https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/ Sports Psychology en daily 1 Sun, 07 May 2023 00:00:00 +0330 Sun, 07 May 2023 00:00:00 +0330 https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_103475.html Purpose: Modeling of observation-based training provides a method for beginners who can prepare to acquire different skills and perform tasks under pressure. This study aimed to investigate the effect of observational learning with gaze guidance on the performance of basketball free throws in novices.Methods: A sample of 24 participants with a mean age of 26.37 ± 3.12 were randomly divided into two observation groups, one with gaze guidance and one without, along with physical training. Pre- and post-tests were conducted to assess the participants' visual search model and basketball free-throw skills. The participants underwent five consecutive days of observational learning with and without gaze guidance, followed by physical training. The eye tracking data were analyzed using a mixed ANOVA of 2 (group) x 3 (measurement stage) at a significance level of 0.05.Results: It indicated that the group with gaze guidance during observational learning performed better, as evidenced by a lower number of fixations, longer fixation duration, and improved performance compared to the group without gaze guidance.Conclusion: The findings suggest that gaze guidance is crucial for effective observational learning in motor skills, as individuals may not fully comprehend information-rich areas without guidance. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_104143.html Purpose: The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of motor learning-based mirror therapy (mMT) on the hand function of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP). Methods: In this study, 26 children aged 7 to 12 years with HCP residing in Isfahan participated. Participants received interventions in the form of conventional mirror therapy (MT) and mMT over 7 weeks and 21 sessions. Data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire, the Modified Ashworth Scale, a goniometer, the Raven's Progressive Matrices test, clinical assessment of active and passive range of motion (ROM), and an accuracy throwing task. After ensuring the normal distribution of data, statistical tests including mixed-design ANOVA, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, independent samples t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U test were utilized. Results: In the variables of accuracy, active and passive ROM of the shoulder, and passive ROM of the wrist, participants in the mMT group showed significant differences in the post-test compared to the pre-test (P≤0.05). Unlike the pre-test, in the post-test, the mean accuracy scores were different between the mMT and MT groups (P≤0.05). In other variables, no significant differences were observed between the pre-test and post-test in both groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that mMT is a more suitable method compared to MT for improving hand function in children with HCP https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_103478.html Purpose: Strengthening visual perception increases visual processing and sports performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the different levels of difficulty of executive control tasks on endogenous, exogenous, and inhibitory attention.Methods: The number of samples in this present was 42 girls (20-35 years old) beginners in table tennis, who were placed in four homogeneous groups (high difficulty/medium difficulty/low difficulty and control). In the pre-test phase, the participants first completed the attention networks test to check endogenous, exogenous, and inhibition attention and then performed special table tennis forehand skill exercises for eight sessions for 30 minutes. 24 hours after the last training session, the post-test was performed in the same way as the pre-test.Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the moderate task difficulty group and the endogenous attention variable control group. There was no significant difference between the groups in the exogenous attention pre-and post-test. In addition, all groups had a significant improvement in the post-test of the inhibition variable.Conclusion: This study showed the effectiveness of task difficulty in the moderate task difficulty group of endogenous attention and the effectiveness of task difficulty on task inhibition. Therefore, the research results can be used to design more effective exercises to increase visual perception. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_104159.html Purpose: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of emotional excitation (positive and negative) before and after acquisition on the consolidation of children's motor memory.Methods: 60 children (9.42±2.68 years old) were selected based on the inclusion criteria and randomly divided into five control groups, positive emotional arousal before and after acquisition and negative emotional excitation before and after acquisition. Subjects performed 10 over-the-shoulder throws in the pre-test and 100 throws in the acquisition.To the subjects of the first and second experimental groups receiving positive emotional excitation, before and after the acquisition phase, respectively, a positive motivational video clip and pleasant photos, and to the subjects of the third and fourth experimental groups receiving negative emotional arousal, respectively before and after After