Interactive-Virtual Reality (IVR) Exercise: An Examination of In-Task and Pre-to-Post Exercise Affective Changes

In this research, we examine the influence of imposed vs. self-chosen interactive/virtual reality (IVR) exercise on affect response following, as well as during, exercise. Our sample included 131 university students who were assigned to one of three 10-min conditions: (a) self-selected interactive/virtual reality (IVR) exercise, (b) externally imposed IVR exercise, or (c) regular exercise. Exercise intensity was standardized in terms of metabolic benchmarks. Mood benefits were observed pre-to-post exercise regardless of condition. During exercise, however, higher pleasure ratings were reported by participants in the self-selected IVR exercise condition. The implications of the immediate mood effects of self-selected IVR exercise are discussed.     

The relation between risk perceptions and physical activity among older adults: a prospective study

Past studies have found that risk perceptions of suffering from diseases play an important role in the development of intentions to perform physical activity (PA). According to the behaviour motivation hypothesis, perceived risk could be positively and directly related to PA, but this possibility has been ignored and/or underestimated. Accounting for recent methodological developments on the importance of study design and risk perception assessment, the purpose of the present study was to examine the risk-perceptions-PA relationship among older adults. Participants (N=143) aged from 61 to 70 years initially underwent measurement of risk perceptions, baseline PA, socio-demographic and health factors. Six months later, they were asked about their PA participation. Multiple regression analyses revealed that perceived risk of suffering from diseases and conditions without regular PA participation was an independent positive predictor of later PA, over and beyond baseline behaviour, socio-demographic and health variables. This study fills a gap in the existing literature on the PAs of older adults and reveals that risk perceptions are directly linked to their participation. In addition, it extends existing knowledge in health psychology on the behaviour motivation hypothesis, and emphasises the necessity of methodological adjustments when assessing the risk-perception-behaviour relationship.     

Athletes' inclination to play through pain: a coping perspective

Previous studies have shown how social networks lead athletes to accept pain as a “part of the game,” which generates pressure on athletes to continue competing despite being in pain. Little is known, however, about the potential coping strategies that are related to pain behavior in sport. This study of 205 combat athletes examined whether pain coping strategies, including distraction from pain, praying, reinterpreting pain sensations, ignoring pain, and pain catastrophizing, are related to athletes’ inclination to play through pain. Results revealed that pain catastrophizing led athletes to reduce their physical involvement in their sport activity. Of particular interest was the moderating effect of ignoring pain such that ignoring pain significantly attenuated the negative effect of pain intensity on athletes’ inclination to play through pain. Few studies have tested and supported the contribution of pain coping to the prediction of behavior in real sport situations. By identifying which coping strategies athletes could use to maintain their physical involvement despite being in (sometimes intense) pain, the current study makes an important contribution for tailoring pain management programs for this at-risk population.     

Not just the norm: Exemplar-based models also predict face aftereffects

The face recognition literature has considered two competing accounts of how faces are represented within the visual system: Exemplar-based models assume that faces are represented via their similarity to exemplars of previously experienced faces, while norm-based models assume that faces are represented with respect to their deviation from an average face, or norm. Face identity aftereffects have been taken as compelling evidence in favor of a norm-based account over an exemplar-based account. After a relatively brief period of adaptation to an adaptor face, the perceived identity of a test face is shifted toward a face with attributes opposite to those of the adaptor, suggesting an explicit psychological representation of the norm. Surprisingly, despite near universal recognition that face identity aftereffects imply norm-based coding, there have been no published attempts to simulate the predictions of norm- and exemplar-based models in face adaptation paradigms. Here, we implemented and tested variations of norm and exemplar models. Contrary to common claims, our simulations revealed that both an exemplar-based model and a version of a two-pool norm-based model, but not a traditional norm-based model, predict face identity aftereffects following face adaptation.     

Perceived acculturation preferences of minority groups and intergroup discrimination: When culture‐specific intergroup norms matter

The present research seeks to show that culture‐specific variables can moderate the impact of general determinants of intergroup discrimination, usually assumed to operate identically across cultures. The present paper reports the results of two studies testing the hypothesis that, in France, the cultural norm of new laïcité (a French‐specific ideology of secularism) can moderate the impact of the perceived host culture adoption and national identification on discrimination against immigrants. We conducted a correlational study (Study 1, N = 249) and an experiment (Study 2, N = 143) using two distinct and previously validated measures of intergroup discrimination. Results showed that the higher the perception of a norm of new laïcité, the stronger the link between host culture adoption and national identification. More specifically, among native French people, the perception of a weak host culture adoption and a weak national identification on the part of immigrants produced higher levels of discriminatory behavior especially when the intergroup norm of new laïcité was high. These studies highlight the fundamental importance of taking into account culture‐specific variables in the study of discrimination and point to the fact that, by changing the normative context, one may change intergroup behaviors. Reducing intergroup discrimination in applied settings may require targeting culture‐specific intergroup norms.     

The relation between risk perceptions and physical activity among older adults: A prospective study

Past studies have found that risk perceptions of suffering from diseases play an important role in the development of intentions to perform physical activity (PA). According to the behaviour motivation hypothesis, perceived risk could be positively and directly related to PA, but this possibility has been ignored and/or underestimated. Accounting for recent methodological developments on the importance of study design and risk perception assessment, the purpose of the present study was to examine the risk-perceptions–PA relationship among older adults. Participants (N?=?143) aged from 61 to 70 years initially underwent measurement of risk perceptions, baseline PA, socio-demographic and health factors. Six months later, they were asked about their PA participation. Multiple regression analyses revealed that perceived risk of suffering from diseases and conditions without regular PA participation was an independent positive predictor of later PA, over and beyond baseline behaviour, socio-demographic and health variables. This study fills a gap in the existing literature on the PAs of older adults and reveals that risk perceptions are directly linked to their participation. In addition, it extends existing knowledge in health psychology on the behaviour motivation hypothesis, and emphasises the necessity of methodological adjustments when assessing the risk-perception–behaviour relationship.     

