Non-elite Finswimmers data

This research aims to investigate the impact of the neurolinguistic programming technique (NLP) on the non-elite finswimmers' anxiety, self-confidence, self-esteem, and physical performance. The participants were divided into an experimental group (N = 15) and a control group (N = 15). Two months of mental training included two weeks of imagery and relaxation followed by one month of anchoring resources technique learning, then two weeks of break dedicated to NLP effectiveness assessment. We conducted a pretest before the intervention, a post-test after the intervention, and a follow-up test two weeks after we stopped the intervention. In each of the three time points, we performed semi-structured interviews based on meta-modeling questions and undertook two questionnaires, the French version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 Revised (CSAI-2R) and the French version of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP). Findings showed that after NLP training, athletes improved their psychological and physical skills. The experimental group showed significant anxiety decrease and significant self-confidence and global self-esteem increase in both the posttest and the follow-up test. Moreover, group differences showed significance or substantial between-subject variability in the mental skills after the intervention and two weeks later. In addition, after NLP training, the athletes enhanced their swimming performance.
Ultimately, neurolinguistic programming is a powerful tool used to enhance athletes' mental health and physical performance. Besides, the technique demonstrated a durable effectiveness.