1547448919340_sreejith.docx

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MENTAL TOUGHNESS AMONG DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ATHLETES

RESEARCH PROPOSAL Submitted to SREE SANKARACHARYA UNIVERSITY OF SANSKRIT, KALADY By SREEJITH S

Under The Guidance of: Mr. PRAJISH KUMAR.P Asst. Professor, SSUS, KALADY

Chapter-I INTRODUCTION Coaches and athletes often recognize that success in sport cannot be accomplished without the necessary mental skills. Most coaches conservatively estimate that the mental aspects of sport constitute at least 50% of an athlete's performance (Loehr, 1982). Moreover, at the higher levels of competition, the importance of mental skills is notably salient due to the comparable physical skills of athletes and an increase in the frequency of stressful situations elite athletes experience. For example, one can only imagine the potential stress and anxiety U.S. Olympic gymnast Paul Hamm endured as he began his quest for the individual all-around title in the recent 2004 Summer Olympics. Even the most physically talented gymnast would need considerable mental strength to perform in this situation. Because the physical abilities of most athletes at high levels (elite, college, or Olympic level) are more homogeneous than their mental abilities, the distinguishing feature of successful athletes competing at high levels is often their exceptional mental skills (Silva, 1984). Elite athletes and coaches have argued that successful athletes are not always the most physically talented, but rather the most mentally tough. Former Georgetown basketball coach and current NBA commentator John Thompson stated, "Being mentally tough is just as important as being physically tough," when analyzing the play of superstar Kevin Garnett in the 2002 NBA playoffs. The media and sport community also often address the importance of mental toughness and note its relation to successful performances (Loehr, 1982). However, given the amount of attention the term mental toughness is given in the popular literature, it is interesting to note the lack of attention given to "mental toughness" to the scientific explanation of this phenomenon. In order to gain a better understanding of mental toughness, it is

first necessary to identify some of its possible components. Once this is done, it would be possible to develop an inventory to assess the mental toughness of athletes. In this introductory chapter, a brief overview of the psychological constructs related to mental toughness is offered. Psychology's Contribution to the Study of Mental Toughness Although mental toughness is believed to be an extremely important part of successful performance in athletics, there are several different themes in general psychology that have been shown to be related to being mentally tough in life. The first theme is learned helplessness, which is a phenomenon characterized by the belief that one's actions have no effect on an outcome (Seligman & Maier, 1967; Seligman, 1975). This theme is in essence the opposite of mental toughness, since one who is mentally tough would not surrender control to the circumstances of life or of sport. The second theme is self-efficacy, which is the belief that one has the qualities necessary to produce a desired outcome (Bandura, 1977). A third theme is dispositional optimism, which is characterized by one's positive expectations about the future (Scheier& Carver, 1985). The final theme is resiliency, which is another positive quality that is the opposite of learned helplessness. Resiliency is the capacity to succeed and remain positive in the face of adversity (Lazarus &Folkman, 1984). These four themes along with the available research examining mental toughness in sport, such as Loehr's Mental Toughness Inventory for tennis players (Loehr, Retert, Brown, & Woods, 1992) and qualitative research by Jones, Hanton, and Connaughton (2002), all form the theoretical basis for the current study.

Statement of the problem The purpose of the study is to compare mental toughness among different levels of athletes such as college level, district level, state and national level players. Delimitations  The following were the delimitations of the study:  The subjects are the students of college level, district level, state and national level players  Total number of subjects are 40  The age group of students are 17-28 years.  The variable selected for the study is mental toughness  The test used for assessment of variables are:  Questionnaire method

Limitations The following will be the limitations of the study:  The socio-economic status of the subjects  Performance level in course of data might influenced by the environmental condition and dietary habits of subjects.  Physiological factors may have been influenced during the administration of the test.

