Mesut Süleymanoğulları

Background and Objectives: Anxiety is highly prevalent among breast cancer patients and significantly impairs quality of life. Although both conventional physical exercise (PE) and mind–body interventions (MBE) are used in supportive care, their relative efficacy remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the effects of PE and MBE on anxiety in breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were systematically searched through April 2026 for controlled trials comparing structured PE or MBE with control conditions. Effect sizes were pooled as standardized mean differences (SMDs; Hedges’ g) using a random-effects model with restricted maximum likelihood estimation and modified Hartung–Knapp inference. Subgroup analyses and univariable meta-regressions explored potential moderators. Results: Twenty-four reports (N = 2197) represented 25 independent trials; 22 estimates from 21 reports entered the meta-analysis, and three reports were synthesized narratively. Interventions significantly reduced anxiety on average (SMD = −0.58, 95% CI [−1.01, −0.15], p = 0.011), with substantial heterogeneity (I² = 85.0%) and a 95% prediction interval of −2.38 to 1.22. Both PE (SMD = −0.67) and MBE (SMD = −0.46) favored intervention numerically, although both subgroup confidence intervals included no effect, with no significant difference between modalities (p = 0.697). A larger, yet non-significant, effect was observed during active treatment (SMD = −0.84, 95% CI [−1.68, 0.01]) compared with survivorship (SMD = −0.34, 95% CI [−0.62, −0.07]); the between-phase comparison was inconclusive (p = 0.291). The comparison across diagnostic stages was also inconclusive (p = 0.366). None of the seven continuous moderators met the multiplicity-adjusted significance threshold. Conclusions: Current findings suggest an average reduction in anxiety following physical and mind–body interventions in breast cancer patients. However, no statistically significant differences were observed between intervention modalities or treatment stages. Very low certainty, substantial heterogeneity and indirect subgroup comparisons limit confidence in the size and consistency of benefit. Overall, individualized interventions may have a role in oncology care, but these findings do not establish superiority, equivalence or differential efficacy between modalities or treatment phases.

Self-perceived athletic performance complements objective indicators by reflecting athletes’ physical, technical, tactical, psychological, and environmental evaluations. This cross-sectional study evaluated the internal consistency and factorial validity of the Self-Perceived Performance Scale (SAPÖ) and its associations with athlete characteristics. Participants competed in football, karate, judo, volleyball, basketball, or athletics in Türkiye (N = 370; age M = 21.38, SD = 4.30 years; 219 men [59.2%] and 151 women [40.8%]; 272 local-level [73.5%], 48 national-level [13.0%], and 50 international-level [13.5%] athletes; sport experience M = 6.17, SD = 4.03 years). Analyses included Cronbach’s α, McDonald’s ω, WLSMV confirmatory factor analysis, and Type III MANCOVA. Internal consistency was acceptable to good for the subscales (α = .758–.844; ω = .770–.848) and high for the total score (α = .937; ω = .959). Although CFI and TLI were strong (.971 and .967), elevated RMSEA and SRMR values, near-unity latent-factor correlations, and a non-positive definite latent covariance matrix indicated mixed evidence and unresolved structural limitations. Sport discipline, age, and sport experience were associated with the combined SAPÖ profile; sex, competition level (p = .054), and national-team status were not significant. The smallest unadjusted follow-up p values occurred for Physical Perception; without multiplicity control across outcomes, these analyses were exploratory. Scores were internally consistent, but unresolved factorial limitations and the cross-sectional design preclude causal or stand-alone diagnostic interpretation. SAPÖ scores may provisionally complement objective indicators and athlete–practitioner discussion, but not independently determine selection, diagnosis, ranking, or training modification.

