Henrik Gustafsson

• Bartura, Khelifa Nida; Abrahamsen, Frank Eirik; Gustafsson, Henrik; Hatzigeorgiadis, Antonis & Gorgulu, Recep (2024). Ironic processes of concentration and suppression under pressure: A study on rifle shooting in Norwegian elite biathletes. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 34(5), p. 1–20. doi: 10.1111/sms.14647.
• Pires, Daniel Alvarez; Isoard-Gautheur, Sandrine; Madigan, Daniel J.; Smith, Alan L. & Gustafsson, Henrik (2024). Five unsolved issues concerning burnout in athletes: An expert perspective. Sports Psychiatry. ISSN 2674-0052. 3(1), p. 39–46. doi: 10.1024/2674-0052/a000074.
• Wilhelmsen, Terese; Lannem, Anne M.; Sørensen, Marit; Augutis, Marika & Gustafsson, Henrik (2024). Experiences of Participants with Spinal Cord Injury at an Active Rehabilitation Camp. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. ISSN 2411-5142. 9(1). doi: 10.3390/jfmk9010007.
• Ekelund, Rebecka; Holmström, Stefan; Gustafsson, Henrik; Ivarsson, Andreas; Lundqvist, Carolina & Stenling, Andreas (2023). Interventions for improving mental health in athletes: a scoping review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. ISSN 1750-984X. doi: 10.1080/1750984X.2023.2258383. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The aims of this scoping review were to map the current literature on interventions for improving mental health in athletes, identify knowledge gaps, and generate future research questions. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guided this review. A systematic literature search was conducted in SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS and 44 intervention studies met the inclusion criteria. Results showed that 22 studies (50%) implemented cognitive behavioural principles, and the majority of these studies were influenced by various mindfulness programmes. Most studies (93%) included healthy athlete samples, and athletes aged 15–19 were the most examined age group (43%). Only three studies used clinical criteria in their sampling of participants and mediators were examined in two studies. The scarcity of studies examining mediators and subclinical or clinical samples revealed critical knowledge gaps in the literature. Furthermore, the critical appraisal showed that regardless of study design, most studies demonstrated low internal validity. We propose the use of high-quality single-case studies with athletes who experience subclinical or clinical mental health issues, and further investigation of mechanisms of change linking intervention components to outcomes of interest.

• Haraldsen, Heidi Marian; Solstad, Bård Erlend; Fredriksen, Danielle C.; Gustafsson, Henrik; Nordin-Bates, Sanna M. & Knight, Camilla J. (2023). An exploration of reciprocity among teacher and students in female pre-professional ballet education: a shared reality theory perspective. Frontiers in Education. ISSN 2504-284X. 8. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2023.1148922. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The purpose of the present study was to explore perceptions of shared reality in teacher-student partnerships in ballet, and how these perceptions were related to experiences of quality in the relationship and well-being. A longitudinal qualitative study design was adopted, with three female ballet students and their teacher participating in three semi-structured interviews each over an eight-month period. Data were analyzed using a combination of thematic and narrative analysis. Findings indicated that across the teacher-student relationships there were perceptions of a shared reality only on the professional and distanced level and not on a relational and personal level. This was achieved by a common experience of what matters in the world of ballet education as well as students finding their teacher as trustworthy. Furthermore, it appeared that the authoritarian apprenticeship culture in ballet, where the teachers give clear instructions and feedback, and where the student role is to listen and adapt to the teacher’s instructions, was a barrier to fully achieving a shared reality on a personal and deeper level. In turn, this influenced the quality of the relationship and the wellbeing of both teacher and students. The present study offers critical reflections on the cultural backdrop of teaching and learning in ballet and highlights the importance of teachers to facilitate a supportive, unconditional, and trustworthy relationship so that they can work together in a more productive manner.

• Bartura, Khelifa Nida; Gorgulu, Recep; Abrahamsen, Frank Eirik & Gustafsson, Henrik (2023). A systematic review of ironic effects of motor task performance under pressure: The past 25 years. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology. ISSN 1750-984X. doi: 10.1080/1750984X.2023.2193966. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Wegner's theory of ironic processes of mental control emphasizes how the implementation of cognitive load-induced avoidant instructions can cause inefficient motor cognition in sports, thereby inducing so-called ironic effects where an individual—ironically—does precisely what s(he) intended not to do. This systematic review synthesizes relevant existing research and evaluates the effectiveness of experimental manipulations and cognitive load measurements for investigating ironic effects on motor task performance under pressure conditions. This review identified twenty-four empirical studies published before January 2022, including studies with experimental (21%) and quasi-experimental (79%) within- and between-subject designs. The most common reported pressure (i.e., cognitive load) manipulations fell into two categories: anxiety (77%) and dual-task (33%) techniques. The review also identified positive action-oriented instructional interventions to reduce ironic errors. Although most reported findings supported Wegner's assumptions about ironic performance effects, the review also identified inconclusive evidence (8%), which indicates a need for more research with a greater focus on: robust experimental design; the inclusion of competitive stressors; expert athletes; elite athletes; and intervention-based studies. These additions will clarify the mechanisms of ironic effects and assist in the development of interventional programs to diminish the likelihood of ironic effects in sports performance.

