Purpose of this study was to externally validate and test a conceptual transient model involving six paths that linked sources of acute stress to avoidance and approach coping styles among Turkish basketball referees. The sample consisted of 125 Turkish basketball referees ranging in age from 18 to 36 years (mean = 25.58. σ = 3.69). The path analysis tested the relationships simultaneously from stressors, in consecutive order, distractions, subpar performance and verbal abuse, to coping styles, first both avoidance-cognitive and approach-cognitive, and then approach-behaviour. Results indicated that the model achieved a good fit and that all paths tested simultaneously were significant. The distractions stressor was positively related to subpar performance, which, in turn, was positively related to verbal abuse. Verbal abuse was negatively associated with an avoidance-cognitive coping style and positively related to the approach-cognitive coping style. The results also supported a crossover effect of both avoidance-cognitive and approach-cognitive on approach-behaviour. One implication of this study is that coping should be studied in naturally occurring stages, a process-oriented approach. Another implication is that approach and avoidance coping styles, each sub-divided into cognitive and behavioural categories, provide a meaningful framework which provides sports officials a coherent structure for learning and improving ways to cope with acute stress experienced during the contest.

The aim of the study was to identify genetic variants associated with personal best scores in Turkish track and field athletes and to compare allelic frequencies between sprint/power and endurance athletes and controls using a whole-exome sequencing (WES) approach, followed by replication studies in independent cohorts. The discovery phase involved 60 elite Turkish athletes (31 sprint/power and 29 endurance) and 20 ethnically matched controls. The replication phase involved 1132 individuals (115 elite Russian sprinters, 373 elite Russian endurance athletes (of which 75 athletes were with VO2max measurements), 209 controls, 148 Russian and 287 Finnish individuals with muscle fiber composition and cross-sectional area (CSA) data). None of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) reached an exome-wide significance level (p < 2.3 × 10−7) in genotype–phenotype and case–control studies of Turkish athletes. However, of the 53 nominally (p < 0.05) associated SNPs, four functional variants were replicated. The SIRT1 rs41299232 G allele was significantly over-represented in Turkish (p = 0.047) and Russian (p = 0.018) endurance athletes compared to sprint/power athletes and was associated with increased VO2max (p = 0.037) and a greater proportion of slow-twitch muscle fibers (p = 0.035). The NUP210 rs2280084 A allele was significantly over-represented in Turkish (p = 0.044) and Russian (p = 0.012) endurance athletes compared to sprint/power athletes. The TRPM2 rs1785440 G allele was significantly over-represented in Turkish endurance athletes compared to sprint/power athletes (p = 0.034) and was associated with increased VO2max (p = 0.008). The AGRN rs4074992 C allele was significantly over-represented in Turkish sprint/power athletes compared to endurance athletes (p = 0.037) and was associated with a greater CSA of fast-twitch muscle fibers (p = 0.024). In conclusion, we present the first WES study of athletes showing that this approach can be used to identify novel genetic markers associated with exercise- and sport-related phenotypes.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological skills training (PST) in enhancing mental toughness among Turkish professional soccer team. Sixteen weeks of cognitive-behavioral conceptual framework-based PST program designed according to factors (confidence -constancy -control) of Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ; Sheard et al., 2009) and (self-acceptance, positive relations with others, environmental mastery, purpose in life, personal growth and autonomy) scales of Psychological well-being (SPWB; Dierendonck, 2005). Twenty-six male soccer players between 18-33 years old (mean ± s: age 26.69 ± 3.54 years) voluntarily participated in this study. The relationship between mental toughness (MT) and psychological well-being was identified by conduction of Pearson Product Moment Correlations. To check effect of PST on MT and PWB in progress Paired sample t test was used. Throughout the intervention program, MT and PWB levels of participants significantly increased, in addition to self-acceptance, autonomy and positive relationships with others. Moreover, positive significant relationships were found between components of PWB and MT.

In this study, mental toughness and anxiety have been chosen to be compared between male American football and handball players. The present study was carried out to determine and examine the psychological parameters mentioned above and show the importance of these concepts in the process of sport career. Mental toughness (with its sub-dimensions) and anxiety levels of 44 male participants were determined. Twenty-seven of those participants were American football players between 19 and 25 years of age (mean ± s: age 20.93 ± 2.25 years). Their sports experience ranged between 1 and 19 years (mean ± s: 10.26 ± 3.34 years). The remaining seventeen participants were handball players between 18 and 26 years of age (mean ± s: age 21.54 ± 3.31 years). Their sport experience ranged between 5 and 12 years (mean ± s: 9.15 ± 4.13 years). Differences between the groups were determined using the "Independent Sample t-test" analysis method using the SPSS 21.0 software. The independent sample t-test results showed that there were significant differences in the total mental toughness (including its sub-dimensions; confidence, constancy and control) and anxiety levels of the two group of players (p < .05). The American football team players' confidence, control, and total mental toughness levels were higher than that of handball players and they had lower level scores for constancy and anxiety levels.

The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of Problem solving inventory (PSI) with Turkish athletes. The PSI was designed to clarify utility of problem-solving constructs across sports environment and thus facilitate the development of more comprehensive acknowledges about problem solving and mental health. The subjects were 204 males and 109 females totaling 313 athletes. Participants voluntarily completed the 32 item problem solving inventory. Afterwards, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confi rmatory factor analysis (CFA) were undertaken. EFA results yielded a satisfactory three-factor solution, the same as the English version. Cronbach alpha (α) reliability indices for the respective subscales were as follows: problem solving confi dence (PSC) (.69), approach and avoidance (AA) (.73), and personal control (PC) (.68). The PSI explained 66% of the total variances. Moreover, CFA results provided the fi t indices as Chi-Square (X²)=912.8, df=461, X²/df=1.98, Root Mean Square Error Approximation (RMSEA)=.07, Comparative Fit Index (CFI)=.93, Goodness of Fit Index (GFI)=.92, Normed Fit Index (NFI)=.90, Non Normed Fit Index (NFI)=.89 with 32 items and 3 sub-dimensions. The fi t indices of the PSI in relation to EFA and CFA were at an acceptable level. The original 3-factor solution was supported by the Turkish athlete subjects. Results of the study introduced that the Turkish version of the Problem Solving Inventory is a valid and reliable measurement for Turkish athletes.