Positive Self-talk Research Articles

The Voices of Older African Immigrants on How They Cope with Social Isolation and Loneliness in the United States

ABSTRACT Objectives Up to 40% of older adults in the US, including older African immigrants, report experiencing social isolation and loneliness. Despite this prevalence, there is limited understanding of how they cope with these challenges. This study aims to contribute to a broader understanding of the coping mechanisms employed by older African immigrants in the face of loneliness and social isolation. Methods Using a qualitative approach, this study recruited and conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 participants aged 63–79. Results Four themes emerged from the data through a thematic analysis approach which includes a) Positive self-talk and adaptation: “I have to cope with it,” b) Technology/social media: “if I cannot interact physically outside, I go through social media/watch TV,” c) Intergenerational engagement beyond caregiving: “They [grandchildren] are my immediate constituency,” and d) Digging deep through faith: “Interactions have been mostly within the church.” Conclusions Older African immigrants may find strategies to cope with social isolation and loneliness, but additional support may be needed to strengthen their coping skills and enhance their social network with people outside of their families. Clinical Implications Intervention should focus on regular assessment and strengthening of their social network outside the family unit.

Building Confidence in the Workplace

This article examines strategies for building and sustaining confidence in the workplace. It defines workplace confidence as an individual's inner belief in their ability to competently achieve work goals while feeling assured, motivated, and resilient. On an individual level, confidence is developed through focusing on strengths, setting goals, positive self-talk, visualization, reframing mistakes, and self-care. Organizationally, leaders can provide training, mentorship, autonomy, constructive feedback, recognition, and foster a sense of community to support employees' confidence. The article analyzes examples from Cleveland Clinic, which implemented competency tracking to boost clinicians' confidence, and Anthropic, an AI startup using "confidence coaching" for engineers. In conclusion, confidence can be purposefully developed when organizations complement individual strategies through training programs, mentorship, autonomy, feedback, and recognition. Sustained commitment to evidence-based approaches helps create psychologically safe environments where employees can maximize potential.

Second Language Writing Anxiety of Thai EFL Undergraduate Students: Dominant Causes, Levels and Coping Strategies

Using a mixed-methods research design, this study explored the dominant causes, levels, and coping strategies of second language writing anxiety among 55 second-year Thai EFL undergraduate students majoring in English for International Communication. Data were collected from the Causes of Writing Anxiety Inventory (CWAI) questionnaire developed by Rezaei and Jafari (2014), the Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory (SLWAI) developed by Cheng (2004), and a stimulated recall interview. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the data obtained from CWAI and SLWAI, while thematic analysis was used to identify themes from the stimulated recall interview. The results revealed that the predominant cause of writing anxiety was writing assignments, affecting 77.09% of students, followed by linguistic difficulties and fear of writing tests, each affecting 70.09%. Additionally, the study found that the level of writing anxiety among these students was high according to the writing anxiety questionnaire. Furthermore, during the stimulated recall interview, participants revealed five strategies typically used to manage their writing anxiety, namely positive self-talk, starting with a plan, relaxation techniques, goal setting, and seeking social support.

Self-talk valence and motivational orientation for entrepreneurship: an exploratory study

ABSTRACT Self-talk is a well-researched component of self-efficacy that is frequently used as a motivational tool in sports. This study investigated how self-talk, as a component of entrepreneurship self-efficacy, relates to entrepreneurial motivation orientation. An online survey measured the self-talk valence of twenty-four entrepreneurs. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with the same entrepreneurs to collect narratives of their entrepreneurship start-up. The interview data were thematically coded and analysed. Links between the entrepreneurship motivation and the entrepreneurs’ net self-talk valence scores were plotted. The analysis suggests that those with positive self-talk typically had intrinsic motivation orientations, while those with negative scores had shared extrinsic motivational orientations. Contrary to the association of positive self-talk with motivation in sports, counterintuitively, negative self-talk’s link with motivation presents a novel finding. This finding is explained using the ‘push’ and ‘pull’ theories of entrepreneurial motivation. The study recommends deductive testing for this inductively explored relationship.

Bringing Positive Self-Talk Practices into the Dance Class

Dance integrates both body and mind, yet dance students continue to struggle with loneliness and mental health. Although many dance departments teach the physical components of wellness, such as anatomy or nutrition, most departments do not incorporate the skills or training for mental health and well-being. In this article, I offer several examples for how to incorporate positive self-talk practices into a dance class, focusing on journal prompts and other assignments to integrate mental skills training into dance class curriculum. My hope is that these exercises and activities can serve as a framework adaptable to different wellness topics allowing teachers to serve the mind, body, and heart of each student. This holistic approach gives them the necessary tools to develop self-awareness, resilience, and positive habits.

Efektivitas rational emotive behavioral therapy dengan teknik self-talk dalam meningkatkan kepercayaan diri siswa untuk berbicara di depan umum

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of self-talk in increasing self-confidence, and to see how effective REBT with Self-Talk Techniques is in increasing students' self-confidence in speaking in public. The research method used by researchers plans to use a quantitative pre-experimental design or experimental approach. The sample was taken using a purposive sampling technique with 13 informants from class 11 majoring in ACP. The research procedure is divided into three stages, namely the first stage is conducting a pretest to measure students' initial level of self-confidence, the second stage is conducting counseling with REBT with Self-Talk Techniques in Increasing Students' Self-Confidence, and the third stage is posttest to see whether After REBT therapy, students will be more confident. Data analysis used the SPSS 25 application. Data analysis techniques used in this research included normality testing, validity and reliability testing, and hypothesis testing. From the results of the research conducted, it can be concluded that the level of confidence in speaking in front of general subjects has increased. From the average (mean) pre-test score, then after receiving REBT with Self-Talk Technique, the post-test score increased. This shows that there was an increase in self-confidence scores. Apart from that, based on the output of the hypothesis test using the paired sample t-test, a significance value of 0.001 (smaller than 0.05) was obtained. This means that self-talk techniques are effective in increasing self-confidence in speaking in public for Al-Washiyah 2 Commerce Private Vocational School students. Therefore, REBT with Self-Talk Techniques is very effective and can be used to increase a person's self-confidence. In implementing self-talk, group members are invited to discuss many important things for themselves. Apart from that, this activity will help you deepen your mind so you can get various interesting ideas. Without realizing it, self-talk has various benefits for mental health. when we start talking to ourselves, it means we understand the situation we are currently experiencing. With positive self-talk, the situation will be processed by oneself to determine the next steps.

Stress and resilience among military medical students completing a high-fidelity military medical simulation

Background High-fidelity medical simulations can help students successfully navigate the stressors of medical training and practice. Because sufficiently high stress levels can interfere with learning, the balance of stress and resilience factors during simulation training should be carefully curated. However, student experiences of stress and resilience during high-fidelity simulations are seldom well characterized, especially in military medical training. With this in mind, the authors investigated students’ lived experiences of stress and resilience during a well-established high-fidelity simulation at a military medical school. Methods Fourth-year active-duty military medical students (n = 23) from the United States Air Force, Army, and Navy who were attending Operation Bushmaster – a 5-day, high-fidelity military medical simulation – were interviewed during and after the simulation. Data were analyzed via a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative approach. Another 21 students reported their stress levels and trait mindfulness. Experts rated their performance at Operation Bushmaster. Results Participant narratives pointed towards major internal stressors, including chronic uncertainty and fluctuating motivation, and external stressors, such as weather and equipment-related challenges. Narratives also identified multiple factors that mitigated stress, including the use of mindfulness skills (especially mindful/tactical breathing), giving/receiving social support, shifting perspectives to centre connections between Operation Bushmaster and students’ professional purpose, and positive self-talk that gave participants permission to make mistakes and learn from them. There was a moderate positive correlation between mindfulness and performance at Operation Bushmaster. Conclusions These stress and resilience factors are critical leverage points for educators seeking to optimize learning during Operation Bushmaster and other high-fidelity simulation trainings. Future research should continue to examine how the balance of these factors impacts medical students’ immediate learning (e.g. regarding medical decision-making, skill and leadership) and longer-term ability to successfully navigate the stressors of the medical profession.