the acquisition phase, violent and scary movie clips and unpleasant photos were presented. Results: The results of variance analysis with repeated measurements showed that the effect of training blocks in the acquisition phase is significant and the subjects of the negative emotional excitation groups before and after acquisition and control in all training blocks had a weaker performance than other groups (p=0/01). Conclusion: Creating positive emotional arousal before and after skill acquisition compared to negative excitation leads to higher motor memory consolidation https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_105757.html Purpose: The present study aims to employ the meta-analysis method to analyse and synthesise the findings of studies on the factors influencing vandalistic and violent behaviour among students with moderate to high physical activity levels.Methods: This descriptive study is fundamental research in terms of its purpose. Using the meta-analysis method, the study analyses studies conducted between 2011 and 2021 on violent behaviours in physically active students. The statistical population includes all domestic articles available in databases accessible to the researcher, which were analysed using CMA3 software.Results: A total of 28 studies were examined. The findings of the meta-analysis indicate that the following factors had the most significant impact on vandalistic and violent behaviour among students across various studies: alienation, parental discord, school punishment, association with delinquent peers, socio-economic status, sense of family belonging, social isolation, and relative deprivation.Conclusion: If the factors that lead to violent behaviour among students in schools or society can be controlled or eliminated through strategic interventions, instances of vandalistic and violent behaviour are likely to decrease https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_105874.html Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of individual, group and collaborative exercises and games on developmental coordination disorder (DCD), self-efficacy and motor efficiency of children (9-11 year old girls) with DCD.Methods: A total of 60 female students with DCD were selected and randomly assigned to four equal groups of 15 people. In this study, DCDQ-07, self-efficacy questionnaire for children and adolescents, and the Bruninks-Ozeretsky Test were used for collecting data. Investigation program were done for 8 weeks, including three sessions a week, and each 45-minute session. Data analysis and testing were performed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk tests, one-way variance analysis and Duncan's post hoc test.  https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_106880.html Abstract: Purpose: The aim of the current research was to investigate the effect of a linear and non-linear karate training course on the perceptual, attentional and motivational aspects of karate boys. Methods: For this purpose, 24 beginner karate kai were selected as available and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. Both groups trained according to their training protocol for 12 weeks and 3 sessions every week. Before and after the training course, the tests including visual search, spatial cueing and behavioral regulations were examined. Results: The results of the research using analysis of variance with repeated measurements showed that linear training had improved the visual search (in simple to medium test conditions, 0.001 ≤p≤0.05) and spatial cueing (0.02≤p≤0.04). Also, the results showed an increase in intrinsic (p= 0.03) and integrated motivation (p= 0.02) as a result of non-linear training. In addition, non-linear training was better than linear training in the most difficult conditions of the visual search test. Conclusion: Non-linear training will be better than linear training in the condition of high complexity. The results were explained by using the theory of disproportion, as well as the theory of information processing in linear education and dynamic systems in non-linear education, and finally, the theory of organismic integration and the theory of self-determination. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_104812.html The Effect of Music-Based Interventions on Elderly Individuals with Different Cognitive Styles: A Study on Cardiovascular ActivityAbstractPurpose: Over the years, researchers have been seeking various ways to improve physical activity in the elderly. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of music-based interventions on cardiovascular activity in elderly individuals with different cognitive styles.Method: This applied research utilized a semi-experimental method with both within-group and between-group designs. The participants were 24 elderly individuals aged 65 to 75 years. In the first stage, after identifying the cognitive styles of the individuals using Witkin's Embedded Figures Questionnaire, the participants were divided into two groups: field-dependent and field-independent. Then, at a speed of three to five kilometers per hour for five to eight minutes under two different conditions (motivational music, no intervention), relative oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, respiratory exchange ratio, resting caloric consumption, and relative respiratory reserve percentage were measured using a respiratory gas analyzer.Results: The results of the repeated measures ANOVA showed that in the field-independent group, relative oxygen consumption (P = 0.001), carbon dioxide production (P = 0.001), respiratory exchange ratio (P = 0.008), and resting caloric consumption (P = 0.004) significantly decreased, and relative respiratory reserve percentage (P = 0.022) significantly increased. In the field-dependent group, only carbon dioxide production (P = 0.001) showed a significant decrease.Conclusion: It can be concluded that walking accompanied by motivational music improves cardiovascular activity variables in field-independent elderly individuals. