Sport Psychology Studies

Sport Psychology Studies

The Effect of Different Music Tempos on Decision-Making Speed and Accuracy in Semi-Skilled Football Players with Poor Sleep Quality

Document Type : Original research

Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Iran
2 Master's Student, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Iran
10.22089/spsyj.2025.17984.2567
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of music with different tempos (fast and slow) on the speed and accuracy of decision-making in semi-skilled football players from the University of Tehran with poor sleep quality. This research employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. The participants were 45 male semi-skilled football student-athletes aged 19 to 31 years who were randomly assigned to three groups of 15: fast music, slow music, and control. The instruments used included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a computer-based decision-making software. After completing a decision-making pretest, participants in the two experimental groups listened to an instrumental music piece with different tempos. Following a one-minute rest, the posttest was administered. Results from repeated measures ANOVA revealed that both fast and slow music significantly improved decision-making speed and accuracy compared to the control group. Moreover, fast-tempo music had a greater effect on increasing decision-making speed, while no significant difference was found between fast and slow music in terms of decision-making accuracy. These findings suggest that music can serve as an effective stimulus to enhance cognitive performance and decision-making in athletes with poor sleep quality.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 December 2025

  • Receive Date 19 May 2025
  • Revise Date 14 December 2025
  • Accept Date 20 December 2025