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A holistic approach to academic perfectionism with The SPACE model of coaching
Full text linkBackground: Academic perfectionism is characterised by a relentless pursuit of exceedingly high standards and harsh self-criticism, often resulting in both academic achievement and psychological distress. While traditionally seen as a personality trait, the influence of social context and the potential role of coaching in mitigating its negative effects are less understood.
Aims: This study investigates the application of the SPACE coaching model as a holistic framework for addressing academic perfectionism. The model integrates physiological, emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and social dimensions, offering theoretical insights and practical strategies for coaches working with perfectionistic students.
Methods: Four postgraduate students (3 women, 1 non-binary) participated in weekly coaching sessions with a coaching psychologist over the course of a month. Sessions followed the SPACE framework and were audio-recorded. Session transcripts, SPACE diagrams, and coaching reflections were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA).
Results: The findings indicated several behaviours (e.g., procrastination, gold-plating and hyper-focusing) contributing to frustration, anxiety, occasionally balanced by pride and enjoyment, alongside personal sacrifices and physical discomforts. The perfectionistic cycle was driven by self-beliefs of inadequacy, and reinforced by cognitive rumination over negative feedback, increasing self-criticism and compensatory behaviours, such as an obsessive focus on detail. Social factors like parental expectations, work experiences, and specific features of the academic environment further exacerbated these tendencies.
Discussion: The study underscores the dynamic nature of academic perfectionism, shaped by individual and contextual factors. Coaches should employ strategies at the individual level, while advocating for changes in the social environment to reduce perfectionistic pressures.
Conclusion: A holistic approach that addresses both the individual and broader social context is essential for supporting students in managing academic perfectionism, helping them achieve success while maintaining mental well-being
Investigating success in the transition to university: A systematic review of personal risk and protective factors influencing psychosocial success
No full textNavigating the transition to university is a challenge for many students with numerous negative consequences if not successful. The current literature body is disparate and contains numerous methodological and analytical inconsistencies that makes it difficult to identify the most salient and effective factors that help predict transition success for students. The present study provides a systematic review of quantitative research linking personal level risk and protective factors to psychosocial success outcomes in the transition to university. Previous work has investigated factors influencing more traditional success metrics (e.g., academic achievement, completion, etc.) but the factors influencing, arguably more holistic, psychosocial success metrics (e.g., wellbeing) should also be understood. This is part of a larger review, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines, preregistered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, CRD42022330515), searching PsycInfo, Web of Science, and ERIC databases. Records were included if they studied ‘traditional’ first year students transitioning to university and were longitudinal in design and excluded if they looked at specific subgroups of students (e.g., international students). The search yielded 32 articles that were eligible, highlighting 96 purportedly different salient factors which are consolidated to 16 salient elements grouped around five higher order domains. The findings are discussed with a consolidation mindset that to aims to move the research forward towards an evidence-based feasible and pragmatic intervention to enhance the probability of successful student transition to university
The use of mindfulness in the metaverse: a scoping review
No full textObjectives: This scoping review aimed to address a significant research gap concerning mindfulness practices within the metaverse. The primary aim was to examine whether metaverse-based mindfulness training programs incorporate fundamental elements of traditional Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) and adhere to core mindfulness principles.
Methods: The review followed the 5-step framework for scoping reviews, with a comprehensive search strategy employed across six databases, covering scholarly articles published between January 2015 and August 2023.
Results: The review identified 23 studies combining mindfulness practices with virtual reality (VR) technology. Key findings include: (1) research in this field is in its infancy, with a lack of consistency in defining and measuring mindfulness; (2) a wide variety of study designs and implementations were observed, presenting challenges for drawing meaningful conclusions; (3) high levels of engagement were reported, but may be influenced by the novelty effect of VR; (4) mixed results were found across studies regarding the effectiveness of VR-based mindfulness interventions; and (5) there was limited ethnic diversity in study populations.
Conclusions: While VR-based mindfulness interventions show promise, there is a critical need for more rigorous, high-quality studies that adhere to standardized definitions of mindfulness, employ validated measurement tools, and explore long-term effects. Future research should focus on developing a core set of outcome measures, investigating the sustainability of engagement, and expanding studies to include more diverse populations
Transforming lives: play-based learning programmes in emergency settings
Full text linkIn the third article in this series focusing on play in emergency settings, Debra Laxton and Sarah Ndlovu share more about the work of the children's rights organisation, Children on the Edge, in Kachin State, Myanmar
A job task analysis of the physical demands of manually preparing a 4-person battle trench as a military defensive position
Full text linkAbstract
Aim
Conduct a Job Task Analysis (JTA) to quantify the physical demands of preparing a defensive position by British Army Ground Close Combat (GCC) roles.
Method
Subjective data to describe the demands of preparing a defensive position were gathered from focus groups (n = 90) and questionnaires (n = 1495). Eight GCC personnel were observed preparing a defensive position which involved digging, lifting, and carrying materials. The oxygen cost of digging was measured using staged reconstructions at slow (12 shovels min−1, n = 16) and fast (22 shovels min−1, n = 13) rates.
Results
The JTA identified digging trenches, filling sandbags, and shovelling debris as principal tasks of preparing a defensive position. Oxygen cost during the fast-digging rate (27.45 ± 4.93 ml kg−1 min−1) was 26 % greater than the slower rate (21.75 ± 2.83 ml kg−1 min−1; p < 0.001, d = −1.461).