Hypothesis It is hypothesis that there would be a significant relationship in mental toughness among different levels of athletes Significance of the study 1. The result of the study may help us to compare the mental toughness among different levels of athletes. 2. The study will help to understand

the relation between mental

toughness and levels of athletes 3. It will help to understand the importance of psychological factors for their better performance.

Definition and explanation of terms Mental toughness Mental toughness seems to be an attribute that is learned rather than being an inherited biological trait. As an athlete proceeds throughout his/ her career. She / he presumably become more mentally tough and are better able to handle the money pressures of competition (Loehr, 1982).

Chapter- II REVIEWS OF RELATED LITERATURE Review of literature is an integral part of research. Through this process the researcher finds and analysis literature related to the study. This process will help the researcher to make basic information for his or her study. Mental toughness is undoubtedly an important ingredient of athletic success, whether athletes are in the pool, on the field, or on the court. Studies related to mental toughness Loehr (1982) also discussed the value of the Ideal Performance State (IPS) and its relevance to mental toughness. He examined the responses of three hundred athletes, both amateur and professional, and learned that most of them described their best performance in similar terns, which Loehr termed the IPS. Such an internal state is characterized by feelings of calmness, optimism, confidence, and control which Loehr suggests is also characteristic of a mentally tough performer. In a sport- specific study, gymnasts were interviewed about their peak performances and many identified similar characteristics as the IPS, including intense focus, concentration, confidence, and ease of performance (Unestahl, 1982).

Ramesh

Chand

Yadav

,ChaudharyCharan

Singh&Saifiai,

Etawah

(2014)conducted a Comparative Study of Mental Toughness between National Female Volleyball and Kabaddi Players. This study explored the comparative study of mental toughness between national female volleyball and kabaddi players of Uttar Pradesh teams. Methods: Female national volleyball (n = 12) and kabaddi (n = 12) players of Uttar Pradesh team selected as a subjects. For collection of data mental toughness questionnaire prepared by Allan Goldberg

(1995) was administered. Result suggested that there was significant difference in mental toughness between national female volleyball and kabaddi players of Uttar Pradesh team.

Chapter – III METHODOLOGY This chapter includes the research design, the sample, the materials, procedure for data collection and precaution of the study. Research design This present study was quantitative in nature. Quantitative research is defined as a systematic investigation of phenomena by gathering quantifiable data

and

performing

statistical,

mathematical

or

computational

techniques. Quantitative research gathers information from existing and potential

customers

using sampling

methods and

sending

out online

surveys, online polls, questionnaires etc., the results of which can be depicted in the form of numerical. After careful understanding of these numbers to predict the future of a product or service and make changes accordingly. Subjects Sample considered of 40 students athletes such as school /college level, district level, state and national level players, and aged 17 to 28 year old. All were studying different courses in S.S.U.S. Kalady Sample selected based on convenient sampling method. Selection of variables Variables selected for the study are: Mental toughness Test administration The questionnaire will be given to the subjects. The researcher will explain the questions to the subjects and they will fill up the questionnaire.

Collection of data The necessary data will be collected by using questionnaire for the chosen variables. The entire test will be administrated in Eranakulam districts colleges

 Statistical technique: In order to find the significance of deference among two groups on selected variables, the ‘t’ ratio may applied.

BIBLIOGRAPHY  Loehr, J. (1982). Mental toughness trainingfor sports. New York: The StephenGreene Press.  Loehr, J.E., Retert, E.P., Brown, S.W. & Woods, R.B. (1992). The development oftwo instruments to assess mental toughness in tennis. Paper presented atthe American College of Sports Medicine Conference, Dallas, Texas.  Yadav,R.C., Chaudhary,C.S.,&Saifiai, E.(2014) Comparative Study of Mental Toughness between National Female Volleyball and Kabaddi Players, journal of education and practice, vol.5.  https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9948  https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=20104  http://www.psychology.org/careers/sports-psychologist/  https://www.healthline.com/health/stress-and-anxiety  http://fl.milesplit.com/discussion/topics/206