Metaphor Affirmations as a Coping Skill for Cyclists
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Authors
Osteen, Deborah
Issue Date
2013
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
A mental skill for successful athletes is their ability to cope with challenging elements inherent in sport. This ability to cope can ultimately determine the success of performance, progress, and development within sport. The Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 (ACSI-28) has been used in past research studies to measure an athlete's skill level in seven different psychological skill areas deemed crucial to success in athletics (LeUnes, Bourgeois, & Guarnieri, 1999). Using the ACSI-28 as a pre and post-test measure, the primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a self-talk teaching intervention, including metaphor affirmations, on the athletic coping skills of endurance cyclists. Forty seven participants were solicited nationwide through cycling groups and placed in one of three groups: self-affirmations, metaphor affirmations, or a control group. Participants were predominantly Caucasian (97.8%) and highly educated (48.9% completed graduate school). A randomized experimental pre and post-test design was used to measure changes in athletes' coping skills during the three week intervention period. There were no significant findings found between the three groups with the exception of the coachability subscale. The lack of significant findings in this study could be a result of the online design, and as such a discussion on best practices for online interventions is included.