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Self-compassion, an adaptive self-attitude, is a resource that women athletes use during emotionally difficult times and as a way to reach their potential. The relationship between self-compassion and sport performance, however, is complex. The role and experience of self-compassion within perceived important competitive events are important to explore, as athletes face unique pressures and stressors in these meaningful sport experiences. This collective case study describes women athletes' self-compassion, sport performance perceptions, and well-being around a self-identified important competitive event. Competitive women athletes (N = 9) participated in two one-on-one interviews, before and after their important competitive event. Results from the holistic, functional, and thematic analyses are represented by holistic case descriptions and an overarching theme, Continuing to Excel in Sport, and subthemes, Reframing Criticism and A Determined Approach. In important competitive events, women athletes utilize self-compassion to promote performance perceptions and well-being when preparing, competing, and reflecting to excel in sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some women athletes have expressed the perceived need to be self-critical to flourish in sport; however, women athletes with higher self-compassion levels tend to have greater psychological flourishing. Athletes' baseline levels of self-compassion (i.e., having a kind, connected, and balanced self-attitude when experiencing hardships) may be key to psychologically flourish in sport during the competitive season, yet this has not been examined over time. The purpose of this study was to examine whether women athletes' self-compassion at the start of their competitive season predicted variance beyond self-criticism in psychological flourishing at the end of their season. Competitive women athletes (N = 78; Mage = 22.97 years) in Canada completed an online survey at the start and end of their competitive season. Self-report measures included athlete versions of self-compassion and self-criticism scales, and sport-specific proxy measures of six components of psychological flourishing (autonomy, mastery, growth, positive relatedness, purpose, and self-acceptance). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that early season self-compassion explained 6% and 9% variance beyond self-criticism on end-of-season purpose and self-acceptance, respectively. The full models accounted for 12% and 29% of the variance. The results suggest that self-compassion may have an enduring and adaptive contribution to some dimensions of psychological flourishing in sport. Intentionally implementing self-compassion interventions at the start of women athletes' competitive seasons may have merit on the trajectory of their well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Evidence is emerging for the potential usefulness of self-compassion (Neff in Self Identity 2:223-250, ) in young women athletes' sport experiences (Mosewich et al. in J Sport Exerc Psychol 33:103-123, , J Sport Exerc Psychol 35:514-524, ). However, it is unclear whether extending compassion towards the self contributes to or thwarts athletes' psychological well-being (i.e., eudaimonic well-being) in sport. The purpose of this study was to examine self-compassion during emotionally difficult sport situations in relation to eudaimonic well-being in sport. Women athletes ( N = 137; M = 19 years) completed an online survey including measures of self-compassion, eudaimonic well-being, and reactions to hypothetical, emotionally difficult, sport scenarios. Pearson bivariate correlations were used to examine relationships among study variables, and Preacher and Hayes' (Behav Res Methods 40:879-891, ) SPSS macro was used to explore models of indirect effects. The relationship between self-compassion and eudaimonic well-being in the sport domain was generally supported, with significant correlations between self-compassion and autonomy, meaning and vitality in sport, and body appreciation ( rs = .18-.47, p < .05). Significant indirect effects suggest that (1) self-compassionate athletes have greater eudaimonic well-being in sport primarily through higher positivity and perseverance, as well as lower passivity in reaction to emotionally difficult sport situations, and (2) self-critical reactions suppress the relationships between self-compassion and eudaimonia in sport. The pattern of findings suggests that compassionately relating to the self might be advantageous for aspects of young women athletes' psychological well-being in sport. Specifically, having a kind and understanding self-attitude might nurture constructive reactions to emotionally difficult sport situations. Findings can inform future research aimed at better understanding how self-compassion is linked with optimal psychological functioning in sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To examine self-compassion as a way to promote healthy responses in women athletes when faced with emotionally difficult sport-specific situations. Design Phase I, cross-sectional; Phase II, experimental. Methods In Phase I, participants ( N = 101; M age = 20.0, SD = 2.8 years) completed measures of self-compassion, self-esteem, and narcissism, as well as reactions, thoughts, and emotions in response to hypothetical (i.e., responsible for a team loss) and recalled scenarios. Participants returning for Phase II were randomly assigned to a brief self-compassion induction ( n = 21), self-esteem induction ( n = 20), or writing control ( n = 18) group. Following the induction, they responded to the same hypothetical scenario as in Phase I. Phase I results After partialling out self-esteem and narcissism, self-compassion was related ( p < .01) to negative affect ( r = −.40), catastrophizing thoughts ( r = −.30), personalizing thoughts ( r = −.32), and behavioral equanimity ( r = .28) for the hypothetical scenario. A similar pattern was found for the recalled scenario. Phase II results A MANOVA with Phase I