Examining the Impact of Positive Psychology and Mental Imagery Techniques on the Mental Health of Injured Athletes

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Master of Science in Sports Psychology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to investigate the impact of positive psychology and visualization techniques on the mental health of injured athletes.
Method: This study was applied in nature, and in terms of data collection, it was a survey and correlational research. The statistical population included 500 organized athletes from Zanjan County in 2024 across various sports disciplines, all of whom had at least two years of experience. A total of about 200 injured athletes were identified, and based on Cochran's formula, 131 individuals were selected as the sample using cluster random sampling and purposeful selection according to the inclusion criteria for the study. In this research, a researcher-made package based on the Oshea & Moran (2019) training program was used for mental imagery training. The positive psychology training by Susan Quilliam (2003) was also conducted over 12 sessions. The Psychological Needs in Sport Questionnaire by Vallerand et al. (2006) was administered as a pre-test and post-test.
Findings: The mental health scores of injured athletes across different groups showed significant differences (P=0.01). However, in the control group, no significant difference was observed with a significance level of 0.51 (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Athletes face psychological issues due to the absence from competitions and decreased self-confidence after injuries. In this study, positive psychology techniques and visualization had positive effects on the mental health of these athletes and can be used as a practical approach in sports teams for injured players. The educational-psychological intervention, including training coping skills and stress management, helps athletes better cope with the psychological challenges arising from injuries and achieve better conditions

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Functional Research in Sport Psychology
Volume 2, Issue 2
May 2025
Pages 19-33

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 12 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 24 May 2025
  • Publish Date: 22 June 2025

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