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Abstract

This study examined potential differences in mental toughness (MT) among college students with varied athletic achievement (e.g., participation level, awards earned, playing status) and sport participation. Participants were 279 male and female college students enrolled in coaching education classes. A short questionnaire was used to collect demographic and interscholastic sport experience and achievement data, and MT was 1assessed with the MeBTough (Mack & Ragan, 2008). Significant differences in MT were found based on level of interscholastic sport participation, with higher level athletes displaying higher MT. A significant effect was found for playing status at the high school level. Significant differences were also found between high school athletes with and without honors, athletes with honors had higher MT. The effect for number of high school sports played was significant with more sport participation athletes displaying higher MT. In some analyses male athletes had higher MT than female athletes. We concluded that MT was positively associated with both athletic achievement and sport participation, and there were occasional gender differences. Suggestions were made to consciously develop MT in athletes at all competitive levels, to further examine multiple sport participation as a way to enhance MT, and to be aware of potential gender differences relative to MT.

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