| Author (year) | MT instrument(s) | MT instrument and use | Competitive standards | Data analyses | Result(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crust (2009) |
MTQ48 | Total MT and subscales (i.e., Challenge, Commitment, Interpersonal confidence, Confidence abilities, Emotional control, Life control) | • Club to national (n = 63) • Recreational (n = 49) |
Independent samples t-test for total MT and subscales (Bonferroni adjusted applied to p-values for multiple comparisons) | • No differences found between the group on total MT and the subscales (p < .05) |
| Gucciardi et al. (2009) |
AfMTI | MT subscales (i.e., Thrive through challenge, Sport awareness, Desire success, Tough attitude) | • Elite (n = 118) • Sub-elite (n = 167) • Amateur (n = 138) |
ANOVAs for each subscales, followed by post-hoc comparisons | • Except for tough attitude (p > .05), ↑ scores for elite (p < .017) compared to sub-elite group • ↑ scores on all subscales for elite (p < .001 to .017) compared to amateur group • No differences between amateur and sub-elite groups |
| Nicholls et al. (2009) |
MTQ48 | Total MT and subscales (i.e., Challenge, Commitment, Interpersonal confidence, Confidence abilities, Emotional control, Life control) | • International (n = 60) • National (n = 99) • County (n = 198) • Club/university (n = 289) • Beginner (n = 31) |
ANOVA for total MT, and, due to sex differences in subscale MT, a competitive standard by sex MANOVA for the MT subscales | • No differences in total MT (p > .05) • No main effect for competitive standard (p = .25) or competitive standard by sex interaction effect (p = .06) |
| Sheard et al. (2009) |
SMTQ | Total MT and subscales (i.e., Confidence, Constancy, Control) | • International (n = 79) • National (n = 150) • County/provincial (n = 479) • Club/regional (n = 434) |
ANOVA for total MT, with post hoc comparisons. MANOVA for MT subscales, with post-hoc comparisons (Dunn-Sidak method used) | • ↑ total MT among international and national compared to county/provincial and club/regional athletes (p < .05) • ↑ confidence and constancy among international and national compared to county/provincial and club/regional athletes (p < .001) • ↑ confidence and constancy among county/provincial compared to club/regional athletes (p < .001) |
| Crust & Azadi (2010) |
MTQ48 | Total MT | • National/county (n = 71) • Club/university (n = 36) |
Independent samples t-test | • ↑ total MT among national/county group (p = .03) |
| Weissensteiner et al. (2012) | Mental toughness Inventory | Total MT and subscales (i.e., Task Focus, Task Familiarity, Perseverance, Positivity, Positive Comparison, Stress Minimization, Self-efficacy, Potential, Mental Self-concept, Personal bests, Task value, Goal commitment) | • National/regional (n = 11) • Club (n = 10) |
ANOVA for total MT and follow-up ANOVAs for each subscale | • ↑ total MT among national/regional group (p < .05) • ↑ self-belief, personal bests, task value, perseverance, and goal commitment among national/regional group (p < .05) |
| Chen & Cheesman (2013) | PPI-A and SMTQ | Total SMTQ and subscales (i.e., Confidence, Constancy, Control) Total PPI-A and subscales (i.e., Determination, Self-belief, Positive cognition, Visualization) |
• Professional (n = 49) • Semi-professional (n =39) • Amateur (n = 48) |
MANOVA for total SMTQ and PPI-A scores, followed by ANOVAs for each. MANOVA with all 7 subscales, followed by ANOVAs (Bonferroni adjustments applied to follow-up analyses) | • ↑ total MT scores on the SMTQ (p < .01) and PPI-A (p < .005) among professional group compared to semi-professional and amateur group • ↑ determination (p = .007), positive cognition (p < .001), and confidence (p < .001) among professional group compared to semi-professional and amateur groups |
| Meggs et al. (2014) |
SMTQ | Total MT and subscales (i.e., Confidence, Constancy, Control) | (a) Grouping 1: • International and national (n = 27) • Regional and school/recreational (n = 78) (b) Grouping 2: • International and national (n = 27) • Regional (n = 29) • School/recreational (n = 49) |
(a) Independent samples t-tests (b) Independent samples t-tests |
(a) • ↑ total MT among international and national athletes (p < .02). • ↑ confidence among international and national athletes (p < .001) (b) • ↑ control among international and national compared to school/recreational athletes (p < .05) |
| Wieser & Thiel (2014) |
Modified SMTQ (inclusion of duplicate item to assess consistency) and PPI-A | Average total MT % (i.e., Modified total SMTQ% + total PPI-A%) / 2 | • International (n = 8) • Non-international (n = 12) |
Independent samples t-test | • ↑ average total MT % among international soccer players (p < .04) |
| Cowden & Meyer-Weitz (2015) | SMTQ | Total MT and subscales (i.e., Confidence, Constancy, Control) | • International (n = 35) • National (n = 83) • University team/league (n = 160) • Local county (n = 24) • County club (n = 63) |
ANOVA for total MT and MANOVA for MT subscales (Bonferroni adjustments applied to follow-up analyses) | • No differences in total MT (p = .094) and each of the subscales (p = .274) |