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. 2023 Aug 29;11(9):162.
doi: 10.3390/sports11090162.

The Impact of a Psychological Skills Training and Mindfulness-Based Intervention on the Mental Toughness, Competitive Anxiety, and Coping Skills of Futsal Players-A Longitudinal Convergent Mixed-Methods Design

Daniel Vella-Fondacaro  1   2 , Stephanie Romano-Smith  3
Affiliations

The Impact of a Psychological Skills Training and Mindfulness-Based Intervention on the Mental Toughness, Competitive Anxiety, and Coping Skills of Futsal Players-A Longitudinal Convergent Mixed-Methods Design

Daniel Vella-Fondacaro et al. Sports (Basel). .

Abstract

Despite the sport's popularity, there is a paucity in futsal psychological interventional research. This study analysed the impact of a ten-session psychological skills training and mindfulness-based intervention (PSTMI) on the mental toughness, competitive anxiety, and athletic coping skills of national league futsal players (n = 13). It also analysed whether these variables were predicted by playing experience. Pre-/post-intervention questionnaires were filled in and analysed (Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2, Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire, and Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28). Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with seven athletes; quantitative and qualitative data were integrated in a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Results revealed significant medium-to-large improvements in mental toughness, cognitive anxiety, and coping skills following the PSTMI. Years of playing experience positively and significantly predicted better self-confidence and coping skills. Thematic analysis generated five themes: (1) post-intervention enhancement in athletic performance and well-being; (2) the non-athletic commitments of futsal players; (3) diverse views on how to improve the intervention; (4) instilling social identity through sport psychology sessions; and (5) the impact of years of experience on skill learning. Results mirrored those from other sporting disciplines. The PSTMI was well-received and equipped athletes with beneficial psychological skills, stressing the need for more sport psychology resources in futsal.

Keywords: anxiety; experience; futsal; intervention; mixed methods; psychological.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The sponsor partially funding the article processing fee had no role in the design, execution, interpretation, or writing of this study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A Flowchart Describing the Research Method.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A Flowchart Describing the PSTMI.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Thematic Map Including Themes (Circles) and Subthemes (Rectangles).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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