Direct and Indirect Effect of Hardiness on Mental Health Among Japanese University Athletes

Abstract

This study examined direct and indirect effects of hardiness on mental health among Japanese university athletes. Participants were 760 university athletes (men = 524, women = 236, Mage = 19.9, SD = 1.22). The questionnaire comprised demographic information (gender, role in team), the Revised Athlete Hardiness Scale (RAHS), the Adolescent Resilience Scale (ARS) and General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-30). For men, RAHS score had a direct negative effect on GHQ scores, while for women, RAHS score had no effect on GHQ score. In regular players, the RAHS score had a direct negative effect on GHQ scores, while in non-regular players, It had no effect on GHQ scores. In conclusion, hardiness directly influenced mental health among Japanese university athletes and the influence of hardiness on mental health differed by gender and team role. This suggests that hardiness may be a factor in promoting mental health among Japanese male and regular athletes.