Strategies for the development of mental toughness of construction professionals: the case of Ghana

Purpose The construction sector is recognized for subjecting its workers to various psychological pressures and mental stressors. As a result, it is crucial to explore and discover effective strategies to support these workers in managing and enduring these demanding circumstances. Mental toughness is a concept that has been advocated to aid individuals in coping and adapting to pressures and challenges. Therefore, it is imperative to explore strategies critical to developing mental toughness among construction professionals. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify critical strategies for the development of mental toughness among construction professionals. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive literature review was conducted using Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect and PubMed databases to identify the strategies for the development of mental toughness. These identified strategies were used to develop a structured closed-ended questionnaire to aid in data collection. Of the 317 questionnaires distributed, 207 were collected and used for data analysis. The data were analysed using mean score ranking and one sample t-test. Findings The study highlighted 12 critical strategies for the development of mental toughness among construction professionals. These include recognizing and rewarding achievements, taking time for self-care, organizing mental training programs, using positive self-talk, embracing a growth mindset, providing social support/developing a strong support network, creating a challenging training environment, engaging in regular physical exercise, fostering a mastery motivational climate, setting clear but challenging goals, practicing mental imagery and practicing reflection on setbacks and failures. The analysis results indicated that all of the strategies, except one (which involves practicing reflection on setbacks and failures), displayed significance. By incorporating these strategies, construction firms and the industry as a whole can empower their workforce to cope and/or overcome the various demands and stressors that work and life places on them. Research limitations/implications The study highlights the significance of recognizing and rewarding achievements, fostering a growth mindset and implementing mental training programs to cultivate mental toughness among construction professionals. Moreover, promoting self-care practices and offering social support are essential strategies for enhancing mental resilience in the construction industry. By adopting these evidence-based approaches, construction organizations can create a mentally tough workforce capable of handling the challenges and demands of the industry effectively. Originality/value This study contributes significantly to the general body of knowledge in mental health management among employees in the construction industry. It does set the pace for the development of the general well-being of construction professionals in the achievement of mental toughness goals.

The Effects of Positive Versus Negative Self-Talk on Vertical Jump in Soccer Players: The Moderating Role of Need for Cognition.

The current study analyzed the effects of positive versus negative self-talk on physical performance in soccer players from a multiprocess approach. We operationalized the process distinction using the need-for-cognition (NC) construct. Thus, NC was measured and self-talk (i.e.,positive vs. negative) was manipulated between participants (i.e.,126 soccer players, age 18years or older, who were competing in national, regional, or local competitions). Physical performance was assessed by a vertical-jump test. According to hypothesis, regression analyses indicated that positive versus negative self-talk influenced physical performance to a greater extent for high-NC individuals than for low-NC individuals. Specifically, among high-NC soccer players, relative to baseline, positive self-talk produced greater physical performance in the vertical-jump test than negative self-talk. In contrast, among low-NC soccer players, no difference was found between positive and negative self-talk on physical performance. These results supported the moderating role of NC.

Efektivitas Pelatihan Positive Self-Talk dalam Meningkatkan Kepercayaan Diri Mahasiswa Baru Psikologi Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

The demands and responsibilities in a new learning environment, namely college, can cause a crisis of confidence for students, especially new students. Positive self-talk is one alternative in increasing the confidence of new students. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of positive self-talk training in increasing the self-confidence of new psychology students at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. This study used a quantitative quasi-experimental method with a one group pretest-posttest design. The sample selection was determined using purposive sampling technique. Meanwhile, the subjects in this study amounted to 9 first semester students majoring in psychology at the University of Education Indonesia. Data analysis was carried out with the Wilcoxon test. The results showed a significance value of p = .042 (> 0.05), which means that positive self-talk is effective in increasing the confidence of new psychology students at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Keywords: Training; Positive Self Talk; College Students

Effects of Positive and Negative Self-Talk on Balance and Postural Sway in College Students

