Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33883003›Full record

ArticleBMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation2021

The podium illusion: a phenomenological study of the influence of social support on well-being and performance in elite para swimmers.

Beth Aitchison, Alison B Rushton, Paul Martin, Andrew Soundy, Nicola R Heneghan

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 23% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Beth AitchisonSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8114-7669
Alison B RushtonThe Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine), School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5118-5872
Paul MartinEnglish Institute of Sport, Manchester Institute of Health and Performance, Manchester, UK.
Andrew SoundySchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Nicola R HeneghanThe Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine), School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. n.heneghan@bham.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7599-3674
University of Birmingham · GBEnglish Institute of Sport · GBWestern University · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe value of social support in enhancing performance is well established in non-impaired and sub-international level athletes with impairments. Despite this, no research to date has explored the experiences of social support in elite para-athletes. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of social support in elite British para-swimmers and the influence on their wellbeing and performance.

methodsA hermeneutic phenomenological study involving semi-structured interviews was undertaken with 8 elite British para-swimmers (3 male, 5 female, mean age 24.9 years). Participants represented 5 para-swimming classes and all 10 of the International Paralympic Committee impairment categories. Data were analysed following a modified version of the Framework Method. Research quality and trustworthiness were ensured through employing techniques including data triangulation, member checking and reflexivity.

resultsFive themes and 11 sub-themes were generated. The five themes were: 'the coach-athlete relationship', 'team bond', 'tangible aid', 'The Podium Illusion' and 'British para-swimming'. The overall findings and the magnitude of support mentioned in the fourth theme led to the development of a new model called 'The Podium Illusion' which reflects the magnitude of support that is available to elite para-swimmers to help maximise their performance and wellbeing.

conclusionSocial support is essential for athlete wellbeing and performance. Findings underpin a new model, 'The Podium Illusion'.

Indexed as

ParalympicPara-sportPara-swimmingPerformanceSocial support

Identifiers

PMID33883003
PMCPMC8058746
OpenAlexW3156412967

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.