The well-being needs and strengths of para-athletes in a global and sport-specific context were investigated across subjective psychological, social, and physical health and well-being dimensions. Data were drawn from (a) semistructured interviews with Australian para-athletes (n = 23), (b) a focus group with the Australian Paralympic Committee (n = 9), and (c) a confirmatory para-athlete focus group (n = 8). The well-being needs and strengths of para-athletes differed across gender, sport, level of competition, and nature of impairment. Well-being needs were an interaction between physical pain, emotional regulation, lacking purpose outside of sport, and a lack of self-acceptance, especially for athletes with acquired impairments. Well-being strengths were perceived to increase as athletes increased their level of competition, and included personal growth, optimism, strong social support networks, and contributing to multiple communities. The importance of well-being as a multidimensional concept within the global and sport-specific context for para-athletes is discussed.

This systematic review included 12 studies that compared the well-being of Para and Olympic sport athletes. Meta-analyses revealed that Para athletes, compared with Olympic sport athletes, had lower levels of self-acceptance, indicated by athletic identity, d = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.77, 0.16], and body-image perceptions, d = 0.33, 95% CI [0.59, 0.07], and differed from Olympic sport athletes in terms of their motivation, indicated by a greater mastery-oriented climate, d = 0.74, 95% CI [0.46, 1.03]. Given an inability to pool the remaining data for meta-analysis, individual standardized mean differences were calculated for other dimensions of psychological and subjective well-being. The results have implications for professionals and coaches aiming to facilitate the well-being needs of athletes under their care. Future research would benefit from incorporating established models of well-being based on theoretical rationale combined with rigorous study designs.

Existing mindfulness and acceptance-commitment programs in elite sport have ignored elite athletes with a physical impairment. A pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted to determine if an eight-session mindfulness-acceptance-commitment program delivered within a motivational interviewing framework would enhance well-being for athletes in Para Sports. Eighteen athletes in Para Sports were randomly assigned to either intervention (n = 9) or waitlist control (n = 9) groups, with the intervention group attending eight 60-minute face-to-face individual sessions. Significant improvements were identified in the intervention group for the primary outcomes of satisfaction with life (subjective well-being), personal growth, positive relation with others (psychological well-being) with large effect sizes (i.e., partial eta squared range = .23 to .30) when compared to the waitlist control. Significant improvements were also identified in the intervention group for a reduction in perceptions of pain (physical well-being), a secondary outcome, when compared to the waitlist control group. Although not statistically significant, moderate to large effect sizes in favour of the intervention group were also calculated through this trial for multiple domains of subjective and psychological well-being. No significant or practically meaningful effect sizes were calculated for social well-being. Through the results of this study, we have presented preliminary evidence for combining mindfulness-acceptance interventions with motivational interviewing, which we demonstrate can result in meaningful well-being improvements. Future research is needed to confirm the efficacy of this approach in adequately powered sample sizes.

No abstract

Our aim was to comprehensively assess the well-being of athletes in Paralympic sports and determine if their results are comparable to other elite athlete populations. Participants (Para, n = 103; Olympic, n = 193; 56% female) were invited to complete an online questionnaire measuring subjective, psychological, social, and physical well-being. Using ANOVA analyses, Para athletes had comparable well-being to Olympic sport athletes across most dimensions. Para athletes recorded significantly lower physical well-being compared to Olympic sport athletes (p < 0.01). Well-being differences between male and female athletes were observed across dimensions of psychological (autonomy, personal growth, positive relation with others) and social well-being (actualization, integration). There were more well-being similarities between Para and Olympic sport athletes, than differences, suggesting the well-being of Para athletes is similar to their Olympic counterparts. The principle of athlete-first and a client-centered approach are discussed with respect to athlete well-being.Keywords Analysis of variance . Disabled persons . Mental health . Measurement . Psychology . Sports A comprehensive understanding of athlete well-being, through accurate assessment, is important for advancing models of support and management of elite Para and Olympic athletes (Rice et al. 2016). Support and management of elite athletes is required given the J well-being assess (2017) 1:35-47 https://doi