Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence and Mental Toughness in Successful and Unsuccessful Karate Athletes in Iran Men’s Karate Super League

Abstract

According to numerous studies in sport psychology, it is proved that optimal athletic performance relates to many psychological factors and personality and psychological characteristics influence athletic development. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare mindfulness, emotional intelligence and mental toughness in successful and unsuccessful karate athletes in Iran men’s karate super league. This research was casual-comparative and the population consisted of Iran men’s karate super league in Kumite section in 2015. Primary data were collected by convenience sampling method from 70 athletes of all participating teams- especially two high ranking teams and three low ranking teams- in karate super league. After the data of the number of competitions and their results for each athlete were collected, the optimal performance of karate athletes was calculated and two successful and unsuccessful karate athletes groups were determined (each group 30 subjects). The form of content, the demographic questionnaire, Sport Mindfulness Scale, Schutte Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire and Mental Toughness Questionnaire (48 items) were used. The normal distribution of data in both groups were examined using the K-S and Shapiro-Wilk tests. The results of independent t test showed that the difference in mindfulness was not statistically significant between successful and unsuccessful karate athletes, but the emotional intelligence and mental toughness between successful and unsuccessful athletes were significantly different. Overall, it can be stated that a major part of these findings emphasize the role of the psychological characteristics in the sport performance and success of the two groups of elite karate athletes who have the highest rank in Asia and world karate.

Keywords

• emotional intelligence
• karate
• mental toughness
• mindfulness
• super league