Investigating the mediating role of positive and negative mastery imagery ability

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study investigated whether positive and negative mastery imagery ability mediated the relationship between confidence and stress appraisals and responses. To determine whether these results were specific to mastery imagery ability, this study also investigated whether another type of imagery ability (affect) mediated these relationships. DesignCross-sectional, multi-phase study. Method321 athletes (M age = 20.80 years) completed measures of mastery and affect imagery ability, challenge and threat appraisals, confidence, and anxiety intensity and direction. Using structural equation modeling, structural (i.e., mastery) and alternative (i.e., affect) models were tested for indirect effects. ResultsIn Phase 1, positive and negative mastery imagery ability mediated the relationship between confidence and challenge (B = 0.15, p = 0.025) and threat appraisals (B = −0.26, p = 0.003) respectively. Positive affect imagery ability mediated between confidence and challenge appraisals (B = 0.11, p = 0.001), and negative affect mediated between confidence and challenge (B = 0.03, p = 0.038) and threat appraisals (B = −0.06, p = 0.029). In Phase 2, positive (B = −0.09, p = 0.021) and negative (B = −0.10, p = 0.001) mastery imagery ability mediated between confidence and cognitive anxiety intensity, whereas neither positive nor negative affect imagery ability mediated this relationship. ConclusionsTraining athletes how to increase positive mastery imagery ability to combat negative imagery could directly influence stress appraisals and cognitive anxiety intensity, but affect imagery ability may also be important for impacting challenge and threat appraisals.