Examination of Cognitive Flexibility Levels of Young Individual and Team Sport Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the level of cognitive flexibility of individual and team athletes who are students. The study included a total of 237 volunteer athletes, comprising 140 males (59.1%) and 97 females (40.9%) with a mean age of 18.98 ± 2.18 years (range, 16-26 years) who were licensed to participate in individual and team sports. Study data were collected using the Cognitive Flexibility Scale developed by Martin and Rubin (1995), which consists of 12 items in total. International validity and reliability studies were conducted by Martin and Rubin, and Turkish validity and reliability studies were conducted by Çelikkaleli on high school students (Çelikkaleli, 2014). The scores of the Cognitive Flexibility Scale were found to be higher in the team sports athletes compared with the individual sports athletes (p<0.05). No difference was determined between the levels of cognitive flexibility in male and female athletes. The results indicated that the cognitive flexibility levels of team athletes are higher than those of individual athletes.

A Prospective Study Evaluating the Effects of a Nutritional Supplement Intervention on Cognition, Mood States, and Mental Performance in Video Gamers

“…Cognitive flexibility enhances sports performance by decreasing anxiety and stress during competition [26]. Improved cognitive flexibility has been observed in team sports [27]. The ability to focus attention and anticipation, which are both part of cognitive flexibility, is heightened in the higher-level sport participant [28].…”

Investigation of mental toughness and cognitive flexibility of e-sports and traditional sports

“…Bu çalışmada, geleneksel sporcular ile e-sporcular arasında bilişsel esneklik açısından anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır (Tablo 7). Aslan (2018) takım sporcuları ile bireysel sporcuların bilişsel esnekliğini incelediği çalışmasında takım sporcularının bireysel sporculara göre daha iyi bir bilişsel esnekliği sahip olduğunu bulmuştur. Bunun nedeni olarak takım sporlarının bireysel sporlara göre daha çok beklenmeyen durumlarla karşı karşıya kaldıklarını aktarmıştır.…”

“…Geleneksel sporcular ile e-sporcuların bilişsel esnekliklerini incelediğimiz çalışmada sporcuların hiçbir branş fark etmeksizin cinsiyetleri ile bilişsel esneklikleri arasında herhangi anlamlı bir fark tespit edilmemiştir. Aslan (2018) takım sporcuları ile bireysel sporcularının bilişsel esnekliklerini incelediği çalışmasında cinsiyetler arasında herhangi anlamlı bir farka rastlamamıştır (p>0,05).…”

Providing a clearer insight into how sport-related concussion and physical pain impact mental health, cognition, and quality of life

“…Cognitive flexibility involves the ability to adjust to change in task demands or priorities 21 and is therefore important for athletes with evidence that cognitive flexibility levels of team athletes are higher than those of individual athletes. 22 Aslan 22 suggests this could be due to individual sports requiring less cognitively than team sports. Team sports tend to be contact sports such as rugby, football, and hockey whereby SRC is likely, 23 and as SRC negatively impacts cognitive flexibility, 24,25 this threatens optimal performance 22 as well as exacerbating other negative consequences of SRC.…”

“…22 Aslan 22 suggests this could be due to individual sports requiring less cognitively than team sports. Team sports tend to be contact sports such as rugby, football, and hockey whereby SRC is likely, 23 and as SRC negatively impacts cognitive flexibility, 24,25 this threatens optimal performance 22 as well as exacerbating other negative consequences of SRC. Therefore, it is necessary to protect athletes from sustaining SRC and the impact this can have on cognitive flexibility.…”