badminton

This study examined whether an 8-week progressive temporal-occlusion training program improves early anticipation of forehand drop-shot direction in badminton. Seventy-eight university students with systematic badminton training experience were randomly assigned to a progressive temporal-occlusion group, a full-information active-control group, or a regular-activity control group ( n = 26 per group); 72 completed both pretest and posttest. The two video-training groups trained twice weekly for 8 weeks. Anticipation was assessed at four occlusion points: 80 ms before racket–shuttle contact, 40 ms before contact, at contact, and 40 ms after contact. Shot-direction anticipation accuracy was the primary performance measure, and correct-response reaction time (RT) was the secondary measure. Data were analyzed using mixed repeated-measures ANOVA, planned comparisons, and trial-level sensitivity analyses. Accuracy showed a significant group × test-session interaction ( p < 0.001), whereas the group × test-session × occlusion-point interaction was not significant ( p = 0.185). Relative to the active-control group, the progressive group showed larger accuracy gains at 40 ms before contact and at contact (Holm-adjusted p = 0.048 and 0.009, respectively). For correct-response RT, the three-way interaction was significant ( p < 0.001), with larger reductions in the progressive group at 80 ms before contact, 40 ms before contact, and at contact (all Holm-adjusted p = 0.013). Thus, the progressive temporal-occlusion training program produced additional improvements in selected anticipation measures beyond those obtained with dose-matched full-information video practice. The additional accuracy gains were observed at 40 ms before contact and at contact, whereas additional RT reductions extended from 80 ms before contact to contact. Because the three-way interaction for accuracy was not significant, the apparent temporal specificity of the accuracy gains should be interpreted cautiously.

Background Cognitive differences across badminton performance levels may be task-specific rather than reflect broad executive-function advantages. Methods Ninety-six participants (33 high-level players, 31 recreational players and 32 non-badminton participants) completed word-color matching, task switching, 1-back and Raven testing. Analyses adjusted for sex, age and Raven score. Task-level MANCOVAs used Pillai’s trace, with HC3-adjusted RT models and binomial mixed models for follow-up comparisons. Additional models distinguished 1-back timeouts from accuracy among answered trials. Results Overall group effects were significant for word-color matching ( p < 0.001) and 1-back ( p = 0.011), but not task switching ( p = 0.592). High-level players responded faster in both word-color conditions than both comparison groups. Condition, response hand and response frequency were confounded, preventing an isolated interpretation of the condition RT contrast. In 1-back, timeout rates were 40.45%, 36.92% and 48.21% in the high-level, recreational and non-badminton groups; both badminton groups had lower adjusted timeout rates than the non-badminton group in both conditions. Accuracy among answered trials showed no clear group differences, and correct-response RT did not differ significantly ( p = 0.572). All-trial accuracy findings were sensitive to model specification. Conclusion High-level players showed faster word-color matching, and both badminton groups had fewer timeouts in the deadline-constrained 1-back task. The findings indicate task-specific performance differences rather than a broad executive-function advantage.

Athletes experience mental health difficulties at rates comparable to or exceeding those of the general population, yet disclosure and help-seeking are often constrained by stigma and performance-oriented norms. This study evaluated a brief, retired-athlete–led, team-embedded mental health literacy (MHL) session and examined changes in MHL, perceived psychological safety, and help-seeking intention among athletes from two Japanese competitive sport teams in the women’s category. Thirty-four athletes (badminton, volleyball) attended a 90-min session integrating psychoeducation and facilitated team dialogue delivered by retired athletes who had completed facilitator training in mental health literacy. Using a single-group pre–post–2-month follow-up design, outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately post-session, and follow-up. Mixed-effects models estimated change over time, with exploratory stratification by baseline psychological strain measured with the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ). MHL improved from baseline to post-session and remained higher at follow-up (standardised mean changes of 0.72 and 0.65, respectively). Perceived psychological safety also increased and was maintained (0.65 and 0.59). Exploratory subgroup estimates varied by baseline strain, although time × strain-group interactions were not statistically significant. The proportion endorsing likely/very likely help-seeking increased descriptively (41%, 53%, 50%) but showed no clear time effects. These preliminary findings support further controlled and implementation-oriented evaluation of retired-athlete–led delivery and downstream help-seeking behaviour.

ورزشکاران با نرخ‌هایی مشابه یا حتی بالاتر از جمعیت عمومی با مشکلات سلامت روان مواجه می‌شوند، اما افشاگری و جستجوی کمک اغلب به دلیل انگ و هنجارهای عملکردمحور محدود می‌شود. این مطالعه یک جلسه کوتاه سواد سلامت روان (MHL) با هدایت ورزشکار بازنشسته و تیم‌محور را ارزیابی کرده و تغییرات در MHL، ایمنی روان‌شناختی ادراک‌شده و قصد جستجوی کمک را در میان ورزشکاران دو تیم ورزشی رقابتی زنانه ژاپنی بررسی کرد. سی‌وچهار ورزشکار (بدمینتون، والیبال) در یک جلسه ۹۰ دقیقه‌ای شرکت کردند که آموزش روانی و گفت‌وگوی تسهیل‌شده تیمی را با هدایت ورزشکاران بازنشسته‌ای که آموزش تسهیل‌گری در سواد سلامت روان را گذرانده بودند، ادغام می‌کرد. با استفاده از طرح تک‌گروهی پیش‌آزمون–پس‌آزمون–پیگیری دوماهه، پیامدها در خط پایه، بلافاصله پس از جلسه و در پیگیری ارزیابی شدند. مدل‌های اثرات مختلط تغییرات در طول زمان را برآورد کردند و طبقه‌بندی اکتشافی بر اساس فشار روانی اولیه با استفاده از پرسشنامه فشار روانی ورزشکار (APSQ) انجام شد. MHL از خط پایه تا پس از جلسه بهبود یافت و در پیگیری نیز بالاتر باقی ماند (تغییرات میانگین استانداردشده به ترتیب ۰٫۷۲ و ۰٫۶۵). ایمنی روان‌شناختی ادراک‌شده نیز افزایش یافت و حفظ شد (۰٫۶۵ و ۰٫۵۹). برآوردهای اکتشافی زیرگروه‌ها بر اساس فشار اولیه متفاوت بود، اگرچه تعاملات زمان × گروه فشار از نظر آماری معنادار نبودند. نسبت افرادی که جستجوی کمک را محتمل/بسیار محتمل اعلام کردند به طور توصیفی افزایش یافت (۴۱٪، ۵۳٪، ۵۰٪) اما اثر زمانی مشخصی نشان نداد. این یافته‌های مقدماتی از ارزیابی‌های کنترل‌شده‌تر و با رویکرد پیاده‌سازی برای ارائه با هدایت ورزشکار بازنشسته و رفتار جستجوی کمک در آینده حمایت می‌کند.