IntroductionDespite the progress in the management of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, it is necessary to continue exploring and explaining how this situation affected the athlete population around the world to improve their circumstances and reduce the negative impact of changes in their lifestyle conditions that were necessitated due to the pandemic. The aim of this study was to analyze the moderating influence of physical activity (PA) and dietary habits on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic experience on sleep quality in elite and amateur athletes.Materials and methodsA total of 1,420 elite (40.1%) and amateur (59.9%) athletes (41% women; 59% men) from 14 different countries participated in a cross-sectional design study. Data were collected using a battery of questionnaires that identified sociodemographic data, sleep quality index, PA levels, dietary habits, and the athletes' perception of their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Means and standard deviations were calculated for each variable. The analysis of variances and the correlation between variables were carried out with non-parametric statistics. A simple moderation effect was calculated to analyze the interaction between PA or dietary habits on the perception of the COVID-19 experience effect on sleep quality in elite and amateur athletes.ResultsThe PA level of elite athletes was higher than amateur athletes during COVID-19 (p < 0.001). However, the PA level of both categories of athletes was lower during COVID-19 than pre-COVID-19 (p < 0.01). In addition, amateurs had a higher diet quality than elite athletes during the pandemic (p = 0.014). The perception of the COVID-19 experience as controllable was significantly higher (p = 0.020) among elite athletes. In addition, two moderating effects had significant interactions. For amateur athletes, the PA level moderated the effect of controllable COVID-19 experience on sleep quality [F(3,777) = 3.05; p = 0.028], while for elite athletes, the same effect was moderated by dietary habits [F(3,506) = 4.47, p = 0.004].ConclusionElite athletes had different lifestyle behaviors compared to amateurs during the COVID-19 lockdown. Furthermore, the relevance of maintaining high levels of PA for amateurs and good quality dietary habits by elite athletes was noted by the moderating effect that both variables had on the influence of the controllable experience during the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep quality.

La pandemia por COVID-19 tuvo gran impacto sobre la salud mental de la población universitaria, por lo que gestionar alternativas para adaptarse resulta fundamental. Objetivo. El propósito del estudio fue analizar el efecto moderador de la actividad física (AF) sobre los niveles de ansiedad generados por las vivencias durante la pandemia por COVID-19 en estudiantes universitarios. Método. Se realizó un estudio transversal, correlacional-explicativo en estudiantes universitarios (n = 922; 36.66% hombres y 63.34% mujeres; 19.97 ±2.92 años). Se aplicó un cuestionario ad hoc para medir el miedo al COVID-19, así como el CUXOS-D para los niveles de ansiedad y el IPAQ-s para evaluar la AF. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos, inferenciales y de moderación, además del factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio para el CUXOS-D. Resultados. Se observa la influencia del miedo al COVID-19 sobre los niveles de ansiedad cognitiva, la cual es moderada por los niveles de AF alta (F [3,918] = 21.58; p < .001). Asimismo, se observa que las mujeres perciben mayor ansiedad y realizan menor AF que los hombres. El análisis factorial del CUXOS-D fue satisfactorio. Conclusión. La AF puede tener efectos positivos que moderen el impacto generado por el COVID-19 sobre la ansiedad en la comunidad universitaria. Abstract. The COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on the mental health of the university population, so managing alternatives to adapt is essential. Objective. The purpose of the study was to analyze the moderating effect of physical activity (PA) on the anxiety levels generated by the experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in university students. Method. A cross-sectional, correlational-explanatory study was carried out in university students (n = 922; 36.66% men and 63.34% women; 19.97 ± 2.92 years). An ad hoc questionnaire was applied to measure fear to COVID-19, as well as the CUXOS-D for anxiety levels and the IPAQ-s to assess PA. Descriptive, inferential and moderation analyzes were performed, in addition to the exploratory and confirmatory factorial for the CUXOS-D. Results. The influence of fear to COVID-19 on cognitive anxiety levels is observed, which is moderated by high PA levels (F [3,918] = 21.58; p <.001). Likewise, it is observed that women perceive greater anxiety and perform less PA than men. The factor analysis of the CUXOS-D was satisfactory. Conclusion. Physical activity can have positive effects that moderate the impact generated by COVID-19 over anxiety in the university community.

