Introduction

The primary aim of this research was to investigate the effects of positive psychology and visualization techniques on the mental health of injured athletes. Given the significant psychological challenges that athletes face during their recovery periods, this study sought to identify effective interventions that can enhance their mental well-being and facilitate a smoother transition back to competitive sports.

Method: This study was classified as applied research and utilized a survey and correlational design for data collection. The statistical population comprised 500 organized athletes from Zanjan County in 2024, representing various sports disciplines, all of whom had a minimum of two years of competitive experience. From this population, approximately 200 injured athletes were identified. Using Cochran's formula, a sample of 131 individuals was selected through cluster random sampling and purposeful selection based on specific inclusion criteria. The study employed a researcher-developed package for mental imagery training, grounded in the educational program by Oshea & Moran (2019). Additionally, positive psychology training, based on the work of Susan Quilliam (2003), was conducted over 12 sessions. The Psychological Needs in Sport Questionnaire developed by Vallerand et al. (2006) was administered as both a pre-test and post-test to assess the mental health of the participants.

Results: The analysis revealed significant differences in the mental health scores of injured athletes across different groups (P=0.01). In the group that received positive psychology training, the mean difference was 4.20, with a t-value of 3.402 at a significance level of 0.02, indicating a significant positive impact. Similarly, in the visualization group, the mean difference was 3.99, with a t-value of 2.314 at a significance level of 0.03, demonstrating a positive and significant effect of visualization techniques. The combined group of positive psychology and visualization exhibited the highest improvement, with a mean difference of 10.17 and a t-value of 5.724 at a significance level of 0.01. In contrast, the control group did not show significant differences, with a significance level of 0.51 (P>0.05).

Discussion: The findings of this research underscore the importance of addressing the psychological aspects of recovery in athletes. Injuries can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and decreased self-esteem, which can hinder the recovery process. The application of positive psychology techniques, such as fostering a positive mindset and resilience, alongside visualization practices, which help athletes mentally rehearse their performance and recovery, proved to be effective strategies. The significant improvements observed in the mental health scores of the intervention groups highlight the potential of these approaches in enhancing athletes' coping mechanisms and overall psychological resilience.

Conclusion: Athletes often encounter psychological difficulties following injuries, including feelings of isolation from competitions and diminished self-confidence. The findings of this study indicate that both positive psychology techniques and visualization have beneficial effects on the mental health of injured athletes. These approaches can be effectively integrated into sports teams as practical strategies for supporting injured players. The educational-psychological intervention, which includes training in coping skills and stress management, equips athletes with the tools necessary to navigate the psychological challenges associated with injuries, ultimately facilitating a more effective recovery process and improved overall mental health.

Implications for Practice: Coaches, sports psychologists, and rehabilitation professionals should consider incorporating positive psychology and visualization techniques into their training and rehabilitation programs. By doing so, they can help athletes not only recover physically but also enhance their mental resilience, leading to a more holistic approach to athlete care. Future research should explore the long-term effects of these interventions and their applicability across different sports and levels of competition.

Keywords: Positive psychology, mental imagery, injured athletes, mental health, sports psychology

Ethical Considerations

Compliance with ethical guidelines

The ethical principles observed in the article, such as the informed consent of the participants, the confidentiality of information, the permission of the participants to cancel their participation in the research. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of the Tabriz University.

Funding

This study was extracted from the M.A thesis of first author at Department of Sport Psychology of Tabriz University.

Authors' contribution

All authors contributed equally to the conceptualization of the article and writing of the original and subsequent drafts.

Conflict of interest

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants of the present study.