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PloS One 2022Sport psychology as an academic pursuit is nearly two centuries old. An enduring goal since inception has been to understand how psychological techniques can improve... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Sport psychology as an academic pursuit is nearly two centuries old. An enduring goal since inception has been to understand how psychological techniques can improve athletic performance. Although much evidence exists in the form of meta-analytic reviews related to sport psychology and performance, a systematic review of these meta-analyses is absent from the literature. We aimed to synthesize the extant literature to gain insights into the overall impact of sport psychology on athletic performance. Guided by the PRISMA statement for systematic reviews, we reviewed relevant articles identified via the EBSCOhost interface. Thirty meta-analyses published between 1983 and 2021 met the inclusion criteria, covering 16 distinct sport psychology constructs. Overall, sport psychology interventions/variables hypothesized to enhance performance (e.g., cohesion, confidence, mindfulness) were shown to have a moderate beneficial effect (d = 0.51), whereas variables hypothesized to be detrimental to performance (e.g., cognitive anxiety, depression, ego climate) had a small negative effect (d = -0.21). The quality rating of meta-analyses did not significantly moderate the magnitude of observed effects, nor did the research design (i.e., intervention vs. correlation) of the primary studies included in the meta-analyses. Our review strengthens the evidence base for sport psychology techniques and may be of great practical value to practitioners. We provide recommendations for future research in the area.
Topics: Anxiety; Athletic Performance; Humans; Mindfulness; Psychology, Sports
PubMed: 35171944
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263408 -
Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 2015Postpartum depression (PPD) adversely affects the health and well being of many new mothers, their infants, and their families. A comprehensive understanding of... (Review)
Review
Postpartum depression (PPD) adversely affects the health and well being of many new mothers, their infants, and their families. A comprehensive understanding of biopsychosocial precursors to PPD is needed to solidify the current evidence base for best practices in translation. We conducted a systematic review of research published from 2000 through 2013 on biological and psychosocial factors associated with PPD and postpartum depressive symptoms. Two hundred fourteen publications based on 199 investigations of 151,651 women in the first postpartum year met inclusion criteria. The biological and psychosocial literatures are largely distinct, and few studies provide integrative analyses. The strongest PPD risk predictors among biological processes are hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation, inflammatory processes, and genetic vulnerabilities. Among psychosocial factors, the strongest predictors are severe life events, some forms of chronic strain, relationship quality, and support from partner and mother. Fully integrated biopsychosocial investigations with large samples are needed to advance our knowledge of PPD etiology.
Topics: Depression, Postpartum; Endocrine System Diseases; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Psychology; Risk Factors
PubMed: 25822344
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-101414-020426 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Mar 2017Attachment has been implicated in the development of social anxiety. Our aim was to synthesise the extant literature exploring the role of adult attachment in these... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Attachment has been implicated in the development of social anxiety. Our aim was to synthesise the extant literature exploring the role of adult attachment in these disorders.
METHOD
Search terms relating to social anxiety and attachment were entered into MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Risk of bias of included studies was assessed using and adapted version of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality assessment tool. Eligible studies employed validated social anxiety and attachment assessments in adult clinical and analogue samples. The review included cross sectional, interventional and longitudinal research.
RESULTS
Of the 30 identified studies, 28 showed a positive association between attachment insecurity and social anxiety. This association was particularly strong when considering attachment anxiety. Cognitive variables and evolutionary behaviours were identified as potential mediators, concordant with psychological theory.
LIMITATIONS
Due to a lack of longitudinal research, the direction of effect between attachment and social anxiety variables could not be inferred. There was substantial heterogeneity in the way that attachment was conceptualised and assessed across studies.
CONCLUSIONS
The literature indicates that attachment style is associated with social anxiety. Clinicians may wish to consider attachment theory when working clinically with this population. In the future, it may be useful to target the processes that mediate the relationship between attachment and social anxiety.
Topics: Adult; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Life Change Events; Object Attachment; Phobic Disorders; Risk Factors; Social Desirability; Social Environment
PubMed: 28088057
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.12.020 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2021Over the last 20 years, the effectiveness of positive psychology interventions for the development of the well-being of children and adolescents and the moderation of... (Review)
Review
Over the last 20 years, the effectiveness of positive psychology interventions for the development of the well-being of children and adolescents and the moderation of high levels of anxiety and depression in this population has been largely demonstrated. Emphasis has been placed on the promotion of well-being and prevention of mental health problems in the school context in order to foster, through positive psychology, the cognitive and socio-emotional development of primary and secondary students, e.g., by strengthening positive relationships, positive emotions, character strengths, optimism, and hope. However, little is known about the impact of these interventions on young children. This systematic review aims at examining the effects of positive psychology interventions on the well-being of early childhood children (<6 years old), both in the preschool education context with educators or teachers and also in the family context with parents. Several electronic databases were searched, and the findings systematically reviewed and reported by the PRISMA guidelines. Very few studies met the inclusion criteria (n = 3), highlighting the need for further research in this area. Indeed, all of the selected studies demonstrated the importance of positive psychology interventions with young children to promote positive aspects of development, such as gratitude, positive emotions, life satisfaction, accomplishment, positive relationship, or self-esteem. Limitations in the field are discussed.
