The Effectiveness of a Self-Efficacy Intervention for Helping Adolescents Cope with Sport-Competition Loss

Building on prior intervention research with women athletes (Arathoon & Malouff, in press), this study examined the effectiveness of a self-efficacy intervention for helping adolescents cope with sport-competition loss. The study included 111 adolescent netball and soccer participants (mean age = 13.98, SD = 1.36), who completed a positive affect scale prior to competition. Defeated participants were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. Intervention participants were asked to choose one or more of six thoughts related to self-efficacy and apply those to themselves before both groups again completed the positive affect scale. Control group participants showed a significant decline in self-reported positive affect compared to intervention participants. Observational ratings also indicated that the control group showed less positive affect after the loss than the intervention group. The results provide support for self-efficacy theory as applied to helping individuals cope with competition loss.