It's All in the Mind: PETTLEP-Based Imagery and Sports Performance

Two studies examined the effects of PETTLEP-based imagery compared to more traditional imagery interventions. PETTLEP imagery aims to produce a realistic and more functionally equivalent imagery experience than traditional imagery methods through factors such as wearing the correct clothing or imaging in the correct environment. In Study 1, 48 varsity hockey players were divided into four groups: “Sport-specific” imagery, “clothing” imagery, “traditional” imagery, and control. Imagery participants imaged 10 penalty flicks daily for six weeks, and controls spent an equivalent time reading hockey literature. In the post-test, the sport-specific group scored significantly higher than the clothing group, who scored significantly higher than the traditional imagery group. In Study 2, 40 junior gymnasts attempted a turning jump on the beam. They were split into four groups: A physical practice group, a PETTLEP imagery group, a stimulus only imagery group, and a control (stretching) group. Each group performed their task three times per week for six weeks. Both the physical practice and PETTLEP groups improved significantly from pre-test to post-test, with no significant difference between them, but the stimulus and control groups did not improve significantly. Taken together the results from Study 1 and 2 provide support for the efficacy of PETTLEP-based imagery over more traditional imagery interventions.     

Age norms for impulsiveness,venturesomeness and empathy in adults

A total of 1320 Ss (559 males and 761 females) completed the I₆ Impulsiveness Questionnaire. Reliabilities, scale intercorrelations, means and standard deviations as well as age means are given after some item changes from the original I₅ Questionnaire. The resulting I₇ Impulsiveness Questionnaire is reproduced in the Appendix, together with the scoring key. A further 589 Ss (383 males and 206 females) completed the new I₇, together with the EPQ and intercorrelations of the seven factors obtained are given (i.e. Psychoticism, Extraversion, Neuroticism, Lie score, impulsiveness Venturesomeness and Empathy). A table of means and standard deviations for this second sample of Ss is also given for the sake of completeness.     

Psychological skills and mindfulness training effects on the psychological wellbeing of undergraduate music students: An exploratory study

This study explored the efficacy of psychological skills and mindfulness training intervention on the psychological wellbeing of undergraduate music students. Participants were undergraduate music students (n = 36) from the Department of Music at a South African university, 21 of whom were elected to take the psychological skills and mindfulness training intervention. Data on their self-reported psychological wellbeing, psychological skills, mindfulness and performance anxiety levels were collected pre-and post-intervention. The analysis applied non-parametric procedures to determine changes in students’ psychological wellbeing after the seven-week intervention programme. Findings suggest improvements in psychological wellbeing, psychological skills, mindfulness and performance anxiety with training. Psychological skills and mindfulness training may have benefits to the psychological wellbeing of music students.