Topics: Adolescent; Anxiety; Child; Child, Preschool; Emotions; Humans; Optimism; Psychology, Positive; Self Concept
PubMed: 34831827
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212065 -
Health Psychology : Official Journal of... Oct 2018The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of physical activity (in both descriptive and intervention studies) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of physical activity (in both descriptive and intervention studies) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents from both healthy and chronic illness populations.
METHOD
A systematic review of PubMed, PsycINFO, and ProQuest identified 33 studies of physical activity and HRQOL in youth, including descriptive and prepost intervention designs.
RESULTS
In descriptive studies (N = 14), there was a small, positive association between physical activity and HRQOL based on child-reports (Hedges' g = .302, p < .001, 95% confidence interval, CI [.178, .426]) and a negligible association based on parent-proxy reports (Hedges' g = .115, p = .101, 95% CI [-.023, .253]). Intervention studies (N = 19) yielded a small, positive effect of physical activity intervention on HRQOL based on child-reports (Hedges' g = .279, p = .014, 95% CI [.057, .500]) and a medium, positive effect based on parent-proxy reports (Hedges' g = .522, p = .012, 95% CI [.117, .928]). Intervention effects were attenuated by removal of a single study. Hypothesized and exploratory moderators did not moderate the relationship between physical activity and HRQOL.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings supported the primary hypothesis that physical activity was related to better HRQOL in youth, although the magnitude of these effects did not represent a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in most studies. Future studies are needed to assess HRQOL in youth before and after exercise interventions to quantify the type, frequency, duration, and intensity of physical activity needed to change HRQOL. (PsycINFO Database Record
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Chronic Disease; Exercise; Humans; Psychology, Adolescent; Psychology, Child; Quality of Life
PubMed: 30234348
DOI: 10.1037/hea0000653 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Jun 2014Numerous studies have begun to address how the brain's gray and white matter may be shaped by meditation. This research is yet to be integrated, however, and two... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Numerous studies have begun to address how the brain's gray and white matter may be shaped by meditation. This research is yet to be integrated, however, and two fundamental questions remain: Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? If so, what is the magnitude of these differences? To address these questions, we reviewed and meta-analyzed 123 brain morphology differences from 21 neuroimaging studies examining ∼300 meditation practitioners. Anatomical likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis found eight brain regions consistently altered in meditators, including areas key to meta-awareness (frontopolar cortex/BA 10), exteroceptive and interoceptive body awareness (sensory cortices and insula), memory consolidation and reconsolidation (hippocampus), self and emotion regulation (anterior and mid cingulate; orbitofrontal cortex), and intra- and interhemispheric communication (superior longitudinal fasciculus; corpus callosum). Effect size meta-analysis (calculating 132 effect sizes from 16 studies) suggests a global 'medium' effect size (Cohen's d¯=0.46; r¯=.19). Publication bias and methodological limitations are strong concerns, however. Further research using rigorous methods is required to definitively link meditation practice to altered brain morphology.
Topics: Animals; Awareness; Brain; Brain Mapping; Humans; Likelihood Functions; Meditation; Neuroimaging
PubMed: 24705269
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.03.016 -
PloS One 2020Technological developments in recent decades have increased young people's engagement with screen-based technologies (screen time), and a reduction in young people's...
