The Effects of Coping, Savoring, and Self-compassion on Daily Psychological Resilience among College Athletes

James D. Doorley

Advisor: Robyn Mehlenbeck, PhD, Department of Psychology

Committee Members: Todd Kashdan, Jerome Short

Online Location, #2084
May 13, 2020, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Abstract:

It is the most resilient athletes – those who bounce back from adversity – who are the healthiest and most successful. To better understand the psychological profiles of resilient athletes, researchers often focus on coping strategies in response to negative events. While fruitful, athletes’ responses to positive events (e.g., savoring) may be equally important in regulating emotions during the highs and lows of the competitive season. Researchers are also becoming increasingly interested in the role of self-compassion (SC) in athlete resilience, particularly when faced with personal failures or defeats. However, it remains unclear whether SC influences how athletes cope with negative events and savor positive events, whether SC helps athletes respond to daily highs and lows more effectively, and how the benefits of SC compare to those of other traits such as hope, grit, and sport-related self-confidence. In two studies, I explore the relative effects of coping and savoring on daily emotions in the wake of negative events and the role of SC in coping, savoring, and bouncing back from poor sport performances.