• Nyberg, Claes; Wagnsson, Stefan; Gustafsson, Henrik & Stråhlman, Owe (2023). Dual career support among world-class athletes in Sweden: Performance, education, and employment. Frontiers in Psychology. ISSN 1664-1078. 13, p. 1–9. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1093562. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In order to help talented athletes to combine sport and education, different forms of Dual Career Support (DCS) have been developed in many countries. The effectiveness of these support systems have been debated. Most studies have investigated young athletes in the beginning of their careers, less is known about athletes who reached the highest levels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the extent to which former Swedish world-class athletes have attended dual career sport programs at upper secondary school. A retrospective design was used with 274 former world-class athletes who answered a questionnaire. In order to investigate whether there was a relationship between attending a dual career sport school and athletic characteristics, as well as post career educational and employment outcomes, a series of Chi-square tests were conducted. The main results show that more than half of the athletes did not take part in any DCS. These results indicate that DCS in Sweden is not a decisive factor for success in sports as intended. Half of all participants, regardless of whether they studied at DCS, have studied at university, and all participants had a job at the time of data collection. The majority also consider that their financial situation has improved after their sports career.

• Lundkvist, Erik; Gustafsson, Henrik; Madigan, Daniel; Hjalm, Sören & Kalén, Anton (2022). The Prevalence of Emotional Exhaustion in Professional and Semiprofessional Coaches. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology (JCSP). ISSN 1932-9261. 17(4), p. 376–389. doi: 10.1123/jcsp.2021-0039. Show summary

  The present study examined levels of emotional exhaustion, a key symptom of burnout, in Swedish professional and semiprofessional sport coaches in comparison to the normative values specified in the Maslach Burnout Inventory manual, and to the clinical cutoffs developed by Kleijweg, Verbraak, and Van Dijk. The sample contained 318 Swedish coaches (Mage = 42.7 years, 12% female) working at least 50% full time away from both team (60%) and individual (40%) sports. Our study shows that, in general, coaches in this sample experience lower average levels of exhaustion than normative samples both regarding the Maslach Burnout Inventory and clinical cutoffs. Two groups of coaches did, however, stand out. Coaches living in single households as well as coaches working part time had higher risk of severe levels of emotional exhaustion. These results place coach exhaustion levels in relation to other occupations and highlight that in this sample, the coaching profession does not stand out as more emotionally exhausting than other occupations.

• Back, Jenny; Stenling, Andreas; Solstad, Bård Erlend; Svedberg, Petra; Johnson, Urban & Ntoumanis, Nikos [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Psychosocial Predictors of Drop-Out from Organised Sport: A Prospective Study in Adolescent Soccer. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). ISSN 1661-7827. 19(24), p. 1–11. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192416585. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In recent years an increased drop-out rate in adolescents’ soccer participation has been observed. Given the potentially adverse consequences of drop-out from soccer, more information about risk factors for drop-out is warranted. In the current study, Classification and Regression Tree (CRT) analysis was used to investigate demographic and motivational factors associated with an increased risk of drop-out from adolescent soccer. The results of this study indicate that older age, experiencing less autonomy support from the coach, less intrinsic motivation, being female, and lower socioeconomic status are factors associated with an increased risk of drop-out. An interpretation of the results of this study is that coaches play a central part in creating a sports context that facilitates motivation and continued soccer participation. Based on the findings of the current study we propose that soccer clubs implement theoretically informed coach education programs to help coaches adopt autonomy-supportive coaching strategies.

