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
Nafiseh Shadbash 1
Morteza Taheri 2
Elham Hatami Shahmir 3
1 M S, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Iran
10.22089/spsyj.2025.17984.2567
Abstract
Objective: 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 at the University of Tehran with low sleep quality.
Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design including a control group. The participants consisted of semi-skilled male football students (aged 19 to 31 years) with low sleep quality, of whom 45 were randomly assigned to three groups of 15: fast-tempo music, slow-tempo music, and control. The instruments used included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire and decision-making software. After administering the decision-making pretest, participants in the two experimental groups listened to an instrumental music piece with different tempos, and after a one-minute rest, the decision-making posttest was administered.
Findings: The results of mixed ANOVA showed that both fast and slow music significantly increased the speed and accuracy of decision-making compared to the control group. Furthermore, fast-tempo music had a greater effect on increasing decision-making speed, but there was no significant difference between fast and slow music in terms of decision-making accuracy.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that music can be used as a useful stimulus to improve decision-making and cognitive performance in athletes with low sleep quality.
Keywords
Decision-Making
Fast Music
Slow Music
Sleep Quality
Subjects
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Sport Psychology Studies
Volume 15, Issue 56
Spring 2026
Pages 159-174

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