self-compassion, self-esteem, and narcissism as covariates resulted in a non-significant group by time interaction, Wilks' Lambda = .75, F (12,96) = 1.27, p = .25. Follow-up hierarchical regression analysis showed Phase I levels of self-compassion as the only significant predictor for negative affect, personalizing thoughts, and behavioral equanimity. Conclusions Women athletes with higher self-compassion levels generally responded in healthier ways to emotionally difficult hypothetical and recalled situations in sport than their less self-compassionate counterparts. However, future research needs continued focus on evaluating self-compassion inductions and interventions for use in sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: To examine whether proxy efficacy could be increased through an intervention targeting the four sources of efficacy using a written message. Design: Phase 1 (N = 33) tested the stimulus materials to ensure that the intervention message contained significantly more sources of efficacy than the controls. Phase 2 (N = 86) was an intervention assessing the effectiveness of the stimulus materials in increasing proxy efficacy. Method: In Phase 1, female novice exercisers were randomly assigned to read either an attention control (AC) or proxy efficacy-enhancing (PEE) message about an exercise class leader. Participants completed manipulation checks assessing content, readability, and inclusion of the sources of efficacy. In Phase 2, participants were randomly assigned to AC or PEE groups and read the stimulus materials tested in Phase 1. In order to establish baseline efficacy, all participants read an AC message at Time 1. At Time 2 one week later, the PEE group read the PEE message while the AC group read a second AC message. Participants'' proxy efficacy was assessed at both time points in Phase 2. Results: In Phase 1, results revealed that the participants who read the PEE message agreed that their stimulus material contained significantly more efficacy-enhancing information than did participants who read the AC messages. In Phase 2, MANCOVA revealed that, after controlling for Time 1 proxy efficacy, the PEE group had significantly greater proxy efficacy at Time 2 than the AC group. Conclusions: Results suggest that proxy efficacy can be increased through targeted written messages. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There is minimal research on the sport experiences of racialized young women athletes in Canada. When studying racialized groups, an inclusive and meaningful approach to research is necessary because ethnicity and race are integral to understanding identity, diversity, discrimination, and overall experiences in sport. The purpose of this qualitative description study was to explore the identities and body-related sport experiences of racialized young women athletes in a variety of sports in Canada. Eight racialized young women athletes (ages 14–18 years; M age = 16.63, SD = 1.19) participated in multiple semi-structured one-on-one interviews and reflexive photography. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted, and three overarching themes were generated that describe the athletes' identities and body-related sport experiences: (a) Who I am vs who they say I am; (b) My unique body in sport; and (c) The importance of representation. From these findings, three critical factors – intersectionality, discrimination, and diversity – are examined that influence the quality of sport experiences for racialized young women athletes in Canada. • Racialized young women athletes have intersecting identities that are vital in navigating their sport experiences in Canada. • Discrimination, systemic stereotyping, and conflicting expectations influence the sport experiences of these athletes in Canada. • Physical bodies that represent diversity in sport influence the quality of sport experiences of racialized young women athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore how seriously injured women athletes perceive and experience global and sport psychological well-being (PWB) during sport injury recovery. Adopting an interpretivist constructionist approach, we conducted one semi-structured interview with twelve participants (12 interviews total), aged 18–23. All participants were currently seriously injured, with a range of six months out of sport. Through a reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019) we analyzed patterns within the data related to how injured athletes perceived and experienced global and sport specific PWB during sport injury recovery. Four overarching themes were developed: (1) my life is chaos and out of control, (2) pressures shaping response to sport injury, (3) maybe I can: adaptation from the disruption of sport injury, and (4) sport injury growth (SIG). Participants experienced an initial disruption of sport PWB and global PWB, however once they were able to adapt, they could rebalance their PWBs. Once rebalanced, participants reappraised the injury experience to be an opportunity for psychological growth and development, leading to the possibility of SIG. Findings suggest that sport injury can initially hinder one's PWB, however once one can rebalance their PWB sport injury is perceived as a positive event that can lead to SIG. These findings reveal that it is important to consider the role of PWB during sport injury, as it has been identified that there are disruptions to one's PWB. These findings help further our understanding of injured athletes' experiences of PWB during sport injury and how athletes could be better supported to protect their PWB and mental health during recovery. • At first the psychological ramifications of injury are perceived as negative. • Social support was perceived only as valuable if it came from those with personal experience with injury. • Adaptation was a process of reorganizing self-structure; rebalancing PWB through expansion of the self. • Global PWB is viewed as the foundation to sport PWB. • Reappraisal of injury as a threat to an opportunity for SIRG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]