Relationship Between Mental Toughness and Sport Performance Among Contact and Non-contact Sport Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between mental toughness and sport performance among contact sport and non-contact sport athletes. In addition, differences in mental toughness dimensions between contact sport and non-contact sport athletes and difference in mental toughness between genders were compared. It was hypothesized that there was a relationship between mental toughness and the level of achievement among the athletes. A total of 285 athletes who participated in the Sukan Kolej-Kolej Bersekutu (SUKOB) competition (males = 147, females = 138) aged 18–26 years participated in this study. The method involved in this study was self-evaluation by participants themselves. The psychological performance inventory (PPI) questionnaire was distributed to the athletes who participated in the event during that time. After finishing the match, the researcher evaluated the sport performance based on the results of the match, either a win or a loss. Findings from this study showed a significant, weak, and negative relationship between overall mental toughness and sport performance among contact and non-contact sport athletes (r = −0.398, p = 0.000). Contact sport athletes scored higher in overall mental toughness compared with non-contact sport athletes (t = 2.99, p = 0.003). It can be concluded that mental toughness is an important component of psychological skills that should be included in training session in order to achieve excellent performance in competitions.