The Effects of a Cognitive Intervention Strategy on Competitive State Anxiety and Performance in Semiprofessional Soccer Players
Abstract
The aims of this field-based study were to evaluate the effects of a cognitive intervention technique and to further examine the anxiety–performance relationship in semiprofessional soccer players. Participants completed a composite version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) 20 minutes before three soccer league matches. Two experimental groups, one suffering from debilitative cognitive anxiety (n = 8), one suffering from debilitative somatic anxiety (n = 8), undertook a 12-week cognitive intervention. Player performances were evaluated using intraindividual criteria. A series of two-way analyses of variance (group and event), with repeated measures on the second factor, indicated significant Group × Event interactions for cognitive anxiety intensity and direction, and somatic anxiety intensity and direction, yet failed to reveal significant interactions or main effects for the performance measures. This study provided partial support for the “matching hypothesis” in that a compatible treatment proved more effective in reducing the targeted anxiety in both experimental groups.
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No substantial changes in athletic performance were discovered from psychological skills training.
“Numerous research findings showed that psychological skills training may be successful in improving those psychological characteristics theorized to be associated with athletic performance; nevertheless, no substantial changes in athletic performance were discovered [5,6,7].”
Psychological skills training may be successful in improving psychological characteristics theorized to be associated with athletic performance.
“Numerous research findings showed that psychological skills training may be successful in improving those psychological characteristics theorized to be associated with athletic performance; nevertheless, no substantial changes in athletic performance were discovered [5,6,7].”
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- Authors
- Maynard, I. W., Smith, M. J., & Warwick-Evans, L.
- Affiliations
- 1Chichester Institute
- University of Southampton (GB)
- Venue
- Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 1995-12
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 428-446
- ISSN
- 0895-2779 (ISSN-L)
- 1543-2904
- OpenAlex
- W2488581959
- Cited by
- 52
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.75
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- cognitive intervention, pre-competition anxiety, anxiety-performance relationship, matching hypothesis, anxiety reduction
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