THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY COMBINED WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR REDUCING PRE-COMPETITION ANXIETY IN ATHLETES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2522-1795.2026.20.1.10Keywords:
cognitive behavioral therapy, stress resistance, mental resilience, sports psychology, cognitive restructuring, pre-competitive anxietyAbstract
Introduction. The worry before a contest that weighs the mind is a frequent parametric condition that can lead to the psyche losing its good motivation and, in the end, its psychological well-being. The applied and tested psychological methods of preparation fail to demonstrate in full their effectiveness, which, by extension, leads to the employment of integrated approaches, especially those involving cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and some physical activity.
Objective. To identify and examine the degree of effectiveness of cognitive-behavior therapy when combined with physical activity as a tool for anxiety alleviation in sportsmen before competitions.
Materials and methods. It was a study of 40 sportspersons, 18–25 years old, divided into 3 groups: experimental (CBT + sports), control 1 (only CBT), and control 2 (no intervention). The anxiety level was evaluated by the STAI (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) method before and after performing the protocol. The schedule lasted for 6 weeks and covered the times for the weekly CBT session (60 min) and moderate-intensity physical exercise (3 times per week for 45 min). Descriptive statistics and Student’s t-test were employed for the data analysis.
Results. The results obtained indicate a pronounced positive effect of an eight-week combined programme, which combined cognitive-behavioural therapy and targeted physical training, on the psycho-emotional state of athletes in the experimental group. The levels of anxiety and psycho-emotional state of athletes were determined using the CSAI-2, STAI and Spielberger–Hanin methods. The study results showed a statistically significant decrease in cognitive and somatic anxiety levels by 32,4% and 26,6%, respectively (p < 0.01), indicating an improvement in the participants’ ability to control anxious thoughts and physiological responses to stress. The indicators of situational and personal anxiety decreased significantly – by 25,7% and 12.7% (p < 0.05). At the same time, an increase in self-confidence (+16,0%), the development of volitional qualities (+13,0%) and a general improvement in emotional state (+10,2%) were noted. No statistically significant changes were found in the control group. The results of a one-way ANOVA confirmed the reliability of intergroup differences (p < 0.05), which indicates the effectiveness of the proposed psychological support programme.
Conclusions. Putting together cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise is an efficient way to lower the anxiety level of athletes that experience pre-competition nervousness, the effect going beyond that of using only CBT. The results achieved can be applied in sports psychology to not only planning the program of psychological support but also to improving the athlete’s psychological readiness.
References
1. Drazina, Yu., & Kernas, A. (2022). Teoretychni ta praktychni aspekty efektyvnosti prohram psykholohichnoi pidhotovky z povnokontaktnoho karate [Theoretical and Practical Aspects of the Effectiveness of Psychological Training Programs in Full-Contact Karate]. Naukovyi visnyk Pivdennoukrainskoho natsionalnoho pedahohichnoho universytetu imeni K. D. Ushynskoho – Scientific Bulletin of the South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky, 3(140), 76–82. https://doi.org/10.24195/2617-6688-2022-3-9. [in Ukrainian].
2. Didymus, F.F., & McCarthy, P. (2023). Cognitive therapy (CT). Applying cognitive behavioural therapeutic approaches in sport. M. Turner, M. Jones, A. Wood (Ed.). New York: Routledge, 61–73. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003162513-5.
3. Domínguez González, J.A., Reigal Garrido, R.E., Morales Sánchez, V., & Hernández Mendo, A. (2024). Effects of a psychological intervention program on competitive anxiety and psychological profile in young soccer players. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 131(4), 1233–1256. https://doi.org/10.1177/00315125241256410.
4. Hobson, J., & Dixon, J. (2023). Dynamic cognitive-behavioural sport psychology. Applying cognitive behavioural therapeutic approaches in sport. M. Turner, M. Jones, A. Wood (Ed.). New York: Routledge, 122–140. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003162513-9.
5. Isorna-Folgar, M., Leirós-Rodríguez, R., López-Roel, S., & García-Soidán, J.L. (2022). Effects of a cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention on the rowers of the junior Spain national team. Healthcare, 10(12), 2357. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10122357.
6. Kara, E., Türküm, A. S., & Turner, M.J. (2023). The effects of rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) group counselling program on competitive anxiety of student-athletes. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 41, 362–379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-023-00497-z.
7. Kuribayashi, C., Takebe, M., & Sato, H. (2023). A preliminary study of a cognitive behavioral therapy program for competitive anxiety in junior athletes. Japanese Journal of Sport Psychology, 50(2), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.4146/jjspopsy.2023-2015.
8. Martín-Rodríguez, A., Gostian-Ropotin, L.A., Beltrán-Velasco, A.I., Belando-Pedreño, N., Simón, J.A., López-Mora, C. et al. (2024). Sporting mind: the interplay of physical activity and psychological health. Sports, 12(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12010037.
9. Mccarthy, P., Gupta, S., & Burns, L. (2023). Cognitive behaviour therapy for sport and performance: an applied practice guide. New York: Routledge.
10. Medvid, M., Khatsaiuk, O., Sydorchenko, K., Vorok, S., Kernas, A., & Borovyk, M. (2024). Sports pedagogy: readiness of cadets to apply physical action in different conditions of service activity. Revista Românească pentru Educație Multidimensională, 16(2), 336–355. https://doi.org/10.18662/rrem/16.2/860.
11. Miller, A., Calder, B., Turner, M., & Wood, A. (2022). Exploring the association between irrational beliefs, motivation regulation and anxiety in ultra-marathon runners: a mixed methods approach. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy. 2022, 41, 392–410. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-022-00465-z.
12. Qiu, W., Wang, X., Cui, H., Ma, W., Xiao, H., Qu, G. et al. (2025). The impact of physical exercise on college students’ physical self-efficacy: the mediating role of psychological resilience. Behavioral Sciences, 15(4), 541. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15040541.
13. Sabadash, V., Lopushansky, O., & Lysko, V. (2023). Statistical assessment of the dynamics of changes in the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 particles in the air of urbanized areas. Environmental Problems, 8(4), 256–262. https://doi.org/10.23939/ep2023.04.256.
14. Sánchez-Sánchez, L.C., Franco, C., Amutio, A., García-Silva, J., & González-Hernández, J. (2023). Influence of mindfulness on levels of impulsiveness, moods and pre-competition anxiety in athletes of different sports. Healthcare, 11(6), 898. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060898.
15. Turner, M.J. (2023). Rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT). Applying cognitive behavioural therapeutic approaches in sport. M. Turner, M. Jones, A. Wood (Ed.). New York: Routledge, 74–94. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003162513-6
