european college of sport science

OP-PS05 Psychology 5
Methods: Eight male, right-handed volunteers (26.4±4.1 years; 86.7±4.8 kg; 189.4±2.1 cm) were required to repeat five Rapid Visual
Information Processing (RVIP) tasks (5x5 min). The RVIP task provides performance scores (reaction times, correct/incorrect/missed responses).
After each block the participants were asked to rate their mental fatigue using visual analogue scales. Before (rest) and during
the tasks the EEG was measured in accordance with standards of the international 10:20 system from 13 scalp locations (Fz, F3, F4, Cz,
C3, C4, Pz, P3, P4, T3, T4, T5, T6) and divided into different frequencies: Theta (4.75–6.75 Hz), Alpha-1 (7–9.5 Hz), Alpha-2 (9.75-12.5 Hz)
and Beta-1 (12.75–18.5 Hz). EEG power values were calculated and log-transformed.
Results: Statistical analysis showed significant slowing of reaction times over time (F4,28=3.985; p≤.011; part.η2=.361). This
was associated with an increase in fatigue perception (F4,28=9,231; p≤.001; part.η2=.568). Right hemispheric temporal
Alpha-2 frequency (T3) demonstrated a fatigue effect with an increase in spectral power (F4,28=3.058; p≤.033;
part.η2=.304).
Frontal Theta and parietal Alpha-2 power values demonstrated an activation compared to rest (p≤.01), but showed no significant
effect according to mental fatigue.
Conclusion: In accordance with our aims, the participants did appear to be mentally fatigued as described by a decrease in performance
and an increase in fatigue perception. This was in accordance with significant increased temporal Alpha-2 power which is discussed in
terms of a decrease in mental activity specifically a reduction of symbolic/verbal activity. The EEG frontal Theta and parietal Alpha-2
power demonstrated an activation pattern (WM), but show no changes in relation to the fatiguing task. The authors speculate that a
longer task performance over time would lead to changes in this EEG power values. Therefore to induce mental fatigue as a tool it may
be necessary to demonstrate mental fatigue not only in performance and perception but additionally at the brain level.
GOAL ORIENTATION AND PERSISTENCE IN YOUTH ICE HOCKEY
KONTTINEN, N.
KIHU RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR OLYMPIC SPORTS
Introduction: Achievement Goal Theory (Nicholls, 1984) states that there are two dispositional perspectives, which determine how subjective
success is evaluated. Task orientation refers to self-referenced perception of ability, whereas ego orientation means that a person’s
focal concern is mainly towards demonstrating superior competence based upon normative comparisons. It has been suggested that a
task orientation more often than the ego orientation protects the athlete from disappointments and a lack of motivation (Duda, 1989).
Emphasis on task orientation can be expected to lead to a stronger persistence when an athlete’s performance is exceeded by others.
The purpose of the present study was to gain additional insights into this issue focusing on the relationship between goal orientation and
involvement in organized youth sports.
Methods : The participants were 2,813 Finnish junior level ice hockey players. A longitudinal follow-up design was applied. A valid racing
license of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association was used as the indicator of persistence 3,5 years after the initial survey questionnaire,
when the participants ranged in age between 14 and 15 years (Mean; S.D: age 14.90; 0.29 years). Goal orientation was examined with
the Finnish version of the Perception of Success Questionnaire or POSQ (Liukkonen, 1998; Roberts, Treasure, & Balague, 1998) . The dependence
of persistence on goal orientation (task and ego) and perceived ability in ice hockey (low, intermediate, high) was studied with
forward stepwise logistic regression with LR test in removing variables.
Results: It appeared that the players who scored high on task orientation were more likely to continue their participation in ice hockey
than the players who scored low on task orientation. High ego orientation combined with high perceived ability was also associated with
sustained involvement in ice hockey, whereas high ego orientation combined with low perceived ability appeared to be detrimental to
the continuation of involvement.
Discussion: The results lend support for the view that goal orientation is related to sustained sport participation over the time span of
several years. As expected, emphasis on task orientation appeared to lead to a stronger persistence. Interestingly, the results also
showed that the likelihood of withdrawal from ice hockey increased, if a player whose goal was to win others (high ego orientation)
experienced little success (low perceived competence). The results suggest that the investigation of goal orientation provides valuable
additional information concerning a youth player’s persistence for training in the face of failures and disappointments.
References
Nicholls, J.G. (1984). Psychological Review, 91, 328-346.
Duda, J. (1989). International Journal of Sport Psychology, 20, 42-56.
Liukkonen, J. (1998). LIKES – Research Reports on Sport and Health, 131.
Roberts, G.C., Treasure, D., & Balague, G. (1998). Journal of Sports Sciences, 16, 337-347.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOUTH ATHLETES AND THEIR PARENTS PERCEPTIONS OF SELF AND OTHERS’ AGGRESSIVE
BEHAVIOUR IN ICE HOCKEY
DORSCH, K., RIEMER, H.A., KARREMAN, E.
UNIVERSITY OF REGINA
Introduction: For lay people, aggression is often seen as a coveted characteristic of the successful athlete. Sport psychologists define it as
an overt behaviour in which the athlete intends to harm another person either physically or psychologically (Silva, 1980). Many intra- and
inter-personal factors affect perceptions of whether an act is or is not aggressive. For example, in what context did the aggressive behaviour
occur, how psychologically close is the observer to the actor or the victim of the action, and/or was the victim injured? To date, most
studies examining perceptions of aggressive behaviours have (a) tended to examine the physical aspects of aggressive behaviours
excluding the psychological component, (b) relied heavily on adult observers, and (c) not included familial units. The purpose of this study
is to focus on these three limitations.
Methods: Responses from a sample of 510 Atom-aged (ages 9 and 10, majority were male) and parents/guardians (N = 834; 415 fathers,
419 mothers) were examined. The athletes were randomly selected from the registration lists of two provincial ice hockey associations in
Canada. Cohorts were recruited to the project via telephone over the course of 3 years. Athletes and their parents were invited to complete
a survey either on-line on a secure website or, by receiving a paper copy in the mail. The data were analysed using the family as
the unit of analysis (N = 321 families with 3 members). Using a scale of 1 (Never) to 9 (Always), each participant was asked to indicate how
often they perceived acts or encouragements of physical and psychological aggression to be committed by themselves, their parent/child,
their coach, teammates, teammates’ parents, opponents, opponents’ parents, and opponents’ coaches.
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ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF SPORT SCIENCE