Conclusion
Digging a defensive position was identified by military experts as a critical job-task, with variability in metabolic cost dependent on work rate. Data may inform selection, training, and technology interventions to improve task performance
Using mindfulness can support young children’s well-being in the nursery school
No full textThis paper explores how a mindfulness approach can support young
children’s well-being in nursery schools. The research draws on a small scale
qualitative research project with four maintained nursery schools in
the South of England. In total there were 33 participants including 5 early
years professionals and 27 children aged between 3 and 4 years. An
action research approach was adopted involving the nursery schools in
each stage of the project. Mixed methods were used including semi-structured
interviews, narrative observations, and reflective journals. In
line with previous research, the findings from this study suggest that
mindfulness supports children’s well-being and self-regulation. Key
factors integral to the success of the project included: the role of the
mindfulness champion; high-quality training, and an adaptable and
flexible approach. In conclusion it is argued that mindfulness practices
are an appropriate way of supporting children’s well-being in the early
years; and that a Train The Trainer [TTT] approach is cost effective and
sustainable
Sport science, mental skills training, and ethical dilemmas: cultural imposition on Irish Traveller boxers’ norms - an opinion piece
Full text linkFighting and boxing have long been central to Irish Traveller and working-class cultures, where success brings respect, bridges divides, and offers economic opportunity. As sport has embraced science—from biomechanics and conditioning to sport psychology—boxing has adopted these methods. However, cultural values such as individualism and stoicism, particularly prominent in Irish Travellers, may clash with how sport psychologists and performance (integrated) support teams manage and address performance, motivation, and anxiety. This opinion piece explores that tension through Weber’s concept of rationalisation, highlighting how some groups resist dominant norms. We argue that framing Western sport psychology as superior imposes external values and risks overlooking the unique strengths of these communities—such as resilience, self-reliance, and entrepreneurial spirit—which are deeply embedded in their approaches to combat sports and personal success. Because of this, we contend that coaches and support teams working with boxers from Irish Traveller heritage should embrace and adopt these strengths, and in so doing adopt an ethical approach that enphasises a duty of care to participants that appreciates their culture
‘Where’ are the children in Safeguarding Policies of Sport? An analysis of national and international discourses in policy documentation
Full text linkWithin sport governance there is increasing recognition of the significance of policy in protecting athlete welfare. However, there has been a distinct lack of research evaluating the messages conveyed in policy text.
This research evaluated safeguarding policies of sport governing bodies nationally and internationally to understand how the concept of ‘safeguarding’ and child protection are constructed, the location of ‘children’ in text and the implications this has for practice.
The study analysed safeguarding policies of:
Sports Receiving Funding from Sport England – National Governing Bodies (NGBs)
Global equivalents of these organisations – International/Global/World Governing Bodies
The study analysed data using Foucauldian Discourse Analysis to evaluate meanings conveyed through language as constitutive.
Findings demonstrated World Governing Bodies attended to elite athlete equality with NGBs focusing on shared responsibilities of all involved in child sport environments. This is considered from perspectives of legal requirement and moral imperative.
‘Children’ in policy were identified as a group to be represented by adults with limited attention to their own agency. A shift towards acknowledgement of children’s rights with good practice requires attention to holistic development of the child. Policy included accessible reporting mechanisms although lacked guidance on managing power relations in reporting processes
Psychology of Esports Special Issue: A Catalyst for Change
Full text linkThe special issue on "Psychology of Esports: Breakdown under Pressure" represents a significant advancement in understanding the psychological aspects of competitive gaming. The collected works explore diverse topics including mental health, cognitive processes, performance factors, and practical applications in esports. Key findings highlight the high prevalence of mental health issues among professional players, the importance of cognitive training and visual attention, and the impact of communication styles on team performance. Theoretical frameworks are proposed for integrating performance psychology theories and understanding decision-making processes in esports. The research also examines psychophysiological stress responses and motivational factors influencing performance. Challenges in the field are identified, including the need for more robust theoretical foundations, improved ecological validity, and larger sample sizes. Future directions for research are suggested, emphasizing longitudinal studies, cross-cultural perspectives, and interdisciplinary approaches. The special issue underscores the rapid growth of esports psychology as a field and the critical need for evidence-based practices to support the health, well-being, and performance of esports athletes in an evolving competitive landscape
Effects of prehabilitation concurrent exercise on functional capacity in colorectal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Full text linkPurpose: Our aim was to examine the efficacy of concurrent exercise (i.e., aerobic and strength exercise) during prehabilitation programs on functional capacity in comparison with standard cancer care strategies in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients scheduled for surgery. Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was performed. A search of electronic databases [PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO Host] was conducted to identify all publications employing concurrent exercise in patients with CRC. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate the standardized change in mean difference (SMD) and 95%CI between exercise intervention and control groups for the 6 min walking test (6MWT) distance covered before and after prehabilitation. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria (379 patients with CRC). Concurrent training during prehabilitation led to significant positive effects on the 6MWT (0.28 SMD [0.03–0.54], p = 0.037). Subgroup analyses showed a higher SMD (0.48 [0.00–0.98], p = 0.050) in younger (i.e., <70 years) CRC patients compared to their older counterparts (0.10 [0.08–0.11], p = 0.310). Meta-regression models between SMD of the 6MWT and body mass index, prehabilitation program duration, and baseline 6MWT distance covered did not show any significant relationship. Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates the superiority of concurrent exercise prehabilitation in improving functional capacity related to cardiometabolic changes and lowering postoperative risk in patients with CRC