The effects of brief online self-help intervention strategies on emotions and satisfaction with running performance

The present study investigated the effects of online self-help interventions on emotions and satisfaction with performance in a sample of runners (N = 147). Participants set themselves a running time goal they wished to achieve, and made goal attempts pre and post-intervention. After the first goal attempt, participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (1) implementation intentions (if-then planning), (2) goal setting, and (3) control group. During both goal attempts, participants reported the intensity of pre-run emotions retrospectively and satisfaction with performance. Results indicated post-intervention emotions were significantly more pleasant and less unpleasant, with more runners reported as performing to expectation. Results also indicated emotion-performance satisfaction relationships strengthened postintervention. Contrary to expectations, implementation intentions did not produce greater benefits when compared to goal-setting intervention and control groups. We suggest that future research should continue to investigate the efficacy of brief online interventions in regulating emotions and performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)