An athlete's success is the result of a variety of factors, including physical, tactical, technical and psychological aspects (Sheard, 2013). The construct of mental toughness is considered one of the most important factors in sporting success and is defined as a collection of psychological attributes that enable an athlete to consistently perform at a high level and successfully manage various demands (Jones et al., 2007). Some see it as a stable personality trait (Clough et al., 2002), others as an acquired skill (Sheard et al., 2009). This study focuses on the construct of mental toughness, in particular its relationship to personality, and on examining differences in the expression of the construct between specific groups of athletes. The research sample includes active athletes (N = 245) who completed two main self-assessment instruments: the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire SMTQ (Sheard et al., 2009) and the Big Five Inventory BFI (Avsec & Sočan, 2007; John et al., 1991). Consistent with previous research, we hypothesised and also found statistically significant (p < ,01) correlation between mental toughness and neuroticism (r = -,63), conscientiousness (r = ,44), and extraversion (r = ,39). We also found the hypothesised differences between the three groups involved, namely that men, those who train longer, and top athletes have higher levels of mental toughness and its domains than women, those who train shorter, and athletes who do not achieve top status. The results show the complexity of the mental toughness construct and support the proposition that it consists of both relatively stable and adaptive traits. Further research is needed to apply the construct in practise. In conclusion, we highlight the shortcomings of the study and make suggestions for future research in this area.
|
