PILATES Connect: support for collegiate student-athletes in the transition to meaningful lifetime physical activity
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Melinda B. Smith (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Diane Gill
Abstract: Student-athletes (SAs) face challenges to maintaining physical activity as they graduate beyond college athletics. Transition barriers include the loss of team support (Fuller, 2014), less motivation without specific goals (Plateau, Petrie, & Papathomas, 2017) and identity-related changes (Fuller, 2014; Reifsteck, Gill, & Labban, 2016). The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate PILATES Connect, designed to support basic psychological needs satisfaction and self-determined motivation for final-year SAs as they transition to enjoyable and sustainable lifetime physical activity. Using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a framework, SAs progressed in Pilates training and discussed the transition with peers. Twelve participants completed PILATES Connect with an adherence rate of 94.4% and strongly recommended the program for others. Pre and post-program Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale (BPNES) and Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3) scores did not reveal significant changes in basic psychological needs satisfaction and self-determination for physical activity. However, participant ratings of perceived autonomy and relatedness were consistently high through the six sessions. Perceived competence ratings increased significantly from earlier to later sessions, F(5, 3) = 29.7, p = .009. Participants progressed in Pilates skills, enjoyed the freedom to modify or advance exercises and felt less alone as they discussed ideas with other SAs. Adherence rates, evaluations and focus group feedback provide support for continuing to offer PILATES Connect in the future, supporting SA lifetime physical and psychological wellness.
PILATES Connect: support for collegiate student-athletes in the transition to meaningful lifetime physical activity
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Created on 5/1/2019
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2019
- Keywords
- Basic psychological needs, Lifetime, Physical activity, Pilates, Student-athletes, Transition
- Subjects
- College athletes $x Psychology
- Pilates method $x Psychological aspects
- Exercise $x Psychological aspects