| Abstract | Mental toughness is an increasingly important area of study due to trait desirability. Many variables influence the development of hardiness within an individual. The variables that define mental toughness in this study use Clough et al., 2010's model of control, commitment, challenge, and confidence (the 4 C's). The study focuses on a collegiate sample of athletes participating in sport within the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex and focused on the influence of being an athlete participating in an individual sport compared to a team or dual sport. The study took 34 participants and looks at how variables of NCAA Division, team and or dual sport, and sport type influenced mental toughness level using the Mental Toughness Questionnaire 18 (MTQ18). Overall, no significant differences were found based on these variables, but the results of the study can be utilized for future data collection techniques and strategies that could lead to meaningful contributions in the study of the development of hardiness within an individual. The construct is influenced by many variables and posed a challenge for determining the variable(s) that influence mental toughness. |
