Abstract

In this study, we examined associations among mental toughness, negative emotions and cognition, and self-forgiveness. A sample of 343 competitive tennis players (Mage = 17.56, SD = 2.37) completed questionnaires measuring their tendency to experience shame, anger, and criticism towards themselves, along with mental toughness and self-forgivingness. Mental toughness correlated negatively with self-oriented shame, anger, and criticism, and positively with self-forgivingness. The effect of mental toughness on both shame and anger towards the self was fully mediated by self-forgiveness, whereas self-forgiveness partially mediated the effect for self-criticism. The findings support the role of self-forgiveness as a mediator in reducing or eliminating self-condemning, resentful, and devaluing responses that athletes direct towards themselves. Developers of mental toughness interventions might consider incorporating a self-forgiveness component to help athletes who make mistakes, underperform, or experience defeats.