Date of Award

May 2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Education, Health & Behavior Studies

First Advisor

Matt Knutson

Abstract

Self-talk is a key mechanism underlying performance, confidence, and emotional regulation, yet its use in esports remains underexplored. This study examined self-talk patterns among esports players, focusing on associations with hours played, self-talk type and valence, and contextual and motivational factors influencing its use. Esports players (N = 102; M = 18.53 hours/week, SD = 13.74) across a range of competitive levels completed an online questionnaire assessing self-talk type, valence, and contextual use. Greater hours played were associated with increased use of strategic self-talk, while self-talk valence was not significantly related to time spent playing. Participants most frequently reported using self-talk to support motivation, focus, and emotional regulation, often in contexts where distinctions between practice and competition are unclear. These findings extend sport psychology literature by identifying functional and contextual characteristics of self-talk in esports and inform future applied and intervention-based research.

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