EMPIRICAL STUDY ON MENTAL TOUGHNESS AMONG DIFFERENTLY ABLED ATHLETES IN MANIPUR

Abstract

Background: Mental toughness (MT) helps athletes overcome adversity and perform better,
but research on differently abled athletes remains limited. Objectives: Therefore, the study
aims to assess the levels of mental toughness among differently abled athletes in Manipur,
examining psychological dimensions including rebound-ability, the ability to handle pressure,
concentration ability, confidence, and motivation. Methods: A total of 40 differently abled
national-level athletes (both male and female, aged 18-30) were selected through purposive
sampling. Participants completed a standardized mental toughness questionnaire. Descriptive
statistics categorized MT levels, and a Kruskal-Wallis Test compared psychological
dimensions. Pairwise comparisons were conducted using Bonferroni correction to adjust for
multiple tests. Results: Findings show high motivation (4.88±0.60) and confidence
(4.88±1.10), but moderate scores in rebound-ability (3.61±1.26), handling pressure
(3.76±1.48), and concentration (3.71±1.57), highlighting areas for improvement. The Kruskal
Walli’s test (H = 38.493, p < 0.001) confirmed significant differences, with confidence and
motivation scoring significantly higher than rebound-ability and pressure-handling (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The study highlights strong motivation and confidence among differently abled
athletes but identifies weaknesses in rebound-ability, concentration, and pressure management.
The majority (73.17%) exhibited low mental toughness, necessitating structured psychological
interventions focusing on resilience training, stress management, and attentional control.
Future research should explore larger and more diverse samples, integrating objective measures
to complement self-reported data. Implementing targeted mental skills programs can enhance
the overall psychological resilience and performance of differently abled athletes