سعید قربانی

Previous studies have shown that autonomy support (AS) can foster a person’s motivation and facilitate motor learning. However, the effects of AS on observational motor learning are not well understood. The present study investigated this issue by manipulating to-be-observed-model. Forty-eight male students were assigned into autonomy, yoked, and no-demonstration control groups. Three male Baseball coaches acted as models A, B, and C. Model A was instructor of students of AU group and acted as a model with high social status for AU group. Models B and C were not familiar for all participants and acted as low social status models. Participants were asked to perform a Baseball-pitch into a target during pretest (10 trials), acquisition phase (5 blocks of 10 trials), and retention test (10 trials). Prior to each acquisition block, the participants of AU and YO groups observed a model three times. Participants of AU group were free to choose model A, B, or C for any single observation. Participants in YO group were matched with those in AU group. Movement outcome, movement form, self-efficacy (SE), perceived learning effect (PLE), and perceived model attractiveness (PMA) were measured as dependent variables. Results showed that AS, relative to yoked and control conditions, led to better movement outcome during acquisition and retention. Action observation enhanced movement form during acquisition and retention. AS increased SE, PLE, and PMA compared with yoked and control conditions. Results provide support for the OPTIMAL theory and indicate that AS facilitates observational motor learning.

Background: Housewives build a significant part of society. They play a key role in strengthening the foundation of the family and nurturing the next generation of any country, so it is very important to pay attention to mental health of this population.   Aim: This study investigated effects of a period of Hatha yoga-based mindfulness practice on distress tolerance and subjective wellbeing of housewives. Materials and Methods: Participants were 38 housewives between 31 to 52 years who were randomly divided into two experimental groups including face-to-face (i.e., presence on the grass, n=17) and online (via Sky room, n=21). A 6-week Hatha Yoga-based mindfulness training was held simultaneously in twelve sessions for both groups. Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) and Keyes and Magyar-Moe’s Subjective Well-being Scale were used. Results: The results of analysis of covariance showed that all subscales of distress tolerance and subjective well-being of housewives in the face-to-face group were significantly higher than the online group. Moreover, the results of paired t-test showed that the means of post-test of all subscales of distress tolerance and subjective well-being of housewives were significantly higher than the means of pre-test. But in the online group, the means of pre-test and post-test did not differ significantly in all variables. Conclusion: Our findings emphasize that, in order to improve metacognitive processes, yoga-based mindfulness training in online method cannot replace face-to-face method.