Psychophysiological Regulation of the Emotional State of Elite Handball Players at the Stage of Maximum Realization of Individual Potential

Abstract

The article presents the results of a pedagogical experiment aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a psychophysiological regulation program targeting the emotional state of elite handball players competing at the international level. The relevance of this study is due to the high demands placed on athletes’ emotional stability during competition periods and the need to implement scientifically grounded self-regulation strategies. The aim of the research was to assess the effectiveness of an experimental program for harmonizing the emotional state of handball players during the stage of maximum realization of individual potential through psychophysiological regulation and pedagogical support. The object of the study was the psychophysiological state of athletes in the training process. The subject was the dynamics of emotional state indicators (depression level) and volitional self-regulation (overall level, persistence, self-control) in 28 handball players from the main and reserve rosters of the "Halychanka" handball club (Lviv), influenced by the proposed program. The experimental program included breathing exercises, visualization techniques, elements of cognitive-behavioral correction, and pedagogical support. The assessment tools were the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (adapted by T. Balashova) and the volitional self-regulation method by Zverkov–Eidman. The results demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the level of depression in the experimental group (by 15.50 points; p<0.001), while changes in the control group were not statistically significant. More than 85% of the experimental group showed no depressive symptoms after the intervention. Additionally, significant improvements were observed in volitional self-regulation: persistence, self-control, and overall regulation (p<0.01). These findings confirm the effectiveness of the proposed program as a tool for emotional stabilization and enhancing the functional reliability of athletes under competitive stress.