A REBT intervention for the recovery of healthy physical activity in former elite athletes

Abstract

Although many former elite athletes maintain healthy levels of physical activity after retirement, those who do not, put their health at greater risk than the general population as previous studies have shown. The purpose of this study was to design and implement a Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy intervention consisting of three 45-minute sessions aimed at the functionalization of beliefs, so that eight sedentary former elite athletes would recover the practice of healthy physical activity. Using an idiographic single-case, staggered multiple-baseline across participants research design, we collected information, before and after the intervention, regarding their motivations and dysfunctional beliefs through semi-structured interviews and an online questionnaire. The intervention was effective to re-engage seven of the eight participants to healthy physical activity. In addition, social validation allowed former elite athletes to express their opinion about the intervention experience, which was positively valued for helping them to (a) identify the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral consequences, (b) establish realistic goals, (c) reinterpret the concept of physical activity, (d) develop a more functional internal dialogue, and (e) transfer the knowledge acquired to other everyday situations. To promote change and adherence to healthy habits, it is key that, in addition to motivational aspects, professionals focus on cognitive aspects, and these interventions are potentially effective in achieving this