Adolescent performers' perspectives on mental toughness and its development: The utility of the Bioecological Model

Journal article


Mahoney, John William, Gucciardi, Daniel F., Mallett, Cliff J. and Ntoumanis, Nikos. (2014). Adolescent performers' perspectives on mental toughness and its development: The utility of the Bioecological Model. Sport Psychologist. 28(3), pp. 233 - 244. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2013-0050
AuthorsMahoney, John William, Gucciardi, Daniel F., Mallett, Cliff J. and Ntoumanis, Nikos
Abstract

In light of the extant literature, the aim of the current study was to compare adolescents’ perspectives on mental toughness and its development across performance contexts, and to explore if such perspectives align with Bronfenbrenner’s (2001) bioecological model. Eighteen mentally tough adolescents (9 boys, 9 girls, Mage = 15.6 years) from three performance contexts (i.e., sport, academia, and music) participated in focus groups, 7 of whom also participated in follow-up one-to-one interviews. Inductive analyses revealed that mental toughness was conceptualized by 9 personal characteristics, and that while similar across performance contexts, some difference between previous mental toughness conceptualization and the current study existed. Analyses also revealed that mental toughness development was predicated on significant others, supportive social processes, critical incidents, and curiosity. These findings resonated with the properties of the bioecological model. Future research into how bioecological factors combine to facilitate mental toughness development during critical stages of life was suggested.

Keywordsperformance contexts; human potential; positive youth development
Year2014
JournalSport Psychologist
Journal citation28 (3), pp. 233 - 244
PublisherHuman Kinetics
ISSN0888-4781
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2013-0050
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84911177263
Page range233 - 244
Research GroupSports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies (SPRINT) Research Centre
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationAmerica
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