The Effects of Inner Speech on Sports Performance among Adolescents

Introduction: Self-talk in sports is one of the most fundamental skills of sports psychology and has an impact on movement performance.Objective: Due to the importance of inner speech in sport, in the present study we aimed to examine the effects of inner speech on sports performance (i.e., Basketball skills) in adolescents.Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational method. The participants included 158 adolescents (59 girls) aged 14 to 17 years in Tehran in 2023, who completed the modified LISS and performed three basketball skills (shoot, pass, dribble). Regression analysis and structural equation modelling using Smart-PLS were utilized to examine the predictive validity of the revised-LISS for basketball performance.Results: Regression analysis and structural equation modelling using Smart-PLS were used to examine the predictive validity of the inner speech for sports performance by connecting the dimensions of the LISS (e.g., self-criticism, self-reinforcement, self-management, and social assessment) to the outcome scores in Basketball skills. The results showed that the self-reinforcement and self-management dimensions significantly affected Basketball performances.