• Klockare, Ellinor; Olsson, Luke F.; Gustafsson, Henrik; Lundqvist, Carolina & Hill, Andrew P. (2022). Sport Psychology Consultants’ Views on Working With Perfectionistic Elite Athletes. The Sport Psychologist. ISSN 0888-4781. 36(3), p. 219–227. doi: 10.1123/tsp.2021-0055. Show summary

  The purpose of this study was to explore the views and experiences of sport psychology consultants who have worked with perfectionistic elite athletes and, particularly, their views on the use of cognitive behavioral therapy. Semistructured interviews were conducted with four professional sport psychology consultants who identified themselves as having experience of working with athletes they consider to be perfectionistic. Two themes were generated: manifestations of perfectionism and management of perfectionism. The consultants found perfectionistic athletes to have rigid attitudes and strong negative emotional experiences, to use safety behaviors, and to regularly underperform. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques such as mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and psychological skills training were most commonly used and were largely viewed as effective against a backdrop of sporting environment that could often encourage athletes to be perfectionistic. The findings highlight the complexity of perfectionism from a consultancy perspective and the potential challenges associated with working with perfectionistic athletes.

• Davis, Louise; Brown, Daniel J.; Arnold, Rachel & Gustafsson, Henrik (2021). Thriving Through Relationships in Sport: The Role of the Parent–Athlete and Coach–Athlete Attachment Relationship. Frontiers in Psychology. ISSN 1664-1078. 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.694599. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The aim of this research was to examine whether attachment relationships to significant others, such as to parents and/or sports coaches, enable thriving and competition performance within sport. Two studies employing cross-sectional and prospective designs were carried out across different samples of athletes of varied skill levels and sports. In Study 1, we found athletes’ attachment to their sports coach was significantly associated with athlete thriving and mediated by psychological needs satisfaction. Results of Study 2 found that athletes’ secure attachment to their mother and/or father positively predicted the experience of thriving at the competition while athletes’ insecure attachment did not predict thriving. Furthermore, athletes’ attachment to both mother and father did not predict competition performance. Together, these two studies acknowledge the significant role that athletes’ secure attachment relationships with parents and coaches play in facilitating thriving in athletes. These findings have significant implications for research and practice.

• Skarin, Frida; Wästlund, Erik & Gustafsson, Henrik (2021). Maintaining or Losing Intervention-Induced Health-Related Behavior Change. A Mixed Methods Field Study. Frontiers in Psychology. ISSN 1664-1078. 12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.688192. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The aim of this mixed methods field study was to gain a better understanding of how psychological factors can contribute to success in intervention-induced behavior change over time. While it can be difficult to change behavior, the use of interventions means that most participants succeed in change during the intervention. However, it is rare for the immediate change to automatically transform into maintained behavior changes. Most research conducted on health-related behavior change interventions contains quantitative studies that investigate key intervention components on a group level. Hence, to bring more knowledge about maintained intervention-induced behavior change, there is need for a study approach that enhances the understanding of individual participants' experiences during and after the intervention. Therefore, the present study, which was conducted in Sweden, used a mixed methods design (triangulation) consisting of pre-, post-, and follow-up quantitative data (questionnaires and body measurements) and qualitative data (interviews), where the individuals' accounts are used to broaden the understanding of the intervention and the behavior change process. All study participants were enrolled in a volitional (fee-based and non-manipulated) intervention given by certified gyms. The quantitative data collection included 22 participants who completed questionnaires and body measurements before and after the intervention, plus 13 complete body measurements 6 months after the intervention. The qualitative data included pre-interviews with 12 participants and six follow-up-interviews. The questions in both questionnaires and interviews related to expectations, efficacy, motivation, goals, achievements, behavior change, and future. Overall, the results show that levels of expectations, efficacy, and motivation cannot be used in isolation to predict maintained intervention-induced behavior change. To successfully extend and maintain immediate change, it was crucial to experience goal achievement (but not BMI change). Furthermore, enabling talk was salient in the pre-interviews with participants reporting successful immediate (and maintained) change. By contrast, pre-interview disabling talk turned out to be evident in interviews, with participants not responding to follow-up. When the qualitative and quantitative results are summarized and integrated, it appears that subjective goal achievement, combined with enabling self-talk, were crucial factors in successful maintained behavior change.

• Ekman, Elizabeth; Hiltunen, Arto & Gustafsson, Henrik (2021). Do athletes have more of a cognitive profile with adhd criteria than non-athletes? Sports. ISSN 2075-4663. 9(5). doi: 10.3390/sports9050061. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The current study investigates the possibility that athletes have more parallel ADHD symptoms than non-athletes. High-level youth sport athletes were compared with non-athletes in leisure time (i.e., sport) and in the school in ADHD symptoms. Athletes and students were evaluated by a trained psychotherapist using Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) on activities at school and during activities in leisure/sports time. They also filled in the Autism Spectrum Questionnaire (AQ) as a self-report assessment. Results showed significant differences in ASRS-scores for athletes in school and in their sport, with high scores in school and low scores in sport. No differences were found in AQ between the groups. The findings indicate that many athletes might display a cognitive profile of parallel of ADHD criteria. Future research needs to further investigate potential benefits of the cognitive profile in athletes and how they handle different contexts including sport and school settings.

