SSSELF-TALK AND PERCEIVED EXERTION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

1
SSSELF-TALK AND PERCEIVED EXERTION IN PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY
James Hardy1, Lew Hardy2 Craig Hall1
1School of Kinesiology, University of Western
Ontario, London, Ontario, CANADA 2Institute for
Elite Psychological Performance, University of
Wales, Bangor, GREAT BRITAIN

• Procedure
• Questionnaires administered after completion of
  the 12min run. Informed consent obtained.

INTRODUCTION

• Final regression model predicted 37 of
  perceived exertions variance (F(3,54) 10.46,
  plt.001) performance

• Self-talk direction Performance
• Non significant Fchange for inclusion of
  interaction term into equation but significant
  final model
• Figure 4 - Graphical illustration of results from
  hierarchical regression between self-talk
  direction and frequency variables and 12min run
  performance. Together the self-talk variables
  predicted 17 of performance F(3,54) 3.72,
  plt.05

• Bunker et al. suggested that the positive end of
  the self-talk valence dimension could be employed
  by athletes to increase amongst other constructs,
  ones effort exerted during athletic performance
• Very little empirical evidence to support their
  claim
• Recently, J.Hardy et al. (2001) put forward a
  second dimension to self-talk its direction
  (ones interpretation of their self-talk content
  as de-motivating--motivating for themselves)
• J. Hardy et al. suggested that the frequency of
  self-talk usage is at least as important as
  self-talk valence
• Self-talk frequency has been looked at in
  previous studies e.g. Theodorakis et al. (2000)
  however it has not been directly examined as a
  potential moderator of self-talks relationships

RESULTS

• MANOVA revealed no sig. sex differences for
  self-talk valence, intensity, and frequency,
  perceived exertion and performance
• Moderated hierarchical regression analyses
  conducted to examine moderating effect of
  self-talk frequency on self-talks relationships
  with perceived exertion and performance

Perceived Exertion
Purpose

• Self-talk valence Perceived Exertion
• Figure 1- Illustration of moderation effect of
  self-talk frequency for the self-talk
  valenceperceived exertion relationship.
• Fchange(1,54) 4.03, plt.05 for interaction of
  centered self-talk variables
• Final regression model predicted 42 of perceived
  exertions variance (F(3,54) 13.18, plt.001)

1. To examine the presence of a
self-talk--perceived exertion relationship 2.
To assess the importance of self-talk frequency
DISCUSSION

Performance
Hypotheses

• Supportive evidence for the presence of a
  self-talkperceived exertion relationship,
  although not a positive association
• Three out of four moderated hierarchical
  regression analyses showed a moderator effect for
  self-talk frequency
• Interaction graphs suggest that increasing
  exertion and performance are accompanied by
  increasing frequency of negative or de-motivating
  self-talk and decreasing frequency of positive or
  motivating self-talk
• Findings may be explained by participants
  working hard (to achieve a good performance)
  which has been showed to be related to negative
  affect (e.g., C.Hardy et al., 1989). Negative
  affect has in turn been associated with negative
  self-talk (J.Hardy et al., 2001)

• Self-talk valence Performance
• Figure 3- Illustration of moderation effect of
  self-talk frequency for the self-talk
  valenceperformance relationship.
• Fchange(1,54) 6.58, plt.05 for interaction of
  centered self-talk variables
• Final regression model predicted 25 of
  performances variance (F(3,54) 6.02, plt.001)

1. Supportive evidence would be found for a
positive association between self-talk valence
and perceived exertion as well as with
performance 2. That evidence would be generated
suggesting self-talk frequency to be a
significant moderator of the self-talk--perceived
exertion and the self-talk--performance
relationships
METHOD

• Participants
• 58 Kinesiology students included both serious
  and recreational athletes. Mean age 20.78 (SD
  1.92)
• Measures
• Self-Talk Grid (J.Hardy et al., 2001) two single
  items combined to assess self-talk valence
  (positive--negative) and self-talk direction
  (de-motivational--motivational interpretation).
  Employs a self-statement operational definition
  of self-talk.
• Self-talk frequency measured by single item
  (1never and 9all the time)
• Borgs (1971) 15 graded category scale used to
  assess perceived exertion
• Performance no. of laps completed in 12mins

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

• Further assess the impact of negative self-talk
  on variables, such as self-efficacy and
  performance
• Establish the direction of the self-talkperceived
  exertion and performance relationships through
  use of experimental designs
• Continue to use self-statement oriented
  operational definitions of self-talk

• Self-talk direction Perceived Exertion
• Figure 2- Illustration of moderation effect of
  self-talk frequency for the self-talk
  directionperceived exertion relationship.
• Fchange(1,54) 7.65, plt.01 for interaction of
  centered self-talk variables