The effects of a cognitive intervention and perceived value on adherence to imagery practice

Previous research has indicated that cognitive strategies and perception of value are related to adherence to aerobic and low-back exercise, and to health behavior change. The present investigation studied the effects of high and low levels of perceived value of imagery practice and participation in a cognitive intervention (Adherence Enhancement Program) on adherence to sport-specific imagery over a ten week period. A sub-problem was to determine if perceived value changed as a result of participation in the program.; Perceived value was measured by the Perceived Value of Imagery for Athletes Inventory, an instrument designed for this study to determine the extent to which athletes felt that imagery practice would enhance performance and satisfaction in their sport. Subjects (NCAA Division II athletes) were stratified on perceived value and randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. Both groups received the same four sessions of instruction in the technique of sport specific imagery. The treatment group received an additional cognitive intervention designed to enhance adherence to a recommended daily schedule of imagery practice. The intervention combined three strategies: (1) self-efficacy modification, to teach subjects to identify negative self-talk which might interfere with adherence and replace it with positive, adherence-related self-talk; (2) a decisional balance sheet exercise designed to enhance commitment to adherence by identifying and focusing on the benefits to be gained by adherence; and (3) relapse-prevention, to teach subjects how to constructively cope with setbacks and relapses.; Adherence quantity was measured by the number of minutes practiced by the subjects each day yielding a daily score of zero to 20. Adherence quality was measured by subjects self-reports on three five-point Likert type scales, yielding a daily quality measure of three to 15. All subjects completed imagery logs which were submitted weekly to the researcher. Follow-up interviews were completed with each subject at the conclusion of the ten-week period.; A 2 x 2 x 10 (Treatment by Perceived Value by Time) repeated measure analysis of variance revealed no significant main effect of the treatment on adherence quantity or quality and no main effect of perceived value on adherence quantity or quality. A weak interaction of perceived value and time was found for both adherence quantity and quality. Interviews with high adhering subjects revealed that adherence was positively affected by a strong commitment to one's development as an athlete, a belief in the power of imagery practice to aid performance, and performance improvements attributed to imagery. Interviews with low adhering subjects revealed that lack of available time was the greatest hindrance to adherence.; Future research on adherence should focus on the process by which an individual makes a strong personal commitment to develop his or her abilities and on methods for strengthening one's belief in the value of the intended behavior.