Investigating the Predictive Role of Mental Toughness in Resilience and Distress Tolerance of Paralympic Athletes

Objectives: The outstanding performance of Paralympic athletes improves their quality of life and resilience. The present study explores the role of mental toughness in predicting resilience and distress tolerance in Paralympic athletes. Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted on Paralympic athletes who were members of the Iran Sports Federation for the Disabled (IRISFD) and were invited to attend the Paralympic games. The participants were ۱۲۸ Paralympic athletes (n=۶۰ women and n=۶۸ men) who were selected via the simple random sampling method. The data were collected using the mental toughness questionnaire-۴۸ (MTQ۴۸), the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC) and the distress tolerance scale (DTS). The collected data were analyzed using the multiple regression analysis by the SPSS software, version ۲۶. Results: The results showed that mental toughness can predict resilience and distress tolerance in Paralympic athletes. Moreover, mental toughness accounted for ۴۷.۸% of the variances in resilience and ۲۸.۶% of the variance in distress tolerance. In addition, the analysis of the standard beta coefficients showed that mental toughness can positively and significantly predict resilience and distress tolerance in Paralympic athletes, with β coefficients equal to ۰.۶۹ and ۰.۵۳, respectively. Discussion: Mental toughness is a psychological construct that affects the performance and success of Paralympic athletes and increases their resilience and distress tolerance. Thus, a part of the preparation process, namely training and skill development programs for Paralympic games should focus on the mental toughness of athletes.

Keywords:

Mental toughness , Resilience , Distress tolerance , Athletes , Disability , Paralympics