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_105221.html Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of self-presentation and passion for physical activity on exercise addiction on athlete students. Methods: This study was descriptive survey and based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population of this study consisted of four Tehran city public universities physical education students which 350 students selected randomly and complete Self-Presentation in Sport and Exercise, Passion for physical activity scale and Exercise Addiction Inventory-Short Form 324 questionnaires were usable. In order to data analysis structural equational modeling partial least square with using Smart Pls 3 was used. Results: results indicate that impression motivation and impression construct has positive significant effect on exercise addiction. Moreover, harmonious and obsessive passion has positive significant effect on exercise addiction. Also, model has good fit. Conclusion: with regard to result, self-presentation and passion are significant variables in exercise addiction. Therefore, suggested that universities officials accelerate the planning and action required to inform students of the symptoms and consequences of self-presentation and passion for physical activity and exercise addiction. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_106882.html Purpose: The study examines relationship between place attachment and sports participation motivation and mediating role of psychological needs of student athletes.Methods: In this descriptive-correlational research, 173 students active in Tabriz universities sports teams were selected by cluster random sampling. Then, questionnaires of place attachment, sports participation motivation, and basic psychological needs completed. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (p> 0.05) did not confirm the assumption of normality of the data; Therefore, the data were standardized using the Box-Cox method and through a structural equation model and step-by-step regression with alpha 0.05 through spss software version 26, Lisrel version 8; Checked.Results: all correlations are significant between place attachment and sports participation motivation and basic psychological needs, except between fame and relatedness, energy drain and autonomy, energy drain and relatedness. The results of regression test showed that model 1 and 2 predicts 0.32 and 0.52 units of changes in sports motivation-participation, respectively. In fact, by adding the variables of basic psychological needs, autonomy, competence, and relatedness, 0.2 units were aggrevate to prediction power of model 1. However, the only significant variable in model 1 and 2 is place identity, and place identity and basic psychological needs, respectively. Therefore, place identity and then basic psychological needs suppose to have the highest predictive power for sport participation motivation variable in this research.Conclusion: Place identity as a subscale of place attachment has an effect on the level of sports participation motivation of Tabriz university sports team students and basic psychological needs moderates this relationship. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_105502.html AbstractPurpose: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on psychological indicators of stress, anxiety, and depression.Methods: This research was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. 20 male wheelchair basketball players were placed in two groups of 10 experimental and control randomly. We investigated the effect of four sessions of anodal tDCS stimulation with 2 mA for 20 minutes per session and with 3.5 x 3.5 cm electrodes on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the reference electrode was on the FP2 area. We evaluated the scores obtained from three psychological components (negative emotional states) using the DASS21 self-report questionnaire in two stages, pre-test and post-test. tDCS intervention was performed in resting conditions and in a relaxed state without motor or cognitive tasks. The data was analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance test. Using analysis of covariance, the results showed that the significant value obtained for all tests (0.001) was less than the critical level (α=0.05).Results: There is a significant difference between the scores of stress, anxiety and depression indices of the participants in the experimental group before and after the intervention, but this difference was not significant in the control group.Conclusion: The results showed that transcranial stimulation of the brain has an effect on some negative psychological components in athletes, which is probably caused by the modulation and facilitation of brain wave activity and membrane potentials in neurons caused by this method. