Start Date
18-6-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
18-6-2025 10:30 AM
Abstract
Introduction Athletes competing in elite Deaf sports, known as Deaflympic sports, display unique sociocultural characteristics (Clark & Mesch, 2018). Yet, sport psychology research has largely overlooked this group of athletes for decades (Markov-Glazer et al., 2023). This study therefore aimed to examine sport psychology practices in Deaflympic sport, focusing on identifying distinctive characteristics, needs, and preferences of this athlete group.
Methodology To achieve this goal, six in-depth focus group interviews were conducted with 23 active Deaflympic athletes (26.1% female) and four coaches from individual sports (e.g., tennis) and team sports (e.g., handball). Participants discussed their use of psychological skills and communication strategies, the role of hearing aids in training and competition, and their experiences with sport psychology consultants. We analyzed the interviews’ contents using thematic content analysis (Braun et al., 2016).
Results The results showed participants largely apply psychological skills intuitively. Additionally, several distinctive features emerged in their use of techniques such as self-talk and relaxation. Moreover, athletes relying on visual cues for processing information described unique cognitive challenges during competition under certain conditions.
Conclusions In conclusion, Deaflympic athletes use psychological skills similarly to Paralympic and Olympic athletes but may apply them in distinct ways under specific circumstances. These and other unique characteristics should be considered when working with Deaflympic athletes. Moreover, Deaflympic athletes, particularly in team sports, may face additional cognitive demands that merit further attention in sport psychology practice and research.
Recommended Citation
Markov-Glazer, Alon and Schliermann, Rainer, "Qualitative Exploration of Applied Sport Psychology Practices in Deaflympic Sports" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 7.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day3/7
Qualitative Exploration of Applied Sport Psychology Practices in Deaflympic Sports
Introduction Athletes competing in elite Deaf sports, known as Deaflympic sports, display unique sociocultural characteristics (Clark & Mesch, 2018). Yet, sport psychology research has largely overlooked this group of athletes for decades (Markov-Glazer et al., 2023). This study therefore aimed to examine sport psychology practices in Deaflympic sport, focusing on identifying distinctive characteristics, needs, and preferences of this athlete group.
Methodology To achieve this goal, six in-depth focus group interviews were conducted with 23 active Deaflympic athletes (26.1% female) and four coaches from individual sports (e.g., tennis) and team sports (e.g., handball). Participants discussed their use of psychological skills and communication strategies, the role of hearing aids in training and competition, and their experiences with sport psychology consultants. We analyzed the interviews’ contents using thematic content analysis (Braun et al., 2016).
Results The results showed participants largely apply psychological skills intuitively. Additionally, several distinctive features emerged in their use of techniques such as self-talk and relaxation. Moreover, athletes relying on visual cues for processing information described unique cognitive challenges during competition under certain conditions.
Conclusions In conclusion, Deaflympic athletes use psychological skills similarly to Paralympic and Olympic athletes but may apply them in distinct ways under specific circumstances. These and other unique characteristics should be considered when working with Deaflympic athletes. Moreover, Deaflympic athletes, particularly in team sports, may face additional cognitive demands that merit further attention in sport psychology practice and research.