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A program to support self‐efficacy among athletes
Author(s) -
Zagórska A.,
Guszkowska M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12125
Subject(s) - optimism , locus of control , self efficacy , physical therapy , athletes , psychology , medicine , intervention (counseling) , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , psychiatry
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a proprietary program for increasing self‐efficacy among track and field athletes through vicarious experience and successful control over excitation and to determine the changes in the cognitive dimensions related to self‐efficacy: dispositional optimism, hope of success and locus of control. An experimental two‐group design with a pre‐test and a post‐test in the experimental and control groups was used. Forty‐two athletes (29 women and 13 men) aged 17 to 24 years randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups took part in the study. The G eneral S cale of S elf‐ E fficacy, H ope for S uccess Q uestionnaire, L ife O rientation T est R evised, and I nternal‐ E xternal L ocus of C ontrol S cale were used. The study's results indicate that the program was effective. Participants in the intervention group demonstrated a substantial increase in self‐efficacy ( P = 0.001). This was not observed in the control group ( P = 0.732). After the completion of the program, athletes in the intervention group had significantly higher levels of self‐efficacy ( P = 0.001) and optimism ( P = 0.017). They also had more internal locus of control compared to the control group ( P = 0.001). Contrary to expectations, athletes in the intervention group demonstrated a substantially lower level of propensity in pathways ( P = 0.001) as well as in agency ( P = 0.001) (both components of the hope for success).