Mental Toughness of Mixed Martial Arts Athletes at Different Levels of Competition

Abstract

This study investigated whether mental toughness distinguishes mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes competing at different levels. It was theorized that higher mental toughness would separate those competing at the professional level compared to lower levels. Male MMA competitors (N = 136, M age = 27.1 yr., SD = 4.8) were categorized as amateur, semi-professional, or professional and assessed by questionnaire using the Psychological Performance Inventory-A and the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire. There were statistically significant differences between the three groups on mental toughness. The professional group had higher scores compared to semi-professional and amateur groups with regard to confidence, positive cognition, and determination. The findings supported previous work that athletes performing at higher levels have superior mental toughness.

Mental Toughness and Success in Sport: A Review and Prospect

“…Of the four studies that found subcomponent MT differences among three or more groups, the two single sport studies identified differences between the highest standard and all lower standards [35,39]. Differences in the remaining two studies (multiple sports) were solely between the highest and lowest [30], the two highest and two lowest, and the two lowest competitive standard groups [8].…”

“…However, the terminology and groupings used by researchers tended to differ across many of the studies. For instance, selected researchers used country, provincial, and county to distinguish athletes [34], whereas athletes were categorized according to professional status level, such as professional, semi-professional, and amateur [35]. Some combined competitive standards (e.g., club and national level players) [26] that others separated [36].…”

“…Among those that conducted competitive standard comparisons using total MT (N = 9) and subcomponent MT (N = 7), significant differences in total MT or at least one subcomponent were reported in 66.7% [8,29,30,35,37,38] and 71.4% [8,30,35,38,39] of the studies, respectively. In each case, the MT of athletes participating at higher levels of competition was higher.…”

Comparison of Mental Toughness and Power Test Performances in High-Level Kickboxers by Competitive Success

“…Psychological factors were also able to increase the efficiency of different muscular movements in specific karate tests (20). However, associations between physical and psychological analysis are scarce in kickboxing, which is required to support the hypothesized issues underlying mental toughness, especially, concerning key elements that can help to develop physical capabilities and, at the same time, improve emotional conditions during the competitive challenges (16, 17). …”

Quais estratégias de enfrentamento são utilizadas por atletas de MMA mais resilientes ao estresse?

“…A confiança é importante, no sentido de atletas geralmente assumirem grandes riscos físicos por confiarem em suas habilidades atléticas e devido à vontade de superar desafios 38 . As características dessa modalidade requerem quantidade superior de recursos para lidar com as crescentes demandas do ambiente 39 . O fator treinabilidade (Tabelas 1, 3 e 5) também se constituiu como essencial para atletas desta modalidade, uma vez que devem estar dispostos a aprender no seu treinamento.…”