TY - JOUR AU - Cowden, Richard G. PY - 2017/01/30 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - On the mental toughness of self-aware athletes: Evidence from competitive tennis players JF - South African Journal of Science JA - S. Afr. J. Sci. VL - 113 IS - 1/2 SE - Research Article DO - 10.17159/sajs.2017/20160112 UR - https://sajs.co.za/article/view/3579 SP - 6 AB - <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-above"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>This study examined the relationship between mental toughness (MT) and self-awareness in a sample of 175 male and 158 female South African tennis athletes (mean age = 29.09 years, s.d. = 14.00). The participants completed the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire and the Self-Reflection and Insight Scale to assess MT (confidence, constancy, control) and self-awareness (self-reflection and self-insight) dimensions, respectively. Linear regression indicated that self-insight (<em>β</em>=0.49), but not self-reflection (<em>β</em>=0.02), predicted global MT. Multivariate regression analyses were significant for self-reflection (<em>η</em>p²=0.11) and self-insight (<em>η</em>p²=0.24). Self-reflection predicted confidence and constancy (<em>η</em>p²=0.05 and 0.06, respectively), whereas self-insight predicted all three MT subcomponents (<em>η</em>p²=0.12 to 0.14). The findings extend prior qualitative research evidence supporting the relevance of self-awareness to the MT of competitive tennis athletes, with self-reflection and insight forming prospective routes through which athletes’ MT may be developed.</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-significance field-type-text-with-summary field-label-above"><div class="field-label"><strong>Significance:&nbsp;</strong></div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><ul><li>Self-awareness attributes were predictive of higher levels of mental toughness among competitive tennis players.</li><li>Dimensions of self-awareness may offer routes for developing athletes’ mental toughness.</li></ul></div></div></div> ER -