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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07427030

Digital Scaffolding for Self-Regulation: Using WhatsApp Reminders to Improve Sport Self-Efficacy in University Students

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a self-regulation strategy called Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII) can improve university students' confidence in participating in tennis training. The study also examines whether adding WhatsApp reminder messages makes the strategy more effective.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does using MCII help students feel more confident about joining and continuing tennis training?

Do WhatsApp reminders increase the effect of MCII on sport self-efficacy?

Researchers compared two groups. One group used the MCII strategy alone, while the other group used MCII together with reminder messages sent through WhatsApp.

Participants were university students who were already enrolled in a tennis training program. Participants:

Completed a questionnaire about their self-efficacy before the study started

Took part in a four-week intervention during regular tennis training sessions

Completed MCII planning exercises before training sessions

Received WhatsApp reminders before sessions if assigned to the reminder group

Completed the same questionnaire again after the intervention

The study aims to better understand how simple digital reminders may support self-regulation and improve students' confidence to continue participating in sports.

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Key information

Conditions

Self-Efficacy Behavior Physical Activity Behavior Self-Control Self-regulation Social Behavior Sport Participation

Age range

18 year–31 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Inonu University

Malatya, Battalgazi, 44280, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This study is grounded in self-regulation theory and investigates the effectiveness of a structured psychological strategy, Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII), in supporting self-efficacy related to university students' participation in tennis training. In addition, the study examines whether digitally delivered reminder prompts enhance the effectiveness of the MCII intervention compared with the standard MCII procedure alone.

The study used a two-arm randomized experimental design with pretest-posttest assessments. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two conditions: (1) MCII-only or (2) MCII combined with WhatsApp reminder prompts. Randomization was conducted using an SPSS-generated allocation sequence prepared by an independent researcher. Due to the behavioral nature of the intervention and the use of self-reported measures, blinding was not feasible.

The intervention was implemented over a four-week period within a structured university tennis training program. All participants received standardized instruction on the MCII strategy and completed structured MCII worksheets before training sessions. The worksheets guided participants through mental contrasting (identifying desired outcomes and possible obstacles) and implementation intentions (forming "if-then" action plans). Participants assigned to the digital reminder condition received structured WhatsApp prompts one day before scheduled sessions to support anticipatory self-regulation and preparation.

The primary aim of the study is to evaluate whether integrating low-cost digital reminders into a self-regulation intervention produces stronger improvements in self-efficacy compared with using MCII alone. The intervention was designed as a brief, low-intensity behavioral support strategy embedded within regular training activities rather than a standalone program. Data were collected at baseline and immediately after the intervention period using standardized self-report instruments, and analyses focused on within-group and between-group changes associated with intervention condition.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Registered member of a university tennis club
  • Actively enrolled in a structured tennis training program
  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Voluntarily agreed to participate and provided informed consent
  • Completed baseline assessment procedures

Exclusion criteria

  • Did not complete the intervention protocol
  • Missed posttest assessment
  • Failed to complete required study measures
  • Withdrew participation during the study period

Treatment and study plan

Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII)

Behavioral

Participants completed structured Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII) exercises before tennis training sessions. The intervention included identifying training-related goals, reflecting on potential obstacles, and creating specific if-then action plans to support self-regulation and goal-directed behavior.

MCII + WhatsApp Reminders

Behavioral

Participants completed standardized Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions (MCII) exercises before tennis training sessions. In addition, they received structured WhatsApp reminder messages one day before each scheduled session to prompt mental preparation and reinforce engagement with the MCII self-regulation strategy. The reminder messages were the only procedural difference from the MCII-only intervention.

Primary outcomes

  1. General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) Score

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the 4-week intervention

    Self-efficacy was measured using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), a 10-item self-report instrument assessing participants' perceived ability to cope with challenges and perform goal-directed behaviors. Scores were collected at baseline (pretest) and immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention period (posttest). Higher scores indicate greater perceived self-efficacy.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Inonu University

Other

Collaborators

  • Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University

Registry information

Official study title

Digital Scaffolding for Self-Regulation: How WhatsApp Reminders Potentiate MCII to Boost University Students' Sport Self-Efficacy Beliefs

Acronym: SportSelf-MCII

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Feb 23, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 23, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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