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By applying a diary study design, we investigated the role of self-compassion during sport-specific daily stress (SSDS) with regard to the negative self-conscious emotions of shame and guilt and training motivation. We hypothesised that self-compassion would protect athletes from certain self-conscious emotions, namely shame, after SSDS. We also predicted that self-compassion would either increase or decrease the relationship between stress and motivation. Ninety-six athletes (Mage���=���22.14, SD���=���5.92) reported their level of self-compassion and evaluated their trainings and/or competitions over three weeks in terms of experienced stress, guilt, shame and subsequent training motivation on their smartphones. Multilevel analyses showed that SSDS was associated with more negative self-conscious emotions and reduced training motivation. Moreover, self-compassion weakened the effect of SSDS on shame and was not correlated with training motivation. We discuss the results with regard to sport psychology practice and future research.

Using a three-wave prospective cross-lagged panel design, the study examined six-month stability of burnout, self-compassion and social support among sports coaches in terms of measurement invariance, mean-level change, rank-order stability, and structural stability. The participating coaches (N = 422; Mage = 44.48, SD = 11.03) completed an online questionnaire measuring self-compassion, social support, coach burnout and demographics at baseline and two follow-ups at three months and six months. The various forms of stability were assessed using structural equation modeling. There was no significant mean-level change in burnout, self-compassion, or social support, and all three constructs exhibited measurement invariance. Rank-order stability remained relatively high, ranging from 0.78 to 0.94 across the three time points. For all three constructs, covariances between latent factors were invariant over time, indicating high structural stability. While self-compassion and social support were positively related, both were negatively related to coach burnout. These results confirm the importance of preventing and addressing symptoms of burnout, low self-compassion and poor social support in sports settings.

By applying a diary study design, we investigated the role of self-compassion during sport-specific daily stress (SSDS) with regard to the negative self-conscious emotions of shame and guilt and training motivation. We hypothesised that self-compassion would protect athletes from certain self-conscious emotions, namely shame, after SSDS. We also predicted that self-compassion would either increase or decrease the relationship between stress and motivation. Ninety-six athletes (Mage = 22.14, SD = 5.92) reported their level of self-compassion and evaluated their trainings and/or competitions over three weeks in terms of experienced stress, guilt, shame and subsequent training motivation on their smartphones. Multilevel analyses showed that SSDS was associated with more negative self-conscious emotions and reduced training motivation. Moreover, self-compassion weakened the effect of SSDS on shame and was not correlated with training motivation. We discuss the results with regard to sport psychology practice and future research.

Introduction: Non-functional overreaching (NFOR) and overtraining syndrome (OTS) are highly feared phenomena in competitive sports. Research has suggested the multifactorial aetiology of NFOR/OTS and causes, symptoms and consequences are almost identical with the ones of adjustment disorder (AD). Additionally, mindfulness and acceptance based approaches and their stress-buffering role have been shown to be effective in the treatment of AD. This contribution aims to explore the stress-buffering effect of habitual mindfulness on the development of overtraining states viewed as a sport-specific form of AD. Methodology: 580 athletes (women=320; men=260; Mage=21.3) from 6 different sports completed a17-item survey about underperformance and symptoms of NFOR/OTS in their past career and the Comprehensive Inventory of Mindfulness Experience. Athletes were classified as NFOR/OTS or no-overreaching (NO)/functional overreaching (FOR) according to the overtraining definition of the ECSS. Data were analysed using logistic regression and ANOVA. Results: NO/FOR athletes revealed significantly higher habitual mindfulness values in present moment awareness, acceptance and metacognitive awareness than athletes classified as NFOR/OTS. Logistic and multinomial regression suggested that especially acceptance might have an influence on the buffering effect on the development of NFOR/OTS. An enhancement of 1 unit in acceptance reduces the risk of being in the NFOR/OTS group by 55%. Discussion Although OTS and AD are multi-causal phenomena, habitual mindfulness seems to have a buffering influence on the development of these maladaptive psychological processes. In this context, the process of acceptance seems to play a significant role. Nevertheless, the role of present-moment awareness and meta-cognitive awareness should be further investigated.

Additional file 1.

Konzentration ist für die sportliche Leistungserbringung wesentlich. Die Störung der Konzentration durch eigene Gedanken wird als kognitive Interferenz bezeichnet. Im englischsprachigen Raum wird diese Interferenz mit dem Thought Occurence Questionnaire Sport (TOQS; Hatzigeorgiadis & Biddle, 2000) erfasst. Die vorliegende Arbeit validiert eine deutsche Version (TOQS-D) an zwei Stichproben bestehend aus insgesamt 348 Sporttreibenden (56 % männlich, MAlter = 25, SDAlter = 6, 61 % Teamsportarten, 53 % Mitglied im Schweizer Nationalkader). Eine explorative Faktorenanalyse (Stichprobe 1) sowie eine konfirmatorische Faktorenanalyse (Stichprobe 2) bestätigen die Struktur der Originalversion mit drei interkorrelierenden Faktoren: Leistungssorgen, aufgabenirrelevante Gedanken und Fluchtgedanken. Die Skala hat gute Reliabilitätswerte (interne Konsistenz: α = .89; Retestreliabilität: r = .82). Zudem zeigt der TOQS-D die erwartete konvergente Validität (Konzentrationsstörungen, Wettkampfangst), divergente Validität (Achtsamkeit) und Kriteriumsvalidität (Selbsteinschätzung der sportlichen Leistung). Mit dem TOQS-D liegt damit ein geeignetes Instrument vor, dessen Einsatzmöglichkeiten in Praxis und Forschung abschließend diskutiert werden., Concentration is essential for athletic performance. The disturbance of concentration by thoughts is called cognitive interference. In English-speaking countries, this interference is assessed with the Thought Occurrence Questionnaire for Sport (TOQS; Hatzigeorgiadis & Biddle, 2000). The present study validated a German version (TOQS-D) on two samples consisting of a total of 348 athletes (56 % male, Mage = 25, SDage = 6, 61 % team sports, 53 % national team members). An exploratory factor analysis (Sample 1) and a confirmatory factor analysis (Sample 2) confirmed the structure of the original version with three correlated factors: performance worries, task-irrelevant thoughts, and thoughts of escape. The scale has good reliability scores (internal consistency: α = .89; test–retest reliability: r = .82). In addition, the TOQS-D shows the expected convergent (concentration disruption, competition anxiety), divergent (mindfulness), and criterion validity (self-assessment of athletic performance). The TOQS-D can be considered an appropriate questionnaire, and its applications in practice and research is discussed.