideal activity to be used within the exercise and self-esteem model (Sonstroem & Morgan, 1989). The purpose of this research was to explore potential changes in self-esteem, physical competence, acceptance, self-efficacy, and mindfulness among middle-aged women. Participants were 51 women (mean age 49.3 ± 6.1), who underwent a 12-week yoga intervention (yoga group, n = 21; control group, n = 30). Before and after measures included the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ; Godin & Shephard, 1985), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES; Rosenberg, 1965), Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP; Fox & Corbin, 1989), Body Esteem Scale (BES; Franzoi & Shields, 1984), Body Image Visual Analog Scale (BIVAS), Yoga Self-Efficacy Scale (YSES; Junkin, 2005), and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS; Baer & Allen, 2004). Doubly multivariate analyses established significant Group x Time differences; follow-up univariate tests, p < .05, showed significance on PSW F(1, 49) = 12.22, conditioning subscale of PSPP F(1, 49) = 10.65, strength subscale on PSPP F(1, 49) = 13.11, BIVAS F(1, 49) = 11.76, YSE total score F(1, 49) = 9.84, and YSE subscales of forward bends F(1, 49) = 17.84, twists F(1, 49) = 8.18, and seated/supine poses F(1, 49) = 6.21, and observation subscale of KIMS F(1, 49) = 12.16, p < .05. In all cases, the yoga group improved more over time than the control group. Findings found partial support for the use of the EXSEM for middle-aged women participating in hatha yoga; there was general support for a bottom-up flow from exercise to self-efficacy, competence, and acceptance, but no overall change in self-esteem. Future research should further develop appropriate measurement of physical acceptance, the appropriateness of EXSEM for examining hatha yoga, and the benefits of utilizing mixed methodology for exercise interventions. Health behaviors: Addressing the gap in pediatric cancer care Keats, Melanie R., and Nicole Culos-Reed, University of Calgary Adaptive health behaviors, such as regular physical activity (PA), may serve an important role in mitigating many of the adverse effects of the pediatric cancer experience and ultimately improve quality of life (QOL). Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a theory-based PA intervention for adolescent cancer survivors. Secondary purposes included an examination of the relationship between PA and QOL and the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in understanding PA behavior. Methods: Participants included 10 adolescent cancer survivors (14-19 years). A group PA intervention was administered on a weekly basis over 16 weeks. The first 8 weeks consisted of a 30-min educational session, 45 min of aerobic training, and 15 min of strength and flexibility training. The final 8 weeks included a variety of noncompetitive, sport/fitness activities. The goal of the program was to provide survivors an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills central to a healthy, active lifestyle. All participants completed a fitness test and QOL measures at baseline, mid-program, postintervention, and at 3 and 12 months postintervention. Results: Survivors attended 81.5% of the sessions (no dropout). Physical activity increased from 16.14 MET hr/wk at baseline to 40.78 MET hr/wk mid-program (p = .018). Although PA levels declined over the 1-year follow-up, they remained above baseline values. Ongoing improvements in QOL were noted across the 1-year study. Examining the TPB, intentions, controllability, and self-efficacy appeared to be key correlates of PA behavior.… [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-compassion has recently been introduced to Western psychology literature and is defined as an attitude of kindness and understanding toward oneself, which involves taking a nonjudgmental attitude toward one's imperfections, limitations, and failures (Neff, 2003). Although self-compassion has been conceptualized as a construct that is important to one's overall sense of self, it might be also be relevant to more specific self-perceptions, including one's perception of the body. The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of body self-compassion for young adult women who exercise and to discover the essential structure of the women's experiences. An empirical phenomenological methodology (Giorgi, 1997; Giorgi & Giorgi, 2003) was employed; five Canadian women between the ages of 23 and 28 participated in this study. Each woman participated in an individual interview in which they were asked to describe two instances where they experienced body self-compassion. Five essential structures emerged from these interviews: (1) appreciating one's unique body, (2) taking ownership of one's body, (3) engaging in less self-comparison, (4) importance of others, and (5) self-compassion as a dynamic process. A follow-up focus group discussion provided the women with the opportunity to offer feedback on the essential structures. This study is unique in a number of ways. First, this study demonstrates that self-compassion might be conceptualized in terms of specific self-perceptions, in this case, one's perception of the body. Second, the women's stories shed light on the complexity of the self-compassion construct, highlighted by the notion of self-compassion as a dynamic process. Third, the essential structures that emerged in this study suggest that an understanding of self-compassion may promote women's positive attitudes toward their bodies. Further research should test the generalizability of the essential structures that emerged in this study to other populations of women exercisers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present standards of the ideal body for women are becoming increasingly specific, with the ideal female physique being not only thin, but also muscular and toned (Bordo, 1993; Duncan, 1994; Markula, 1995). Women athletes often struggle with attaining the strong, muscular body that is needed to compete successfully in many sports and negotiating the expectation to conform to a lean, toned ideal, void of excessive muscle (Krane et al., 2004). The purpose of this qualitative case study (Stake, 1995) was to explore the meaning of muscularity with adult and adolescent women track and field athletes. Four adult and four adolescent women participated in focus groups and one-on-one interviews exploring issues surrounding the body, including ideals and expectations. The participants also took photographs to represent their perceptions of their own muscularity. Five themes emerged: (1) the many faces of muscularity, (2) muscularity as a process, (3) the blurred line between appearance and performance, (4) the culture of comparison, and (5) the journey toward a self-compassionate muscularity. This study is unique in providing women athletes with the opportunity to share their experiences with their bodies, particularly as they relate to muscularity. The voices of the participants emphasized that muscularity experiences are salient to women athletes, particularly within the track and field environment where comparisons are common. Muscularity was identified by the athletes as a complex and context-specific experience, reflecting the multiple meanings of muscularity. In light of the complexity surrounding muscularity, the athletes acknowledged that there are periods of struggle on the journey toward acceptance of the body. The multiple meanings of muscularity suggest a need for voice-centered approaches to research that attempt to further understand and respect the diverse experiences of women athletes. Supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and a USTEP training grant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]