• Solstad, Bård Erlend; Granerud, Morten; Haraldsen, Heidi Marian; Gustafsson, Henrik & Knight, Camilla J. (2021). An exploration of reciprocity between female athletes and their coach in elite junior swimming: a shared reality theory perspective. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health. ISSN 2159-676X. doi: 10.1080/2159676X.2021.1941211. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Based on the proposition that the relationship between a coach and athlete is at its best when both parties contribute to enhancing its quality, the present study sought to investigate if Shared Reality Theory could provide new insights on the topic. Specifically, the purpose of the present study was to explore: (a) how a shared reality is established, or fails to be established, over the course of the sporting partnership between athletes and their coach; and (b) how the presence of a shared reality (or not) in the coach-athlete relationship is related to the experienced quality of the relationship between athletes and their coach, as recorded over time. Narrative inquiry, embedded within a longitudinal qualitative approach, was adopted. Six female elite junior swimmers and their head coach completing three interviews each over a 9-month period. Data were analysed using narrative thematic analysis, leading to the development of two narratives: A prevention-oriented narrative and a promotion-oriented narrative. Overall, the findings suggests that athletes who experience a shared reality with their coach are more motivated and report a higher sense of psychological well-being. To establish the experience of a shared reality, reciprocal and honest communication motivated by trust in the other is needed. Due to power imbalance, it is deemed important for coaches to be supportive and trustworthy to encourage athletes to communicate with them, so the coach and his/her athletes can work together in a synergistic manner.

• Johles, Lis; Gustafsson, Henrik; Jansson-Fröjmark, Markus; Classon, Christer; Hasselqvist, Jon & Lundgren, Tobias (2020). Psychological Flexibility Among Competitive Athletes: A Psychometric Investigation of a New Scale. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. ISSN 2624-9367. 2. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2020.00110.
• Davis, Paul; Gustafsson, Henrik; Callow, Nichola & Woodman, Tim (2020). Written Emotional Disclosure Can Promote Athletes’ Mental Health and Performance Readiness During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychology. ISSN 1664-1078. 11:5999925, p. 1–11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.599925.
• Frøyen, Anne Fylling; Pensgaard, Anne Marte & Gustafsson, Henrik (2020). "You can be my coach, but I am the one in charge" An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the importance of the coach-athlete relationship in Norwegian super-elite athletes. International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences. ISSN 1598-2939. 32(1), p. 49–68.
• Hassmén, Peter; Lundkvist, Erik; Flett, Gordon L.; Hewitt, Paul L. & Gustafsson, Henrik (2020). Coach Burnout in Relation to Perfectionistic Cognitions and Self-Presentation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). ISSN 1661-7827. 17(23), p. 1–9. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17238812. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Coaching athletes is highly rewarding yet stressful, especially at the elite level where media, fans, and sponsors can contribute to an environment that, if not well-managed by the coach, can lead to burnout. Coaches who display perfectionistic tendencies, such as striving for flawlessness, may be particularly vulnerable—even more so if they are overly critical of themselves and have a tendency to ruminate over their performance, or if they are attempting to convey an image of faultlessness, or both. A total of 272 coaches completed a battery of inventories assessing burnout, perfectionistic thoughts, and the tendency for perfectionistic self-presentation. All variables correlated significantly: coaches with higher scores on exhaustion scored higher both on perfectionistic thoughts and self-presentation. However, when three subscales of perfectionistic self-presentation were considered separately, lower and nonsignificant correlations emerged. We believe that this can be explained by the heterogeneous group of coaches participating in this study. Whereas all coaches may at times ruminate privately—self-oriented perfectionism—about their perceived failure to perform to expectations, not all may feel the pressure to present themselves to others as faultless—a more socially prescribed perfectionism. This finding warrants further investigation, preferably comparing coaches at different levels of public scrutiny.

• Josefsson, Torbjörn; Gustafsson, Henrik; Rostad, Trym Iversen; Gardner, Frank L. & Ivarsson, Andreas (2020). Mindfulness and shooting performance in biathlon. A prospective study. European Journal of Sport Science (EJSS). ISSN 1746-1391. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2020.1821787. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The aim of the study was to examine the temporal relationship between facets of sport-specific dispositional mindfulness (i e., Awareness, Refocusing, Nonjudgemental attitude) and shooting performance in actual competitions, in a population of 25 elite biathlon athletes. Findings indicated that mindfulness facets were positively associated with shooting performance, with higher levels of Awareness, Refocusing, and Awareness being related to better shooting performance in competitions. In spite of the fact that the explained variance was quite small, even a minor shooting performance enhancement may increase an athlete’s chance of winning a biathlon competition.

