Unveiling the Mental Toughness and Performance Resilience of Table Tennis Athletes

Abstract

This study examined the psychological resilience and mental fortitude of Chinese table tennis athletes, specifically analyzing their demographic characteristics. The sample comprised predominantly of athletes aged 18 to 24, with a majority of female participants and a notable proportion having less than one year of expertise in the sport. Athletes assessed their mental toughness dimensions, such as commitment, control, confidence, and challenge, as being of average level. Noticeable disparities in mental resilience evaluations were noted among various age cohorts, genders, and levels of professional expertise. In terms of age, athletes between the ages of 18 and 24 demonstrated greater dedication and self-regulation, whereas female athletes had higher levels of confidence and dedication. The performance resilience tests indicated that the scores were moderate to slightly above average in many categories, indicating a well-balanced impression of their skills to withstand challenges. Significantly, the components of performance resilience, including awareness, physiology, emotions, and mastery, exhibited notable variations depending on age, gender, and years of experience. Moreover, a significant correlation was discovered between the characteristics of mental toughness and the ability to bounce back from setbacks, underscoring the significance of mental conditioning in improving athletes' capacity to surmount challenges and attain peak performance. These findings highlight the necessity of customized mental training programs to improve psychological resilience and performance among Chinese table tennis athletes. When developing interventions, coaches and sports psychologists should take into account the age, gender, and level of experience of players.