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Team Games Department, College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. , fouad.hussein@cope.uobaghdad.edu.iq
Abstract: (32 Views)
Background. Mental stress during competition is a crucial psychological factor affecting the performance of both athletes and coaches. It influences focus, decision-making, and the ability to execute skills effectively. This stress often manifests as anxiety or pressure in high-stakes situations. Various psychological scales are used to measure mental stress in sports.
Objectives. The study aims to construct an Intellectual Competition Stress (ICS) scale for handball coaches in Iraq.
Methods. This study follows the Consensus-Based Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) methodological guidelines. The research sample consisted of 60 coaches, representing 70.5% of the total study population (85), with an exploratory sample of 4 coaches. A total of 50 statements were developed. Pentatonic scale was used for response collection (always, often, sometimes, rarely, and never), with the corresponding weights being 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Chi-square was used to obtain the experts' agreement to analyze the experts' opinions statistically. In the first stage, a preliminary scale was developed. In the second stage, the scale underwent reliability and validity tests. The proposed fields and their theoretical definitions were then presented to 11 experts to determine the validity of the proposed fields with content validity index (CVI) (index1). Test and retest 0.77 and Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.80 were calculated, indicating high reliability. The validity and reliability of responses were tested, and 11 experts reviewed the scale. A t-test for independent samples was conducted to assess discriminatory power.
Results. The coaches' Intellectual Competition Stress index remained moderate (120.52 ± 18.01, P<0.05).
Conclusion. The final version of the ICS scale, comprised 38 statements and was deemed a suitable tool for measuring intellectual competition stress among handball coaches.
Objectives. The study aims to construct an Intellectual Competition Stress (ICS) scale for handball coaches in Iraq.
Methods. This study follows the Consensus-Based Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) methodological guidelines. The research sample consisted of 60 coaches, representing 70.5% of the total study population (85), with an exploratory sample of 4 coaches. A total of 50 statements were developed. Pentatonic scale was used for response collection (always, often, sometimes, rarely, and never), with the corresponding weights being 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Chi-square was used to obtain the experts' agreement to analyze the experts' opinions statistically. In the first stage, a preliminary scale was developed. In the second stage, the scale underwent reliability and validity tests. The proposed fields and their theoretical definitions were then presented to 11 experts to determine the validity of the proposed fields with content validity index (CVI) (index1). Test and retest 0.77 and Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.80 were calculated, indicating high reliability. The validity and reliability of responses were tested, and 11 experts reviewed the scale. A t-test for independent samples was conducted to assess discriminatory power.
Results. The coaches' Intellectual Competition Stress index remained moderate (120.52 ± 18.01, P<0.05).
Conclusion. The final version of the ICS scale, comprised 38 statements and was deemed a suitable tool for measuring intellectual competition stress among handball coaches.
Keywords: Competitive Behavior, Behavior Rating Scale, Mental Fatigue, Self-Confidence, Sport Psychology.
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APPLICABLE REMARKS
APPLICABLE REMARKS
- Continuous updating of the scale, to evaluate coaches periodically, to keep pace with the development of handball, and ensure its continued use and application in the Handball Federation's evaluation programs for coaches to determine the psychological and mental level and to support the training level for selecting national team coaches.
- Integrating artificial intelligence into designing scales and tests in scientific research. This step may help develop psychological scales that are different from the current reality and enhance the ability to obtain more accurate responses from the sample.
- Researchers in sports and physical education should consider integrating psychological tests with the help of AI into the practical and applied side of their work. This can provide valuable insights into the creative psychological abilities of athletes and help coaches lay strong foundations for psychological aspects in their training programs.
Type of Study: Original Article |
Subject:
Sport Psychology and its Related Branches
Received: 2025/03/15 | Accepted: 2025/06/26
Received: 2025/03/15 | Accepted: 2025/06/26
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