PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE IN AQUATIC SPORTS: A STUDY ON SWIMMERS AND PARA SWIMMER

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the psychological profiles of swimmers and para-
swimmers, focusing on will to win, mental toughness, anxiety and aggression. Using a cross-
sectional design, data were collected from competitive athletes through validated tools
questionnaire. The results revealed distinct psychological patterns: para-swimmers
demonstrated higher mental toughness and more adaptive coping strategies, while swimmers
showed stronger will to win. Data analysis highlighted key differences: swimmers exhibited
higher mental toughness (mean = 37.00) than para-swimmers (mean = 31.80), with a
significant difference (p < 0.05). Para-swimmers experienced lower competition-related
anxiety (mean = 16.76) compared to swimmers (mean = 19.04), with highly significant
differences (p < 0.01). Although swimmers showed slightly higher aggression (mean = 80.04)
than para-swimmers (mean = 76.08), The difference wasn't deemed statistically significant. (p
> 0.05). These results highlight the importance of tailored psychological interventions to
enhance both mental health and performance in aquatic athletes, emphasizing resilience and
coping strategies for para-swimmers and motivation-driven approaches for swimmers.