• Lundkvist, Erik; Gustafsson, Henrik; Gerber, Marius; Lundqvist, Carolina; Ivarsson, Andreas & Madigan, Daniel J (2019). Commentary: Early Risk Detection of Burnout: Development of the Burnout Prevention Questionnaire for Coaches. Frontiers in Psychology. ISSN 1664-1078. 10, p. 1–3. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02721.
• Davis, Louise; Stenling, Andreas; Gustafsson, Henrik; Appleby, Ralph & Davis, Paul (2019). Reducing the risk of athlete burnout: Psychosocial, sociocultural, and individual considerations for coaches. International journal of sports science & coaching. ISSN 1747-9541. 14(4), p. 444–452. doi: 10.1177/1747954119861076. Show summary

  Past research suggests that athletes’ relationships with their coach can act as a risk factor in the development of burnout. Coaching practice may be enhanced through understanding the multidimensional factors that can augment the associations between coach–athlete relationship quality and athlete burnout. The present study explored both individual difference characteristics (gender, age, and sport level) and sociocultural factors (sport type) as moderators of this relationship. Our findings show statistically significant interaction effects for gender and age. Coaches and practitioners working with younger athletes and male performers in particular, are advised to work with strategies aiming to build relationships and reduce the risk of burnout.

• Hassmén, Peter; Kenttä, Göran; Hjalm, Soren; Lundkvist, Erik & Gustafsson, Henrik (2019). Burnout symptoms and recovery processes in eight elite soccer coaches over 10 years. International journal of sports science & coaching. ISSN 1747-9541. 14(4), p. 431–443. doi: 10.1177/1747954119851246. Show summary

  Elite sport can be stressful, which increases the risk for burnout symptoms to develop, especially when not balanced with sufficient recovery. To study the burnout–recovery process, eight elite soccer coaches were followed for 10 years. All eight were active elite coaches at the inception of this study and reported elevated emotional exhaustion scores on Maslach’s Burnout Inventory Educators Survey (MBI-ES). The coaches completed MBI-ES three additional times (year 3, 7, and 10), and they were also interviewed on the same occasions. At the 3-year follow-up, seven of the eight coaches reduced their exhaustion scores. The coach presenting with unchanged scores both at the 3 - and 7-year follow-up was the only one still coaching at the elite level. All coaches revealed during the interviews that they struggled to manage their work–life balance well; some worked too many hours, some experienced difficulty in managing conflicting role-demands, and some wrestled with external pressures. Their approach to recovery was, however, similar. Apart from moving away from coaching at the elite level, they unanimously mentioned that they changed their approach to coaching to make recovery possible. They achieved the latter by, for example, increasing control and delegating responsibility. According to our longitudinal results, burnout frequently regarded as an end-state can decrease over time, provided that decisive action is taken to change situational factors and personal demands. This frequently meant withdrawing from coaching, which in turn explains why coach retention remains a serious challenge for most organizations with teams/athletes competing at the elite level.

• Li, Chunxiao; Zhu, Yuxin; Zhang, Mengge; Gustafsson, Henrik & Chen, Tao (2019). Mindfulness and athlete burnout: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). ISSN 1661-7827. 16(3), p. 1–13. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16030449. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objective: This review aims to identify, appraise, and synthesize studies reporting the relationship between mindfulness and athlete burnout and the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on athlete burnout. Methods: Studies were identified through searching six electronic databases using combinations of three groups of keywords and manual search. Two independent reviewers screened the searched studies, extracted data of the included studies, and assessed the study quality. The extracted data were synthesized qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: Ten studies consisting of two controlled trials, six surveys, and two interview studies met the inclusion criteria. The two controlled trials had weak methodological quality, and the remaining studies were of moderate to high research quality. Results of controlled trials and interview research generally showed that MBIs had positive effects in burnout prevention. Meta-analytic results indicated a negative association between mindfulness and burnout. Conclusions: There is some evidence showing that mindfulness was negatively associated with athlete burnout. However, given the small number of interventions and qualitative studies, there is limited evidence on whether MBIs are useful in preventing athlete burnout. More studies are needed to corroborate these findings.

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• Madigan, Daniel J; Gustafsson, Henrik; Hill, Andrew P.; Mellano, Kathleen T.; Pacewicz, Christine E. & Raedeke, Thomas D. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Perspectives on the Future of Burnout in Sport. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology (JCSP). ISSN 1932-9261. 16(1), p. 75–88. doi: 10.1123/jcsp.2021-0045.

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