A Preliminary Study on the Relationship Between Athletes' Ability to Self-Regulate and World Ranking

Abstract

This study was designed to explore the relationship between elite athletes' self-regulation ability and their ranking at the world level using psychophysiological stress assessment profiling. Fifteen elite level athletes' psychophysiological stress response patterns were recorded during a nine-stage stress assessment. Respiration rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, skin conductance, peripheral body temperature, and electromyograph (trapezius and frontalis) were monitored. There was a significant correlation between elite athletes' overall self-regulation ability and their ranking at the world level, meaning that the better the overall self-regulation ability of the athlete, the better the world ranking. In addition, a multiple regression analysis indicated that self-regulation accounted for 76% of the variance in world ranking. Our results suggest the existence of a relationship between elite athletes' overall self-regulation ability and their ranking at the world level. Therefore, the results of this study have important implications for training of optimal psychophysiological self-regulation in athletes.

Self-Compassion and Psycho-Physiological Recovery From Recalled Sport Failure

“…The stress that athletes feel when they encounter failure is compounded by their tendencies to respond to failure with harsh self-criticism, judgment, and rumination, which are psychologically and physically costly (Juster et al, 2010; Gilbert, 2014). Thus, in order to optimize the health and performance of athletes it is important for researchers and practitioners to identify factors that effectively regulate psychological and physiological reactions to stressful experiences, such as sport performance failure (Juster et al, 2010; Dupee et al, 2015). Self-compassion may represent one such factor.…”

Examining the Effects of an Interspersed Biofeedback Training Intervention on Physiological Indices

“…Biofeedback is a technique that provides psychophysiological assessments in real-time to provide an athlete with the necessary self-awareness and self-regulation skills to manage physiological, psychological, attentional, and behavioural responses that could be detrimental to performance (Bar-Eli & Blumenstein, 2004;Dupee, Werthner, & Forneris, 2015;Morgan & Mora, 2017;Paul & Garg, 2012;Perry, 2018).…”

“…The intuitive feedback that biofeedback provides about physiological activity could have a direct impact on an athlete's ability to recover from the inherent stress, anxiety, and/or pressure during competition (Blumenstein, Bar-Eli, & Tenenbaum, 2002). With biofeedback, athletes can learn how to control and alter the physiological responses (e.g., respiration rate) that are best suited for optimal performance (Blumenstein et al, 2002;Dupee et al, 2015;Perry, 2018). The various modalities of biofeedback can serve multiple purposes and researchers have used a combination of these modalities (e.g., Dupee et al, 2015) depending on the purpose of the intervention.…”

“…With biofeedback, athletes can learn how to control and alter the physiological responses (e.g., respiration rate) that are best suited for optimal performance (Blumenstein et al, 2002;Dupee et al, 2015;Perry, 2018). The various modalities of biofeedback can serve multiple purposes and researchers have used a combination of these modalities (e.g., Dupee et al, 2015) depending on the purpose of the intervention. Although various anatomic responses can be trained with the use of biofeedback, the current study examined the combination of respiration rate, heart rate variability, and skin conductance training with the use of biofeedback.…”

“…Respiration rate, the process of inhaling and exhaling, is a source of rhythmical stimulation and has a direct impact on heart rate (Lagos et al, 2011;Lehrer, Vaschillo, & Vaschillo, 2000;Paul & Garg, 2012). Research indicates that breathing at about six breaths per minute or a resonance frequency in heart rate close to 0.1 Hz, can optimize performance (Dupee et al, 2015;Lehrer et al, 2000;Meuret, Wilhelm, & Roth, 2001). Resonance frequency exists at a specific frequency for each individual and can be detected as the frequency at which maximum heart rate variability is produced (Lehrer et al, 2000).…”