Imagery Intervention to Increase Flow State: A Single-Case Study with Middle-Distance Runners in the State of Qatar

Koehn, Stefan and Diaz-Ocejo, Jaime (2016) Imagery Intervention to Increase Flow State: A Single-Case Study with Middle-Distance Runners in the State of Qatar. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. pp. 1-14. ISSN 1612-197X (Accepted for Publication)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an imagery intervention on flow state in elite junior middle-distance runners based at a high-performance academy in Doha, Qatar. The study consisted of a nonconcurrent, single-case, multiple baseline A-B design. Theory-guided interviews on proximal conditions of flow state, including challenge-skills balance, clear goals, and unambiguous feedback, were conducted with athletes and coaches forming the basis of the intervention. The baseline phase was completed once each participant had met the stability criterion for flow state. Three participants worked with individualised, tailored imagery scripts during a four-week intervention phase. The results of the post-intervention phase showed a mean increase in flow state for all participants. The results have cross-cultural relevance and outline the challenges and potential barriers associated with working with elite junior athletes in ‘emerging countries’ in the Middle East, in comparison to working with Western athletes in ‘emerged countries’. Positive effects and some of the pitfalls associated with forming work collaborations between sport psychologists, working in research and applied areas, are considered in the discussion.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information and Comments:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1612197X.2016.1187653#.V4NctaKL-M8"
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Human and Digital Sciences > School of Health and Sport Sciences
Depositing User:	Stefan Koehn
Date Deposited:	11 Jul 2016 08:47
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2018 14:00
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/1573

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