A Cross-National Analysis of Mental Toughness and Hardiness in Elite University Rugby League Teams 1 (original) (raw)

A cross-national analysis of mental toughness and hardiness in elite university rugby league teams

The relation between nationality and selected indicators of psychological performance in rugby league football was examined. Mental toughness was assessed using the alternative Psychological Performance Inventory (PPI-A) and hardiness using the Personal Views Survey III-R (PVS III-R). Participants (N = 49, M age = 21.7 yr., SD = 2.3) were male elite-level university rugby league footballers representing Australia and Great Britain. Participants completed the questionnaires in training camp in Sydney, Australia, one week prior to the commencement of an international tournament there in 2006. Multivariate analyses revealed that the Australian Universities players had significantly higher mean scores on Positive Cognition, Visualization, Total Mental Toughness, and Challenge than their opponents from Great Britain. The Australian Universities players were also the tournament winners. The findings concur with previous research indicating superior mental toughness and hardiness are related to successful sport performance. Practical implications focus on the potentiality of ameliorative cultural environments.

Mental toughness and hardiness at different levels of rugby league

The increasingly business-like environment of professional sport has resulted in greater scrutiny and analysis of playersÕ performance. The roles of physiological parameters in predicting success in the world of professional and amateur sport are well established. However, to date, evidence is sparse concerning the role of personality traits in predicting such success. The present study examined the potency of measures of personality style and mental skills in predicting success in the criterion sport of professional rugby league. Mental toughness was assessed by questionnaire using the Psychological Performance Inventory. Hardiness was assessed by questionnaire using the Personal Views Survey III-R. Subjects in this study were 115 professional rugby league footballers representing the top three playing levels in the game in Great Britain (International, Super League, and Division One). Findings demonstrated that performers playing at the highest standard (International players) scored significantly higher in all three hardiness subscales (commitment, control and challenge) and in two of the seven mental toughness subscales (negative energy control and attention control). Results are discussed relative to previous findings, in particular, of the efficacy of high levels of hardiness. Practical implications focus on the advocacy of mental toughness and hardiness training to improve sports performance.

A cognitive-behavioural analysis of mental toughness in national rugby league football teams

This study examined the relations between demographic characteristics of rugby players and selected aspects of psychological performance in rugby league football. Mental toughness was assessed using Psychological Performance Inventory and Hardiness on the Personal Views Survey 111-R. Participants (N = 70) were interna-9, 212-228. WEINBERG, R. S. (1994) Goal setting and performance in sport and exercise settings: a synthesis and critique.

Golby and Sheard 2004 mental toughness and hardiness at different levels of rugby league

The increasingly business-like environment of professional sport has resulted in greater scrutiny and analysis of playersÕ performance. The roles of physiological parameters in predicting success in the world of professional and amateur sport are well established. However, to date, evidence is sparse concerning the role of personality traits in predicting such success. The present study examined the potency of measures of personality style and mental skills in predicting success in the criterion sport of professional rugby league. Mental toughness was assessed by questionnaire using the Psychological Performance Inventory. Hardiness was assessed by questionnaire using the Personal Views Survey III-R. Subjects in this study were 115 professional rugby league footballers representing the top three playing levels in the game in Great Britain (International, Super League, and Division One). Findings demonstrated that performers playing at the highest standard (International players) scored significantly higher in all three hardiness subscales (commitment, control and challenge) and in two of the seven mental toughness subscales (negative energy control and attention control). Results are discussed relative to previous findings, in particular, of the efficacy of high levels of hardiness. Practical implications focus on the advocacy of mental toughness and hardiness training to improve sports performance.

Mental toughness state or trait Context and sporting performance in rugby union, a longitudinal study

2024

Mental toughness is a concept that has been considered a critical feature of sporting success. However, there are still con-ceptual issues related to its traitness and its relationship with sporting performance that remain unresolved. Consequently, the objective of this research is to contrast empirically whether the eventual changes in MT and its relationships with competition phases and sporting performance can sustain the notion of MT as a state or a trait. A longitudinal study included 12 male Chilean rugby players, aged 18-33 years, which regularly competed at the highest national level. The results indicated that there are no significant differences in mental toughness between the four measurements taken in the study and that the competitive phase did not predict mental toughness properties enduring across contexts and time. In addition, the data showed that mental toughness is an important predictor of relevant behavioural variables and sporting performance. Keywords: mentally tough, sports psychology, sporting success, rugby.

Comparison of Mental Toughness Levels of Soccer and Rugby Players

Comparison of Mental Toughness Levels of Soccer and Rugby Players, 2023

The concept of mental toughness, which is defined as the ability of sportsmen to cope with mentally challenging situations better than their competitors, is an important concept for achieving success in sports. Mental toughness can vary according to age, sport year, branch, gender and many other factors. Although the soccer branch is the most popular branch in the world, its starting point comes to the same period with rugby. In recent years, the increasing interest in rugby in our country and the success of Turkish rugby teams in international platforms is also a striking factor. The aim of our research is to compare the mental toughness levels of soccer and rugby sportsmen in Turkey. The research group consist of 119 soccer players and 81 rugby players. To collect data Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) was used online. The results have shown that there is significant difference between soccer players and rugby players mental toughness levels.

