Exploring self-talk and affective states in sport

Area of Science:

• Sport Psychology
• Affective Science
• Adolescent Psychology

Background:

• Self-talk is a cognitive process influencing athletic performance and emotional states.
• Understanding the interplay between self-talk valence (positive/negative) and its motivational impact is crucial for athletes.
• Previous research suggests a link between self-talk and affect, but the motivational properties of negative self-talk require further exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between athletes' self-talk and their affective states.
• To characterize the nature of motivating self-talk among high-school athletes.
• To explore whether negative self-talk can serve a motivational function in sports.

Main Methods:

• Ninety high-school athletes participated in the study.
• Participants completed the Affect Grid and the Self-Talk Grid before practice and competition.
• Statistical analyses included second-order partial correlations and examination of scatter plots.

Main Results:

• A significant positive correlation was found between self-talk and affect, supporting their relationship.
• A moderate positive correlation emerged between negative-positive self-talk and demotivating-motivating self-talk.
• Scatter plot analysis revealed that some athletes perceive their self-talk as both negative and motivational.

Conclusions:

• Self-talk is demonstrably related to athletes' affective experiences.
• The findings suggest that negative self-talk can indeed be a source of motivation for certain athletes.
• This highlights the nuanced role of self-talk in athletic psychology, where negative cognitions may not always be detrimental.