Rabia Yıldız

Background: The first purpose of the study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Automatic Self-Talk Questionnaire for Sports (ASTQS) in the Turkish language and the secondary purpose was to examine the relationship between the quality of the coach–athlete relationship and athletes’ self-talk. Methods: 477 athletes (females = 252, males = 225) completed the Turkish versions of the Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q) and the ASTQS. Results: ASTQS showed good psychometric properties in the Turkish language. Findings on the construct validity of the scale were consistent with the original scale’s 8-factor structure. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.65 to 0.91. Furthermore, path analysis results showed that closeness had a direct effect on disengagement, psych-up, and anxiety control. The commitment had a direct effect on somatic fatigue, and complementarity had a direct effect on worry, confidence, and instruction. Conclusions: Finally, the results from the present study indicated that the Automatic Self-Talk Questionnaire provided a reliable and valid measure for Turkish athletes. The results revealed the importance of the coach–athlete relationship in sport and its’ role in shaping athletes’ self-talk.

Body awareness has been proposed as a major target of mindfulness interventions, though little is known of its association with achievement goals among track and field athletes. We in aimed to determine how body awareness and these achievement goals related among track and field athletes participating in the European Champion Clubs Cup in Mersin. We studied 70 volunteer athletes (38 female and 32 male). Among these 41 were runners, 17 were throwers and 12 were jumpers. Participants completed a Body Awareness Questionnaire and an Achievement Goals Questionnaire for Sport (AGQ-S) prior to competing. There were statistically significant positive correlations between Body Awareness and both Mastery Avoidance and Performance Avoidance (r=.350**, r=.350**, p<0.005). This significant correlation may be explained by an increased appreciation for body limitations through body awareness, that, in turn, positively relates to mastery and performance avoidance.