Effects of 6 Weeks Psychological Skill Training on Team Cohesion, Self-confidence & Anxiety: A Case of Youth Basketball Players

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a six-week psychological skill training (PST) program that is based on a cognitive-behavioral conceptual framework on team cohesion, confidence, and anxiety of an intact team. Thirty-six male basketball players, 19 athletes for the experimental group and 17 athletes for the control group, aged between 15-16 years old voluntarily participated in this study. For the quantitative part of the study, the Group Environment Questionnaire, Trait Sport-Confidence Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were given during the pre-intervention, post-intervention and follow-up tests. Qualitative methods were also employed in the current study to support validation of the implied PST program. Six players and the coach of both teams were interviewed utilizing a semi-structured interview schedule. Statistical testing within factor analyses of the experimental group reveals a significant difference over time for team cohesion and for self-confidence but no significant difference for anxiety. Moreover, comparisons between the experimental and control groups' results indicate that there is a significant difference between groups. Overall, it is concluded that the experimental team's participation in the PST program affected the team's cohesion levels and the athletes' self-confidence levels positively but there is no significant effect on the athletes' anxiety levels.