Background and Objectives: Exercise is increasingly used in supportive care for lung cancer, but its effects on depressive symptoms remain uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized randomized evidence. Materials and Methods: Four electronic databases were searched for reports published from January 2000 to July 2026. Eligible studies enrolled adults with lung cancer and compared a structured exercise-based intervention with usual care or an eligible active rehabilitation comparator. One depression result per independent trial was selected using documented rules for assessment time, outcome format, and multiple intervention arms. A random-effects model used REML with Hartung–Knapp inference. Results: Seventeen studies met the eligibility criteria; 15 independent trials (1041 participants) contributed to the primary synthesis. The pooled effect favored exercise (Hedges’ g = −0.75, 95% CI −1.18 to −0.32; p = 0.002), but heterogeneity was considerable (τ² = 0.4582; τ = 0.6769; I² = 87.1%; H² = 7.76; Q(14) = 74.11, p < 0.001) and the 95% prediction interval crossed the null (−2.27 to 0.76). The direction remained favorable in all sensitivity analyses, although exclusion of two influential studies attenuated the pooled effect to −0.49 and reduced I² to approximately 0%. Exploratory subgroup and study-level moderator analyses did not identify a stable explanation for heterogeneity. Certainty was very low after downgrading for risk of bias, inconsistency, and indirectness. Conclusions: Exercise-based interventions may reduce depressive symptom scores in some adults with lung cancer, but confidence in the magnitude and transferability of the average effect is limited. The evidence does not establish efficacy for major depressive disorder or identify an optimal modality, dose, or delivery format.

Background and Objectives: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) supports neuronal function and plasticity, but exercise meta-analyses may reuse primary studies and combine distinct outcomes. We evaluated review-level evidence while preventing direct reuse of the same primary-study evidence within pooled syntheses in this umbrella review and meta-analysis. Methods: Thirty-nine systematic reviews with quantitative syntheses of peripheral BDNF were assessed. Review–primary-study links were normalized, methodological quality was appraised with AMSTAR 2, and estimates were classified by exercise timing and comparison design. Only reviews meeting the zero-overlap criterion were pooled using restricted maximum likelihood random-effects models with Hartung–Knapp inference. Prediction intervals were calculated; network and dose–response findings were summarized separately. Results: The corpus included 507 review–primary-study occurrences representing 289 unique normalized primary-study identities (corrected covered area [CCA], 1.99%). AMSTAR 2 overall confidence was low in eight reviews and critically low in 31. Seven reviews meeting the zero-overlap criterion contributed to the chronic-controlled synthesis, yielding a pooled SMD of 0.85 (95% CI 0.07–1.64; I² = 93.9%; 95% prediction interval −1.20 to 2.91). Acute-controlled effects were inconclusive (four reviews; SMD 0.49, 95% CI −0.07 to 1.05; I² = 53.8%), as were chronic pre–post effects (three reviews; SMD 0.32, 95% CI −0.04 to 0.69; I²≈0%). Quality-restricted meta-analysis was not estimable, and small-study-effect tests were not performed because no synthesis set contained at least 10 independent reviews. Conclusions: Exercise may increase peripheral BDNF in some chronic-controlled settings, but effects vary substantially. Circulating BDNF does not directly establish central BDNF engagement or enhanced neuroplasticity, and current review-level evidence does not establish a universal response, clinical benefit, superior modality, or optimal dose.

Self-talk is a cognitive strategy used by athletes to regulate their performance and maintain motivation. This study examined the effects of self-talk strategies on long-distance (LD) shot performance among regionally amateur licensed male and female football players in Ağrı, Türkiye, using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through a single-group pretest-posttest experimental design, while qualitative data were obtained via semi-structured interviews to understand athletes’ experiences with self-talk. The study sample consisted of 16 volunteer football players (8 females, 8 males) selected through purposive sampling. The quantitative findings indicated that there were significant increases in long-distance shot accuracy following the self-talk intervention, while no statistically significant differences were observed in LD shot performance between female and male football players. Self-assessment questionnaires also showed significant improvements in confidence, target frequency, and perceived shot effectiveness. Qualitative findings revealed that athletes perceived self-talk as beneficial for focusing attention, enhancing confidence, and reducing errors, and they expressed an intention to continue using the strategy. The results demonstrate that self-talk is an effective strategy for supporting both technical skill performance and mental resilience in amateur football players. These findings provide strong evidence for the applicability of self-talk strategies in sports that require both technical proficiency and mental endurance, such as football.