Mental toughness and hardiness at different levels of football.

Grin Verlag GmbH: Munich, Germany., 2011

"There has been little research into the psychological factors affecting footballers at different levels (Hanin et al, 2000), in particular, the mental toughness and hardiness of footballers. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between mental toughness and hardiness of footballers and the level of football at which they perform. Participants - 61 footballers (mean AGE=25.23 years; range 18-40 years; SD=5.55), from various clubs and 2 levels of performance. Mental toughness was measured using the Psychological Performance Inventory (PPI; Loehr, 1986). Hardiness was measured using the Personal views survey III- R (Maddi and Khoshaba 2001). Elite footballers scored significantly higher than recreational footballers in overall mental toughness, hardiness and each individual subscale, (Golby & Sheard, 2004). While the present study confirms that elite footballers have superior levels of mental toughness and hardiness than recreational footballers, future research might concentrate further on psychological skills training, coping strategies and psychological preparation strategies in a wider variation of sports specific to a wider range of athletes, from grass roots to international level. "

A survey of “mental hardiness” and “mental toughness” in professional male football players

Background It is not uncommon for chiropractors to be associated with sports teams for injury prevention, treatment, or performance enhancement. There is increasing acceptance of the importance of sports psychology in the overall management of athletes. Recent findings indicate mental hardiness can be determined reliably using specific self-assessment questionnaires. This study set out to investigate the hardiness scores of professional footballers and examine the correlation between two questionnaires. It also included a mental hardiness rating of players by two coaches, and examined differences in hardiness and mental toughness between national and international players. Methods Two self-assessment questionnaires (modified Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire [SMTQ-M] and Psychological Performance Inventory [PPI-A]) were completed by 20 male professional footballers. Two coaches, independently rated each player. A percentage score from each questionnaire was awarded each player and an average score was calculated ({SMTQ-M % + PPI-A %} ÷ 2). The PPI-A and SMTQ-M scores obtained for each player were analysed for correlation with Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Cohen’s kappa inter-reliability coefficient was used to determine agreement between coaches, and between the players’ hardiness scores and coaches’ ratings. The independent t-test was used to examine differences between national and international players. Results The players’ scores obtained from PPI-A and SMTQ-M correlated well (r = 0.709, p < 0.001). The coaches ratings showed significant, weak to moderate agreement (Cohen's kappa = 0.33). No significant agreement was found between player self-assessments and coaches’ ratings. The average ({SMTQ-M % + PPI-A %} ÷ 2) mean score was 77% (SD = 7.98) with international players scoring 7.4% (p = 0.04) higher than non-international players. Conclusions The questionnaires (SMTQ-M and PPI-A) correlated well in their outcome scores. These findings suggest that coaches moderately agree when assessing the level of mental hardiness of football players. There was no agreement between player self-assessment and ratings by coaches. Footballers who play or had played for national teams achieved slightly higher mental hardiness scores. Either questionnaire can offer the clinician a cost-effective, valuable measure of an individual’s psychological attributes, which could be relevant within the wider context of bio-psycho-social model of care. Keywords: Mental toughness; Mental hardiness; Survey; Male professional football players

Mental Toughness and Success in Sport: A Review and Prospect

The Open Sports Sciences Journal, 2017

Background: Mental toughness (MT) is often referred to as one of the most important psychological attributes underpinning the success of athletes. Although selected studies have examined this common supposition, research in this area has yet to be synthesized. Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the quantitative literature on MT, competitive standard, achievement level, and performance (competitive and non-competitive) in sport. Method: Searches using a specified key term were performed in 10 databases during August 2016. Following an initial screening of the unique records that were identified (N = 1025), 19 peer-reviewed articles met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the review. Results: The majority of MT-competitive standard studies (N = 10) found total (66.7%) or subcomponent (71.4%) MT differences, with mentally tougher athletes participating at higher levels of competition. Of the remaining studies (N = 9), most indicated (77.8%) mentally tougher athletes tend to achieve more or perform better. Conclusion: Collectively, the results point to mentally tougher athletes’ superior levels of success. The findings are discussed alongside the limitations associated with this part of the current MT in sport literature, with several important areas outlined for scholars to consider and pursue when conducting future research.

Mental Toughness among Footballers: A Case Study

hrmars.com

The purpose of this study is to examine the mental toughness perceived by selected the National football players. A sample of twelve Malaysian footballers (current and explayers), aged 19 to 57 years old agreed to participate. All of them have been playing in the Malaysia National Football League that consists of four former national footballers, four former state footballers and four currently active footballers. Among them, five individuals are active as a coach. A semi-structure interview scheduled was used in the research. All of the respondents have signed the informed consent letter for taperecorded during the interviewed. The transcribed verbatim from the tapes were content analyzed by the authors to identify the themes. Results show that eight themes emerged from the interviews, which are motivation, negative energy, self-confidence, positive energy, visual and imagery control, patriotic spirit, perseverance and attention control. Almost all of the themes have been identified by previous researchers (i.e.,