Regular physical activity has multifarious benefits for physical and mental health, and music has been found to exert positive effects on physical activity. Summative literature reviews and conceptual models have hypothesized potential benefits and salient mechanisms associated with music listening in exercise and sport contexts, although no large-scale objective summary of the literature has been conducted. A multilevel meta-analysis of 139 studies was used to quantify the effects of music listening in exercise and sport domains. In total, 600 effect sizes from four categories of potential benefits (i.e., psychological responses, physiological responses, psychophysical responses, and performance outcomes) were calculated based on 3,599 participants. Music was associated with significant beneficial effects on affective valence (g = 0.48, CI = 0.39, 0.56), physical performance (g = 0.31, CI = 0.25, 0.36), perceived exertion (g = 0.22, CI = 0.14, 0.30), and oxygen consumption (g = 0.15, CI = 0.02, 0.27). No significant benefit of music was found for heart rate (g = 0.07, CI =-0.03, 0.16). Performance effects were moderated by study domain (exercise > sport) and music tempo (fast > slow-to-medium). Overall, results supported the use of music listening across a range of physical activities to promote positive affective valence, enhance physical performance (i.e., ergogenic effect), reduce perceived exertion, and improve physiological efficiency.

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Purpose Metacognitive beliefs and processes have been found to perpetuate anxiety and depression in youth and adults. However, the presence of metacognitive beliefs in children with autism spectrum disorder is somewhat unclear and has received limited research attention to date. The purpose of this paper is to explore metacognitive beliefs in children with autism and associations with anxiety and depression. Design/methodology/approach In total, 23 high functioning participants (17 male and 6 female) between the ages of 8 and 12 (M=10.38) diagnosed on the autism spectrum completed the study. Participants completed the Revised Children’s Scale of Anxiety and Depression and the Metacognitions Questionnaire for Children. Findings Correlation analyses revealed that positive and negative metacognitive beliefs were found, as hypothesised, to be prevalent in this sample. Originality/value Despite methodological limitations, this is one of the first research evaluations to provide evidence for metacognitive beliefs in high functioning children with autism and comorbid anxiety or low mood.

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This presentation summarises a series of three studies in the area of music and sport. In Study 1, the overall evidence base for music use was evaluated via a meta-analysis of 91 studies published from 1911-2010. A total of 483 effect sizes were calculated based on results from 2,825 participants. Music was associated with significant improvements in physical performance, psychological responses, perceived exertion and physiological functioning. Almost all studies used recreational participants and it remained unclear whether benefits would extend to elite populations. In Study 2, 11 elite triathletes were tested in a repeatedmeasures laboratory experiment. Participants ran in time to self-selected motivational music, neutral music and a no-music control during submaximal and exhaustive treadmill tests. Time-to-exhaustion was 18.1% and 19.7% longer when running in time to motivational and neutral music, compared to no music. Mood responses and feeling states were more positive with motivational music compared to neutral music or no music. RPE was lowest during neutral music and highest during the no-music control. Blood lactate concentrations were lowest for motivational music. Oxygen consumption was lower with music by 1.0% -2.7% for identical workloads. Both music conditions were associated with better running economy than the no-music control. In functional terms, the motivational qualities of music appear to be less important than the prominence of the beat and the degree to which participants synchronise movement to tempo. In Study 3, effects of music were tested on 10 elite ultra-distance walkers and runners competing in 24 hr and 48 hr events. Participants were provided with a 120 min intervention pre-loaded onto iPods™ (30 min each of motivational music, neutral music, audio book and silence) to which they listened three times during pre-assigned 6 hr blocks (hours 6-12, 18-24, 30-36, 42-48). As a group, participants derived a significant performance benefit from motivational music compared to the other three conditions during the crucial 18-24 hr period, with each 400 m lap completed faster, on average, by 14 s (no music), 18 s (neutral music) or 27 s (audio book). No differences in mood responses, feeling states, perceived exertion or heart rate were found across conditions. Individual differences were apparent, with some participants deriving benefits from motivational music and others deriving no benefits or a detrimental effect.