Applying skill-oriented and spirit-oriented psychological training to Chinese national archery team athletes: a single-case mixed-methods study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective The study examined the effectiveness of applying skill-oriented and spirit-oriented psychological training programmes for decreasing mood disturbance and burnout, improving confidence, and enhancing the spiritual realm of Chinese elite archery athletes. Methods An ABA design was adopted. Sixteen elite archery athletes took part in an intervention, which consisted of (a) technique-oriented basic psychological skills training, (b) knowledge-oriented sport psychology knowledge education, and (c) vision-oriented cultural literacy formation. Profile of Mood States, Athletes Burnout Questionnaire, and State Sport-Confidence Inventory were employed to carry on monthly monitoring. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data. The method of Nonoverlap of All Pairs (NAP), analyses of variance (ANOVAs), and a reflexive thematic analysis were used to calculate the effect sizes for the intervention. Results For the majority of the participants, the findings of the current study demonstrated a medium to large effect of applying skill-oriented and spirit-oriented psychological training on decreasing mood disturbance and burnout and improving confidence. Moreover, there seemed to be a stronger effect in the intervention than in the withdrawal phase. Qualitative data obtained revealed that psychological training not only helped athletes in the arena but also enhanced their spiritual realm. Conclusion It can be viewed that applying skill-oriented and spirit-oriented psychological training is very effective in improving elite Chinese archery athletes’ state of mind. In the future, it is suggested that more studies could be done to further contextualise, examine, and expound on the effectiveness of the spiritual realm in other sport-systems.