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Introduction

    The purpose of this work is to compare the level of imagination and anxiety in athletes dealing with individual and team sports. Sports are a total of the events that take an important place in people’s life and health. Every event that a person takes place in has an important psychological side, and the aforementioned side in sports is an important factor for people who aim to compete and live healthy. Sports are a social activity, therefore it is necessary that athletes be discussed scientifically as psycho-social creatures. Athletes can be under the effect of some psychological factors that affect their performances in positive or negative ways during the competition. These factors can sometimes be related to the personality of the athletes and sometimes it can happen by the effect of an alerter from the outside. One of the psychological factors that affect the performance is anxiety (Yücel, 2003).

    According to Cox (1986: 17, 183-190) anxiety is “an increased physiological excited state and a subjective worry”. According to Gould and Krone (1992: 124, 126, 133) “it shows the emotional state related to emotions anger, worry boredom that are found with the excited state”.

    When we look at the old sources, we see that the concepts fear and anxiety are assumed synonymous. The synonymous usage of fear and anxiety is because of their some similar features. Both emotions are an emotional reaction developed against a closing danger. Some physical symptoms may accompany with both emotions. But there are significant differences between the two emotions. When fear is felt about an event that is perceived as dangerous, anxiety is an exaggerated emotion that one creates himself. The event that is shown as the reason for this emotion might seem absurd for many people - People have been known to jump from a balcony on the second floor or even the third floor during an earthquake is an example of that (Abacı 2005).

    Mental practice is defined as seeing with the eye of the brain. The new definition is the experience of seeing when the suitable sensory input is not available. Mental animations are created by visual or other sense organs. The technique that is generally used in researches and said to be the most effective one is the mental practice technique (Marschark and Hunt, 1989; Solso, 2001).

    Today the problems like personal issues, disappointments; a low economic level makes people angrier day by day, decreases their bearing level against events, and causes intolerance. If this situation lasts long the community will be affected negatively and it will lead people to behaviours that will cause crime. This kind of situations and conditions affect athletes and in this context sports psychologists have important duties. Sports psychologists should teach the athletes how to deal with the competition stress and anxiety, improve the concentration, motivate the team and increase the self confidence. So, by integrating mental practice and interference strategies to athletes’ training and preparation programs, the technical, tactical and physical compounds that are given by the trainer can reach completeness. The research, in this context, is important in giving an idea to the sports psychologists. It will be a guide and a source if requested for studies that will be done later. 

Material-method

• Study Group: The system of this study consisted of the elite athletes who deal with individual and team sports in İstanbul. This study was applied on 58 men, 64 women; 56 team athletes, 66 individual athletes and a total of 122 athletes who are active in individual and team sports. The average age of participants is x=17, 62±2, 12; and sports age is 8,9±2,55.

• Data Collecting Tools: To measure the imagination levels of athletes, “Imagination Inventory In Sports” developed by Hall et al (1998); and to measure the levels of trait anxiety, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (S.T.A.I) whose reliability studies are done by Öner (1997) and translated by Öner and Le Compe (1976).

• Collecting Data: In this study, by visiting a variety of clubs in İstanbul, many interviews were done with active elite athletes and athletes were asked to fill the inquiry forms.

• Data Analysis: The data acquired by the end of the study are evaluated through the SPSS (statistical package for social sciences) 13.0 package programme. The acquired data are shown in the findings chapter in accordance with their features, and discussed and interpreted in the discussion and interpretation chapter. In the statistical analysis of data, average and standard deviation values are checked, to check the differences between groups that provide parametric assumptions Samples Independent t-Test, in non-parametric tests Mann Whitney-U Test is applied. The analyses are based on a p<0,05 meaning level.

