Cowden, Richard G.Joynt, ShaunCrust, LeeHook, Joshua N.Worthington, Everett L.2018-11-162018-11-162018Cowden, R.G. et al. 2018. How do mentally tough athletes overcome self-directed anger, shame, and criticism? A self-forgiveness mediation analysis. International journal of sport psychology, 49(4):327-348. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325956415_How_Do_Mentally_Tough_Athletes_Overcome_Self-Directed_Anger_Shame_and_Criticism_A_Self-Forgiveness_Mediation_Analysis]0047-0767http://hdl.handle.net/10394/31721https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325956415_How_Do_Mentally_Tough_Athletes_Overcome_Self-Directed_Anger_Shame_and_Criticism_A_Self-Forgiveness_Mediation_AnalysisWe examined associations between mental toughness, self-directed, negatively toned emotions and cognitions, and self-forgiveness. With reference to their participation in competitive tennis, a sample of 343 competitive tennis players (Mage = 17.56, SD = 2.37) completed questionnaires measuring their mental toughness, self-forgiveness, and tendency to experience shame, anger, and criticism towards themselves. Mental toughness associated negatively with self-oriented shame, anger, and criticism, and positively with self-forgiveness. 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, over mental toughness, in reducing or eliminating self-condemning, resentful, and devaluing responses that athletes direct towards themselvesenArticle