Sport Mont (Oct 2016)
Mental Toughness Attributes of Junior Level Medalist Badminton Players
Abstract
The study aims to compare the mental toughness attributes between medalist and non-medalist badminton players and between male and female players. Participants were 15 male and 15 female badminton players aged between 13-19 years (M= 15.71, SD=2.82). Mental toughness questionnaire of Tiwari and Sharma was administered and the data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and t-test. Medalist players have exhibited higher mean values on self-confidence, attention control, motivation and goal setting attributes. Overall mental toughness of medalists was higher 180.80±17.15 than non-medalists 170.25±20.10. Comparison analysis showed significant difference between medalists and non-medalists on mental toughness attributes: Self-confidence (SCO: p=0.001<0.05), medalists scored (M±SD=31.33±2.10) higher than non-medalists; motivation (MOT: p=0.006<0.05), medalist scored higher (M±SD=33.50±4.07; goal setting (GSE: p=0.044<0.05), medalists scored significantly higher (M±SD=33.55±4.11) than non-medalists. Other attributes did not show any significant difference between medalist and non-medalist players. When compared with gender, no significant difference was observed on mental toughness attributes except attention control (ATNCON: p=0.044<0.05), female players scored (M±SD=38.97±3.08) higher than male players. The findings confirm that mental toughness is a desired attribute which differentiates a medalist and non-medalist player. Connaughton et al., (2007) stated that elite competitive athletes possess better mental toughness. Medalist players displayed better self-confidence than the non-medalists as supported by Kuan and Roy (2007), Loehr (1986). Motivation helps players to achieve their best and enhance mental toughness (Connaughton et al., 2008; Mohammad et al., 2009). Goal setting determines successful performance Weinberg and Weigand (1993), Weinberg (2003). It was concluded that medalist badminton players showed better mental toughness attributes than the non-medalists.
