Hoare Erin, Couston Nicky, Burdon Lilli, Vella Claudia, Hall Kate
Australian Football League, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
IMPACT - The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Front Sports Act Living. 2024 Nov 21;6:1470726. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1470726. eCollection 2024.
There is a strong rationale for the promotion of mental wellbeing in elite sport development pathways although evidence-based programs are scant. Scholarly work more broadly indicates the importance of co-design and lived experience in the development of programs targeting mental health and wellbeing for young people. Further, the evidence to date suggests that programs should be multi-component to target the various systems within which young people engage. This study examines the feasibility and acceptability of a multi-component wellbeing program, informed by positive psychology and wellbeing science. The AFL Talent Pathways Wellbeing Program aims to foster positive mental health and wellbeing among young (16-18 year-old) athletes in Australian Rules Football participating in the AFL Talent Pathways. The program was comprised of multiple components including (i) a wellbeing curriculum informed by positive psychology, (ii) strengthened localized dedicated capacities in personnel within football communities, and (iii) an individualized wellbeing development plan. Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through qualitative interviews with young athletes, coaches, and wellbeing coordinators which focused on experiences related to program engagement, satisfaction, participation, and retention. A pre-specified thematic analytical approach was adopted, whereby qualitative interview data were transcribed, and then underwent a six-phase analysis process to assess themes. Results suggested gradual acceptance of the program, with increasing levels of connection and support reported throughout the program delivery. Barriers to engagement included the scheduling of the program content within the context of a comprehensive training schedule and the travel time required to be able to participate in the program particularly for non-metropolitan and regional-based athletes. Strengthening football community capacity for specific wellbeing-related needs was seen as a major facilitator to the acceptability and feasibility of the wellbeing program. These findings, although limited by a small sample size, contribute to the growing evidence body of supporting young athletes transitioning into elite sport and is strengthened through the qualitative insights achieved through the lived experience of program participants.
在精英体育发展路径中促进心理健康有充分的理由，尽管基于证据的项目很少。更广泛的学术研究表明，在为年轻人制定针对心理健康和幸福的项目时，共同设计和实际体验很重要。此外，迄今为止的证据表明，项目应该是多组件的，以针对年轻人参与的各种系统。本研究考察了一个基于积极心理学和幸福科学的多组件幸福项目的可行性和可接受性。澳式橄榄球联盟人才培养路径幸福项目旨在促进参与澳式橄榄球联盟人才培养路径的16至18岁年轻澳式橄榄球运动员的积极心理健康和幸福。该项目由多个组件组成，包括：（i）一个基于积极心理学的幸福课程；（ii）加强足球社区内人员的本地化专门能力；（iii）一个个性化的幸福发展计划。通过对年轻运动员、教练和幸福协调员进行定性访谈来评估可行性和可接受性，访谈重点是与项目参与、满意度、参与度和留存率相关的经历。采用了预先指定的主题分析方法，对定性访谈数据进行转录，然后经过六个阶段的分析过程来评估主题。结果表明该项目逐渐被接受，在整个项目实施过程中，参与者之间的联系和支持程度不断提高。参与的障碍包括在全面训练计划的背景下安排项目内容，以及特别是非大都市和地区的运动员为了能够参与项目所需的出行时间。加强足球社区满足特定幸福相关需求的能力被视为幸福项目可接受性和可行性的主要促进因素。这些发现虽然受到样本量小的限制，但有助于增加支持年轻运动员向精英体育过渡的证据，并通过项目参与者的实际体验所获得的定性见解得到加强。
