Athlete's Mind Wandering Characteristics And Its Effects On Performance

In competitive sports,athlete and coach's reaction of "mind wandering" is often happened.But what is the characteristic of athlete's mind wandering? What's the effect of athlete's mind wandering will have on performance? There is no evidence to answer.Five studies used semi-structured interview,questionnaire development and investigation,thought sampling in resting state and task state,combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to acquire the characteristics of athlete's mind wandering and the effects on performance.In study one: Athlete's mind wandering structure model was constructed.18 athletes took part in semi-structured interviews.we used NVIVO 11.0 qualitative analysis found: Athlete's mind wandering involved three aspects,the cause,content and results.In study two: Athlete's mind wandering scale was developed.563 athletes involved in the survey to develop the scale: included 3 subscales,10 dimensions and 42 items.In study three: The difference of athlete's mind wandering was analyzed.565 athletes took part in formal measurement,results showed that: female athletes' mind wandering by reason of weak attentional control is higher than male athletes';Fitness dominant athletes' mind wandering content,causefrequency,content and positive and negative mind wandering were higher than the skills dominant athletes';The lower of athlete's lever,the higher of mind wandering frequency by reason of psychological gap and competition state,the more content of motor processing and positive result;The shorter of sport's years,the higher of mind wandering frenquency by reason of weak attentional control,psychological gap,competition state and body feeling,the more content of motor processing and results of positive and negative mind wandering.In study four: Athlete's mind wandering in the resting state was reflected.48 athlete's thought sampling results showed that athlete's mind wandering slightly higher than the frequency of "blank",and mind wandering with awareness significantly more than that without awareness;The characteristics of athlete's mind wandering content was the scene,but didn't have time features,and largely has nothing to do with the training;Mind wandering content was related to resent daily life when time pointed to present and future.In study five: The task state's mind wandering was researched.37 athlete's thought sampling results showed that the frequency of mind wandering without awareness in complex task was higher than that in simple tasks.The response accuracy of mind wandering with awareness in complex tasks was lower than that in simple task.This research's main conclusion:(1)Athlete's mind wandering structure provided theoretical basis for developing scale and experimental research.(2)The mind wandering scale had good reliability and validity,can be used as an effective measuring tool.(3)The athlete's mind wandering showed different characteristics in gender,sports,athlete's level and sport's years.(4)Athlete's resting state mind wandering was characterized by its own group.(5)The more complex the task,the more frequency of mind wandering without awareness;Mind wandering with awareness had more negative effect on performance.