Examining the Optimal Performance Emotional States of Individual Athletes

Background/purpose. In today's sports world, elite athletes and recreational participants can sustain their activities, enhance performance, and remain competitive not only through talent but also through training and psychosocial states. Individuals actively engaged in sports require innovative psychosocial support to achieve their desired outcomes successfully and satisfactorily. Achieving a state of "optimal performance" during athletic activity is considered crucial for completing the activity in a healthy way. The primary objective of this study is to examine the optimal performance emotional states of athletes involved in individual sports disciplines.

Materials/methods. The study used the "Personal Information Form" and the "Optimal Performance State Scale" as data collection tools. The study population consisted of 3,598 individuals actively engaged in individual sports disciplines in the provinces of Hatay, Kahramanmaras, and Osmaniye, which fall under the Ministry of Development's TR63 regional plan. The sample comprised 356 athletes from this population who met the eligibility criteria. The data were analyzed using SPSS; descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and relational statistics—specifically the t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) — were used.

Results. The study found that athletes in individual sports have high levels of self-confidence based on both aptitude and skill. Male athletes showed a clearer understanding of their intentions and desired achievements than female athletes, and they focused on their goals more effectively. Furthermore, the study found that athletes' sports disciplines, years of experience, and status as national team members positively influence the state of mind associated with optimal performance.

Conclusion. This research emphasizes the need to conduct mental training more inclusively and to account for individual differences. It highlights the necessity for rigorous, high-quality research that elucidates athletes' psychosocial levels as well as their situational and trait-like emotional states.

Keywords: Individual sports, state of continuous optimal performance, sports psychology, psychosocial factors

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