Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Psychologically-Informed Methods of Enhancing Endurance Performance

McCormick, Alister (2016) Psychologically-Informed Methods of Enhancing Endurance Performance. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) thesis, University of Kent. (KAR id:57284)

PDF
Language: English
Download this file
(PDF/4MB)
[thumbnail of Alister McCormick PhD Thesis.pdf]
Preview

Abstract

The main focus of this thesis was to determine psychologically-informed methods of enhancing endurance performance, particularly in endurance sport events. There were three main research aims. First, this thesis aimed to synthesise research conducted to date on the psychological determinants of endurance performance. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify psychological interventions that affect endurance performance in experimental research. Learning psychological skills, verbal encouragement, and head-to-head competition enhanced endurance performance, whereas mental fatigue undermined endurance performance. Second, this thesis aimed to inform the design of performance-enhancement psychological interventions for endurance sports. In the first study addressing this aim, focus group interviews were conducted with recreational endurance athletes of various endurance sports, distances, and competitive levels to identify psychological demands that are commonly experienced by endurance athletes. Seven common psychological demands were identified using a thematic analysis. These demands were commonly encountered away from the competitive environment (time investment and lifestyle sacrifices, commitment to training sessions, concerns about optimising training, and exercise sensations during training), preceding an event (pre-event stressors), and during an event (exercise sensations, optimising pacing, and remaining focused despite adversity). Psychological interventions that help endurance athletes to cope with these psychological demands could potentially enhance performance in endurance events. In the second study that aimed to inform the design of an intervention, a psychophysiology experiment applied research on the facial feedback hypothesis to determine whether frowning modulates perception of effort during endurance performance. Contrary to hypotheses, intentionally frowning throughout a cycling time-to-exhaustion test did not influence perception of effort or time to exhaustion. This finding suggests that novel interventions that are informed by the facial feedback hypothesis and that target the expression of a frown would be unlikely to enhance endurance performance. Finally, this thesis aimed to examine the effect of a psychological skills training intervention on performance in a real-life endurance event. A randomised, controlled experiment was conducted to examine the effect of learning motivational self-talk on performance in a 60-mile, overnight ultramarathon. Although performance times indicated that motivational self-talk possibly produced a performance enhancement that might benefit ultramarathon runners, additional data will be collected at the same ultramarathon in 2016 to draw firmer conclusions. Overall, the findings of this thesis draw attention to psychological factors that influence performance in endurance events and demonstrate that psychologically-informed interventions can enhance endurance performance. People involved in endurance sports, such as athletes and coaches, are therefore encouraged to systematically work on the psychological aspects of training, preparing for a competition, and competing. Suggestions for how to approach this practically are scrutinised throughout the thesis.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy (PhD))
Thesis advisor: Meijen, Carla
Thesis advisor: Marcora, Samuele Maria
Uncontrolled keywords: Psychology endurance performance "mental skills training" "psychological skills training" "performance enhancement" self-talk cycling triathlon running ultramarathon
Subjects: Q Science
Q Science > QP Physiology (Living systems)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Sport and Exercise Sciences
Depositing User: Users 1 not found.
Date Deposited: 14 Sep 2016 11:00 UTC
Last Modified: 08 Dec 2022 16:28 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/57284 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

McCormick, Alister.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.