Journal of Human Sport and Exercise

Mental toughness and coping skills in male sprinters

Tanielle S. Beckford, Melanie Poudevigne, Rachael Irving, Kerith Golden

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2016.113.01

Abstract

The predictive quality of psychological skills in relation to sports and more specifically track and field athletes continues to be explored. Purpose: To profile psychological adaptations in Jamaican male sprinters and to assess the differences between elite and sub-elite athletes. Medthods: A cross-sectional study of (N = 30) male participants (Mage = 17.2, SD = .20) who were grouped based on previous athletic achievement into the elite group (n = 15) and sub-elite group (n = 15). Following a simulated competitive run; the athletes completed the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 and the Mental Toughness Questionnaire-48. Results: The elite athletes exhibited greater mental toughness than the sub-elite group (p = .05) and coping skills were a significant predictor of mental toughness (p < .01). Conclusion: Assessment of psychological skills may distinguish elite from sub-elite athletes.

Keywords

Elite athletes; Psychological skills; Sprinters; Early development; Coping; Mental toughness; Challenge

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2016.113.01





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