Mental toughness and its role in the development of young people

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the concept of mental toughness and the mental toughness questionnaire, Mental toughness scores (MTQ48). Mental toughness is now more usually defined as the quality which determines, in large part, how individuals deal effectively with stress, pressure, and challenge, irrespective of the prevailing circumstances. Individuals who score high on this scale feel that they are in control of their studies, work, and environment in which they work. The way the student approaches this will determine how they perform and behave when faced with the challenge. Mental toughness has emerged as a significant factor in the development of young people. A number of studies have used MTQ48 to investigate relationships between mental toughness and coping. One very important point to note is that the opposite of mental toughness is not mental weakness. Developing an individual's mental toughness can translate into better performance.