Differences in Mental Toughness Among College Students of Varied Athletic Achievement and Experience
Keywords:
MeBTough, Interscholastic sports, Playing status, Multi-sport, Single-sportAbstract
Abstract: This study examined potential differences in mental toughness (MT) among male and female college students with varied athletic achievement (e.g., participation level, playing status, awards earned) and sporting experience. Participants were 279 male and female college students. A short questionnaire was used to collect demographic and interscholastic sport experience and achievement data, and MT was assessed with the MeBTough (Mack & Ragan, 2008). Significant differences in MT were found based on level of interscholastic sport participation, with higher level athletes displaying higher MT. A significant effect was found for playing status with high school starters having 19.7% higher MT than non-sport participants. Male college athletes had higher MT than female athletes. Significant differences were found between high school athletes with and without honors, athletes with honors had higher MT. The effect for number of high school sports played was significant with more sport experience athletes displaying higher MT. We concluded that MT was positively associated with both athletic achievement and sporting experience, and there were occasional gender differences. Suggestions were made to consciously develop MT in athletes at all competitive levels, to promote multiple sport engagement during the formative years as a way to enhance MT, and to be aware of potential gender differences relative to MT.
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