Anger Management - Evaluation of a Cognitive-Behavioral Training Program for Table Tennis Players

Area of Science:

• Sports Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Dysfunctional anger negatively impacts athletic performance, particularly in sports demanding selective attention and fine motor skills.
• Cognitive-behavioral interventions show promise for helping athletes manage and control anger.
• Table tennis requires precise motor skills and focus, making anger management crucial for player development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief cognitive-behavioral anger management training program for young competitive table tennis players.
• To assess the program's ability to modify ineffective anger reactions and improve emotional regulation in athletes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial with 18 young table tennis players (16-22 years) assigned to a treatment (n=10) or control (n=8) group.
• The treatment group received a six-session cognitive-relaxation and social skills training program over two months.
• Psychological measurements, including self-reported anger, were administered pre-treatment, during, post-treatment, and at a one-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• The treatment group demonstrated a significant reduction in outward negative anger expression compared to the control group.
• Specific anger reactions related to table tennis performance were notably reduced in the trained group.
• These positive effects on anger management were sustained at the one-year follow-up assessment.

Conclusions:

• The brief cognitive-behavioral anger management training program proved effective in reducing dysfunctional anger in young table tennis players.
• The intervention successfully enhanced athletes' ability to manage anger, leading to improved emotional control and potentially better performance.
• Findings suggest that targeted anger management programs can be beneficial for athletes in sports sensitive to emotional regulation.