Date of Award

January 2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology & Public Health Education

First Advisor

Sandra Short

Abstract

Coaches and athletes have requested strategies that develop and maintain mental toughness because they find it to be an essential part of performance (Clough, Earle, & Sewell, 2002). Yet, little research has been conducted to examine psychological skills that contribute to gain and maintain mental toughness. This study examines imagery and mental toughness in adolescent figure skaters. Imagery use was assessed by the Sport Imagery Questionnaire- Children (Hall, Munroe-Chandler, & Fishburne, 2009) and imagery ability with the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Children (Martini, Carter, Yoxon, Cumming, & Ste-Marie, submitted December 2014). Mental toughness was assessed using the Mental Toughness Index (Gucciardi, Hanton, Gordon, Mallet, & Temby, 2014). A stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that imagery is a predictor of mental toughness. The only significant predictor variable was MG-M imagery. Therefore, if an athlete wishes to gain mental toughness the best predictor would be to imagine the individual is in control and confident. Further research should explore mental toughness in relation to other psychological skills.

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