Self-talk pertains to phrases individuals recite aloud or internally to increase motivation and focus and is a frequently used psychological skill that promotes enhanced sport performance. Several studies have examined how different these forms of self-talk can affect the execution of specific tasks in sport, but few have examined if self-talk can improve performance in basic activities of daily living, such as balance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two different self-talk strategies on static balance and body stability during a single-leg balance task. Twenty-nine participants were divided into three groups (control group, positive self-talk group, negative self-talk group) and performed a single-leg balance task on the right and left leg while donning inertial measurement units and standing on a force platform and while reciting a positive, negative, or no self-talk strategy (i.e., control). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were detected in the anterior-posterior center of pressure displacement and velocity, and the anterior-posterior center of mass displacement and velocity of the right and left legs. The findings of this study do not suggest that positive or negative self-talk impacts performance during a single-leg balance task.

The Effects of Positive Self-talk on Anxiety and Grief Among Women with Spontaneous Abortion: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: Spontaneous abortion (SA) is a common pregnancy complication with challenging prediction and prevention for healthcare providers. It can lead to stress, anxiety, depression, and grief for parents. Self-talk (ST) is a communication skill with a significant role in the relationship of events and emotions and can facilitate the management of most emotional and behavioral disorders. However, there is limited information about its effects on women with SA. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of positive ST on anxiety and grief among women with SA. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2021 using a two-group pre-test-post-test design. Eighty women with SA were randomly selected from a teaching hospital in Zahedan, Iran, and were alternately allocated to an intervention group and a control group on a weekly basis. Participants in the intervention group received education about positive ST in eight 20-minute sessions held twice weekly. Data were collected before and 2 months after the intervention using a demographic questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Perinatal Grief Scale. The SPSS v. 16.0 software was used to analyze the data at a significance level of < 0.05 using the Shapiro-Wilk, paired-sample and independent-sample t tests, and chi-square test. Results: The age mean of the participants was 26.40 ± 5.63 years in the intervention group and 24.45 ± 5.11 years in the control group. The groups did not significantly differ from each other respecting baseline demographic and clinical characteristics (P > 0.05). The mean scores of anxiety (control: 4.57 ± 1.98, intervention: 2.60 ± 1.59) and grief (control: 64.85 ± 22.68, intervention: 50.97 ± 16.522) significantly decreased in both groups (P = 0.001, P = 0.003), and the amount of decrease in the intervention group was significantly more than the control group (P < 0.05). Accordingly, the pre-test mean scores of anxiety (P = 0.74) and grief (P = 0.95) did not show significant between-group differences, and the post-test mean scores of anxiety (P < 0.001) and grief (P = 0.004) in the intervention group were significantly less than the control group. Conclusions: Positive ST is effective in significantly reducing anxiety and grief among women with SA. Nurses and psychologists can use positive ST to reduce post-SA psychological complications among afflicted women.

Self-leadership: qualitative leadership research using deductive pattern matching approach

PurposeThe contemporary business environment steered by forces of globalization, digitization and automation can only be navigated by a resilient workforce. This requires inculcating self-leadership (SL) traits in individuals, which will allow them to exercise self-direction and self-motivation required to survive high-strain situations. The SL characteristics most significantly reflected by Musk are self-goal setting, authenticity and responsibility. Least evidence was found for positive self-talk and self-cueing. This study aims to add to the repertoire of leadership studies, furnishing important implications for academia and practice.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors explore the dimensionality of SL through a systematic literature review. The authors also take the case of Elon Musk, one of the most resilient technopreneurs in the contemporary business world, and scrutinize his journey as a self-leader.FindingsThe SL characteristics most significantly reflected by Musk are self-goal setting, authenticity and responsibility. Least evidence was found for positive self-talk and self-cueing. This study adds to the repertoire of leadership studies, furnishing important implications for academia and practice.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to explore the controversial Elon Musk’s leadership style through the prism of SL.