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_106879.html Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of high and low cognitive load along with decision practice on the acquisition of perceptual-motor skills.Methods: The participants were 36 students who were selected as available samples. For this purpose, 36 students were selected as available and were randomly divided into high cognitive load, low cognitive load, and control groups. At the pre-test, a video clip of 25 badminton serves was shown, which was occluded at the moment of the racket-ball contact. Participants anticipated the direction of the badminton long serve shots and the decision time was measured at the same time. Then, the experimental group performed decision training in the acquisition phase, and the control group just anticipated the direction of the shots. 48 hours, the post-test was performed Results: The results of the present study showed that the decision-training group with low cognitive load performed better in anticipation and decision-making than the decision-training group with high cognitive load and the control group, but the decision-training group with high cognitive load did not differ significantly from the control group.conclusion: High cognitive load leads to disturbances in the acquisition of perceptual-motor skills in beginners. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_105818.html Purpose: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and degenerative disease of the central nervous system, the symptoms of which have detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of individuals with MS. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of health literacy level and physical activity on social support, mental fatigue, and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosisMethods: The present study was of a causal-comparative type. The statistical sample consisted of 97 individuals with MS, purposefully selected based on the study's inclusion criteria, The data collection instruments included the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) , Physical Activity, the Health Literacy ,the Mental Fatigue Symptoms , the Quality of Life in MS Patients , and the Social Support questionnaires.Results: The results demonstrated that both the level of health literacy and the level of physical activity significantly influenced social support, mental fatigue, and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Specifically, patients with optimal health literacy and high physical activity reported the highest levels of social support and quality of life, and the lowest levels of mental fatigue. Conclusion: Individuals with MS, with a better understanding of their health status and participation in appropriate physical activity, not only benefit from higher social support and experience less mental fatigue but also significantly improve their quality of life. Therefore, the design and implementation of educational programs and interventions based on a healthy lifestyle are recommended for these patients. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_105896.html Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of self-control approach in the form of self-talk on the performance and self-efficacy of elderly men. Methods: Thirty elderly men, with an age range of 60 years and above and an average age of 65.5, were selected voluntarily. First, a pre-test of balance performance was taken. Then, the subjects were divided into three groups of 10: self-control self-talk, instructor-controlled self-talk, and a control group. The participants practiced balance training with self-talk for 5 sessions. After the last training session, a post-test and a retention test were taken after 72 hours. Along with these tests, the participants completed a self-efficacy questionnaire. After completing the research steps, the information obtained was analyzed through analysis of variance. Results: Results demonstrated significantly superior performance in self-talk groups compared to controls during both acquisition and retention phases (p < .05). Additionally, these groups exhibited significantly higher self-efficacy measures. Conclusion: Collectively, findings indicate that self-talk as a self-control strategy serves as an effective cognitive intervention for enhancing motor performance and self-efficacy. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_106393.html Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationships between personality types, executive functions, and cognitive interference in athletes. Methods: This descriptive correlational study involved 212 athletes from East Azerbaijan Province, selected via cluster random sampling across individual and team sports. Data were collected using questionnaires on demographic information, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, cognitive interference, and a behavioural rating scale of executive functions in adults. Analyses included Pearson correlation coefficients in SPSS 26 and path analysis in Smart PLS 3. Results: Results showed introversion, sensing, and thinking dimensions were positively associated with executive functions and negatively associated with cognitive interference. Conversely, the judgment dimension showed a negative relationship with executive functions and a positive one with cognitive interference. These findings were inversely related to the reciprocal personality dimensions; extraversion, intuition, feeling, and perceiving. Additionally, a significant negative relationship was observed between executive functions and cognitive interference. Path analysis revealed that personality traits can predict cognitive interference both directly and indirectly through their influence on executive functions. Conclusion: All four personality dimensions were related to cognitive interference and executive function. Therefore, the mediation effect showed that the development of executive functions leads to a reduction in cognitive interference in athletes. