The impact of a psychological counseling program based on muscle and mental relaxation strategies on reducing competitive stress in handball players

Abstract

This research aims to design a psychological counseling program based on muscular and psychological relaxation strategies to reduce competitive tension among handball players. This was achieved through (developing a competitive tension scale for handball players and implementing a psychological counseling program based on muscular and psychological relaxation strategies). The researcher used the experimental method, as it was suitable for the nature of the research, and employed a pre-test/post-test experimental design with a single experimental group. The researcher selected a random sample of (60) handball players in Iraq. Data was collected using the competitive tension scale (developed by the researcher) and the psychological counseling program based on muscular and psychological relaxation strategies (developed by the researcher). The researcher concluded that one of the most important findings was the development of a competitive stress scale for handball players, which includes five dimensions: physiological stress, emotional stress, mental stress, family stress, and control of competitive pressures. The proposed psychological counseling program, based on muscular and psychological relaxation strategies, has a positive effect on reducing stress levels among handball players.