Improving Self-Efficacy and Imagery Ability with a Poly-Sensory Video and Mg-M Imagery Intervention within Division 1 Female Soccer Players

Self-efficacy has been shown to be a significant predictor in an athlete’s performance. Research has also suggested that imagery has been demonstrated to serve as a significant variable influencing self-efficacy within athlete samples. The addition of a poly-sensory video (PSV) is thought to potentially help with imagery ability as well through the incorporation of modeling and initiating thoughts of scenarios and tasks that the athlete is trying to image. It may also enhance vividness of the environment as well as utilize sources of self-efficacy. While studies have demonstrated improvements in self-efficacy through imagery little to none has looked at a PSV with the use of MG-M imagery as a complete intervention. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of a PSV that incorporated MG-M imagery in improving self-efficacy and imagery ability in NCAA Division I female soccer players. It was hypothesized that there would be an increase in both an athlete’s self-efficacy and imagery ability over the course of the intervention compared to their baseline phase. It is also expected that after the intervention is withdrawn, there would be a change in participants’ post-intervention baseline scores in relation to their original baseline results. The participants consisted of six NCAA, Division I female soccer players from a southeastern university. The results suggested that all six participants increased their mastery imagery ability during the intervention yet two participants scored dropped below the original baseline during the return to baseline. Self-efficacy in competition increased for four out of the six participants during the intervention and five out of the six had higher scores during the return to baseline than scored in the initial baseline. Examining self-efficacy in practice revealed five out of the six participants had higher scores in the intervention and only four out of the six had higher return to baseline scores that initial baseline scores. Results supported the notion that the use of a PSV with MG-M imagery as an intervention can potentially increase self-efficacy and imagery ability