Increasing Anaerobic Power in Cycling By Implementing Embodied Self-Talk

The current study employed a within-participant design to analyze the effects of head movements in three conditions (i.e., head nodding, head shaking, and no head movements) during positive (motivational) self-talk among 22 male cyclists. After the self-talk and head-movements task, physical performance (i.e., anaerobic power) was assessed using a Wingate Test for each experimental condition. Each cyclist participated individually on three separate days, completing one of the three experimental conditions each day. We hypothesized and found that the head-nodding condition resulted in greater physical performance (i.e., mean and peak power) than the no-head-movements condition. This is the first time that head nodding has been shown to improve physical performance compared with no head movements during encouraging and self-assuring self-talk. Relevantly, these findings emphasize the importance of focusing on athletes’ nonverbal behavior (e.g., head movements) when engaging in positive (motivational) self-talk to perform better.

Team Cohesion Profiles: Influence on the Development of Mental Skills and Stress Management.

High-level sports competitions involve facing highly challenging situations. Athletes must maintain strong team cohesion with peers, have specific mental abilities, and high-stress control to overcome adversity and report high sports performance. This research aimed to identify team cohesion profiles and examine whether participants differed significantly in their mental abilities and stress management. The sample consisted of 146 promising and talented athletes from the Sports Talent Development of the Provincial Council of Guipúzcoa (Spain) (Mage = 20.08; SD = 4.68), who completed the questionnaire on Psychological Characteristics Related to Sports Performance (CPRD). Cluster analyzes revealed three profiles; (a) profile with low team cohesion; (b) profile with average team cohesion; (c) profile with high team cohesion. Results showed significant differences in mental abilities (i.e., positive self-talk), and marginally significant differences in self-confidence, between the profiles. The best scores were reported in profile (b). In conclusion, the combination of low individualism, high social cohesion, and medium team spirit seems to be the most recommendable for promoting mental abilities and self-confidence in athletes' samples. As practical implications, the programs that train the mental abilities of athletes and control management should consider the importance of team cohesion to obtain improvements in the results of the competitions.

UNDERSTANDING THE STRATEGIES EMPLOYED BY EFL LEARNERS TO OVERCOME SPEAKING ANXIETY IN THE CLASSROOM

This research study aims to investigate the strategies employed by English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners to overcome speaking anxiety in the classroom. Speaking anxiety is a significant challenge faced by EFL learners, hindering their development of fluency and confidence in speaking. However, there is limited understanding of the specific strategies used by EFL learners to cope with and overcome this anxiety in the classroom context. This study adopts a qualitative research design, utilizing interviews and observations to gather in-depth data from EFL learners. The findings reveal a range of strategies employed by participants, including cognitive strategies (positive self-talk, visualization, and reframing anxious thoughts), preparation and practice, a supportive learning environment, gradual exposure and desensitization, and emotional regulation techniques. These strategies contribute to the effective management of speaking anxiety and the promotion of speaking proficiency among EFL learners. The insights from this study provide valuable implications for educators and practitioners, enabling the development of targeted interventions and instructional approaches to support EFL learners in managing their anxiety and enhancing their speaking skills. By addressing speaking anxiety effectively, language teaching and learning practices in the EFL context can be improved, fostering a positive and inclusive environment for EFL learners to develop their speaking abilities with confidence.

Stratégies de gestion de la chaleur et performances sportives de haut niveau : éclairage psychophysiologique et recommandations appliquées

Objectives: This article sheds light on the different heat stress management strategies, common or innovative, in order to analyze those that would be the most suitable and effective for athletes who have to compete in humid and/or hot environments.News: The Paris summer Olympics Games in 2024 will take place from July 26th to September 8th with a high risk for athletes to practice their sport at high temperatures, thereby imposing physiological (cardiovascular, ventilatory, thermoregulatory, etc.) and psychological (early mental fatigue, decreased motivation, discomfort, etc.) which can have a major negative impact on their performance.Prospects and projects: To perform in a hot environment, it is now recommended to use strategies, in particular active acclimatization which promotes physiological but also psychological adaptations. Similarly, fluid management and cooling techniques have potentially beneficial effects on physiological factors but their psychological consequences are still poorly understood and need to be investigated. Finally, mental strategies (goal setting, mental imagery, positive self-talk, music, etc.) or cognitive training in the heat can limit poor performance in this condition. The effects of combining physical and mental techniques, as well as innovative strategies such as cold suggestion, are also being investigated.Conclusion: For each strategies presented, the scientific work has enabled the development of practical recommendations for athletes, coaches and mental trainers in order to allow them to physiologically and psychologically anticipate the effects of high relative humidity and/or high temperature.

