The Frequency and Perceived Effectiveness of Images Used to Build, Maintain, and Regain Confidence

Abstract

This exploratory study investigated the content of the images athletes use to build, maintain, and regain their confidence. It also investigated their perceptions of the effectiveness of images for these confidence sub-functions. Participants were 142 college student athletes (60% female) from the central north area of the United States or Canada. Participants completed a modified version of the Sport Imagery Questionnaire (SIQ; Hall, Stevens, & Paivio, 2005). Data were analyzed using a repeated measures design at the subscale level, and using descriptive statistics at the item level. For imagery use, there was a significant main effect for imagery subscales, confidence sub-functions, and a significant interaction between the imagery subscales and confidence sub-functions (p < .05). For imagery effectiveness, there were significant main effects for both imagery subscales and confidence sub-functions. At the individual item level, analyses revealed that athletes used different images depending on whether they were building, maintaining, or regaining confidence, and that the images that were the most used were not always perceived to be the most effective. In general, the results provide sport psychology researchers and practitioners with a better understanding of the imagery-confidence relationship. The item level results are particularly meaningful for sport psychology practitioners because they indicate which images athletes used and perceived to be the most effective for building, maintaining, and regaining confidence.

Notes

** = Significant at the 0.01 level. Bold = Correlations of interest. MG-M = motivation general-mastery imagery, MG-A = motivation general-arousal imagery, MS = motivation specific imagery, CG = cognitive general imagery, CS = cognitive specific imagery.

** = Significant at the 0.01 level. Bold = Correlations of interest. MG-M = motivation general-mastery imagery, MG-A = motivation general-arousal imagery, MS = motivation specific imagery, CG = cognitive general imagery, CS = cognitive specific imagery.

** = Significant at the 0.01 level. Bold = Correlations of interest. MG-M = motivation general-mastery imagery, MG-A = motivation general-arousal imagery, MS = motivation specific imagery, CG = cognitive general imagery, CS = cognitive specific imagery.

^a = top five most frequently used items.

^b = top five least frequently used items.

^c = five items considered most effective.

^d = five items considered least effective.