The Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence Training on Mental Toughness in Elite Taekwondo Athletes

Abstract

Mental toughness is one of the most important multi-dimensional mental skills that effect sports success. It’s also very important to understand the factors effecting its development. One of the strategies to develop mental toughness is to consider its emotional dimension therefore; the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotional intelligence training on elite taekwondo athlete’s mental toughness. For the purpose, 30 athletes (with average age of (23/30 ± 5/52) were selected through random sampling from among Tehran Taekwondo population. They were randomly assigned into two groups experimental and control. Both groups completed questionnaire of mental toughness in sport (sheard and et al, 2009). 16 sessions of training during the two months were accomplished on experimental group. Data were analysis using analysis of co variance. The results showed that emotional intelligence training intervention. Had significant effects on mental toughness and its components (Confidence, consistency and control). Generally, emotional intelligence training is useful and effective way to improve elite taekwondo athletes ‘mental toughness.

Keywords

• mental toughness
• elite taekwondo athletes
• emotion regulation
• control
• emotional intelligence