Effects of Structured Psychological Skills Training on Mental Readiness, Performance-Related Abilities, and Character Development in Competitive Volleyball Athletes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29408/porkes.v9i1.32640Keywords:
Psychology; Volleyball Psychology; Performance; Character Athlete; Ability; Personality AthleteAbstract
This research problem in volleyball requires quick decision-making and solid teamwork, but many training programs still focus on physical and technical aspects, neglecting the development of structured psychological skills integrated with character building. This study aims to test the effectiveness of structured psychological skills training (PKP) in improving mental readiness, performance-related abilities, and character building in volleyball athletes. A total of 38 volleyball athletes participated in an eight-week PS program (three times/week) that included visualization, stress management, and goal setting. A quantitative experimental design was used with pre-test and post-test measurements using a modified Psychological Skills Inventory for Sports (PSIS). Data analysis used the Wilcoxon test and Spearman's correlation. The results of the study showed a significant increase in motivation, self-confidence, mental preparation, and emphasis on teamwork (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between intelligence and mental preparation (p=0.021), as well as cooperation and self-confidence (p=0.029). These improvements indicate that psychological interventions are effective in strengthening the cognitive-motivational aspects of athletes. The relationship between intelligence and cooperation with psychological skills confirms that cognitive abilities and social character contribute to athletes' mental toughness. In conclusion, structured PKP has been proven effective in improving the mental readiness and collaborative character of volleyball athletes. The systematic integration of psychological training into athlete development programs is highly recommended.
References
Birrer, D., Röthlin, P., & Morgan, G. (2014). Mindfulness to Enhance Athletic Performance : Theoretical Considerations Mindfulness to Enhance Athletic Performance : Theoretical Considerations and Possible Impact Mechanisms. Mindfulness Journal. 3(1). 235–246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0109-2
Beaumont, C., Maynard, I. W., & Butt, J. (2015). Effective ways to develop and maintain robust sport-confidence: Strategies advocated by sport psychology consultants. Journal of applied sport psychology, 27(3), 301-318. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2014.996302
Cossich, V. R. A., Carlgren, D., Holash, R. J., & Katz, L. (2023). Technological Breakthroughs in Sport: Current Practice and Future Potential of Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Modern Data Visualization in Performance Analysis. Applied Sciences, 13(23), 12965. https://doi.org/10.3390/app132312965
Coussens, A. H., Stone, M. J., & Donachie, T. C. (2025). Coach–athlete relationships, self‐confidence, and psychological wellbeing: The role of perceived and received coach support. European Journal of Sport Science, 25(1). e12226. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12226
Fu, D., Hase, A., Goolamallee, M., Godwin, G., & Freeman, P. (2021). The effects of support (in)adequacy on self-confidence and performance: Two experimental studies. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 10(1), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000206
Gustafsson, H., Skoog, T., Davis, P., Kenttä, G., & Haberl, P. (2015). Mindfulness and Its Relationship With Perceived Stress, Affect, and Burnout in Elite Junior Athletes. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 9(3), 263–281. https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2014-0051
Jermaina, N., Kusmaedi, N., Mamun, A., Gaffar, V., Purnomo, E., & Marheni, E. (2022). Effects of Relaxation Exercises to Reduce Anxiety in Beginner Athletes. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 10(6), 1275–1283. https://doi.org/10.13189/saj.2022.100618
Jones, M. I., & Parker, J. K. (2018). Mindfulness mediates the relationship between mental toughness and pain catastrophizing in cyclists. European journal of sport science, 18(6), 872-881. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2018.1478450
Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2020). Building a theory by induction: The example of goal setting theory. Organizational Psychology Review, 10(3–4), 223–239. https://doi.org/10.1177/2041386620921931
Park, I., & Jeon, J. (2023). Psychological Skills Training for Athletes in Sports: Web of Science Bibliometric Analysis. Healthcare, 11(2), 259. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11020259
Petrie, T. A., Greenleaf, C., Reel, J., & Carter, J. (2009). Personality and psychological factors as predictors of disordered eating among female collegiate athletes. Eating Disorders, 17(4), 302–321.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10640260902991160
Reinebo, G., Alfonsson, S., Jansson-Fröjmark, M., Rozental, A., & Lundgren, T. (2024). Effects of Psychological Interventions to Enhance Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine, 54(2), 347–373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01931-z
Röthlin, P., Horvath, S., Trösch, S., Holtforth, M., & Birrer, D. (2020). Differential and shared effects of psychological skills training and mindfulness training on performance- relevant psychological factors in sport : a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychology Journal. 8(1). 80-94. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-020-00449-7
Ruffault, A., Bernier, M., Juge, N., & Fournier, J. F. (2016). Mindfulness May Moderate the Relationship Between Intrinsic Motivation and Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study. Mindfulness, 7(2), 445–452. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0467-7
Vella-Fondacaro, D., & Romano-Smith, S. (2023). The Impact of a Psychological Skills Training and Mindfulness-Based Intervention on the Mental Toughness, Competitive Anxiety, and Coping Skills of Futsal Players A Longitudinal Convergent Mixed-Methods Design. Sports, 11(9), 162. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11090162
Weinberg, R. S. (2013). Goal setting in sport and exercise: research and practical applications. Revista da Educação Física/UEM, 24, 171-179. https://doi.org/10.4025/reveducfis.v24i2.17524
Wu, C. H., Nien, J. T., Lin, C. Y., Nien, Y. H., Kuan, G., Wu, T. Y., Ren, F. F., & Chang, Y. K. (2021). Relationship between mindfulness, psychological skills and mental toughness in college athletes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136802
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Arja Bahauddin, Febby Alfu Khoirun Nissa, Riska Devi Kurniawati, Soni Sulistyarto, Muhammad
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Jurnal Porkes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License
