Giselle Sinoway
Research Mentor(s): Michael Mignano
Mentor Department: Movement Science
Authors:
Session: Session 5 (2:00pm – 2:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 53
Abstract
The study explores the impact of self-talk and self-confidence on tennis players’ performance, focusing on NCAA DI Women’s tennis student-athletes. Self-talk refers to internal dialogue with oneself. Self-efficacy refers to one’s ability to achieve goals. Self-confidence refers to one’s confidence in one’s abilities. The combined effect of these self-terms has not been studied in depth. This research aims to fill the gap in sports psychology by examining how theoretical frameworks of self-talk and self-confidence contribute to practical skills in tennis players’ performance in matches. The study uses a survey-based approach, collecting data from NCAA DI women’s tennis student-athletes, including contacting all 310 programs. Participants completed the Automatic Self-Talk Questionnaire For Sports (ASTQS) and the Sources of Sport-Confidence Questionnaire (SSCQ), which assesses the psychological factors impacting individual performance and well-being in tennis. The ASTQS examines the frequency and impact of self-talk on athletes. The survey measures positive and negative self-talk, revealing how cognitive processes influence motivation, focus, and emotional regulation and overall identifying patterns of self-talk that can enhance athlete performance. The SSCQ assesses the sources of confidence athletes use while playing, identifying key areas to improve confidence. The results of the study are currently pending. After completing the surveys, players can undergo an in-depth interview to discuss their responses and identify strategies to improve their self-talk and self-confidence in tennis. The surveys are anticipated to illustrate a strong correlation between self-talk and self-confidence, suggesting that positive self-talk is associated with higher levels of self-confidence and improved overall performance.
