“If you want to be a professional footballer you can’t study”: an intervention to debate beliefs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v67.111997Keywords:
higher dual career; mental health; beliefs; talented athletes; intervention.Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this research was to promote the adaptive beliefs of student-athletes in relation to the possibility of combining professional football and higher education in order to upgrade their integral development and Mental Health (MH).
Objective: Design, implement and evaluate an intervention based on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).
Methodology: Sampling was purposive and by convenience. Participants were student-athletes (N = 44), between 14 and 16 years of age, who presented high scores in maladaptive beliefs (Jordana, Ramis et al., 2023).
Results: These participants underwent three REBT training sessions. The maladaptive beliefs detected in the pre-screening were modified with the intervention.
Discussion: Based on the results of a focus group, the characteristics of the intervention were also found to be satisfactory and some areas for improvement were highlighted.
Conclusions: Overall, this work helps to adapt the use of REBT in the sport context in a collective way and it contributes in particular to the management of situations off the field, in harmony with the Higher Dual Career (HDC).
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