MENTAL TOUGHNESS AS PREDICTORS OF SPORTS PERFORMANCE AMONG UNDERGRADUATE-ATHLETES OF LEAD CITY UNIVERSITY, IBADAN

Abstract

Mental toughness is considered to be a multifaceted psychological construct, which
refers to a collection of psychological characteristics that play a central role in
optimal performance. This study examined mental toughness as predictor of sports
performance among undergraduate-athletes of Lead City University, Ibadan.
Descriptive survey research design was used. Population was all undergraduate
athletes of Lead City University, Ibadan. The sample size was 140 respondents, while
purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used. Mental Toughness
Questionnaire-48 (MTQ-48) and the Sport Performance Perception Scale (SPPS)
were used to collect data. MTQ-48 was adopted while SPPS was modified.
Questionnaire were validated and yielded reliability co-efficient of (MTQ-48= 0.86;
SPPS= 0.89). The descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages were
used to analyse demographic data. Inferential statistics of multiple regression was
used to analyse the hypotheses. The result of the study revealed that there was a
significant joint prediction of mental toughness (F4,135)=16.709, p<0.05) on sports
performance. There was a significant relative prediction of mental toughness factors
of control (β=0.292, p<0.05) and commitment (β=-0.211, p<0.05); while confidence
(β=0.226, p>0.05) and challenge (ß=-0.086, p>0.05) were not. The study concluded
that there was a significant joint prediction of mental toughness on sports
performance among the respondents. There were significant relative prediction of
control and commitment, on sports performance among the respondents, while
confidence and challenge were not. It was recommended among others that
undergraduate-athletes coaches should ensure that athletes’ training programmes not
only address general mental toughness but the specific components also.