Mental toughness among student-athletes: A gender-based comparative study

Mental toughness is a critical psychological traitrnthat significantly impacts the well-being and performance of student-athletes.rnIt encompasses coping with stress, maintaining focus, and performing underrnpressure, which are essential for success in competitive sports. This studyrnexamines gender-based differences in mental toughness among student-athletes,rnfocusing on three key dimensions: confidence, constancy, and control. Thernsample consisted of 84 student-athletes (n1=42 males and n2=42 females), aged betweenrn15 and 28 years, representing cricket, kabaddi, and handball. Data wererncollected using the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ-14 items byrnSheard et al ., 2009), and independent samples t-tests werernperformed to assess gender differences across subscales and total scores. Thernresults indicated that female athletes scored significantly higher than malesrnin the confidence and constancy dimensions, as well as on overall mentalrntoughness. No significant gender difference was found in the control dimension.rnThese findings suggest that female student-athletes in this sample may exhibitrngreater psychological resilience and consistency under competitive conditions.rnThe study highlights the importance of considering gender-specificrnpsychological profiles in sports training and performance enhancement.rnImplications for coaching practices, athlete development, and mental skillsrntraining programs are discussed.