college of social science school of sport and exercise science relationships between mental...

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCESCHOOL OF SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE

Relationships between mental toughness, physical activity and

barriers to exercise in undergraduate students

Elizabeth Stamp¹, Lee Crust¹, Christian Swann1,2

¹University of Lincoln, UK² University of Wollongong, Australia

SCHOOL OF SPORT AND EXERCISE [email protected]

Overview of the presentation• Provide a background of mental toughness and

physical activity levels in university students.

• Explain the method of the current study.

• Discuss the findings in relation to previous literature.

• Provide recommendations based on the findings.


Mental toughness“The personality trait which determines in large part how people deal effectively with challenges, stressors, and pressure…irrespective of circumstances”(Strycharczyk & Clough., 2015).

4 C’s model of mental toughness (Clough et al., 2002)


Mental toughness is significantly and positively related to academic achievement, and progression in first year university students (Crust et al., 2012).

Senior management mental toughness is significantly higher than that of junior management and clerical staff (Marchant et al., 2009).

Mental toughness is associated with higher levels of physical activity in university students (Gerber et al., 2012).

One of the most important attributes for successful performance is mental toughness (Gould et al.,1987).


University students• Physical activity levels decline when students begin

university (Bray & Born, 2004).




• Common barriers include access to facilities, lack of family support, and lack of time (Gyurcsik et al., 2006).




• Common barriers include access to facilities, lack of family support, and lack of time (Gyurcsik et al., 2006).

• Those with a higher mental toughness have somewhat different perceptions of the barriers (Crust et al., 2014).


Method• In total, 167 undergraduate students (female = 123,

male = 44; m age = 20.79, SD ± 3.38 years) completed an online questionnaire.– Demographic information – Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ48; Clough et al.,

2002) – Exercise Barriers Scale (Schreist, 1969)


Method• In total, 167 undergraduate students (female = 123,

male = 44; m age = 20.79, SD ± 3.38 years)completed an online questionnaire.– Demographic information – Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ48; Clough et al.,

2002) – Exercise Barriers Scale (Sechrist, 1987)

• Data analysis included Pearson bivariate correlation, and hierarchal multiple linear regressions.


31%

Results • Average mental toughness was 3.35

• 44% did not participate in regular physical activity

• Out of the 167 students:

28% 41%


Correlations and hierarchal multiple linear regression

Variable Mean Correlation with mental toughness (r value)

R2 Predictors (b)

Exercise Milieu 3.06 ± .62 .34** 0.16*** Life control (0.23*)

Time Expenditure

3.13 ± .75 .18* 0.07*** Confidence in abilities (0.22*)

Physical exertion 2.48 ± .77 .27** 0.09** Commitment (0.20)

Family Discouragement

3.25 ± .68 .22** 0.06*

* p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001


Exercise milieu • Life control was the strongest predictor of exercise

milieu.

• Internal attributions are associated with life control (Clough & Strycharczyk, 2012).




R2 Predictors (b)


Time Expenditure




3.25 ± .68 .22** 0.06*

* p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001


Time expenditure• Confidence in abilities was the strongest predictor of

time expenditure.

• Confidence in abilities is associated with and logical analysis (Nicholls et al., 2008) and planning (Kaiseler et al., 2009).




R2 Predictors (b)


Time Expenditure




3.25 ± .68 .22** 0.06*

* p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001


Physical exertion• Commitment was the strongest predictor of physical

exertion.

• Commitment is associated with directly coping with pain and negatively associated with pain catastrophizing (Levy et al., 2006).

• Commitment is negatively related to resignation (Nicholls et al., 2008).




R2 Predictors (b)


Time Expenditure




3.25 ± .68 .22** 0.06*

* p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001


Family discouragement• Smallest perceived barrier to exercise.

• 77% of the sample had moved away from home.


Applied recommendations • Screening device for students ‘at risk’.



• Commitment and life control are the least hereditable components (Horsburgh et al., 2009).




• More encouraging environment.




• More encouraging environment.

• Future directions could include an intervention study.


Thank you for listening Any Questions?


References• Bray, S. R. & Born, H. A. (2004). Transition to university and vigorous physical activity: implications for health and psychological well-

being. Journal of American Health, 52(4) 181 – 188. doi: 10.3200/JACH.52.4.181-188• Clough, P., Earle, K., & Sewell, D. (2002). Mental toughness: the concept and its measurement. In I. Cockerill, Solutions in sport

psychology, (pp. 32-43). London: Thomson. • Clough, P. J. & Strycharcyck, D. (2012). Developing Mental Toughness. London: Kogan Page Limited.• Crust, L., Earle, K., Perry, J. L., Earle, F., Clough, A., & Clough P. (2014). Mental toughness in higher education: Relationships with

achievement and progression in first-year university sports students. Personality and Individual Differences, 69, 87 – 91. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2014.05.016

• Crust, L., Swann, C., aLLEN=-Collinson, J., Breckon, J. & Weinberg, R. A pheenomological exploration of exercisemental toughness: perceptions of exercise leaders and regular exercisers. Qualtitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health,. doi: 10.1080/2159676X.2014.901986

• Gyurcsik, N. C., Spink, K. S., Bray, S. R., Chad, K., & Kwan, M. (2006). An ecologically based examination of barriers to physical activity in students from grade seven through first year of University. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38 (6) 704 – 711. doi 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.06.007

• Horsburgh, V. A., Schermer, J. A., Veselka, L. & Vernon, P. A. (2008). A behavioural genetic study of mental toughness and personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 46 (2), 100 – 105.

• Kaiseler, M., Polman, R., & Nicholls, A. (2009). Mental toughness, stress, stress appraisal, coping and coping effectiveness in sport. Personality and Individual Differences. 47(7), 728 – 733. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2009.06.012

• Levy, A. R., Polman, C. J., Clough, P. J., Marchant, D. C., & Earle, K. (2006). Mental toughness as a determinant of beliefs, pain, and adherence in sport injury rehabilitation. Journal of Sports Rehabilitation, 15(3) 246 – 254. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2007.00704.x

• Nicholls, A. R., Polman, R. C. J., Levy, A. R., & Backhouse, S. H. (2008). Mental toughness, optimism, pessimism, and coping among athletes. Personality and Individual Differences, 44(5), 1182 – 1192. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2007.11.011

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.05.016

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.06.007



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