Matthew J. Schweickle

The pandemic of physical inactivity (Kohl et al., 2012) is responsible for 6% of deaths (3.2 million) globally each year (Strain et al., 2024). Nearly one-third (31.3%) of adults worldwide – approx...

Supporting performance under pressure is important to many roles in the sporting sector, including Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Accredited Sport Scientists and Accredited High Performance Managers. This position statement on behalf of ESSA aims to support practitioners whose responsibilities include facilitating athletes’ performance under pressure. To achieve this aim, we synthesised relevant systematic reviews, and theoretical and empirical publications, regarding supporting performance under pressure in sport. Specifically, we focused on translating the scientific literature regarding the different sources of pressure athletes may experience, how athletes may respond to this pressure, the different strategies that may be used to support performance under pressure and considerations for how performance under pressure may be evaluated. This position statement highlights that pressure can have both facilitative and debilitative effects on athlete performance. Training environments offering implicit learning opportunities and effective utilisation of pressure training can prepare athletes for performing well under pressure. A range of evidence-based psychological strategies can be utilised when performing under pressure, including: (1) pre-performance routines, (2) implicit attentional strategies, (3) psychological skills training and (4) mindfulness-based approaches. Suggestions are provided for how to appropriately select and implement different strategies depending on sport type or context. Drawing on a systems-led approach, performance teams can collectively work together to support athlete performance under pressure in an integrated manner. This position statement concludes with eight overarching recommendations to support performance under pressure. These recommendations are contextually specific to key stakeholder groups, such as the organisation, performance team members and sports researchers.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of mental well-being and its relationships with depression and anxiety among international elite athletes. The sample consisted of 244 international elite athletes ( M _age = 21.41 years, 52.0% men). The prevalence of flourishing, moderate well-being, and languishing across nine countries was 44.7%, 54.1%, and 1.2%, respectively. Elite athletes residing in Sweden were 2.81 times more likely to be flourishing compared with those residing in Australia (adjusted odds ratio = 2.81, 95% CI [1.51, 5.24], p = .001). Nonflourishing athletes were 5.94 times more likely to screen positive for depression (adjusted odds ratio = 5.94, 95% CI [2.66, 13.27]; p < .001) and were 4.72 times more likely to screen positive for anxiety (adjusted odds ratio = 4.72, 95% CI [2.12, 10.53]; p < .001). The results indicate that flourishing promotion in nonclinical elite athlete populations may help reduce the risk of future mental illness.

Introduction: Various services and mutual‐aid groups, such as SMART Recovery, provide support for substance use rehabilitation in Singapore. Despite this, substance use remains a growing public health concern with a large treatment gap. This suggests potential barriers to accessing substance use treatment unique to Singapore's sociocultural context. Culture can play a significant role in shaping members' experiences. Hence, this study sought to explore members' and facilitators' experiences and perspectives of SMART Recovery within Singapore's sociocultural context.Methods: A critical realist position guided the present study. Semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were conducted with 18 participants (14 members and 4 facilitators) in 2023. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Results: Five themes were generated from the data: (i) Non‐disclosure from fear of negative social evaluation; (ii) Stigma and shame surrounding the use of substances; (iii) Linguistic challenges as a barrier to participation; (iv) A ‘second family’ fostered through continued engagement with SMART Recovery; and (v) Facilitation approach and quality affected by sociocultural factors (e.g., sensitivity to relational cues). Although there were initial sociocultural challenges, this improved through continued engagement, and the experience of SMART Recovery was largely positive. Facilitators also identified that their facilitation style is influenced by sociocultural factors, which in turn affects members' experience of SMART Recovery.Discussion and Conclusions: Members and facilitators in Singapore face sociocultural challenges that influence their experience of SMART Recovery. This study highlights the need to optimise services to the needs of this population. Future research can identify processes of change that foster members’ engagement in SMART Recovery.

The incidence of mental health problems among young people has increased dramatically in recent years (Hossain et al., 2022). Similarly, the focus on mental health outcomes of participation in youth sport has intensified. Targeted mental health literacy programs have increased in popularity, with major sports organisations and tournaments contributing to the scale-up of such programs in youth sports.

Engaging young men in mental health promotion initiatives is important given the negative attitudes toward mental health and increased suicide rates, reported by young men. Ahead of the Game (AOTG) is a sport-based, psychoeducational initiative which uses sports as a mental health and resilience promotional medium. This study sought contribute to the literature on the effectiveness of the AOTG program by exploring for whom, and through what mechanisms, the intervention works. A secondary analysis of the AOTG randomized controlled trial was conducted, which comprised a sample of 350 adolescent male sport-playing participants (M = 14.53 years, SD = 1.19 years) and control group of 466 sport participants (M = 14.66 years, SD = 1.39), various mental health related measures were taken at baseline and at approximately 8 weeks follow-up. Moderation analyses were conducted to examine age, socioeconomic status, and baseline measures of mental health as potential moderators of program effects. Mediation analyses were run to explore whether changes in psychological distress and wellbeing were mediated by changes in AOTG’s various primary mental health related outcomes. Results indicated age did not moderate any effects of AOTG. Meanwhile, socioeconomic status and baseline help seeking, implicit beliefs, and psychological distress all showed signs of moderating main effects of AOTG. Mediation analyses revealed that changes in resilience and implicit beliefs partially mediated changes in psychological distress. Further, increased resilience had an indirect effect of on athletes’ wellbeing. The implications and future directions, in light of these findings, are explored. Lay summary: Ahead of the Game was shown to be effective regardless of age and particularly beneficial for those in low socioeconomic, displaying low levels of help seeking, and those with higher psychological distress. Increasing resilience was also shown to be an important pathway for increasing wellbeing and reducing distress.