The Effects of Positive Psychological Interventions on Chinese Collegiate Student-athletes

The Effects of Positive Psychological Interventions on Identity,Mental Energy, Well-being, and Self- Compassion Among Chinese Collegiate Student-athletes

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of positive psychology intervention on the identity, psychological competence, well-being, and self-compassion of Chinese student-athletes. The first part of the study is guided by the theory of positive psychology and positive psychological interventions. Five scales, namely the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale, Athletic Mental Energy Scale, Sport Mental health Continuum-Short Form, Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire, and Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, are selected and translated from English into Chinese to validate the reliability and validity of the five scales in the Chinese population. The investigators will invite student-athlete to participate in a two-part study .This study will last approximately 8 weeks for a total of 12 interventions that have been shown to have a positive impact on people;s lives and the investigators would like to further examine the potential. participants will not be forced to participate in this study if they do not wish to.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Intervention; Psychological Well-Being
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Positive psychological intervention; Other: Introduction to Positive Psychology Poster

Detailed Description

The experimental intervention is designed to enhance student-athletes' mental energy, well-being, self-compassion, and identity through an eight-week positive psychology training program. Each week consists of two modules, focusing on different techniques and methods from positive psychology, aimed at improving athletes' mental health and performance.

In Week 1, the intervention covers two modules: "Recreating Glory" and "Three Good Things." Participants will reflect on their personal achievements, write them down, and share these positive memories to enhance emotional regulation and self-awareness. The "Three Good Things" exercise encourages participants to recall three positive events each day, fostering positive thinking and broadening their perspective on life.

Week 2 focuses on "Sport Strengths" and "Character Strengths." Participants will identify their athletic strengths and areas for improvement, setting realistic goals to boost self-efficacy. They will also evaluate their character strengths with the help of family and friends, choosing the five that best represent them and reflecting on how these strengths shape their personal identity.

In Week 3, the modules "Using Strengths to Overcome Stress" and "Personal Growth Plan" will teach participants how to leverage their strengths to cope with stress and negative emotions. They will also develop a personal growth plan to envision a better future self, enhancing their well-being and goal achievement.

Week 4 includes "Positive Self-Talk" and "Optimistic Attribution." Participants will learn how to reduce self-criticism and increase self-esteem through compassionate self-talk. They will also be guided to attribute success and failure in a positive, rational way, helping them build resilience and confidence in handling unexpected challenges in sports.

In Week 5, the "Enjoying Life" module teaches participants how to slow down, focus on life's beauty, and relax. Music and mindful relaxation exercises are introduced to help them manage stress. Week 6, the "Acts of Kindness" module, encourages participants to use their strengths to help others, fostering a sense of accomplishment and emotional fulfillment through positive actions.

Week 7 focuses on "Positive Relationships," helping participants develop empathy and teamwork by recognizing the strengths of those around them, which enhances group cohesion. Lastly, in Week 8, the "Dream List" module prompts participants to think about and plan for their future aspirations, helping them pursue long-term goals and find meaning in life.

Overall, this intervention integrates various dimensions of positive psychology to promote comprehensive improvements in the mental energy, well-being, and self-awareness of student-athletes.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 122
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Henan
    • Zhengzhou, Henan, China
      • Positive Psychological Intervention

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Collegiate student-athletes, who regularly train with their varsity sports teams
• Can represent the university at the University level and above
• 18 years old and above， informed and voluntary participation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have a history of mental disorders and psychiatric illnesses
• Experienced a significantly stressful event, such as bereavement, loss of a loved one
• At risk of self-injury or suicide
• Participants who do not give their signed informed consent form will be excluded

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Positive psychological intervention; This experimental intervention is an eight-week positive psychology program aimed at enhancing student-athletes' identity, mental energy, well-being, and，self-compassion. The program guides participants through exercises such as recalling personal achievements, identifying character and athletic strengths, setting goals, and envisioning future aspirations. By fostering positive emotions, resilience, and connection with others, this intervention seeks to support athletes in achieving mental and emotional well-being, both in sports and in life.	Behavioral: Positive psychological intervention; Each week consists of two modules, focusing on different techniques and methods from positive psychology, aimed at improving athletes' mental health and performance.
Placebo Comparator: Introduction to Positive Psychology; The control group intervention consists of an informational poster introducing positive psychology. This simple, non-interactive approach provides basic knowledge about positive psychology concepts without engaging participants in specific exercises or activities, serving as a minimal-intervention comparison for the active training program in the experimental group.	Other: Introduction to Positive Psychology Poster; The poster serves as an introductory resource, summarizing key concepts of positive psychology in an accessible format.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in mental energy before and after the 8-Week positive psychological intervention	Mental energy levels will be assessed using the Athetic Mental Energy Scale (AMES), a validated tool for evaluating an individual's subjective perception of cognitive vigor, motivation, and alertness.The AMES consists of 18 items rated on a 6-point Likert scale. Higher scores reflect greater mental energy, while lower scores indicate mental fatigue or depletion.	Baseline and 8 weeks after intervention.
Changes in identity after the 8-Week positive psychological intervention	Identity will be assessed before and after the 8-week positive psychological intervention. The measurement will be conducted using the Athletic and Acadmic identity Scale (AAIS). The AAIS evaluates the strength and exclusivity of an individual's identification with the athlete role.	Baseline and 8 weeks after intervention.
Changes in Self-compassion Before and After the 8-Week Positive Psychological Intervention	Self-compassion will be measured using the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), which assesses individuals' self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness in response to personal difficulties.	Baseline and 8 weeks after intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wang Xiawei
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Xiawei Wang, PhD, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 10, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 10, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 1, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 24, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 27, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 27, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 24, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: student-athlete,unviersity
• Other Study ID Numbers: USM/JEPeM/KK/23030250

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No