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_105936.html Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on kinematic variables related to postural control and fear of falling in elderly individuals who have experienced falls.Methods: This semi-experimental study utilized a pre-test-post-test design. The sample consisted of 15 healthy elderly individuals and 15 elderly individuals with a history of falls, with an average age of 67.5 ± 2.5 years, selected through convenience sampling based on specific criteria. Postural control was assessed using a computerized dynamic posturography sensory organization test. Kinematic variables, such as overall center of pressure velocity in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions, were measured across six different test conditions. Fear of falling was evaluated using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Participants engaged in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise twice a week for six weeks. Data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc tests.Results: The findings indicated that six weeks of aerobic exercise resulted in enhancements in kinematic variables related to postural control in all six test conditions and a reduction in fear of falling among elderly fallers (P<0.05), with significant improvements compared to healthy elderly individuals.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to incorporate moderate-intensity aerobic exercise to enhance kinematic variables of postural control and reduce fear of falling in elderly individuals. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_107426.html Objective: This systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis aimed to quantify the effects of structured self-talk interventions on athletic performance and psychological functioning in athletes and to determine whether intervention, sport, and participant characteristics moderate these effects.Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO was conducted for studies published from January 2020 to January 2026. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials and controlled experimental studies that examined structured self-talk interventions in athletic populations and reported at least one performance or psychological outcome. The primary outcome was athletic performance, whereas secondary outcomes included self-confidence, anxiety, motivation, perceived competence, attentional control, and other theoretically relevant psychological outcomes. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects framework. A multilevel meta-analytic model was employed to account for the statistical dependency of multiple effect sizes extracted from individual studies. Heterogeneity was evaluated using variance components and I² statistics, and moderator analyses examined self-talk type, intervention duration, sport type, competitive level, and participant characteristics.Results: The systematic search identified 3,247 records, of which 68 studies met the eligibility criteria and 54 were included in the quantitative synthesis. The multilevel meta-analysis demonstrated a significant moderate positive effect of self-talk interventions on athletic performance (SMD=0.42, 95% CI [0.31, 0.53], P<0.001). Self-talk interventions also produced significant effects on selected psychological outcomes, including self-confidence (SMD=0.38, 95% CI [0.26, 0.50]), anxiety (SMD=−0.29, 95% CI [−0.41, −0.17]), and attentional control (SMD=0.34, 95% CI [0.22, 0.46]). Moderator analyses indicated that instructional self-talk produced significantly larger performance effects than motivational self-talk (p = 0.02). Longer interventions (≥4 weeks) and team-sport contexts were also associated with larger effects. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of matching self-talk strategies to the demands of the sport and the targeted psychological or performance outcome. Future research should employ theoretically grounded and standardized intervention protocols, adequately powered controlled designs, and longer follow-up periods, with particular attention to the generalizability and transfer of self-talk effects from controlled experimental tasks to ecologically valid competitive settings. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_106883.html Purpose: The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the priority of mastery of the brain quadrants (thinking style) and its relationship with the effectiveness of sports managers' performance.Methods: The statistical population of the present study included all sports managers of Tehran province (officials, heads of sports teams and sports managers). In the present study, sampling was done in full and finally 175 people participated in the study. In order to collect data, in this research, with a holistic process approach, Herman's Brain Quarters Mastery Questionnaire and Managers Performance Effectiveness Questionnaire based on the Parsons Model were usedResults: The findings showed that there is a positive and significant correlation between the predictor variables (dominance of brain quadrants A-C-D) and the criterion variable (performance effectiveness) (P=0.001), so that the correlation between brain quadrant D and performance effectiveness It was more than other variables. While the relationship between quadrant B dominance and performance effectiveness was not significant. Also, the results of Friedman's test showed that there is a preference between the use of brain quadrants of sports managers (P=0.001), so that the priority of using brain quadrants included D, C, A and B quadrants respectively.Conclusion: The results of the current research confirmed the relationship between the effectiveness of performance and the coordination of the brain quadrants of sports managers, and the type of dominance of all brain quadrants of sports managers indicates whole brain thinking. These findings can predict the performance and effectiveness of sports managers. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_106884.html Introduction: Overcoming competition anxiety is one of the major issues athletes face in championship sports. The present study examines the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on impulsivity and mental toughness of athletes with high competitive anxiety.Methods: This semi-experimental study used a pre-test, post-test design with a control group. The participants included competitive athletes over 16 years old in martial arts disciplines like Taekwondo, Karate, and Wrestling, who experienced the highest competitive anxiety. Among these athletes, 40 individuals who scored the highest in Smith et al.'s (1990) competitive anxiety measure were randomly assigned to experimental (mindfulness-based cognitive therapy) and control groups. Both groups completed self-report scales of mental toughness (Sheard et al., 2009) and impulsivity (Barratt et al., 1995) in the pre-test. The experimental group then received mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. In the end, both the control and experimental groups took a post-test, and the results were analyzed using covariance analysis after examining the homogeneity of variances.Findings: The results indicated that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was effective in reducing impulsivity and improving mental toughness in martial arts athletes (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can be used to help with impulsivity and mental toughness in athletes. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_107117.html Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of visual manipulation on alpha waves and balance in women over 50 years of age. Methods: This quasi-experimental study included 23 women aged over 50 years (59.13±6.75 years). EEG signals were recorded from 24 electrodes during a static balance task. Independent component analysis (ICA) using EEGlab (2023) in MATLAB was applied to remove biological and environmental artifacts. ICA was applied to the data using EEGlab (2023)-based scripts implemented in MATLAB. Results: The results of mixed ANOVA (4 condition × 2 frequency bands × 24 channels) showed that visual manipulation had a significant effect on the condition × channel and condition × frequency interactions (P<0.05). Furthermore, the results of the dependent t-test indicated that in the eyes‑closed condition, low‑alpha power in the left prefrontal region (F3) decreased compared to baseline. Also, low‑alpha (1) and high‑alpha (2) power showed a significant increase in widespread areas of the cerebral cortex compared to the eyes‑open condition (P<0.05). Conclusion: It appears that older adults use a strategy of increased cortical activity and cortical inhibition mechanisms to compensate for reduced visual input. Removing vision leads to increased alpha power in widespread cortical areas, indicating sensory reweighting and allocation of more processing resources to balance maintenance. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_107227.html Purpose: The present study aimed to test the structural model of sports self-regulation based on psychological hardiness and perception of success, considering the mediating role of hope among athletes.Methods: This research was descriptive-correlational, with a statistical population that included all male and female athletes in various sports disciplines in 2024, from which 200 participants were selected using simple random sampling. Data collection tools included the Psychological Hardiness Questionnaire by Kobasa and colleagues (1982), the Sports Self-Regulation Questionnaire by Ryan and Connell (1989), the Perception of Success Questionnaire by Roberts, Treasure, and Balague (1998), and the Hope Questionnaire by Snyder and colleagues (1991). Data analysis using SPSS-26 and SmartPLS-3 software.Results: The findings revealed that psychological hardiness had a significant direct positive effect on sports self-regulation, while perception of success and hope did not have significant direct effects on sports self-regulation. Furthermore, psychological hardiness had a significant direct negative effect on hope, whereas perception of success had a significant direct positive effect on hope. The mediating role of hope in the relationships between psychological hardiness and perception of success with sports self-regulation was not confirmed. The proposed model demonstrated a good fit, and the predictor variables collectively explained 55.5% of the variance in sports self-regulation.Conclusion: The findings emphasize the key and direct role of psychological hardiness in predicting sports self-regulation. Coaches and sport psychologists can take an effective step toward improving athletes' self-regulation and subsequent performance by designing intervention programs that strengthen the components of commitment, control, and challenge. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_107344.html Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of a reflective self-talk intervention on athletes’ endurance motor performance, with an emphasis on the moderating role of need for cognition. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and a 2×2 factorial arrangement (intervention × need for cognition). The statistical population consisted of male athletes aged 18–25 years who were actively engaged in sports clubs and teams in Tehran. A total of 60 participants were purposively selected based on their level of need for cognition (high vs. low) and were randomly assigned within each level to either the reflective self-talk intervention group or the control group (15 participants in each subgroup). Research instruments included the Need for Cognition Questionnaire and an endurance performance test consisting of cycling to exhaustion. Results: The findings revealed a significant main effect of the reflective self-talk intervention on endurance performance (p < .001, η² = .39), such that participants in the intervention group demonstrated greater improvement in time to exhaustion compared with the control group. Additionally, the main effect of need for cognition (p < .001, η² = .24) and the interaction effect between reflective self-talk and need for cognition (p < .001, η² = .23) were significant. Conclusion: Overall, the findings suggest that reflective self-talk can serve as an effective strategy for enhancing athletes’ endurance performance and that consideration of cognitive individual differences, particularly need for cognition, is essential in designing sport psychology interventions. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_107357.html Purpose: Athlete burnout, as a multidimensional psychological syndrome, impairs athletes' mental health. This study aimed to predict burnout based on self-reported indicators of physiological functioning (sleep quality and eating disturbances), cognitive appraisals, and the mediating role of coping behaviors, also examining the role of gender. Methods: A correlational design was employed. The statistical population consisted of 190 athletes (26.2 years). Data were collected using the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire, the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Primary and Secondary Cognitive Appraisal Scale, and the Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool. Data were analyzed using path analysis in SPSS and LISREL. Result: Except for eating disorders, all other variables showed significant relationships with burnout. After model modification and removal of non-significant paths, the final model demonstrated acceptable fit indices. Coping behaviors explained 21% of the variance in burnout, while gender, sleep quality, and coping behaviors together accounted for 24% of the variance. Cognitive demands exerted the strongest influence on coping behaviors. Furthermore, the self-reported indicator of sleep quality and coping behaviors showed the most substantial positive and negative effects on burnout, respectively. Conclusion: Understanding psychological resources and coping strategies is essential for safeguarding athlete well-being. Positive coping interventions may effectively attenuate burnout. The findings offer partial support for the cognitive-affective model, as its core components (cognitive appraisal, physiological, and behavioral response) were corroborated. Interventions aimed at improving sleep quality and enhancing coping skills may hold promise for reducing burnout; however, the efficacy of such interventions warrants further empirical validation. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_107170.html Purpose: Mental fatigue can have significant effects on neuropsychological performance and cognitive abilities, especially in complex and high-concentration activities such as shooting.Methods: The present study included 20 semi-professional shooters aged 18 to 28 years, who were randomly assigned into two groups: mental fatigue and control. In the pre-test, all participants fired 30 shots at red, blue, and neutral targets, while electroencephalography (EEG) signals were recorded simultaneously. The mental fatigue group then underwent a 30-minute Stroop task, while the control group received no intervention. Finally, the post-test was conducted identically to the pre-test. The power spectrum (in µV²/Hz) of theta (4–8 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), and beta (13–30 Hz) frequency bands was calculated. Data were analyzed using mixed-design analysis of variance at a significance level of 0.05.Findings: The results showed that mental fatigue and target color change the spatial pattern of brain frequency band activity. Mental fatigue was generally associated with an increase in theta band power spectrum (µV²/Hz) in sensorimotor and parietal regions. In the alpha frequency band, red and neutral targets induced a widespread increase in spectral power, whereas the blue target was associated with a decrease in spectral power in fronto-occipital regions. An interactive pattern was also observed in the beta frequency band.Conclusion: The present findings indicate that mental fatigue caused by a cognitive task, as well as changes in sable color, can independently and interactively change the spectral patterns of the shooters' cerebral cortex in the theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_107213.html Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of motor skill interventions using the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) approach versus the traditional (linear) method on response inhibition and cognitive flexibility in male and female high school students in Shahroud.Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design. A total of 120 tenth-grade students (60 girls and 60 boys) were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (TGfU) or the control group (linear). Interventions consisted of eight 60-minute sessions over four consecutive weeks. Cognitive flexibility was assessed using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and response inhibition was measured using a computerized Stroop task. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA within a mixed 2×2×2 factorial design (Time × Group × Gender).Results: The main effect of time was significant for both cognitive flexibility (F(1,116)=267.646, p<0.001, η²=0.698) and response inhibition (F(1,116)=1477.311, p<0.001, η²=0.927). The Time × Group interaction was significant for cognitive flexibility (F(1,116)=8.206, p=0.005, η²=0.066), indicating the TGfU group showed significantly greater improvement compared to the linear group. For response inhibition, the three-way interaction of Time × Group × Gender was significant (F(1,116)=5.775, p=0.018, η²=0.047). The main effect of gender was not significant for either variable.Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the TGfU approach may be considered an effective strategy for enhancing cognitive flexibility in adolescents. However, extending this effectiveness to response inhibition requires further evidence. https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_107218.html Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effect of virtual training for physical education teachers on improving physical literacy and cognitive performance (working memory and attention) in educable intellectually disabled students and typical students.Methods: A quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group was conducted. The sample consisted of 400 seventh-grade students (200 educable intellectually disabled students with IQ scores of 55–70, and 200 typical students) from schools in Ahvaz, selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (receiving instruction from virtually trained teachers) or a control group. Teachers in the experimental group received 32 hours of virtual in-service training. Research instruments included the Physical Literacy Assessment Questionnaire (CAPL-2) as well as the 1-back test to measure working memory and reaction time.Results: Virtual training for physical education teachers significantly improved (P ≤ 0.001) all dimensions of physical literacy and the overall score in both student groups. Effect sizes were very large, ranging from 0.62 to 0.92. Cognitive performance also improved significantly, as reflected in a reduction in reaction time on the n-back test (P ≤ 0.001). Although both groups showed progress, the degree of improvement was greater in typical students than in educable intellectually disabled students.Conclusion: Virtual training for physical education teachers represents an effective and equity-oriented approach to enhancing physical literacy and cognitive performance in both student groups, particularly among students with special needs. Expanding virtual in-service training programs for physical education teachers is recommended https://mbsp.sbu.ac.ir/article_107224.html Purpose: Motor skill deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can profoundly influence social maturation and adaptive behavior. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate a cognitive-motor training program, based on the Gentile model, for improving leisure and play, academic skills, and daily living in children with ASD.Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest control design. Twenty children (6-10 years) with high-functioning autism were randomly assigned to experimental (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The experimental group underwent six weeks of cognitive-motor training (three 60-min sessions/week) per Gentile's taxonomy. The CHSQ was completed by parents pre- and post-intervention. MANCOVA analyzed the data (α = 0.05).Results: After controlling for baseline pretest scores, MANCOVA revealed a highly significant multivariate effect (Wilks' Lambda = 0.317, p = 0.001). Univariate follow-up analyses indicated significant improvements in leisure and play (P = 0.001) and daily living activities (P = 0.009) in the experimental group, whereas school and educational skills did not demonstrate any significant change (P = 0.80).Conclusion: In summary, the six-week cognitive-motor intervention grounded in the Gentile model effectively enhanced both leisure engagement and daily living functional abilities in children with ASD, although it failed to exert a significant impact on school-related academic competencies. These findings corroborate the practical utility of structured cognitive-motor interventions for targeted functional areas. Nevertheless, the lack of transfer to the academic domain highlights that future research ought to incorporate direct assessments of social, behavioral, and emotional variables to fully elucidate the underlying therapeutic mechanisms.