Finding

Table 1. Age, Sports Age, Cognitive Imagery, Motivational Special Imagery, Motivational-General Motivation, 

Motivational-General Expertise and General Imagery Values Definitive Statistic Table of the Individual and Team Athletes

Definitive Statistic
	n	Minimum	Maximum	Mean	Sd
Age	122	13	24	17,62	2,12
Sports Age	122	2	15	8,9	2,55
C.I.	122	2,2	7	5,23	0,94
M.S.I.	122	1	7	5,43	1,1
M.G.M.	122	1	7	4,89	1,16
M.G.E	122	1	7	5,42	1,12
G.I.	122	1,3	6,7	5,25	0,82

    As seen in Table 1 the participant’s age is x=17,62±2,12 year ; sports age is x:8,9±2,55year ; C.I. x=5, 23±0,94 ; M.S.I x:5,43±1,1 ; M.G.M. x:4,89±1,16 ; M.G.E x:5,42±1,12 ; G.I. is x:5,25±0,82 .

Table 2. According to Individual and Team Athletes’ Gender, Age, Sports Age, Cognitive Imagery, Motivational Special Imagery, 

Motivational General Motivation, Motivational-General Expertise and General Imagery Values Difference Table

	Gender	n	Mean	Sd	t	p
Age	Male	58	17,6	1,99	-0,096	0,924
	Female	64	17,64	2,26
Sports Age	Male	58	9,17	2,51	1,116	0,267
	Female	64	8,66	2,58
C.I.	Male	58	5,19	0,87	-0,472	0,637
	Female	64	5,27	1
M.S.I.	Male	58	5,3	1,16	-1,172	0,244
	Female	64	5,54	1,05
M.G.M.	Male	58	4,56	1,17	-3,126	0,002*
	Female	64	5,19	1,08
M.G.E.	Male	58	5,37	0,99	-0,433	0,666
	Female	64	5,46	1,23
G.I.	Male	58	5,12	0,73	-1,615	0,109
	Female	64	5,36	0,89

    When the individual and Team athletes points are compared according to their sex, a difference is found between their motivational general motivation values (p<0,05). Among other points no meaningful statistical difference is found.

Table 3. According to Individual and Team Athletes’ Sports Type, Sports Age, Cognitive Imagery, Motivational Special Imagery, 

Motivational General Motivation, Motivational-General Expertise and General Imagery Values Difference Table

	Sports Type	N	Mean	Sd	t	p
Age	Team	56	18,27	1,89	3,203	0,002*
	Individual	66	17,07	2,17
Sports Age	Team	56	9,43	2,34	2,13	0,035*
	Individual	66	8,45	2,65
C.I.	Team	56	5,15	1,04	-0,868	0,387
	Individual	66	5,3	0,85
M.S.I	Team	56	5,34	1,18	-0,8	0,425
	Individual	66	5,5	1,04
M.G.M.	Team	56	4,76	1,32	-1,124	0,263
	Individual	66	5	1,01
M.G.E	Team	56	5,37	1,31	-0,411	0,682
	Individual	66	5,46	0,94
G.I.	Team	56	5,17	0,96	-1,056	0,293
	Individual	66	5,32	0,69

    When Table 3 is analysed, and the points of individual and team athletes are compared according the their sports type, a meaningful difference is seen between the age and sports age points (p<0,05). In General Imagery and 4 low dimension of Imagery statistically no meaningful difference is seen (p>0,05).

Table 4. According to Individual and Team Athletes’ Sports Type, Sports Age, Cognitive Imagery, Motivational Special Imagery, 

Motivational General Motivation, Motivational-General Expertise and General Imagery Values Difference Table

	Sports Type	N	Mean	Sd	t	p
Age	Team	30	18,27	2,08	2,77	0,007*
	Individual	28	16,89	1,64
Sports Age	Team	30	9,37	2,51	0,606	0,547
	Individual	28	8,96	2,54
C.I.	Team	30	5,32	0,9	1,242	0,219
	Individual	28	5,03	0,83
M.S.I.	Team	30	5,29	1,2	-0,068	0,946
	Individual	28	5,31	1,14
M.G.M.	Team	30	4,45	1,23	-0,728	0,47
	Individual	28	4,67	1,11
M.G.E.	Team	30	5,5	0,98	0,974	0,334
	Individual	28	5,24	1
G.I.	Team	30	5,15	0,76	0,292	0,771
	Individual	28	5,09	0,71

    When the points of individual and team athletes are compared according to their sports type, only a meaningful difference is found between their age points (p<0,05). No meaningful difference is found between other points of the athletes.