Este proyecto fue financiado por PRODEP DSA/103.15/15/6797. Los autores agradecen al entrenador y los atletas por su apoyo para llevar a cabo la investigación.

This study analyzed the relationship between athletes' perception of coach competence and their satisfaction, mediated by the influence of authentic leadership and perceived justice in team sports players. A cross-sectional study carried out with 115 (49.6% women and 50.4% men; 17.96 ± 2.85 years old; 8.18 ± 4.67 years of experience), soccer (53.9%), and handball (46.1%) players, all members of performance teams. The player's perception of coach competency, authentic leadership, justice, and satisfaction with the coach was measured. Correlation between variables and comparison throughout gender, sport, and experience were analyzed. Also, a multiple sequential mediation model was tested (coach competence → authentic leadership → coach justice → satisfaction with the coach, 95% CI 10,000 bootstrapping). There was a significant relationship ( p < 0.05) between all the variables, differences in the perception of satisfaction with the coach based on sport, and the perception of coach justice related to the years of experience in the sport. The multiple sequential mediation model (ɖ21 = 0.468; p < 0.001; IE = 0.098; CI = 0.020; 0.183), and the total indirect effect (IE = 0.310; CI = 0.138; 0.479) were significant. In conclusion, the results suggest that athletes emphasize that if the coach is competent and promotes justice to achieve the athlete's satisfaction without neglecting the influence of their authentic leadership style, this can strengthen their relationship and satisfaction with the coach.

El deporte a través de la influencia de las instituciones educativas favorece la promoción de la equidad de género. El objetivo fue analizar la influencia del género, área de formación académica y práctica deportiva sobre las actitudes hacia la participación de las mujeres en el deporte por parte de la comunidad estudiantil de la Universidad Autónoma de Occidente (UAdeO). Se realizó un estudio transversal con alcance correlacional-explicativo en 3,716 (71.3% mujeres y 28.7% hombres) estudiantes de la UAdeO. Se aplicó la escala sobre la percepción de las actitudes hacia la participación de las mujeres en el deporte (EAPMD). Se realizaron comparaciones en función del género, tipo de práctica deportiva y área de estudios y se calcularon los coeficientes de regresión entre las variables sociodemográficas y la EAPMD. Los resultados muestran que las variables género, práctica deportiva y área de estudios fueron predictores significativos de tres escalas de la EAPMD. Asimismo, se observaron diferencias en los factores de la EAPMD en función de las variables sociodemográficas. Es posible concluir que las actitudes hacia la participación de las mujeres en el deporte de los participantes están influidas por las variables género, práctica deportiva y área de estudios.

BackgroundMonitoring recovery–stress balance in sport is becoming more relevant to prevent training maladaptation and reach the optimal performance for each athlete. The use of questionnaires that identify the athlete’s recovery–stress state have much acceptance in sports due to reliability and useful, furthermore for its low cost. Identifying possible differences between sport modalities and sex is important to determine specific needs and possible intervention ways to keep a recovery–stress balance. The aim was to analyze the differences in the recovery–stress state and mood states by sex and sport type during the competitive phase in young Mexican athletes. As a secondary objective, the psychometric properties of the Mexican version of the Recovery–Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) were analyzed.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried on with 461 athletes (61% women and 39% men), 17.95 (±1.2) years old, from six sports disciplines. The RESTQ-Sport and Profile of Mood States (POMS) were applied in a single moment. Differences by sex and sports modality were analyzed. RESTQ-Sport’s confirmatory factor analysis was performed after the stress and recovery theoretical structure of two stress (general and sport) and two recovery (general and sport) dimensions, and last, the concurrent validation with the POMS was carried on.ResultsSignificant differences by sex were found in the General Recovery and Sport Stress dimensions of the RESTQ-Sport as well as Vigor factor of the POMS, being higher for men; furthermore, both the Sport Recovery dimension of RESTQ-Sport and Cholera and the Fatigue and Depression factors from POMS also had differences by sport type, showing a less recovery and high stress for individual sport athletes. Goodness-of-fit indexes of the model for the RESTQ-Sport were acceptable. Pearson’s correlation between questionnaires was moderate (p &lt; 0.05).ConclusionThe recovery–stress state shows differences in the function of sex and sport modality. More special attention is suggested for women and individual sport athletes. The higher punctuation for men compared with women in sport stress dimension did not negatively affect the recovery–stress balance for male athletes. Finally, the Mexican context adaptation of the RESTQ-Sport provides a psychometric instrument suitable to assess the recovery–stress balance in Mexican athletes.

