y2017m01b12 20170124111400 assa nadine@assaf.org.za assa South African Journal of Science S. Afr. J. Sci 1996-7489 01242017 Volume 113 Number 1/2 On the mental toughness of self-aware athletes: Evidence from competitive tennis players Richard G. Cowden Institute of Psychological Wellbeing, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa Discipline of Psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa Abstract This study examined the relationship between mental toughness (MT) and self-awareness in a sample of 175 male and 158 female South African tennis athletes (mean age = 29.09 years, s.d. = 14.00). The participants completed the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire and the Self-Reflection and Insight Scale to assess MT (confidence, constancy, control) and self-awareness (self-reflection and self-insight) dimensions, respectively. Linear regression indicated that self-insight (β=0.49), but not self-reflection (β=0.02), predicted global MT. Multivariate regression analyses were significant for self-reflection (ηp²=0.11) and self-insight (ηp²=0.24). Self-reflection predicted confidence and constancy (ηp²=0.05 and 0.06, respectively), whereas self-insight predicted all three MT subcomponents (ηp²=0.12 to 0.14). The findings extend prior qualitative research evidence supporting the relevance of self-awareness to the MT of competitive tennis athletes, with self-reflection and insight forming prospective routes through which athletes’ MT may be developed. 01242017 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/za/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/za/ 10.17159/sajs.2017/20160112 20170124111400 http://sajs.co.za/mental-toughness-self-aware-athletes-evidence-competitive-tennis-players/richard-g-cowden http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Cowden_ResearchArticle.pdf http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Cowden_ResearchArticle.pdf http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Cowden_ResearchArticle.pdf http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Cowden_ResearchArticle.pdf http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Cowden_ResearchArticle.pdf http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Cowden_ResearchArticle.pdf http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Cowden_ResearchArticle.pdf