Table 5. According to Individual and Team female atheletes’ Sports Type, Sports Age, Cognitive Imagery, Motivational Special Imagery, 

Motivational General Motivation, Motivational-General Expertise and General Imagery Values Difference Table

	Sports Type	N	Mean	Sd	t	p
Age	Team	26	18,27	1,69	1,88	0,065
	Individual	38	17,21	2,5
Sports Age	Team	26	9,5	2,18	2,228	0,029*
	Individual	38	8,08	2,7
C.I	Team	26	4,94	1,17	-2,175	0,033*
	Individual	38	5,49	0,82
M.S.I	Team	26	5,39	1,18	-0,915	0,364
	Individual	38	5,64	0,94
M.G.M	Team	26	5,13	1,35	-0,417	0,678
	Individual	38	5,24	0,86
M.G.E	Team	26	5,23	1,62	-1,227	0,225
	Individual	38	5,62	0,87
G.I.	Team	26	5,18	1,16	-1,387	0,17
	Individual	38	5,49	0,63

    When the individual and team sportswomen’s points are compared according to their sports type, a meaningful difference is found between the sports age and cognitive imagery (p<0,05). No meaningful difference is found between the other points of the sportswomen.

Table 6. Definitive Age, Sports Age and Trait Anxiety Values Statistic Table of Individual and Team Athletes

Definitive Statistic
	N	Minimum	Maximum	Mean	Sd
Age	85	13	24	17,67	2,12
Sports Age	85	4	15	9,42	2,4
C. Anxiety	85	36	64	49,32	6,97

    As seen in Table 6 the individual and team athletes’ age is x=17,67±2,12; sports age x=9,42±2,4 ; trait anxiety x=49,32±6,97.

Table 7. The Trait Anxiety Values Difference Table of Individual and Team Athletes According to Their Gender

	Gender	N	Mean	Sd	t	p
Age	Male	48	17,5	2,06	0,842	0,402
	Female	37	17,89	2,21
Sports Age	Male	48	9,37	2,46	0,211	0,833
	Female	37	9,49	2,34
Trait Anxiety	Male	48	49,39	7,34	0,117	0,907
	Female	37	49,22	6,56

    When table 7 is analysed no meaningful difference is found between the points of individual and team athletes taken for their gender (p>0,05).

Table 8. The Trait Anxiety Values Difference Table of Individual and Team male Athletes According to Their Sports Type

	Sports Type	N	Mean	Sd	t	p
Age	Team	43	18,39	1,73	3,375	0,001*
	Individual	42	16,93	2,24
Sports Age	Team	43	9,53	2,42	0,431	0,667
	Individual	42	9,31	2,39
Trait Anxiety	Team	43	47,02	6,97	-3,24	0,002*
	Individual	42	51,67	6,21

    A meaningful difference is found between the age and trait anxiety points of individual and team athletes according to their sports type (p<0,05). And no meaningful statistical difference is found between the sports age points (p>0,05).

Table 9. The Trait Anxiety Values Difference Table of Individual and Team male Athletes According to Their Sports Type

	Sports Type	N	Mean	Sd	t	p
Age	Team	24	18,42	1,86	3,409	0,001*
	Individual	24	16,58	1,86
Sports Age	Team	24	9,54	2,5	0,465	0,644
	Individual	24	9,21	2,47
Trait Anxiety	Team	24	47	7,16	-2,371	0,022*
	Individual	24	51,79	6,84

*p<0,05

    A meaningful difference is found between the age and trait anxiety points of individual and team athletes according to their sports type (p<0,05). And no meaningful statistical difference is found between the sports age points (p>0,05).