Background: The Olympic movement (OM) aims to preserve and promote the philosophy of Olympism and development of society through culture and sport, being gender equity in sport one of the main tasks of the OM since the late twentieth century. Objectives: Analyze the relationship between the levels of knowledge and perception about the OM on attitudes towards women's participation in sport in students of physical education and sport sciences. Methods: Cross-sectional research with correlational-descriptive scope was developed in which 35 subjects (17.1% female and 82.9% male; 21.1 ± 4.1 years) were part of the study. The Questionnaire on the Vision of Olympism and its Educational Repercussions and the Scale of Attitudes towards Women's Participation in Sport were applied. Comparison analyses were performed between sex, sports practice, and level of sports practice, as well as the relationship between the variables through nonparametric statistics considering a value of P < 0.05 as statistical significance. Results: The level of knowledge about Olympism was 6.14 (± 2.5). Significant differences were observed in attitudes towards women's participation in sport according to gender, sport practice and level of practice. In addition, it should be noted that gender equity, social support, and access for women in sport are not perceived at high levels. Finally, no significant relationships were found between the factors of both questionnaires. Conclusions: The students participating in the study present low levels of knowledge about Olympism; furthermore, they show differences in attitudes towards women's participation in sport according to gender and level of sport practice, evidencing the positive impact of sport practice and immersion in academic aspects related to sport for the improvement of the gender equity perspective within sport.

Background: Stress and anxiety related to post-injury trauma in athletes is a latent problem in sport. The use of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) allows sports psychologists to intervene with their athletes more effectively to help them into their recovery and achieve peak sport performance. Objectives: Analyze the EMDR therapy effect in the psychophysiological responses of four athletes with stress related to a traumatic event during sports practice. Methods: Four athletes (22.25 ± 1.71 years; 11.5 ± 2.65 years of experience) participated in a single-group pre-experimental study. The Sport Psychology Department of the institution approved the study for its application, which also followed the statement of the declaration of Helsinki. The participants had been medically cleared to practice their sport after sustaining a severe injury, but they expressed significant difficulty in performing optimally yet. The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2RD was applied to measure the anxiety and self-confidence levels before, after and two weeks later EMDR therapy intervention. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing standard protocol therapy was carried out to identify the dysfunctional memories to be reprocessed, address the abnormal behaviors as trauma consequences, and develop the behavioral changes to manage the trauma. Heart rate variability parameters used as biofeedback were monitored during the EMDR protocol to associate with moments of stress and relief. Data analysis was performed using the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) of Hopkins to compare the results in the different moments of the protocol and study. Results: All four athletes reported likely and most likely beneficial changes (according to the SWC) in their levels of anxiety and self-confidence after the intervention with the EMRD therapy as well as at two weeks afterward. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters linked with parasympathetic activity were reduced and the sympathetic parameters increase their levels when the intervention protocol induced stressor memories, observing an opposite behavior when EMDR phases let the athlete be relaxed or getting relief. Conclusions: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a therapy is effective to manage a sport injury related psychologic trauma. Furthermore both, LnRMSSD and LnSS parameters of the HRV can be used as a biofeedback strategy for a better efficacy of EMDR-based treatment.