PURPOSE This study aimed to develop and examine the applicability and effectiveness a psychological conditioning program based on the principle of periodization as an alternative to conventional problem-focused and short-term psychological skills training. It intends to systematize and support the long-term regulation of the psychological preparation of golf and soccer players. METHODS The study followed the six-step procedure of the Intervention Mapping Protocol. It recruited 16 professional athletes (7 golfers and 9 soccer players) during the development phase and an additional 20 athletes (9 golfers and 11 soccer players) for the subsequent implementation and evaluation phases. Program effectiveness was assessed as follows. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain indepth insights into the program’s impact (qualitative evaluation), and, the Test of Performance Strategies-2 and a condition measurement tool were administered (quantitative evaluation). RESULTS The qualitative findings indicated that the program supported athletes in better regulating anxiety, reducing negative thoughts, and recovering more quickly from mistakes. The quantitative results demonstrated significant improvements in athletes’ psychological skills and overall condition levels. CONCLUSIONS This results indicate that undergoing a periodized psychological conditioning program can effectively enhance athletes’ psychological skills and support the maintenance of psychological homeostasis. For a broad implementation, a structured support system should be established to replace one-time interventions, thus enabling continuous feedback and practical application to help athletes sustain optimal psychological states during competition.
PURPOSE This study aims to validate the applicability of the Metacognitive Beliefs About Performances Questionnaire (MBPQ) for athletes developed by Love et al. (2019a) to Korean adolescents athletes. METHODS The study recruited a total of 311 adolescent athletes registered with the Korea Sports Council. To examine the psychometric properties of the MBPQ and assess model fit, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted. Construct validity, internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), and cross-validation across gender and sport type were also evaluated. Criterion validity was verified through correlation analysis with the Metacognitive Processes During Performance Questionnaire (MPPQ). RESULTS The CFA results supported the original five-factor structure of the scale, while overall model fit indices indicated an acceptable level of fit. Although the construct validity and internal consistency only partially met the most stringent criteria, they were deemed acceptable. Furthermore, cross-validation and criterion validity were satisfactorily established. CONCLUSIONS The findings provide empirical support for the validity of the MBPQ in the context of South Korean adolescent athletes. The scale could serve as a useful tool in future studies that explore metacognition as a key psychological construct in sports performance.
PURPOSE This study aimed to verify the relationship between adolescent athletes’ julsil, competitive trait anxiety, and self-management. METHODS A total of 370 adolescent athletes who were registered with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee participated in the survey; 24 insincere responses were excluded from the analysis, leaving a total of 346 participants. After verifying the construct validity of the measurement tool used in the survey, statistical and correlation analyses were performed. The research model was subsequently verified using structural equation modeling. RESULTS Adolescent athletes’ julsil had a significant positive effect on self-management but not on competitive trait anxiety. In addition, self-management was found to have a significant negative effect on competitive trait anxiety, and also completely mediated the relationship between julsil and competitive trait anxiety. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent athletes’ julsil does not increase competitive trait anxiety, but rather plays a role in reducing it by increasing self-management. These findings unveil mechanisms through which julsil can be used to enhance athlete performance.
PURPOSE This study comprehensively compared the perception and interaction of player–coach in the development of mental toughness in soccer. METHODS Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews from 12 participants (6 athletes and 6 coaches), analyzed using the grounded theory by Strauss and Corbin, and they were compared to the group of athletes and coaches, respectively. RESULTS The following results were obtained: (1) Both athletes and coaches recognized that the experience of coping with the pressure present in competition was a central phenomenon in the development of mental toughness. (2) Regarding the situation and condition that lead to coping with pressure, the athletes emphasized the individual's goal orientation in the context of competitive situations and environmental conditions, while the coaches emphasized the athletic attitude toward competition and development in childhood. (3) The athlete–coach interaction was identified as an intervening condition affecting the experience of coping with pressure. (4) As the action–reaction strategy for the development of mental toughness, the optimistic thinking was emphasized for athlete and achievement-oriented thinking for coach; thus, it differed in the characteristics of mental toughness. CONCLUSIONS This study presented the results of an integrated comparison of mental toughness, which can vary depending on the contextual specificity (soccer) and the subject of perception (athlete– coach), especially indicating the importance of the player–coach interaction, which can contribute to the strategy to be used in mental toughness development.
