Student's Mental Toughness in Sports

<p><span lang="EN-PH">Mental toughness in sports is consistently performing at one's best, regardless of circumstances, by maintaining focus, resilience, and confidence under pressure. This study examined the level of mental toughness among student-athletes enrolled in a private academic institution during the school year 2023–2024. Mental toughness, a critical psychological attribute in sports, was analyzed across four domains: short-term goal setting, visualization, positive self-approach, and stress management. The research involved 211 respondents and employed a descriptive-comparative design, considering demographic variables such as age, sex, year level, and team affiliation. Findings revealed that the overall level of mental toughness among student-athletes was high, indicating that most respondents possess strong psychological traits that enable them to stay focused, handle pressure, and perform effectively in competitive environments. Significant differences were observed across various groupings: older and higher-year-level athletes exhibited stronger goal-setting skills, while younger athletes demonstrated better stress management. Males generally scored higher in visualization and positive self-evaluation than females. The study concludes that while mental toughness is high overall, targeted interventions are needed to enhance confidence, stress regulation, and mental imagery skills to support athletes with lower scores in specific areas. A tailored sports development plan is proposed to reinforce mental resilience and optimize student-athlete performance across all levels.</span></p>