Evolving concepts in ethics and professionilazation of sport and exercise psychology

Introduction

The utilization of psychological principles and techniques in order to enhance elite performance and to engage the ordinary citizen in well-chosen and healthful sport and exercise is becoming more common globally. Ethical and professional standards for assessing the effectiveness and appropriateness of sport/exercise psychology interventions have neither been devised nor monitored in a co-ordinated and comprehensive manner. The international sport science community must take steps to begin such an effort.

Method

A sociologically-oriented normative analysis was conducted 1) to identify the organizations and networks that might act as gatekeepers and innovators in ethical/professional considerations in efficacy work in sport psychology; 2) to identify and describe relevent major challenges recognized by these organizations and research literature.

Results

Four areas of challenge were identified and discussed:
1. Confidentiality - What are the newest concerns and standards of care in regard to the protection of privacy of clients and study participants?
2. 2. Full disclosure - What are the newest concerns and standards of care in regard to the procedures and interventions of the consultant and in what time frames is such information passed on to clients?
3. 3. Efficacy studies and dissemination of results - After years of sport psychology intervention, what has been shown to be consistently effective, how effective and under what conditions?
4. 4. Cost effectiveness - What do we know about "trickle down effects" in regard to elite athlete innovation principles contributing to the development of standards of care in work with ordinary citizens of both the abled and disability communities?

Conclusions

Implications will be drawn for both the sport governance and sport science organizations. In times of financial constraints, the pressure to cut services is extreme. A need exists for strengthening the rationale to undergird the provisions of services in the area of psychological support.