A Comparative Study of Psychological Hardness (Males vs. Females) Among Fourth-Year Students in Departments and Colleges of Physical Education and Sports Sciences

This study aimed to identify gender differences in psychological hardiness among fourth-year undergraduate students in faculties and departments of Physical Education and Sports Sciences across the Universities of Mosul, Al-Hamdaniya, and Al-Noor. Adopting a descriptive-comparative approach, the study population consisted of 116 students (86 males and 30 females). The main research sample comprised 90 students, representing 77.58% of the original population, which was further categorized into a pilot sample of 10 students, a reliability sample of 30 students, and a final application sample of 50 students. Statistical analyses were performed utilizing SPSS and Excel. The findings revealed notable gender differences in psychological hardiness, indicating that male students exhibited higher levels of psychological hardiness compared to their female counterparts. Based on these conclusions, the researcher recommends the implementation of targeted counseling and guidance programs designed to foster and enhance psychological hardiness, equipping students with effective mechanisms to cope with general life stressors. Additionally, the study suggests conducting further empirical investigations across diverse sample groups.