The Relationship between Young Athletes\u27 Imagery Use and Mental Toughness

This study examined the relationship between young athletes’ imagery use and mental toughness. Participants (N = 76) included both male (n = 28) and female (n = 48) athletes (Mage = 12.49, SD = 1.06). They completed two questionnaires; one measuring the cognitive and motivational functions of imagery, and the other assessing the 4C’s of mental toughness. A series of hierarchical multiple regressions revealed that imagery use significantly predicted all 4C’s of mental toughness (Challenge, Commitment, Control, Confidence). Specifically, the motivational general-mastery function of imagery emerged as the strongest individual predictor of all 4C’s and cognitive general imagery emerged as a significant predictor for Challenge and Confidence. Developmental considerations and applied recommendations are discussed