The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all societies worldwide. The heightened levels of stress that accompanied the crisis were also expected to affect parenting in many families. Since it is known that high levels of stress in the parenting domain can lead to a condition that has severe consequences for health and well-being, we examined whether the prevalence of parental burnout in 26 countries (9,923 parents; 75% mothers; mean age 40) increased during COVID-19 compared to few years before the pandemic. In most (but not all) countries, analyses showed a significant increase in the prevalence of parental burnout during the pandemic. The results further revealed that next to governmental measures (e.g., number of days locked down, homeschooling) and factors at the individual and family level (e.g., gender, number of children), parents in less (vs. more) indulgent countries suffered more from parental burnout. The findings suggest that stricter norms regarding their parenting roles and duties in general and during the pandemic in particular might have increased their levels of parental burnout.

The current study examines the effects of a Tabata high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session on affective, cognitive and physiological indicators in women of different fitness levels. A total of 28 adult women (aged 24.2 ± 1.5 years) completed a 20 m shuttle run test and were then assigned to higher fitness and lower fitness groups (HF and LF, n = 14 each) according to their predicted aerobic power. On a separate occasion, participants completed a 30 min Tabata workout (six 4 min rounds separated by 1 min passive rest). Each round included eight exercises (20 s exercise and 10 s rest). Affective, physiological and cognitive responses were assessed prior to, during and after the protocol. Heart rate and blood lactate concentration increased similarly in both groups over time throughout the workout (p < 0.001). Total Mood Disturbance was higher for LF (111.4 ± 15.7) vs. HF (102.9 ± 11.7) (p = 0.48), vigor showed a level by time interaction of p = 0.006 and Activation–Deactivation Adjective Check List factors deteriorated over time (p < 0.001). The Concentration Grid Test was better overall for HF (10.5 ± 3.6) vs. LF (8.6 ± 3.6) (p = 0.05). The Feeling Scale and Rating of Perceived Exertion worsened similarly in both groups over time (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Positive and negative affect and arousal did not differ between groups or change over time (p > 0.05). These results show that, despite the different levels of aerobic fitness, physiological, metabolic, perceptual and affective responses were similar in the two groups of women during a 30 min Tabata session. This may imply that affective responses during this type of HIIT are independent of aerobic fitness.

Background/Objectives: Pressure to stay lean may lead adolescent athletes to dietary restraint and disordered eating. Lack of nutrition awareness can also contribute to suboptimal dietary habits, increasing the risk of eating disorders and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport [RED-S], though evidence in competitive athletes is limited. This study explored eating disorder symptoms and RED-S knowledge in adolescent artistic gymnasts. Methods: Eighty-four female artistic gymnasts, thirty-nine international and national level gymnasts [high-level; 14 [14, 15] y] and forty-five recreational and club level gymnasts [low-level; 14 [13, 15] y] completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire [EDE-Q 6.0], the RED-S knowledge Questionnaire and provided training details. Results: Seventeen gymnasts (20.2%) scored above the cutoff point on the EDE-Q. In addition, high-level gymnasts scored higher than low-level on EDE-Q [2.21 ± 1.37 (35.9%) vs. 1.19 ± 0.79 (6.7%), respectively; p < 0.001] and on its subscales: Restraint, Eating Concerns, Weight Concerns, and Shape Concerns [p < 0.001 to 0.009], thus indicating more severe disordered eating symptoms. No group differences were found in binge eating and compensatory behaviors. An important percentage of gymnasts reported at least one episode of binge eating and excessive training [39.3–58.3%], while four gymnasts reported self-induced vomiting. RED-S knowledge did not differ between groups. On average, gymnasts were unaware of correct answers related to RED-S [51.5%], its definitions [79.8–92.9%], and its association with menstrual disturbances and bone health [54.8–86.9%]. However, gymnasts reported better awareness of the impact of food restriction on illness and performance [47.6–84.5%]. Conclusions: Elite artistic gymnasts exhibited a higher prevalence of eating disorder symptoms than lower-level peers. Gymnasts at all levels demonstrated limited knowledge of the effects of RED-S on menstrual and bone health. Failure to recognize these risks may influence gymnasts’ eating behaviors and delay RED-S detection and management.

Rhythmic ability (RA) plays an important role in sports in which music accompaniment is used, such as artistic swimming (AS). The aim of the present study was to investigate RA's relationship with the athletes’ overall performance in AS, as well as the independent scores of AS performance (i.e., Execution, Artistic Impression and Difficulty), taking into account their competitive category and experience. The sample consisted of 47 female artistic swimmers (age 15.8±3.3 years; athletic experience 6.6±3.3 years) divided into three competitive categories (Senior, Junior, and Comen). The High/Scope Rhythmic Competence Αnalysis Τest (Weikart, 1989) was used for the evaluation of RA of participants. Three official AS judges were used to assess athletes’ performance in the water routine session. Descriptive and inferential (i.e., two MANCOVAs) statistical analysis revealed that experience was a significant positive predictor of AS Performance and RA, indicating that as experience increased, athletes’ AS performance and RA also increased. In addition, results showed that athletes in the senior category scored higher in all variables in relation to junior and comen athletes; however, these differences were not statistically significant. Article visualizations:

Weight Pressures in Sport—Females (WPS-F) questionnaire measures sport-related pressures that female athletes experience regarding body weight, shape, size, and appearance. In order to examine the psychometric properties of the Greek version of the inventory, two different studies were conducted. In the first study, using a sample (n = 225) of female Greek athletes aged 12–20 years, exploratory factor analysis produced two factors (Factor 1: Pressures From Coaches and Sports About Weight and Factor 2: Pressures Regarding Appearance and Performance) and supported the original factor structure. In the second study, using a different sample (n = 318) of female Greek athletes aged 11–18 years, confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the two-factor structure. Weight Pressures in Sport—Females questionnaire was demonstrated to be a valid and reliable instrument for Greek female athletic populations. Future studies should further test the factorial structure in younger and older athletes and in larger samples.