Technological developments in recent decades have increased young people's engagement with screen-based technologies (screen time), and a reduction in young people's contact with nature (green time) has been observed concurrently. This combination of high screen time and low green time may affect mental health and well-being. The aim of this systematic scoping review was to collate evidence assessing associations between screen time, green time, and psychological outcomes (including mental health, cognitive functioning, and academic achievement) for young children (<5 years), schoolchildren (5-11 years), early adolescents (12-14 years), and older adolescents (15-18 years). Original quantitative studies were identified in four databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, Embase), resulting in 186 eligible studies. A third of included studies were undertaken in Europe and almost as many in the United States. The majority of studies were cross-sectional (62%). In general, high levels of screen time appeared to be associated with unfavourable psychological outcomes while green time appeared to be associated with favourable psychological outcomes. The ways screen time and green time were conceptualised and measured were highly heterogeneous, limiting the ability to synthesise the literature. The preponderance of cross-sectional studies with broadly similar findings, despite heterogeneous exposure measures, suggested results were not artefacts. However, additional high-quality longitudinal studies and randomised controlled trials are needed to make a compelling case for causal relationships. Different developmental stages appeared to shape which exposures and outcomes were salient. Young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds may be disproportionately affected by high screen time and low green time. Future research should distinguish between passive and interactive screen activities, and incidental versus purposive exposure to nature. Few studies considered screen time and green time together, and possible reciprocal psychological effects. However, there is preliminary evidence that green time could buffer consequences of high screen time, therefore nature may be an under-utilised public health resource for youth psychological well-being in a high-tech era.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Geography; Humans; Language; Nature; Psychology; Publications; Screen Time; Socioeconomic Factors
PubMed: 32886665
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237725 -
Diabetes & Metabolism Nov 2020Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with a variety of complications, and nudging may be a potential solution to improve diabetes control. Since nudging is a new...
BACKGROUND
Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with a variety of complications, and nudging may be a potential solution to improve diabetes control. Since nudging is a new concept, no review of literature on nudging diabetic patients into improving their health behaviour has been done. Therefore, we aim to collate a list of nudge intervention and determine the context in which nudging is successful.
METHODS
We adopted a two-arm search strategy comprising the search of literature databases and snowballing using relevant search terms. We summarized patient characteristics, the nudge intervention, according to nudging strategies, delivery mode and their outcomes. The conditions present in effective nudge interventions were assessed and reported.
RESULTS
We retrieved 11,494 studies from our searches and included 33. An additional five studies were added through snowballing. Studies included utilized framing (n=5), reminders (n=10), gamification (n=2), social modelling (n=5) and social influence (n=16). Studies on reminders and gamification were more likely to have a statistically significant outcome. The targeted health behaviours identified were medication adherence, physical activity, diet, blood glucose monitoring, foot care, self-efficacy, HbA1c and quality of life. Of these, studies with adherence to medication, foot care practice and quality of life as targeted health behaviours were more likely to show a statistically significant outcome.
CONCLUSION
Nudging has shown potential in changing health behaviour of patients with diabetes in specific context. We identified two possible factors (delivery mode and patient characteristics) that may affect the effectiveness of nudge intervention.
Topics: Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; Choice Behavior; Delivery of Health Care; Diabetes Mellitus; Diet; Economics, Behavioral; Exercise; Games, Recreational; Health Behavior; Humans; Medication Adherence; Peer Influence; Quality of Life; Reminder Systems; Self Care; Self Efficacy
PubMed: 32387700
DOI: 10.1016/j.diabet.2020.04.002 -
Pediatric Blood & Cancer Dec 2015Parents and caregivers of children with cancer are both resilient and deeply affected by the child's cancer. A systematic review of published research since 1995... (Review)
Review
Parents and caregivers of children with cancer are both resilient and deeply affected by the child's cancer. A systematic review of published research since 1995 identified 138 studies of moderate quality indicating that parent distress increases around diagnosis, then returns to normal levels. Post-traumatic symptoms are common. Distress may be impairing for vulnerable parents and may impact a child's coping and adjustment. Moderate quality evidence and expert consensus informed a strong recommendation for parents and caregivers to receive early and ongoing assessment of their mental health needs with access to appropriate interventions facilitated to optimize parent, child, and family well being.
Topics: Child; Humans; Neoplasms; Parents; Psychology; Standard of Care; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 26700921
DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25761 -
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue... May 2009Religious and spiritual factors are increasingly being examined in psychiatric research. Religious beliefs and practices have long been linked to hysteria, neurosis, and... (Review)
Review
Religious and spiritual factors are increasingly being examined in psychiatric research. Religious beliefs and practices have long been linked to hysteria, neurosis, and psychotic delusions. However, recent studies have identified another side of religion that may serve as a psychological and social resource for coping with stress. After defining the terms religion and spirituality, this paper reviews research on the relation between religion and (or) spirituality, and mental health, focusing on depression, suicide, anxiety, psychosis, and substance abuse. The results of an earlier systematic review are discussed, and more recent studies in the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries are described. While religious beliefs and practices can represent powerful sources of comfort, hope, and meaning, they are often intricately entangled with neurotic and psychotic disorders, sometimes making it difficult to determine whether they are a resource or a liability.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Alcoholism; Anxiety Disorders; Culture; Depressive Disorder; Humans; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Prognosis; Psychotic Disorders; Religion and Psychology; Spirituality; Substance-Related Disorders; Suicide
PubMed: 19497160
DOI: 10.1177/070674370905400502