Athletes' inclination to play through pain: a coping perspective

Previous studies have shown how social networks lead athletes to accept pain as a "part of the game," which generates pressure on athletes to continue competing despite being in pain. Little is known, however, about the potential coping strategies that are related to pain behavior in sport. This study of 205 combat athletes examined whether pain coping strategies, including distraction from pain, praying, reinterpreting pain sensations, ignoring pain, and pain catastrophizing, are related to athletes' inclination to play through pain. Results revealed that pain catastrophizing led athletes to reduce their physical involvement in their sport activity. Of particular interest was the moderating effect of ignoring pain such that ignoring pain significantly attenuated the negative effect of pain intensity on athletes' inclination to play through pain. Few studies have tested and supported the contribution of pain coping to the prediction of behavior in real sport situations. By identifying which coping strategies athletes could use to maintain their physical involvement despite being in (sometimes intense) pain, the current study makes an important contribution for tailoring pain management programs for this at-risk population.     

Predictors of perceived susceptibility to sport-related injury

Little is known about factors associated with perceptions of susceptibility to sport-related injuries. The purpose of the present study was to examine previous experiences with injury and personality factors as predictors of rugby players’ perceived susceptibility to injury. In line with an individual-based approach, it was hypothesized that neuroticism and global self-esteem would be related to perceived susceptibility to sport injuries over and above previous experiences with injuries. Rugby players (N = 235) were asked to report about previous experiences with injury and were administered measures of neuroticism and global self-esteem. Multiple regression analysis revealed that previous experiences with injury were positively related to perceived susceptibility to sport-related injuries. Analyses also supported that neuroticism and global self-esteem are of crucial importance in colouring perceptions of susceptibility to sport-related injury, while statistically controlling for previous injuries. Of particular interest, neuroticism predicted perceived susceptibility, over and above global self-esteem and previous experiences with injury. This study is the first to focus on determinants of perceived susceptibility to sport-related injury and supports the potential role of personality factors and individual dispositions in shaping perceived susceptibility to health problems.     

Les déterminants psychologiques de la blessure physique du sportif : une revue de littérature

The purpose of the present paper is to review the studies having focused on the psychological antecedents of physical injury in a sport context. As a whole, the researches conducted in this field have highlighted the influence of stress in injuries-related problems. However, other researches in health psychology propose that complementary factors and processes could lead to be injured. Beyond the stress influence, these models suggest that the voluntary adoption of health or risky behaviours could play a role in the occurrence of sport-related injuries. The psychological determinants of these behaviours are now identified. Few studies however sought to show the relevance of these determinants in the identification of the athletes likely to be injured. A model is suggested in order to engage research in this field.     

Predictors of Perceived Susceptibility to Sport-Related Injury among Competitive Runners: The Role of Previous Experience, Neuroticism, and Passion for Running

Whether individuals take steps to protect themselves against sport‐related injury may depend on their perceived susceptibility to injury ( Williams‐Avery & MacKinnon, 1996 ). However, little is known about the determinants of perceived susceptibility to sport‐related injury. The purpose of the present study is to identify the relations of previous experiences with injury, neuroticism, and passion with perceived susceptibility to sport‐related injury among competitive runners. One hundred and seventy competitive runners reported the number of injuries sustained during the last year and completed the neuroticism scale of the NEO‐PIR and the Passion Scale. Separate regression analysis revealed that previous experiences with injury, neuroticism, and obsessive passion were significant positive predictors of perceived susceptibility, whereas harmonious passion was significantly and negatively related to perceived susceptibility. When considered simultaneously, previous experiences, neuroticism, and obsessive passion explained unique variance in perceived susceptibility to sport‐related injury. This study revealed that perceived susceptibility to sport‐related injury is dependent on several distinct variables. Thus, to be effective, injury preventive actions aimed at runners’ behaviour modification need to take into account that runners’ perceived susceptibility to sport has multiple predictors. L’adoption par les individus de comportements de prévention de la blessure en sport est liée à leur vulnérabilité perçue à celle‐ci ( Williams‐Avery & MacKinnon, 1996 ). Cependant, aucune étude ne s’est intéressée aux déterminants de cette dimension dans le contexte sportif. L’objectif de cette étude était d’identifier les relations entre les expériences passées avec une ou plusieurs blessures, le névrosisme, et la passion pour l’activité et la vulnérabilité perçue à la blessure chez des coureurs à pied. 170 coureurs compétitifs ont reporté le nombre de blessures contractées lors de la saison précédente, et ont répondu à l’échelle de névrosisme du NEO‐PIR, et à l’échelle de passion en sport. Des analyses de régression séparées révèlent une contribution positive des expériences passées avec la blessure, du névrosisme, et de la passion obsessionnelle sur la vulnérabilité perçue, alors que la passion harmonieuse contribue négativement à cette dimension. Une analyse de régression multiple intégrant l’ensemble des prédicteurs révèle un lien significatif et positif entre les expériences passées, le névrosisme, la passion obsessionnelle et la vulnérabilité perçue à la blessure. Cette étude confirme que la perception de vulnérabilité est dépendante de dimensions variées et distinctes. Les actions de prévention de la blessure axées sur les changements de perception de vulnérabilitéà la blessure à des fins de modification des comportements doivent prendre en considération les prédicteurs de cette dimension afin d’être efficaces.