Mental toughness in higher education: Relationships with achievement and profession in first-year university sports students (Pre-published version)

Abstract

Research into mental toughness has largely been confined to elite sport but should theoretically be important across other performance domains. We examined mental toughness in 161 first year sport students at a UK University using a self-report questionnaire (MTQ48). A measure of achievement (year grade) and progression (pass, fail, or re-sit) was also obtained for each participant. Significant and positive correlations were found between total mental toughness, grades, and progression. Linear regression analysis found mental toughness subscales of life control and interpersonal confidence to be significant predictors of academic achievement. Significantly higher levels of total mental toughness, life control and interpersonal confidence were found in students that passed, as opposed to failed. Results suggest that the MTQ48 may be a useful screening device to identify students at risk of failing and dropping out of their program. Interventions that target life control and interpersonal confidence would appear to be most salient.