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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Max Stone
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
The use of metacognitive process and skills has been the subject of considerable research in the sport performance literature over the past decade. However, there has been little qualitative research on athletes’ experiences of using metacognitive processes and skills. A related but different area theoretically and practically, is mentalizing, which refers to the imaginative ability to perceive and interpret the feelings, thoughts, wishes and beliefs that explain human behaviour. This study sought to understand how mentalizing abilities affect the playing experiences of amateur squash players, who regularly played competitive squash. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten amateur adult squash players. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. This was developed into three group experiential themes (GETs): a) balanced minds, b) no-man’s land, and c) an interpersonal battle. Findings indicate that mentalizing abilities of participants helped them focus, self-regulate, and enjoy playing. Conversely, participants temporary loss of mentalizing significantly affected their enjoyment, relationships with opponents and their capacity to focus and concentrate when under pressure which for some led to poorer performances. The study is novel in its application to sport, adding an important holistic dimension to the applied sport psychology literature. It is suggested that mentalizing plays a critical role in influencing competitive sport situations and further research is required to elucidate these abilities in greater depth.
Author(s): Mitchell Stuart, Stone Max
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Psychology of Sport and Exercise
Year: 2025
Volume: 77
Print publication date: 01/03/2025
Online publication date: 12/12/2024
Acceptance date: 06/12/2024
Date deposited: 12/12/2024
ISSN (print): 1469-0292
ISSN (electronic): 1878-5476
Publisher: Elsevier BV
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102797
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2024.102797
Data Access Statement: The data that has been used is confidential.
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