The Effect of an Imagery Training Intervention on Self-confidence, Anxiety and Performance in Acrobatic Gymnastics – A Pilot Study
Abstract
Acrobatic gymnastics is a unique sport due to the different mixes of gender, age and number of gymnasts working in each partnership, however psychological skills training within this domain is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an imagery training intervention on acrobatic performance, self-confidence and anxiety in acrobatic gymnastics. Participants ( n =19) completed the Sport Imagery Questionnaire and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory 2 prior to performing their competition routine. They were then randomly assigned to a 4 week imagery training intervention ( n =11) or control group ( n =8). Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to examine changes in acrobatic performance, levels of self-confidence and anxiety. The imagery intervention significantly increased acrobats’ self-confidence, however imagery did not significantly reduce anxiety or improve acrobatic performance. Future research should consider adopting a longer intervention period to elicit a reduction in anxiety levels and an enhancement of acrobatic performance.
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Evidence indicates that imagery enhances confidence, reduces perceived threat, and improves emotional control, thereby alleviating competitive anxiety.
“Evidence indicates that imagery enhances confidence, reduces perceived threat, and improves emotional control, thereby alleviating competitive anxiety [70, 110, 111].”
From The Effect of Different Psychological Interventions on Athletes' Competitive Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis. (2026) · cites this paper as [70]
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- Authors
- Marshall, E. A., & Gibson, A.-M.
- Affiliations
- University of Wollongong (AU)
- University of Strathclyde (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Marshall, Elizabeth Ann
- ORCID
- Gibson, Ann-Marie
- Venue
- Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity
- Publisher
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH
- Published
- 2017-01-01
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 1932-0191 (ISSN-L)
- 2194-637X
- OpenAlex
- W2611453002
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 2.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity (publishedVersion)
- Strathprints: The University of Strathclyde institutional repository (University of Strathclyde) (acceptedVersion)
- Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
- Social Sciences › Education › Physical Education and Gymnastics
- Keywords
- acrobatic gymnastics, imagery training, self-confidence, state anxiety, acrobatic performance, mental training, Sport Imagery Questionnaire
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