Self-reflection and self-insight predict resilience and stress in competitive tennis

• Richard Gregory Cowden

  University of KwaZulu-Natal and North-West University

• Anna Meyer-Weitz

  University of KwaZulu-Natal

We investigated the relationships among the self-reflection and self-insight components of self-awareness, and resilience and stress in competitive South African tennis players. A sample of 175 male and 158 female athletes (M_age = 29.09 years, SD = 14.00) completed the Self-Reflection and Insight Scale, the Resilience Scale for Adults, and the stress items from the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes. The results indicated that both self-reflection and self-insight were positively correlated with resilience, and that self-insight, but not self- reflection, was negatively correlated with stress. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that self-insight was the single significant predictor of both resilience and stress. Our findings provide support for the importance of self-awareness, particularly self-insight, in mitigating stress and promoting resilience among tennis athletes. The implications of engaging in self- reflective practices and attaining self-insight in terms of improved athletic performance outcomes are discussed.

1. Richard Gregory Cowden, University of KwaZulu-Natal and North-West University
   Discipline of Psychology, and Institute of Psychology and Wellbeing
2. Anna Meyer-Weitz, University of KwaZulu-Natal
   Discipline of Psychology

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