This research aimed to explore the effects of physical activity and training routine on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and the proclaimed emergency state and curfew. To measure the mental ...health components of psychological distress and subjective well-being, two studies were conducted on different samples: Study 1 during the beginning of curfew in Serbia (
N
= 678) and Study 2 during the ending phase (
N
= 398). The results of Study 1 showed that elite athletes as well as those with high level of physical activity experienced the lowest distress. Furthermore, effects of the changes in the training routine on distress among physically active individuals depended on the level of sports participation with elite athletes who reduced trainings showing lower anxiety compared to recreational athletes who reduced trainings as well or kept the same training routine. Thus, we could conclude that in the early stage of the pandemic, elite athletes showed better mental health and adaptability to the crisis situation. Results of Study 2 showed that although all the participants had decreased well-being during the curfew, compared to the period before the pandemic and the curfew, there were no differences in well-being between elite and recreational athletes, who had higher well-being compared to non-athletes. However, this effect held both before and during the curfew showing that physically active individuals did not additionally benefit from this decrease compared to the non-active. Furthermore, athletes who became physically inactive showed lower well-being compared to those who kept the same training routine. Thus, in the later stage of the pandemic, prolonged physical inactivity had negative effects on mental health.
Despite the growing popularity of esport, few research can be found in the specific area of the competitive nature of playing video games. More precisely, the research is mostly still of a ...qualitative and exploratory character. Bearing in mind that esport has been systematically attracting players (and spectators) in Serbia for a decade, and so far there is no research in Serbian on this topic in the field of (sport) psychology, the aim of this paper is to provide a concise systematic overview of previous research, with reference to existing methodological limitations and relevant psychological variables. This would help to define more clearly the boundaries between esport players, traditional athletes, and problematic players.
Education worldwide has been strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the previous evidence that teachers' wellbeing is under a tremendous negative influence of major societal disruptions, ...this kind of sudden overturn of the routines and practices that were in place for decades could have detrimental effects on teachers' mental health. In the present study, we are interested in examining specific occupational stressors and irrational cognitions as potential contributors to distress, depression, and anxiety among teachers, following enormous lockdown-induced changes in the educational system. The basic theoretical framework in the research is Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (RE & CBT), according to which irrational beliefs have a critical contribution in generating and maintaining dysfunctional emotional reactions. Data were collected from 104 primary school teachers (88% female, age M= 41.39, SD=9.10) during the first wave of COVID-19, from the beginning of lockdown in March until its end in May 2020. We administered the adapted version of the Sources of stress at work questionnaire (IRS), the Teacher Irrational Beliefs Scale (TIBS) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21). The questionnaires were distributed electronically by professional associates in schools since classes were conducted online at the time. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis suggest that, when it comes to experiencing stress due to changes in working and living conditions, both the COVID-19 related sources of stress (b=.32, p<.005) and irrational cognitions (b=.25, p<.01) have an independent and significant contribution. However, irrational cognitions only play a significant role in experiencing anxiety (b=.33, p<.005) and depression (b=.36, p<.005).
The personality characteristics of children and adolescents explained by the Big Five model have been studied much less than the personality characteristics of adults. One of the rare self-assessment ...personality instruments for the preadolescent and adolescent age is the Big Five Questionnaire for Children (BFQ-C). The aim of this study is an evaluation and presentation of the latent structure and some psychometrical characteristics of the BFQ-C in the Serbian language. The sample consisted of 881 participants (54% female) who attended the final grades of primary and the initial grades of secondary schools (M=14 years, SD = .99). The original model, previously addressed across different cultures and languages, was tested through CFA. The hypothesized model did not obtain satisfactory fit indices. Following these results, the sample was randomly divided into two datasets. We opted for further exploration of the Serbian version of BFQ-C's latent structure and the development of its shorter version. The final result is the 29-item questionnaire solution (SBFQ-C-29), with loadings on five factors with satisfactory internal consistency, homogeneity, and adequacy, consistent with the previous studies addressing different cultures and languages.
A rapid development of the entrepreneurial business in recent years has brought the entrepreneur's personality back into focus. The revival of the old debate regarding the contribution of personal ...factors to successful business led to the formation of two research streams to profile (1) the traits that are more likely to result in an "entrepreneurial orientation" and (2) those responsible for a successful business. In this paper, we will give a brief overview of meta-analytic studies to date that comprehensively illustrate the complex structure of the so-called entrepreneurial personality. To describe a multidimensional "entrepreneurial orientation", over the last decade researchers have primarily relied on a Five-factor model of personality. The results of numerous studies are only consistent concerning an openness to experiences as a dimension of personality on which entrepreneurs achieve higher scores than non-entrepreneurial occupations. One of the most frequent critics of the Five-factor model is its over-generality, which does not allow predictability of entrepreneurial behavior in specific situations. That is the reason why researchers have recently been more inclined to take a multidimensional approach that includes self-efficacy, innovation, an internal locus of control and openness to risk as traits that differentiate an entrepreneurial personality from other professions. Interpretation of the findings on an entrepreneur's personality should also include differences in the definition of an entrepreneurial business, size of the enterprise, length of time in business, as well as the characteristics of the enterprise itself. T
Overview of psychological research in the field of sport consistently shows the importance and effectiveness of psychological preparation in improving sports performance. The results of ...investigations of psychological factors and their success in martial arts indicate the most significant psychological skills that one needs to develop and that contribute to success: concentration and focused attention, self-confidence, relaxation, regulation of excitement and tension, control over anxiety, visualization and self-talk. Individual approach to the process of learning the psychological techniques and accommodation to personalized features of athletes have proven to be more effective than a group approach.
Education worldwide has been strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the previous evidence that teachers’ wellbeing is under a tremendous negative influence of major societal disruptions, ...this kind of sudden overturn of the routines and practices that were in place for decades could have detrimental effects on teachers’ mental health. In the present study, we are interested in examining specific occupational stressors and irrational cognitions as potential contributors to distress, depression, and anxiety among teachers, following enormous lockdown-induced changes in the educational system. The basic theoretical framework in the research is Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (RE & CBT), according to which irrational beliefs have a critical contribution in generating and maintainingdysfunctional emotional reactions. Data were collected from 104 primary school teachers (88% female, age M= 41.39, SD=9.10) during the first wave of COVID-19, from the beginning of lockdown in March until its end in May 2020. We administered the adapted version of the Sources of stress at work questionnaire (IRS), the Teacher Irrational Beliefs Scale (TIBS) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS- 21). The questionnaires were distributed electronically by professional associates in schools since classes were conducted online at the time. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis suggest that, when it comes to experiencing stress due to changes in working and living conditions, both the COVID-19 related sources of stress (β=.32, p<.005) and irrational cognitions (β=.25, p<.01) have an independent and significant contribution. However, irrational cognitions only play a significant role in experiencing anxiety (β=.33, p<.005) and depression (β=.36, p<.005).
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