The use of psychological skills in Deaflympic sport

This study explores the use of psychological skills among Deaflympic athletes and aims to provide initial insights into sport psychology practices in this overlooked population. To this end, the frequency of psychological skills’ usage, usage patterns, and differences between subgroups were examined within this population. The Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS) was administered to 84 German Deaflympic athletes (mean age = 28; 27% female) along with biographical questions (e.g., hearing status). The findings indicate that Deaflympic athletes regularly utilize psychological skills in training and competition, displaying similar usage to that of Olympic athletes. However, only a minority of Deaflympic athletes train their skills with professional consultants. Additionally, relaxation techniques were employed rarely in comparison to the other investigated skills. This study’s findings contribute to the foundation of sport psychology research with Deaflympic athletes and underscore the need for a differentiated approach in tailoring interventions for this population.