ORIGINAL ARTICLES  PSYCHOLOGY 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2015 July-August;55(7-8):824-34

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The mediating role of mental toughness in sport

Nicholls A. R. ¹, Perry J. L. ¹, Jones L. ², Sanctuary C. ³, Carson F. ¹, Clough P. J. ¹ ✉

¹ Department of Sport Exercise and Health, University of Hull, UK; ² Leigh Jones is with the School of Health and Social Science, University of Wales, Newport, UK; ³ Colin Sanctuary is with the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, York St. John University York, UK

AIM: We conducted two studies that examined different models, which included mental toughness and psychological constructs that are thought to be related to this construct.
METHODS: In Study 1, 531 athletes completed measures of mental toughness, resilience, and emotional intelligence. In Study 2, 522 athletes completed measures of mental toughness, sport motivation, and self-efficacy.
RESULTS: There were positive paths between the constructs in the model, which were mediated by mental toughness in Study 1. Further, there was a positive path between mental toughness and self-efficacy, but negative paths with introjected regulation and amotivation in Study 2.
CONCLUSION: This two study paper suggests that it might also be the presence of constructs such as resilience, emotional intelligence, motivation, and/or self-efficacy that enable mentally tough individuals to excel under stressful circumstances rather than just coping.