Effect of Focused-Attention Meditation on Competitive State Anxiety and Service Performance of Female Volleyball Players

Background and Purpose
Meditation or introspection refers to a practice in which individuals employ techniques such as mindfulness or directing their attention towards a specific subject, thought, or activity. The objective is to cultivate attention and awareness, leading to a state of tranquility, composure, and cognitive stability (Mohammadi et al., 2021). Anxiety significantly impacts both daily functioning and athletic performance, particularly during competitive events. Effectively managing this internal adversary is paramount, as errors made under pressure due to anxiety can have profound ramifications, potentially affecting championship outcomes or team victories (Qaripour, 2019). Competitive state anxiety represents a specialized form of anxiety triggered by competitive scenarios, which disrupts an individual's psychological equilibrium during such events, with observable physical and mental repercussions (Najafi et al., 2017). Research indicates that competitive anxiety compromises athletes' concentration and undermines their physical coordination, ultimately impairing their performance. While psychologists typically perceive it as a destabilizing psychological state accompanied by physiological manifestations, certain studies suggest its potential positive impact on team sports performance (Miryosofi et al., 2017). This underscores the intricate nature of competitive anxiety and its multifaceted influence on athletes (Ong and Griva, 2017). Moreover, empirical evidence suggests that athletes exhibiting higher levels of self-confidence and adept employment of psychological strategies tend to excel in high-pressure contexts. Additionally, research findings on the efficacy of meditation techniques underscore the constructive influence of such practices on athletes' performance. For instance, Saeed et al. (2019) discussed the role of exercise, yoga, and meditation in alleviating depression and anxiety disorders. Their study revealed that mindfulness-based meditation, whether employed as a standalone therapy or adjunctive treatment, yields favorable outcomes in managing depression, with enduring effects lasting up to six months or beyond. Given the significance of this subject matter, a review of existing literature reveals a paucity of studies examining the impact of meditation exercises, particularly focused meditation techniques, on the competitive state anxiety of female elite volleyball players. Given the critical role of serving proficiency in volleyball success, this research endeavors to address the inquiry: "Is focused meditation effective in mitigating competitive state anxiety and enhancing service performance among elite female volleyball players?"
 Data Collection Tool
AAHPERD Volleyball Serving Test (1969)
Purpose: This test measures the skill and accuracy of the volleyball serve.
Validity and reliability: This test and scoring method have been used in past research. This test has an acceptable validity and reliability of 80%.
Competitive state anxiety inventory (CSAI-2, Martens et al., 1990).
Purpose: This scale measures the competitive state anxiety variable of athletes.
Validity and Reliability: Concurrent, structural and content validity of this questionnaire have been reported to be very favorable in several studies, and the reliability coefficient of each of its three subscales using Cronbach's alpha coefficient in Moin et al.'s research (2012) for cognitive anxiety is 0.81, physical anxiety 0.83 and self-confidence 0.9.
Method
In the pre-test, all subjects completed the CSAI-2 competitive anxiety questionnaire and then measured the skill and accuracy of the volleyball serve using AAHPERD Volleyball Serving Test (1969). Then the experimental group participated in meditation theory classes as a group for 3 days and then each of them learned the TM technique from the respective professor separately. After 3 sessions of group practice and clearing the doubts of the subjects in the same center, each of them was given a plan to practice meditation at home. Based on this plan, they should practice TM twice a day for 20 minutes each time for 10 consecutive days. After the training sessions, in the post-test stage, the CSAI-2 competitive state anxiety test and the volleyball service test were repeated, similar to the pre-test, with the same method as before.
 
Statistical Method
ANCOVA was used for the difference and mean analysis of research variables in experimental and control groups. Also, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to ensure the normality of the data distribution, and the levene’s test was used for homogeneity of variances by SPSS statistical software version 26.
 Discussion
The findings indicate that focused meditation significantly influences cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, self-confidence, and service performance among elite female volleyball players in Torbat Heydarieh.
Recent research conducted by Ong and Chua (2021) proposes that various psychological interventions generally yield a modest yet positive impact on athletes' competitive anxiety. Notably, cognitive-behavioral techniques emerge as effective in this context. These approaches assist athletes in recognizing detrimental thought patterns and behaviors associated with anxiety, such as fear of failure, concentration difficulties, and performance-related concerns. Through addressing these irrational cognitions and beliefs, cognitive-behavioral therapy effectively diminishes cognitive anxiety among athletes.
Empirical evidence suggests that prolonged mindfulness meditation practices can induce alterations in brain regions involved in regulating stress and anxiety responses. Specifically, increased activity in the frontal cortex and hippocampus, coupled with decreased activity in the amygdala, has been observed. However, certain studies suggest that significant changes in brain structure and function, along with improvements in anxiety symptoms, can occur after relatively short durations of mindfulness training. For instance, Yang et al. (2019) reported structural and functional brain changes after just eight weeks of mindfulness training. Furthermore, research involving students aged 19 to 22 revealed that as little as 5 to 12 minutes of focused meditation led to reductions in anxiety and stress, with prolonged meditation sessions demonstrating increased efficacy. A review of diverse studies also underscores the effectiveness of concentration-based meditation in alleviating anxiety, depression, and stress. In alignment with this, the present study corroborates the assertion that focused meditation can positively impact competitive anxiety among elite volleyball athletes.
Moreover, the current investigation demonstrates that a regimen of decentralized meditation significantly enhances all three serving techniques. Concentration stands out as a pivotal principle emphasized in volleyball serving. Volleyball players contend with both external and internal distractions that impede their focus, particularly during serving. The study identifies concentration meditation as an efficacious tool for bolstering focus and service performance among female volleyball players. These findings underscore the significance of mindfulness practices in sports psychology for combating anxiety and optimizing performance.
Funding
This study received no funding from public, commercial, or nonprofit organizations.
Authors’ Contributions
Drafting the manuscript: Najmeh Fallah Mehneh, Hossein Soltani; Search and data collection: Najmeh Fallah Mehneh; Revision and edition of the manuscript: Hossein Soltani, Mahdi Mohammadi-Nezhad.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgement
We sincerely thank all the volleyball players who collaborated in this research. The authors would also like to express their gratitude to the Sports Psychology Study Journal for providing the opportunity to publish this article.