Effectiveness of emotional freedom technique on competition anxiety and salivary cortisol of elite taekwondo athletes

Purpose of the study: In competitive sports, athletes may experience impaired mental and physical function due to experiencing a series of negative emotions. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to determine the effectiveness of emotional freedom technique (EFT) on the psychological and physiological responses of competitive anxiety in elite taekwondo athletes. Methods: This study included 29 elite male taekwondo practitioners in Tehran province who were selected by convenience sampling and randomly divided into groups of control (16 participants) and intervention (13 participants). In the pre-test (first competition), the cognitive components of competitive anxiety (cognitive anxiety, self-confidence and physical anxiety) and the physiological component of salivary cortisol of both groups were measured. The experimental group did 10 sessions of EFT training and the control group did only physical training. After the EFT intervention, the post-test (second competition) was taken. Data analysis was used in SPSS 22. Results: After EFT intervention, the intervention group compared to control group, had a decrease in the components of cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety and salivary cortisol, as well as an increase in the component of self-confidence. Conclusion: EFT might be a useful tool for reducing the physiological and psychological anxiety of elite male taekwondo athletes. Thus it is suggested that sports psychologists and coaches use EFT to reduce the cognitive and physiological components of competitive anxiety in athletes.