TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychological characteristics, sport engagement, and performance in alpine skiers
AU - Fawver, B.
AU - Cowan, R. L.
AU - DeCouto, B. S.
AU - Lohse, K. R.
AU - Podlog, L.
AU - Williams, A. M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding for this study was provided by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) through United States Ski and Snowboard (USSS) and the University of Utah Sports Medicine and Sports Science Institute. Contacts at USSS had little involvement in the measures and study design and no involvement in the analysis, interpretation, dissemination of findings, or submission decision. There are no other conflicts of interest to declare.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Previously, investigators have sought to clarify the role of psychological factors in the development of expertise across numerous sport domains; however, almost no empirical work exists on winter sport athletes. Using a retrospective design, we examined associations between psychological traits, engagement in practice-related activities, and performance among sub-elite level, youth alpine skiers. A total of 169 skiers (88 women) enrolled at professional development academies in the United States completed a battery of questionnaires assessing practice history profiles and performance milestones, as well as various psychological factors (e.g., mental toughness, grit, perfectionism). Performance was assessed using national ranking across both speed and technical disciplines. In addition to linear models and MANOVA/MANCOVA tests, linear mixed-effect regressions were utilized to assess relationships between psychological factors, practice hours, and ranking over time. Higher scores on perfectionistic strivings (personal standards) were associated with improved performance. Also, grit was associated with increased engagement in individual practice hours. Coach-led one-on-one practice hours were associated with increased perfectionistic concerns (e.g., parental pressure), while indirect exposure (e.g., attending events without competing) was associated with decreased mental toughness. Findings highlight potentially important associations between athletes’ dispositional characteristics, prolonged ski engagement, and performance trajectory.
AB - Previously, investigators have sought to clarify the role of psychological factors in the development of expertise across numerous sport domains; however, almost no empirical work exists on winter sport athletes. Using a retrospective design, we examined associations between psychological traits, engagement in practice-related activities, and performance among sub-elite level, youth alpine skiers. A total of 169 skiers (88 women) enrolled at professional development academies in the United States completed a battery of questionnaires assessing practice history profiles and performance milestones, as well as various psychological factors (e.g., mental toughness, grit, perfectionism). Performance was assessed using national ranking across both speed and technical disciplines. In addition to linear models and MANOVA/MANCOVA tests, linear mixed-effect regressions were utilized to assess relationships between psychological factors, practice hours, and ranking over time. Higher scores on perfectionistic strivings (personal standards) were associated with improved performance. Also, grit was associated with increased engagement in individual practice hours. Coach-led one-on-one practice hours were associated with increased perfectionistic concerns (e.g., parental pressure), while indirect exposure (e.g., attending events without competing) was associated with decreased mental toughness. Findings highlight potentially important associations between athletes’ dispositional characteristics, prolonged ski engagement, and performance trajectory.
KW - Grit
KW - Mental toughness
KW - Perfectionism
KW - Practice
KW - Ranking
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85077663187&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101616
DO - 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101616
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85077663187
SN - 1469-0292
VL - 47
JO - Psychology of Sport and Exercise
JF - Psychology of Sport and Exercise
M1 - 101616
ER -