Background and Objectives: The hypertrophic adaptation of the diaphragm to inspiratory muscle training (IMT) remains insufficiently characterized, particularly in healthy and athletic populations. To address this gap, we conducted a meta-analysis and meta-regression to evaluate the effects of IMT on diaphragm thickness and identify potential moderating factors. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus as well as Google Scholar (gray literature) through November 2025. Eight studies involving 203 healthy participants met the inclusion criteria. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled effect sizes and meta-regression estimates. Results: IMT produced a statistically significant moderate increase in diaphragm muscle thickness, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of Hedges’ g = 0.52 (95% CI: 0.19 to 0.85; p < 0.05). Subgroup analyses indicated that IMT with 50% maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) produces a statistically significant effect (p = 0.0069), whereas fitness status and age did not significantly influence outcomes (p = 0.589 and p = 0.126, respectively). Meta-regression analyses revealed that only baseline MIP value (β = 0.030; 95% CI: 0.009 to 0.050; p = 0.004) was associated with diaphragm hypertrophy. Conclusions: IMT with 50% of MIP elicits meaningful diaphragmatic hypertrophy in healthy individuals. This response appears independent of fitness status or age, but is significantly influenced by baseline inspiratory muscle strength (MIP). These findings support the utility of IMT in enhancing respiratory muscle morphology in health and performance contexts.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key regulator of neuroplasticity, cognitive function, and mental health. Exercise is proposed as a non-pharmacological strategy to enhance BDNF; however, findings across neurological and non-neurological disorders remain inconsistent, and the influence of exercise type or dose-related parameters remains unclear. Objective: This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of exercise interventions on peripheral BDNF levels in individuals with neurological (e.g., multiple sclerosis, cognitive impairment, schizophrenia, depression) and non-neurological (e.g., obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer) disorders, and examined whether outcomes varied by disease category, exercise modality, or dose. Methods: A systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Cochrane was conducted up to 1 October 2025. Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the quality of evidence were assessed using the PEDro scale and the GRADE approach, respectively. Random-effects models were applied, with subgroup analyses (neurological vs. non-neurological; exercise type; duration and assay type), meta-regressions (duration, frequency, session length), and publication bias tests (funnel plot, Begg’s test, Egger’s regression, and trim-and-fill). Results: Nineteen RCTs, including 850 participants, were analyzed. According to low-quality evidence, exercise significantly increased peripheral BDNF (SMD = 1.03, 95% CI: [0.56–1.49, p < 0.0001). Effects did not differ significantly between neurological (SMD = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.31–1.50) and non-neurological (SMD = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.47–1.99) conditions (Q (1) = 0.44, p = 0.51). Subgroup analyses revealed significant improvements for resistance exercise (SMD = 1.57, 95% CI: 0.91–2.23), followed by aerobic (SMD = 1.44, 95% CI: 0.36–2.52) and combined exercise (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.21–0.89). Meta-regressions showed no moderating effects of duration (β = 0.0101, p = 0.834), weekly frequency (β = 0.1464, p = 0.648), minutes per session (β = −0.0124, p = 0.233) or total weekly minutes (β = 0.0005, p = 0.919) apart from age and baseline BDNF level factors (β = 0.0348, p = 0.020; β = −0.035, p = 0.0258). Publication bias tests indicated minimal publication bias, with adjusted effects remaining robust. Conclusions: Exercise interventions have been shown to increase peripheral BDNF significantly across diverse clinical populations. In particular, resistance and aerobic exercise protocols accounted for the exploratory component, whereas simple dose-related factors did not explain the variability. These findings are consistent with the biological plausibility of exercise-induced neuroplasticity and underscore the need for larger, pre-registered RCTs with harmonized biomarker protocols to strengthen clinical translation. However, the certainty of evidence is limited by small sample sizes and the frequent lack of blinding of participants and assessors across included trials.

Metaverse is a new concept which is frequently discussed in many fields such as health, art, sports, entertainment, education, trade, and marketing. The scope and actuality of this concept, which expresses a new digital world beyond the universe, necessitated this study. In this study; gender, age, duration of social media usage and levels of metaverse knowledge, awareness and attitude of university students have been tried to be analyzed statistically in terms of variables such as playing digital games, using e-commerce, communicating with other individuals in virtual channels and the availability of crypto money. The survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was preferred in the study. Independent Sample T Test and Pearson Correlation tests were used to analyze data with a normal distribution. The universe of the research includes students studying at Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University in the 2021-2022 academic year, and the sample of the research includes 271 students (122 females and 149 males), studying in different departments of the same university. Apart from the personal information form, the 'Metaverse Scale’ developed by Süleymanoğulları et al. was chosen as a data collection tool. According to the results, male participants' metaverse knowledge, attitude, and awareness levels are higher than females in the sub-dimensions of digitalization and lifestyle. While a positive and weak relationship was found between the participants’ average daily social media usage time and the technology sub-dimension average score, the analysis results indicate that the levels of the participants who engage in e-commerce in the technology, digitalization, and lifestyle sub-dimensions are higher than the others. Finally, it has been found that the metaverse knowledge, attitude and awareness levels of the students with crypto money in the sub-dimensions of technology, digitalization and lifestyle are higher than those in the other group. According to the results of this study, it can be said that the metaverse attitudes, awareness and knowledge levels of the university students who constitute the research sample group differ depending on sociocultural and socioeconomic factors.

