TY - JOUR
T1 - Motivational correlates of mentally tough behaviours in tennis
AU - Gucciardi, Daniel F.
AU - Jackson, Ben
AU - Hanton, Sheldon
AU - Reid, Machar
PY - 2015/1
Y1 - 2015/1
N2 - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine motivational correlates of mentally tough behaviours among adolescent tennis players.DESIGN: Two-phase study, involving the development of an informant-rated measure of mentally tough behaviours, followed by a cross-sectional survey including athlete and parent assessments of study variables.METHODS: In Phase One, 17 adult, high-performance tennis coaches and 20 athletes participated in focus group interviews. Four scholars with expertise in performance psychology also completed a short, online survey. In Phase Two, a total of 347 adolescent tennis players (nmales=184; nfemales=163) aged 12-18 years (M=13.93, SD=1.47) and one respective parent took part in this study. An online multisection survey containing dimensions of passion, inspiration, fear of failure, and mentally tough behaviours was completed. Athletes self-reported all motivational variables, whereas parents rated their child solely on mentally tough behaviours.RESULTS: Structural equation modelling revealed that harmonious passion (β=.26, p<.01) and frequency of inspiration (β=.32, p<.001) were associated with significantly higher levels of mentally tough behaviours. In contrast, fear of failure (β=-.32, p<.001) and obsessive passion (β=-.15, p<.01) were inversely related to mentally tough behaviours. Inspiration intensity was not significantly associated with mentally tough behaviour (β=.13, p=.21).CONCLUSIONS: Motivational variables that are dispositional in nature, contextualised and contingent upon features of the environment, and concern one's identity are important considerations for understanding mentally tough behaviours.
AB - OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine motivational correlates of mentally tough behaviours among adolescent tennis players.DESIGN: Two-phase study, involving the development of an informant-rated measure of mentally tough behaviours, followed by a cross-sectional survey including athlete and parent assessments of study variables.METHODS: In Phase One, 17 adult, high-performance tennis coaches and 20 athletes participated in focus group interviews. Four scholars with expertise in performance psychology also completed a short, online survey. In Phase Two, a total of 347 adolescent tennis players (nmales=184; nfemales=163) aged 12-18 years (M=13.93, SD=1.47) and one respective parent took part in this study. An online multisection survey containing dimensions of passion, inspiration, fear of failure, and mentally tough behaviours was completed. Athletes self-reported all motivational variables, whereas parents rated their child solely on mentally tough behaviours.RESULTS: Structural equation modelling revealed that harmonious passion (β=.26, p<.01) and frequency of inspiration (β=.32, p<.001) were associated with significantly higher levels of mentally tough behaviours. In contrast, fear of failure (β=-.32, p<.001) and obsessive passion (β=-.15, p<.01) were inversely related to mentally tough behaviours. Inspiration intensity was not significantly associated with mentally tough behaviour (β=.13, p=.21).CONCLUSIONS: Motivational variables that are dispositional in nature, contextualised and contingent upon features of the environment, and concern one's identity are important considerations for understanding mentally tough behaviours.
KW - characteristic adaptations
KW - identity
KW - personality levels
KW - traits
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84916605233&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsams.2013.11.009
DO - 10.1016/j.jsams.2013.11.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 24360601
AN - SCOPUS:84916605233
SN - 1440-2440
VL - 18
SP - 67
EP - 71
JO - Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
JF - Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
IS - 1
ER -