| Investigating the Role of Mental Imagery and Attentional Style in the Psychological Performance of Team Sport Athletes |
| Paper ID : 1241-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
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Meysam Rezaei *1, Maedeh Ahmadpoor2 1Assistant Professor,Deparment of physical education and sport sciences,MashhadBranch,Islamic Azad 2PhD Student, Department of Sports Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Background: Performance in team sport athletes is influenced not only by physical capabilities but also by psychological and cognitive factors. Among these, mental imagery and attentional focus, encompassing internal and external dimensions, are central to optimizing skill execution, decision-making, and adaptive responses during competition. Understanding how these factors interact with demographic and sport-specific variables can inform targeted interventions in sports psychology. This study aimed to examine the effects of gender, age, competitive level, and type of sport on attentional focus style and the perceived efficacy of mental imagery among team sport athletes. Methods: A descriptive–analytical field study was conducted with 165 athletes (120 males, 45 females) participating in football, volleyball, and basketball across three competitive levels: municipal, provincial, and national. Data were collected using the QASA questionnaire, a validated instrument assessing attentional focus and mental imagery skills. Statistical analyses included independent t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients to evaluate relationships among demographic variables, sport type, competitive level, and cognitive-motor constructs. Results: Male athletes exhibited significantly higher internal attentional focus than females, while higher competitive levels were associated with enhanced internal focus. Age showed a negative correlation with internal attentional focus, indicating a decline in cognitive concentration with increasing age. Sport type had no statistically significant overall effect; however, volleyball athletes demonstrated a greater tendency toward external attentional focus compared to football and basketball players. These results highlight the nuanced role of demographic and sport-specific factors in shaping cognitive strategies in team sports. Conclusion: Internal attentional focus and mental imagery are critical cognitive skills in team sport athletes, modulated by individual characteristics and competitive experience. Integrating structured mental training and attentional exercises can enhance psychological resilience, skill execution, and performance outcomes, offering a framework for evidence-based interventions in sports psychology and coaching.. |
| Keywords |
| team sport athletes; mental imagery; attentional focus; gender differences; competitive level; cognitive–motor skills; sports psychology |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
