The Effectiveness of Self-Talk in Enhancing Athletic Performance and Mental Resilience: A Systematic Review

Albert Lauren's Nikijuluw, Didi Sunadi, Rini Syafriani, Yusuf Hidayat, Kusnaedi Kusnaedi

Abstract


Self-talk plays a crucial role in enhancing athletes' motivation and self-confidence, helping them manage anxiety, and improving overall performance. This study aims to systematically review the effectiveness of self-talk strategies in sports contexts, particularly in addressing the common issues of low motivation and self-confidence among athletes. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted by identifying and analyzing relevant peer-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2024 from major academic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria were limited to full-text English-language articles indexed in reputable journals. The findings demonstrate that self-talk interventions significantly contribute to athletes’ psychological well-being by boosting confidence, enhancing emotional regulation, and reducing performance anxiety. Furthermore, both instructional and motivational forms of self-talk have been shown to support cognitive control before and during competitions. This review highlights the value of self-talk as an accessible and effective mental training tool that should be integrated into athletic development programs across various sports disciplines.

Keywords


Motivation, Self-talk, Self-confidence, Sport psychology

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17509/tegar.v8i1.79848

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