Effects of Mental Training Through Imagery on the Competitive Anxiety of Adolescent Tennis Players Fasting During Ramadan: A Randomized, Controlled Experimental Study.

Sofien Fekih,Jamel Hajji,Anouar Bettaieb,Mohamed Sami Zguira,Abdessalem Koubaa,Mohamed Jarraya,Nicola Luigi Bragazzi

doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.713296

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the effects of mental training through imagery on the competitive anxiety of adolescent tennis players fasting during Ramadan. This is an experimental study conducted with 38 male tennis players, randomly allocated to two groups: an experimental group (EG, n = 18), aged 16.9 ± 0.6 years, and a control group (CG, n = 20), aged 16.7 ± 0.8 years. The study was designed as a randomized, controlled experimental trial (registration code PACTR 202006847771700). CG watched historical videos of the Olympics, while EG performed mental training. The competitive anxiety state assessment was recorded four times. The first measurement was carried out 1 week before Ramadan, the second measurement during the first week of the month, the third measurement at the end of the second week, and, finally, the fourth measurement during the fourth week of Ramadan. Our results revealed a significant interaction (time × groups) for all competitive anxiety subscales. Higher intensity and direction scores for the cognitive and somatic anxiety subscales during Ramadan compared with before Ramadan for both groups could be reported at P < 0.001. Higher intensity and direction scores for the cognitive and somatic anxiety subscales during Ramadan compared with pre-Ramadan for both groups could be found at P < 0.01. This increase in scores was greater for the CG than for the EG in the middle and at the end of Ramadan at P < 0.001. Finally, for the self-confidence subscale score, results revealed that intensity and direction scores were lower during Ramadan compared with pre-Ramadan for the two groups at P < 0.01. The score for the intensity of self-confidence was higher for the EG compared with the CG at the end of Ramadan at P < 0.001. It was concluded that mental imagery training was effective in reducing anxiety (cognitive and somatic) and increasing self-confidence in the intensity dimension of adolescent tennis players who fast during Ramadan.

Highlights

Anxiety is a complex, multidimensional construct that deals with the individual’s disposition and response to stressors and with the tendency to perceive and cope with stressful situations
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of mental imagery training on the competitive anxiety of adolescent tennis players who fast during Ramadan
A decrease in the dimensions of intensity and direction of self-confidence indicates a reasonable probability that this conclusion may be true for tennis players who fast during Ramadan and who have similar characteristics reported in the present study

Summary

Introduction

Multidimensional construct that deals with the individual’s disposition and response to stressors and with the tendency to perceive and cope with stressful situations. Despite a growing body of studies and empirical observations, athletes’ state of anxiety and the way they face such a psychological state remain not fully elucidated and understood with regard to some particularities. These include, for example, the dimensions and the determinants of competition and precompetition anxiety as a psychological state in general or in specific situations, such as those of athletes who fast during the month of Ramadan. This difficulty is reflected in the physical, mental, and psychological state of athletes [2,3,4], and, this may have a profound impact on sports performance and related results/outcomes

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Conclusion