摘要：Coaches, sport psychology practitioners, and researchers agree that a fundamental component of success in competitive sport is mental toughness (MT; Clough, Earle, & Sewell, 2002; Crust, 2007; Jones, Hanton, & Connaughton, 2007). MT enables an athlete to sustain performance by maintaining performance efficiency during conditions of high stress and pressure. Antecedents of MT in sport reflect an athlete's perception of high self-control, a strong determination to succeed, moderate to high risk-taking, the ability to control one s emotions during adverse and high pressure conditions, and the ability to quickly recover from negative events and failures (Bull, Shambrook, James, & Brooks, 2005, Clough et al., 2002; Jones, Hanton, & Connaughton, 2002).
Related constructs of MT include hardiness, resiliency, attentional focusing to proper environmental cues, insensitivity to distractions, and effective coping skills (Bull et al., 2005; Clough et al., 2002; Golby, Sheard, & Lavallee, 2003). In one study, Kaiseler, Polman, and Nicholls (2009) found that athletes categorized as mentally tough reported lower levels of perceived stress and higher self-control when encountering a stressor during competition.
During high-pressure competition, MT enables athletes to control their emotions in order to buffer against stress and pressure, to feel control over the competitive situation and performance outcomes, to respond favorably to pressure and challenges in sport competition, and to view defeat and failure as opportunities for feedback and improvement. MT also enables athletes to rebound swiftly after experiencing negative events during training, competition, and post-competition (Fourie & Potgieter, 2001).
