| The Effect of Positive Self-Talk Training on Self-Efficacy in Female Rock Climbers |
| Paper ID : 1610-SPORTCONGRESS (R1) |
| Authors |
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Narges Goodarzi *1, Alireza Bahramy2 1PhD student 2Department of Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Arak University, Arak, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Abstract Introduction: Positive self-talk is a psychological strategy that influences motivation, cognition, and performance in athletes. Self-efficacy, a key construct in sport psychology, determines persistence, resilience, and success expectations. Rock climbing, especially among women, requires both physical and psychological readiness, making interventions like positive self-talk crucial for improving performance Methods: This semi-experimental study employed a pre-test/post-test design with experimental and control groups. Thirty professional female indoor rock climbers aged 18–45 were randomly assigned to an experimental (n=15) or control (n=15) group. The experimental group participated in 10 sessions of positive self-talk training, each lasting 90 minutes. Self-efficacy was measured using the Sherer and Maddux (1982) questionnaire before and after the intervention. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and ANCOVA. Results: The findings demonstrated a significant increase in self-efficacy scores in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Positive self-talk enhanced athletes’ confidence, motivation, focus, and mental readiness, confirming its effectiveness as a psychological intervention. Conclusion: Positive self-talk is an effective method to enhance self-efficacy among female rock climbers. Integrating such cognitive-behavioral techniques into training programs can improve athletes’ performance, resilience, and psychological preparedness. These results underscore the value of sport psychology interventions in coaching practice. |
| Keywords |
| Positive Self-talk, Self-efficacy, Sport Psychology, Female Climbers |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
