Assessment of mental toughness among high and low achievers Indian Wrestlers: A comparative study

Abstract

This study examined mental toughness and its influence on performance outcomes in competition. For this study 60 Indian Male National Wrestler competing in National championships at Indira Stadium Una Himachal was selected as samples. The Sample was further divided into two groups as per performance outcomes in competition one is successful wrestlers who had won the medals (n=30) and another one is nonsuccessful wrestlers who had not won any medals in national Championship 2009. Psychological Performance Inventory (PPI; Loehr, 1986) was administered to measures the mental toughness of both groups in this study. Analysis of the fundamental areas of mental toughness revealed that the successful wrestlers scored significantly higher on all subscales of mental toughness and significant differences were observed between two groups (successful and non-successful) in self-confidence (p = 0.001), negative energy control (p = 0.019). Attention Control (p = 0.011), Visual / Imagery Control (p=0.266), Motivational Level (p = 0.002), Positive Energy (p = 0.001) and Attitude Control (p = 0.012)