Health and Physical Education Commons^™

My Brain Hurts: A Focus On Somatosensory Complaints In Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Assessed By Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory, Christine Walker, Jason Bailie, Rosemay Remigio-Baker, Ida Babakhanyan

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: Somatosensory symptoms are common complaints from patients following a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), but are not specific to TBI diagnosis. This study investigated the prevalence of somatosensory symptoms in TBI patients, evaluated if symptoms severity was associated with TBI severity, and assessed the relationship of somatosensory complaints to psychological complaints commonly associated with depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). METHODS: Somatic symptoms following traumatic brain injury (TBI) were assessed using 7 of the 22 items from the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) which included headache, nausea, vision problems/blurriness, body numbness/tingling, taste/smell changes, light sensitivity, and noise sensitivity. …

Gender Differences In Physical Activity Level By Domain, Natasha Vinluan, Zachary Zenko

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Engaging in regular physical activity and exercise has been demonstrated to increase life expectancy, improve mental health, and prevent or manage noncommunicable diseases. Although the health benefits are well known, estimates suggest that the majority of women and men do not obtain the recommended amounts of physical activity per week. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess how physical activity levels differed by domain (i.e., domestic/household, transportation-related, occupational, leisure-time) between genders. This information can be useful for tailoring future interventions to promote activity. METHODS: After obtaining ethical approval, participants (79 men, 35 women; mean age: 36 …

Evaluating The Validity Of The Salatto-Love And Care Of Nature Direct Indication Scale Against The Love And Care Of Nature Scale During Rest And After Self-Paced Hiking, Robert W. Salatto, Dustin W. Davis, Elias M. Malek, Charli Aguilar, Jeff Montes, Nathaniel Bodell, Jacob W. Manning, Mark Debeliso Phd, James Navalta

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

There are several scales used to measure one’s connectedness to or love of nature. Amongst these scales is The Love and Care of Nature Scale (LCN), which has been used across several disciplines in research. While the LCN is a valid and reliable scale, completing the 15-question scale may be time consuming and difficult during field research. PURPOSE: The purpose of the current investigation was to establish a fast, easy-to-administer, and easy-to-understand visual analog scale that is valid for evaluating participants’ connectedness to or love of nature. METHODS:Nineteen participants met on two consecutive days at Thunderbird Gardens Trailhead in …

College Students’ Perceived Stress In Relation To Physical Activity Behaviors During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Holli Rosas, Andrea Hughes, Sarah L. Dunn Ph.D.

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

College students may experience heightened stress during a global pandemic. It is well known that psychological distress during times of uncertainty and sedentary behaviors may lead to adverse health outcomes such as morbidity and mortality. Physical activity (PA) has been shown to positively mediate distress and other mental health outcomes. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine college students’ perceived stress levels and PA behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning. METHODS: An Institutional Review Board approved online Qualtrics survey was used to collect data from eighty-four enrolled college students (mean age 24.4±5.79 years, 57.6% female) in …

Depressive Symptoms Related To Domain-Specific Physical Activity, Ola Iduma, Zachary Zenko

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Physical activity is positively associated with mental health. Exercise interventions have been shown to be effective for reducing depression. However, less is known about the role of domain-specific physical activity in mental health. PURPOSE: The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the relationship between physical activity across domains (domestic/household, transportation-related, occupational, leisure-time) and depressive symptoms. METHODS: After obtaining ethical approval, 111 adults (75 men, 35 women, 1 non-binary person; mean age: 36 ± 10 years) completed an online survey. Physical activity in each domain was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed with …

Effect Of Sustained Covid-19 Guidelines On Eating Behaviors And Weight Gain, Malia Nowlen, Kyli Alvarez, Riley Morton, Estephania Campa, Zachary Zeigler

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

PURPOSE: Prior research examining the impact of short-term self-quarantine indicates altered eating behaviors and weight change. Roughly ten months after the first lockdown was announced, the COVID-19 pandemic continues without abatement. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of long-term COVID-19 guidelines on eating behaviors and weight change.

METHODS: A research announcement was sent out via Facebook to 1200 possible participants. The Weight and Lifestyle Inventory (WALI) was used to assess possible changes in factors that contribute to eating. Participants were also asked to report weight before the pandemic and at the time of the study. Weight …

Kinesiophobia Prevalence Among College Athletes, Lindsey R. Mcneely, Robert I. Dudley

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The fear avoidance model indicates that fear of re-injury and movement related fear (kinesiophobia) can foster avoidant behaviors leading to potentially injurious changes in movement. The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), an 11-question survey, measures movement related fear. While much of the kinesiophobia literature has focused on individuals with chronic pain, there is little evidence on the prevalence of kinesiophobia among collegiate athletes, a population with high frequency of injury. What little evidence exists indicates a connection between high kinesiophobia and injurious movement patterns. PURPOSE: Given the lack of data on collegiate athletes, the purpose of this investigation is to …

College Student Self-Efficacy For Exercise In Relation To Reported Physical Activity Levels During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Angelez Becerra, Andrea Hughes, Sarah L. Dunn Ph.D.

