Advancements in Mental Skills Training
Cowden, Richard G., Crust, Lee, Tibbert, Stephanie J., Jackman, Patricia
Abstract
Mental toughness (MT) is widely recognized as a valuable personal resource underpinning high quality athletic performance and success in sport. Over the last two decades, the substantive growth of MT research in sport has advanced understanding of the concept and its implications for athletes. Of particular importance to athletes and other individuals with a vested interest in their participation in sport (e.g., coaches, parents, practitioners) is the accumulating evidence highlighting the role of key antecedents and underlying processes involved in MT development. This chapter offers a brief overview of MT and reviews existing evidence surrounding the efficacy of specialized programs to develop MT in athletes. Prospective avenues for designing and evaluating interventions targeting MT are outlined. This chapter concludes by discussing potential drawbacks to MT and how this can have implications for the design and implementation of MT training programs.