Building Resilience and Well-being: Psychological Interventions for Second Division Footballers in Hosanna City, Ethiopia.

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of psychological interventions on the well- being and resilience of second division football players in Hosanna City, Central Ethiopia Region, using a mixed-methods approach. The research involved 120 football players from four second-division zone football clubs in Hosanna City, with 20 players aged 20-26 selected from each club for the intervention. The study utilized sport psychology techniques and was conducted pre- and post- intervention assessments, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based training over a 12-week period. The results showed a significant decrease in players' stress levels and an increase in self-confidence, resilience, positive emotions, and improvements in physical fitness components, with a decrease in injury rates. The study also revealed the importance of mental stability for optimal performance and found positive correlations between physical well-being, mental well-being, and resilience. Integrating sport psychology interventions can lead to significant improvements in both the emotional and physical aspects of football players, potentially resulting in better performance outcomes and reduced injury occurrences.