The use of mental skills by male and female athletes.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the relationship between selected independent variables (gender and skill) and mental skills of athletes (goal-setting, self-confidence, commitment, imagery, mental practice, focusing, refocusing, competition planning, activation, relaxation, stress and fear control). The Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool (OMSAT-3*) was administered to a sample of 249 (121 males and 128 females) athletes aged 14 to 19 who participated in sport at either a developing or provincial level in a variety of sports. A gender by skill (2 x 2) MANOVA resulted in a main effect (p < .004) for skill on the goal-setting, commitment, competition planning, focus, and refocus scales, as well as for foundation, cognitive, and psychosomatic skills components: The results imply there were no gender differences in athletes' level and use of mental skills.