Table 10. The Trait Anxiety Values Difference Table of Individual and Team female athletes According to Their Sports Type

	Sports Type	N	Mean	Sd	t	p
Age	Team	20	18,3	1,59	1,296	0,203
	Individual	18	17,39	2,66
Sports Age	Team	20	9,55	2,33	0,139	0,89
	Individual	18	9,44	2,36
Trait Anxiety	Team	20	46,7	6,91	-2,357	0,024*
	Individual	18	51,5	5,46

*p<0,05

    Only a meaningful difference is found between the trait anxiety points of individual and team sportswomen according to their sports type (p<0,05). No meaningful statistical difference is found between age and sports age points (p>0,05).

Discussion

    When imagery points of individual and team athletes according to their sex are compared, only a meaningful difference is found between the values of motivational general motivation (p<0,05) (Table 2). In the study done by Gammage, Hall and Roger (2000) they wanted to show the role of exercise type, density and sex in imagining with the 577 subject who filled the exercise imagining inquiry. At the end of the Study whatever gender, exercise type during imagining exercise, the imagining technique and energy of the individual is important. Men use more techniques than women. However, women use more visual imagination than men. Besides, the ones who do 3 or more imagining exercise a week use more imagining types than those who exercise less.

    When the imagery points of individual and team athletes according to their sports type are compared, a meaningful difference is found between their age and sports age points. (p<0,05). No meaningful difference is found between general imagery and the fourth lower dimension of imagery (p>0,05) (Table 3). In Liu’s (1999) study to study the effects of group and individual imagery for specially volleyball players’ skills, meaningful differences are found between imagery as a group and imagery individually. As a result, the ones who attended imagining exercises individually improved their personal skills, and the ones who attended as a group improved the coordination between them.

    When the imagining points of individual and team athletes according to their sports type are compared, only a meaningful difference is found between age points (p<0,05) (Table 4). Krista, Giacabbi, Hall and Weinberg (2000) studied the time, reason, place of athletes imagining exercises. They did this study on 7 men and 7 women, elite athletes from different branches. As a result, it was found that athletes use imagining for showing good performance and increasing performance rather than the learning skill. In addition, athletes use imagination in places like school, work and home besides competition and exercise.

    When the points of individual and team sportswomen taken according to their sports type are compared, a meaningful difference is found between sports age and cognitive imagery points (p<0,05). No meaningful difference is found between the other points of the athletes. (p>0,05). Deceria (1977), with the study done with female gymnasts, revealed that imagining exercises raises performance in mid-level athletes and decreases anxiety levels in amateur athletes.

    A meaningful difference is found between the trait anxiety and age points of individual and team athletes according to the sports type (p<0,05) (Table 8). 175 male university student between the ages of 18-25 participated in the study of Aktop and Erman (2002) “Comparison of Success Motivation Self-Respect and Trait Anxiety Levels of Team and Individual Athletes”. No meaningful difference is found between the two groups trait anxiety values. It is considered that trait anxiety and self-respect are not affected by sports type, university athletes’ trait anxiety levels are lower than the non-university athletes, and the same situation is also valid for self-respect scale.

    A meaningful difference is found between the points of age and trait anxiety according to the sports type of the individual and team athletes (p<0,05). And no statistically meaningful difference is found between the sports age points (p>0,05) (Table 9). 57 wrestler and 80 football players participated in the study of Tekin and Taşgın (2007), to study the anxiety and aggression levels of football players and wrestlers. At the end of the study a meaningful difference is found between the trait anxiety levels of football players and wrestlers.

    A meaningful difference is found between the trait anxiety points of individual and team sportswomen according to their sports type (p<0,05). And no meaningful statistical difference is found between age and sports age points (p>0,05) (Table 10).

    The result of this study shows that it is necessary to determine all athletes’ imagery levels, develop imagery levels besides physical development to bring up higher quality and more successful athletes. 

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