Bu araştırmanın amacı, zihinsel dayanıklılık konusunda yayımlanmış olan lisansüstü tezlerin içerik analizini çeşitli ölçütler dâhilinde yaparak konu ile ilgili gerçekleştirilen çalışmaların genel özelliklerini ve araştırma eğilimlerini ortaya koymaktır. İçerik analizi tekniğinin tercih edildiği bu çalışma kapsamında Yükseköğretim Kurulu Başkanlığı, Ulusal Tez Merkezi veri tabanına kayıtlı toplam 46 ulusal lisansüstü teze erişim sağlanmıştır. Tezler; tez türü, yayım yılı, yayımlandığı üniversite ve anabilim dalı; kullanılan araştırma yöntemi, deseni, envanter ve zihinsel dayanıklılık ile ilişkilendirilen kavramlar şeklinde belirlenen ölçütler dâhilinde incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonrasında zihinsel dayanıklılık konusunda yayımlanan tezlerin toplamda 29 farklı üniversite bünyesinde ve genellikle (%35) Beden Eğitimi ve Spor anabilim dalında hazırlandığı tespit edilmiştir. En fazla sayıda tezin 2019 yılında yayımlandığını işaret eden araştırma bulguları, bu tezlerde büyük ölçüde nicel araştırma yönteminde (%94) ilişkisel tarama deseninin (%62) tercih edildiğini, ayrıca yine yüksek oranda (%91) veri toplama aracı olarak Sheard, Golby ve Wersch (2009) tarafından geliştirilen ‘Sporda Zihinsel Dayanıklılık’ envanterinin kullanıldığını göstermektedir. Son olarak, zihinsel dayanıklılık konulu çalışmaların ilişkilendirildiği kavramlar incelendiğinde ‘duygusal zekâ’ kavramının yüksek oranda (%18,7) tercih edilmiş olması bu çalışmanın bir diğer bulgusudur. Sonuç olarak, zihinsel dayanıklılık konulu lisansüstü tezlerde pozitivist paradigma geleneğinin baskın olduğu ve bu yaklaşımda nicel araştırma yöntemlerinin sıklıkla tercih edildiği söylenebilir.

Bu araştırmanın amacı, curling sporcularının mental dayanıklılık düzeylerinin demografik ve spora ilişkin bazı değişkenler açısından istatistiksel olarak incelenmesidir. Araştırma, tekil tarama modelinde nicel bir çalışmadır. Çalışmaya aktif olarak curling sporu yapan 38’ü kadın, 53’ü erkek olmak üzere toplam 91 sporcu dâhil edilmiştir. Veri toplamak amacıyla araştırmacı ve uzman görüşü ile oluşturulan kişisel bilgi formu dışında Sporda Mental Dayanıklılık envanteri (Pehlivan ve Dinç, 2017) kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonrasında, erkek sporcuların bağlılık alt boyutunda mental dayanıklılık düzeylerinin kadın sporcuların düzeylerinden daha yüksek olduğu; ayrıca milli curling sporcularının güven alt boyutunda mental dayanıklılık düzeylerinin milli olmayan curling sporcuların düzeylerine göre daha yüksek olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, bu araştırma sonrasında örneklem grubumuzu oluşturan curling sporcularının sahip olunan yeteneklere olan inancı koruma ve rakiplerinin kendisini korkutmasına izin vermeme beceri düzeylerine ilişkin puan ortalamalarının nispeten daha yüksek olduğu görülmüştür. Ancak hedefe bağlı kalma ve kontrolü kaybetmeme beceri düzeylerine ait puan ortalamalarının ise düşük olduğu görülmüştür.