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The global COVID-19 pandemic may be detrimental to a college student’s motivation to exercise with less physical activity (PA) levels recorded, possibly due to the closure of gyms or home isolation. While little is known about self-efficacy for exercise (SEE) in college students, how it relates to age in this population during a pandemic needs further investigation. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between SEE and PA levels in college students and if age was a factor. It was hypothesized that SEE would be positively associated with PA status and negatively to college student age, …

The Effects Of Mindful Meditation On Self-Esteem And Self-Compassion In Female Collegiate Dance Majors, Katherine Jankevicius, Robyn H. Whitehead, Heather Samuelson, Malcolm T. Whitehead

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Body image and self-esteem is an everchanging mindset that occurs in everyone, and in recent years the idea of positive thinking has become more prevalent. In physical activities such as dance, that focuses on the way the body moves and looks, perceptions of one’s body image can become distorted. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a mindful meditation intervention on self-esteem and self-compassion in female collegiate dance majors. METHODS: A total of ten female participants (age = 22.1 ± 1.5 years) with an average of 12.6 ± 5.9 years of dance experience were recruited …

Psychological Impact Of An Athlete's Life, Kaylee Rose, Andi Green

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Injuries are a common occurrence for athletes that are active in competitive sports. When an athlete is injured, many emotions are at play and can provide a powerful impact psychologically. PURPOSE: This research will identify any psychological impact from an injury on an athlete’s overall life. The data gained will be instrumental in providing a basis for clinician education and intervention development. METHODS: Participates completed a 21-question survey through Qualtrics for this study. All of the participants are current or recently retired in the last five years NCAA Division 1 athletes. Out of the 21 questions, 12 of …

Enhancing Mental Toughness In Student-Athletes During The Covid-19 Pandemic Via Educational-Based Psychological Skills Training: Preliminary Results Of A Pilot Study, Madison Giuliani, Grant Morgan, Richard G. Cowden, Jeff S. Forsse, Andreas Stamatis Dr.

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

One group of measures against the COVID-19 pandemic have been the non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). NPIs taken by the NCAA included suspension of athletic seasons. Suspended championships during the pandemic have decimated the world of sports and led to changes in athletic role identity and social connectedness, which negatively affected student-athletes’ mental health (MH). One psychological characteristic that has the potential to support the MH and well-being of athletes is mental toughness (MT). MT is associated with successful sport performance and positive MH outcomes. Although empirical evidence supports the effectiveness of educational-based psychological skills training (PST) in promoting MH, similar effects …

The Inter-Relationship Of Coaching Profiles And Levels Of Mental Toughness: Preliminary Results Of A Pilot Study., Pedro J. Flores-Moreno, Isela R. Ramos-Carranza, Lenin T. Barajas-Pineda, Andreas Stamatis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Mental toughness (MT) is a personal, state-like capacity that facilitates the initiation and continuation of goal-directed activities in several domains, including sports. Sport coaches are key agents in positions of authority. Coaching philosophy has been identified as one of the key parts in the development of environments that promote MT. The Coach Orientation Questionnaire (COQ) groups coaches in six profiles (Traditional, Technological, Innovative, Collaborative, Communicator, and Confrontational) mostly based on their professional training, personality, and experience. Coaches’ levels of MT and coaching COQ profiles have not been investigated together. PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between the COQ coaching profiles …

Track And Field Athlete's Barriers Evolving With The Postponement Of The Olympics, Jessica Rabius, Marycatherine Harmon

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Due to the global Coronavirus pandemic the International Olympic Committee, IOC, rescheduled the Summer Olympics to a date beyond 2020, but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of everyone involved in the Games. As the Olympics have been postponed, this could consequently affect track and field athletes. The only other time in the history of the Olympics that there has been a postponing or canceling has been in the case of a war. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to study Olympic athlete’s psychological, physiological, and physical barriers encountered due to the pandemic and subsequently …

The Effect Of Covid-19 On The Physical Activity And Recreational Habits Of University Students, Trinidad Leal Jr., Daniel J. Burt

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Due to COVID-19 a majority of states across the nation were put on lockdown, limiting the recreational activities an individual could partake in, like utilizing gyms and workout studios. Pre and Post-lockdown physical activity, fitness, and recreational habits could be measured through a series of questions using a Qualtrics survey. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to review how the COVID-19 shutdowns influenced the level of physical activity engaged in prior to and during the lockdown. Additionally, this study served to investigate how college students have decided to utilize their time recreationally during the pandemic. METHODS: Enrolled …

Exploring The Differences In Stress Mindset Between Former And Current College Student-Athletes, Creighton Avery, Amber M. Shipherd

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Stress is a universal experience, often believed to be negative, that has been linked with negative consequences. However, recent studies have shown that stress can lead to positive outcomes as well, including an increase in health and performance in a variety of domains. Research has also found one’s beliefs about the nature of stress (e.g., stress mindset) play a large role in the extent to which one experiences these beneficial outcomes of stress. Although two athletes may encounter the same stressor, their beliefs on stress impact whether they experience detrimental or enhancing outcomes resulting from the stressor. Given some athletes …

Covid-19 Adherence To Physical Activity Guidelines Moderates The Mental Health/Toughness Relationship On Black/Hispanic Females, Melissa Dorvily, Michelle Etchebaster, Andreas Stamatis Dr., Jeff S. Forsse, Tal Amasay, Zacharias Papadakis

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Physical activity (PA) improves mental health (MH). Mental toughness (MT) positively correlates to MH. Only 45% of Hispanics and Blacks over 18 years and less than 40% of US females meet the ACSM PA guidelines. PA has been decreasing during the COVID-19. PURPOSE: Investigate during the pandemic the effect of PA adherence on the MT-MH relationship on previously physically active, Black and Hispanic females. METHODS: Fifteen females (age 21.3±3.6 yr), six Hispanic and nine Black, who met the ACSM guidelines before the pandemic, completed the Mental Health Continuum and Mental Toughness Index inventories, while reporting their PA habits during …