Cognitive Appraisals in Sport: The Direct and Moderating Role of Mental Toughness

Andrew Levy,Remco Polman,Adam Nicholls

doi:10.5923/j.ijap.20120204.05

Andrew Levy, Remco Polman + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5923/j.ijap.20120204.05

Copy DOI

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between mental toughness and cognitive appraisals, in addition to exploring the moderating influence of mental toughness upon cognitive appraisals. A total of 296 athletic participants (male n = 200; female n = 96) aged between 16 and 51 years (M age = 21.92 years, SD = 4.61) took part in this study. Moderated multiple regression analysis revealed mental toughness had a significant negative relationship with threat appraisal and a significant positive relationship with challenge. Additionally, mental toughness had a moderating influence upon the centrality-threat appraisal relationship. Overall, these findings imply interventions aimed at threat appraisal manipulation could be targeted at lower mentally tough athletes.

Highlights

Stress occurs when the relationship between the person and his or her environment is perceived as taxing or e xceeding one’s resources and endangering well-being[1]
These findings showed mental toughness had and inverse relationship with threat appraisal and a linear relationship with challenge appraisal
These findings reveal that mentally tough athletes were less likely to perceive an encounter threatening and more likely to perceive an encounter as a challenge

Summary

Introduction

Stress occurs when the relationship between the person and his or her environment is perceived as taxing or e xceeding one’s resources and endangering well-being[1]. Primary appraisal refers to an ind ividual’s evaluation regarding the personal significance of the situation for their well-being. Secondary appraisal is an evaluation of what might and can be done to manage the situation. Based upon Lazarus and Folkman’s[1] transactional approach, Peacock and Wong[2] proposed three dimensions of primary appraisal, 1) threat appraisal: the potential for harm or loss in the future, 2) challenge: anticipation for gain or growth, and 3) centrality: the importance of an event. Three secondary appraisal dimensions, associated with stressor controllability, were identified by Peacock and Wong[2], 1) controllable-by-self: judgement as to whether one can control the situation, 2) controllable-by-others: judge ment as to whether one can re ly on others to help manage the situation, and 3) uncontrollable-byanyone: events that are appraised as not being controllable by anyone

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion