Browsing by Author "Lazuras, Lambros"
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- Exploring athlete perceptions and nutritional supplement marketing: preliminary insights from the IRIS ProjectPublication . Tavares, Ana Sofia; Borrego, Rute; Barkoukis, Vassilis; Despoina, Ourda; Kostelo, Jukka; Lemattila, Mikko; Todorova, Teodorina; Nikolova, Eva; Liivsalu, Kadri; Jukk, Marit; Bingham, Kevin; Lazuras, LambrosNutritional supplement use has become ubiquitous among athletes at all levels of competition, driven by aggressive marketing campaigns and the promise of enhanced performance. The present research, integrated on the project “Improving athletes' risk appraisal and informed decision-making towards nutritional supplement use in recreational and competitive sport – IRIS”, funded by the European Union through ERASMUS+ Call on Sport Programme, investigates the widespread use of nutritional supplements among athletes across six European countries, highlighting consumption patterns, risk awareness, and regulatory effectiveness amid rising doping violations and health concerns. A mixed-methods approach was used, including surveys of 468 athletes and interviews with 22 competitors. Findings revealed significant national differences in supplement use, with over 60% of athletes in Finland and Portugal using supplements regularly, while only 45% did so in Greece. The study found a gender disparity, with male athletes showing 23% higher usage rates. Despite high usage, awareness of contamination risks was variable, with only 28% of athletes consistently verifying supplement quality. Misleading marketing was prevalent, with 73% of athletes encountering exaggerated claims. Regulatory challenges were evident, as only 12% of athletes could identify relevant regulatory bodies, and 68% of national markets lacked standardized contamination testing. The study emphasizes the need for enhanced regulation, including mandatory testing, standardized risk disclosures, and clear labelling. It also advocates for consumer protection measures and educational initiatives to raise awareness about supplement risks. The conclusions call for coordinated action among regulators, sports organizations, and public health authorities to safeguard athletes' health and uphold competitive integrity.
- Mindful muscles policy & practice recommendations 2023Publication . Andjelkovic, Marija; Bakker, Ingrid; Barkouris, Vassilis; Busz, Machteld; Dikic, Nenad; Hembrough, Dave; Idger de Zeeuw, Tjeerd; Jukk, Marit; Koskelo, Jukka; Lazuras, Lambros; Lemettilä, Mikko; Skoufa, Lida; Tavares, Ana Sofia; Torpström, Eetu; Ypsilanti, Antonia; Välimae, Henn; Westmaas, AlvinThe main objective of Mindful Muscles was to empower athletes and exercisers with Mindfulness, Acceptance, Self-Compassion, and Character Strengths (MASC) to adopt a positive mindset toward their bodies. The Mindful Muscles project aims to support clean sport education and prevent the use of image-and-performance enhancement drugs (IPEDs) in recreational sports settings. To do so, Mindful Muscles uses a positive approach to tackle the factors that can lead to the use of IPEDs in recreational sports, such as body image concerns, physical appearance and performance worries, and anxiety. For this purpose, the project’s consortium has developed a series of research-informed self-administered exercises focusing on Mindfulness, Acceptance, Self-compassion, and Character strengths and values. Erasmus+ Sports Programme funded the project. It was developed on the foundations of previously funded Erasmus+ Sports projects that were completed by members of the Mindful Muscles consortium (e.g., SAFE YOU+, C.S.I, GAME, IMPACT, and DELTS).
- Mindful muscles: an innovative education project to tackle doping use in recreational sport and fitnessPublication . Tavares, Ana Sofia; Teixeira, Nuno; Borrego, Rute; Lazuras, Lambros; Ypsilanti, Antonia; Hawkins, Oliver; Examilioti, Petra; Barkoukis, Vassilis; Skoufa, LidaBackground: Athletes in recreational sports do not receive the same attention and have far more limited access to learning resources when it comes to anti-doping education, as compared to athletes in elite, competitive, organized sports. Furthermore, the existing anti-doping education resources for recreational sports athletes are informed by relevant practices in elite/competitive sports and largely focus on a deficit-based educational model that is concerned with fixing athletes' weaknesses or lack of skills. Objectives: Project Mindful Muscles aims to provide recreational sports athletes and related professionals with a novel, strengths-based approach, based on educational resources that are informed by evidence-based interventions on mindfulness, self-compassion, acceptance, and values (MASC), which will enable athletes in recreational sport to effectively cope with situations and pressures that may increase their personal risk for doping. Methods: Systematic literature review and report on best practices of self-administered MASC applications in substance use and body image impairments, to developed MASC resources, followed by a formative evaluation of the Mindful Muscles workbook with 350 exercisers 18-25 years old across seven European countries. Results: The findings supported the development of a framework for developing MASC resources for the primary and secondary prevention of PEDs (4 modules including different types of MASC exercises). The findings also informed the content and approach of the Mindful Muscles intervention and the implications of using strengths-based and positive approaches to doping prevention. Conclusions: The project Mindful Muscles is the first multifaceted, international psycho-educational intervention to tackle doping use among amateur athletes and exercisers, whose resources have the potential to inspire users to improve their lives not just in the sports arena, but also in other important life domains.