| Examining the Effects of Gender, Age, Athlete Level, and Sport Type on Internal and External Attention in Athletes |
| Paper ID : 1235-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
|
maedeh ahmadpour *1, mahmoud sheikh2 1ندارم 21. Behavioral and Cognitive Sports Science Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Wellness, University of Tehran |
| Abstract |
| Abstract Introduction: This study aimed to examine the effects of gender, age, athlete level, and sport type on two fundamental dimensions of attentional style—internal and external attention—among athletes in football, volleyball, and basketball. Understanding how personal and sport-related factors shape attentional tendencies can guide the design of cognitive–perceptual training interventions in sports. Methods: A cross–sectional descriptive study was conducted on 55 athletes recruited from regional to national levels. The standardized QASA questionnaire was used to assess attentional styles, including internal and external attention. Reliability and validity of the instrument had been previously established (KMO = 0.753; Bartlett’s test p < 0.001; Cronbach’s α = 0.787). Independent t-tests were applied to examine the effect of gender, ANOVA was used to test differences across athlete levels and sport types, and Pearson correlation was computed to assess associations with age. Post-hoc Tukey tests were used for pairwise comparisons when appropriate. Results: Results indicated that gender and athlete level had significant effects on internal attention, with male athletes and national-level performers scoring higher. Sport type showed a near-significant effect on external attention, suggesting contextual demands of interactive team sports may influence outward attentional focus. Age exhibited a weak negative correlation with internal attention, while its effect on external attention was minimal. No meaningful differences were observed across sport types for internal attention. Conclusion: Attentional style among athletes is shaped by a combination of biological characteristics (gender, age) and experience-related factors (competitive level and sport demands). These findings highlight the value of tailored cognitive-attentional interventions based on athlete profiles to enhance performance and support long-term attentional resilience in sports settings. Further research with larger samples and advanced neurocognitive tools is recommended. |
| Keywords |
| :attention; internal focus; external focus; athlete level; gender differences; QASA; sport psychology |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
