Effects of self-efficacy on frontal midline theta power and golf putting performance

Chien-Lin Yu; Cheng-Wei Kao; Jia-Hao Wu; Eric Hung; Wei-Chun Chang; Ren-Ting Yang; Kuo-Pin Wang; Tsung-Min Hung

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1349918

Effects of self-efficacy on frontal midline theta power and golf putting performance

Front Psychol. 2024 Apr 8:15:1349918. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1349918. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Chien-Lin Yu^#¹, Cheng-Wei Kao^#¹, Jia-Hao Wu¹, Eric Hung¹, Wei-Chun Chang¹, Ren-Ting Yang¹, Kuo-Pin Wang^{2

3}, Tsung-Min Hung^{1

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Center for Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC), Bielefeld University, Inspiration 1, Bielefeld, Germany.
³ Neurocognition and Action, Biomechanics Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
⁴ Institute for Research Excellence and Learning Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability Executive Master of Business Administration, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Introduction: Self-efficacy (SE), defined as an individual's belief in their ability to complete a task, is linked to top-down attentional control, influencing motor performance in sports. Although the behavioral effects of SE are well-documented, there is a lack of research on the mechanisms through which SE affects sports performance. Our research aims to elucidate the neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie the impact of self-efficacy on sports performance. Specifically, we intend to explore the effects of low and high SE on frontal midline theta (Fmθ) activity, associated with sustained top-down attention, and on motor performance.

Methods: We recruited thirty-four professional golfers to perform 60 putts, during which their electroencephalographic activity was monitored. SE levels were assessed using a visual analog scale from 0 to 10 before each putt, with scores categorized into higher or lower SE based on each golfer's individual average score.

Results: Paired t-tests indicated that trials with higher SE scores had a higher putting success rate than those with lower SE scores (53.3% vs. 46.7%). Furthermore, trials associated with higher SE scores exhibited lower Fmθ activity compared to those with lower SE scores (4.49 vs. 5.18).

Discussion: Our results suggest that higher SE is associated with reduced top-down attentional control, leading to improved putting performance. These findings support Bandura's theory of SE, which suggests that the effects of efficacy beliefs are mediated by cognitive, motivational, emotional, and decision-making processes. This study sheds light on the intermediate processes of SE by examining its impact on the anticipation of outcomes, sports performance, and attentional control prior to putting.

Keywords: attention; frontal midline theta; golf-putting; self-efficacy; sports performance.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was financially supported by the Higher Education Sprout Project of the Ministry of Education of Taiwan, the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan (109WFA0310225), and Bielefeld Young Researchers Fund of Bielefeld University and was supported by the Open Access Publication Fund of Bielefeld University and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for the publication costs.