The Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Therapy on Cognitive Confusion Levels in Female Athletes

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Arak University, Arak, Iran

2 استادیار گروه رفتارحرکتی و روانشناسی ورزشی دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه شهید چمران اهواز، اهواز،

3 Ph.D. Student of Sport Biomechanics, Department of Sport Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Islamic Azad University Central Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) on cognitive disturbance levels in female athletes.
Method
This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group and an applied focus. Forty participants were purposively selected from athletes in western Iran who scored one standard deviation above the mean on the Mason Cognitive Distortion Scale (1994) and were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The Mason (2001) Cognitive Distortion Questionnaire was used to assess cognitive disturbances. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality, one-way repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni post hoc tests, with SPSS software version 23, and a significance level set at P < 0.05.
Results
The findings indicated a significant change from the pre-test to the post-test in the cognitive disturbance variable of female athletes (P=0.03), with this change remaining stable during the follow-up phase (P=0.987).
Conclusion
The findings suggest that Emotionally Focused Therapy can be an effective intervention for reducing and managing cognitive disturbances in female athletes. This approach may help decrease cognitive errors, leading to better information processing and enhanced athletic performance.

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History

  • Receive Date: 10 July 2025
  • Revise Date: 31 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 24 November 2025
  • Publish Date: 22 December 2025

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