The interplay between self-talk and body posture on physical performance: Analyzing a moderated serial multiple mediation model

Prior research has shown that non-verbal behavior (e.g., overt head movements) can moderate the effects of positive and negative self-talk on physical performance. In the current studies, we aimed to extend existing research on self-talk by examining a different non-verbal behavior (i.e., body posture), as well as specifying some conditions under which body posture can interact with self-talk on physical performance from the Self-Validation Theory perspective. Most importantly, we proposed and tested a moderated serial multiple mediation model. In Studies 1 and 2, self-talk (i.e., positive vs. negative) and body posture (i.e., upright vs. slumped) were manipulated between participants. In Study 1, soccer players performed slalom and dribbling tests. In Study 2, athletes performed a push-up test. We hypothesized and found that positive (vs. negative) self-talk influenced physical performance to a greater extent for participants in the upright posture (i.e., validating) condition than for participants in the slumped posture (i.e., invalidating) condition. Furthermore, Study 3 was designed to analyze a moderated serial multiple mediation model. In this third study, self-talk was positive, body posture was manipulated, and the meaning of body posture was measured as a moderator. Results supported the proposed model, identifying the perceived validity of self-statements (i.e., the self-validation mechanism) and self-efficacy as serial mediators. That is, the meaning (i.e., validity-invalidity) moderated the effects of body posture on athletes’ physical performance in a pull-up test, through the indirect effects of the perceived validity of self-statements and self-efficacy. Implications for self-talk research and application are discussed.

Uncovering the Edge of Ambivertedness in Acquiring the English Language

The current study endeavors to investigate the preferred English language learning strategies among individuals who self-identify as ambiverts. A mixed-methods research design, comprising a survey questionnaire and follow-up interviews, was implemented to gather data from a sample population of 68 English-major students, of which 22 self-identified as ambiverts. The study aimed to elucidate the influence of the balance between introversion and extroversion on ambiverts’ favored learning strategies and to examine the benefits this balance provides in terms of selecting strategies that are best adapted to their unique needs and preferences. The results demonstrate that ambiverts favored affective learning strategies, such as musical accompaniment and positive self-talk, as well as compensatory strategies, such as deductive reasoning and seeking assistance. Furthermore, ambiverts displayed a proclivity for metacognitive strategies, including the recognition of faults and focusing on specific tasks, and memory-related strategies, including the utilization of color-coding and the integration of images and keywords. The study also revealed that social strategies, such as collaboration with others and seeking clarification, were favored by ambiverts, emphasizing the significance of interaction and engagement in the learning process. These findings have important implications for language educators and may inform the development of more inclusive learning materials that cater to a broad range of learning styles, including ambiverts, and enhance the effectiveness of language instruction.

How Fear Training and Other Unique Training Methods Help South Korea Maintain Dominance in Archery?

In the modern day, South Korea is the most successful country in archery at the Olympics. The South Korean Women’s team is particularly known for their legendary record of gold at every Olympic Games since 1988. This success is not mere luck, however, as the South Korean archery team goes through much more rigorous and unique training compared to other countries. For one, archery is more widespread in Korea, allowing more people to try out the sport. The school system set in place in South Korea encourages the development of archers at a young age, which ultimately leads to more and more South Koreans pursuing archery as a career. In addition, the South Korean archery team goes through unique forms of training, such as mindfulness training, exposure therapy, heart rate analysis, equipment optimization through shooting robots, and general sports psychology techniques like positive self-talk and imagery. All of these training methods provide South Korean archers with benefits such as increased confidence, reduction of fear, higher concentration and focus levels, as well as superior insight into how their shot goes through. South Korea’s long success in archery is backed up by South Korea’s intense dedication to their training, through their long hours, as well as their commitment to go through various forms of unique training to improve.