Mental toughness attributes in Judo: perceptions of athletes

Authors

  • Virgílio Silva Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP), Portugal
  • Cláudia Dias Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP), Portugal http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0418-0056
  • Nuno Corte-Real Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP), Portugal
  • António Manuel Fonseca Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP), Portugal http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1272-1679
Keywords: mental toughness, judo, combat sports, martial arts, qualitative

Abstract

Perceptions of mental toughness attributes were explored among Judo competitors. Twelve Portuguese judokas from different levels of achievement underwent a semi-structured interview, based on Personal Construct Psychology “sociality” and “dichotomy” corollaries (Kelly, 1991). Properties and dimensions of each conceptual category arose from the data among the verbatim transcribed interviews. Inductive content analysis revealed 22 attributes that composed mental toughness in competitive Judo. Emotional regulation, resilience, self-confidence, attention regulation, self-motivation and optimism were reported by all subjects of the sample. In relation to previous single-sport researches that explored mental toughness attributes, our results supported the existence of large conceptual similarities across sports, despite subtle differences in Judo discussed in reference to optimism, self-improvement, pragmatism and self-presentation regulation. Self-esteem and adaptability emerged as a novelty in the sport’s mental toughness literature. Combativity was suggested to be the only mental toughness attribute rather peculiar to Judo.

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Author Biographies

Cláudia Dias, Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP), Portugal

Professora Auxiliar na Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP), Portugal

Centro de Investigação, Formação, Inovação, e Intervenção em Desporto (CIFI2D)

Nuno Corte-Real, Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP), Portugal

Professor Auxiliar na Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP), Portugal

Centro de Investigação, Formação, Inovação, e Intervenção em Desporto (CIFI2D)

António Manuel Fonseca, Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP), Portugal

Professor Catedrático na Faculdade de Desporto da Universidade do Porto (FADEUP), Portugal

Centro de Investigação, Formação, Inovação, e Intervenção em Desporto (CIFI2D)

Published
13-06-2018
How to Cite
Silva, V., Dias, C., Corte-Real, N., & Manuel Fonseca, A. (2018). Mental toughness attributes in Judo: perceptions of athletes. Sport Psychology Notebooks, 18(3), 86–101. Retrieved from https://revistas.um.es/cpd/article/view/322541
Issue
Section
Psicología del Deporte

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