Can an argument be made that mental toughness is simply an extension of strong mental health strategies?

There is little doubt that mental health wellness has become a hotbed discussion on the forefront of the sports landscape. With many elite athletes coming forward from the shadows and speaking out about their bouts of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, the need for mental health services for elite athletes is needed now more than ever.

While the need for mental health services in athletics has grown, what is not known is the effect of how those services work towards creating a stronger athlete, both physically and mentally, and if the need for mental health assistance has created a less mentally tough athlete. That is the question that Daniel Gucciardi, Sheldon Hanton and Scott Fleming set out to answer. The group questioned whether or not mental toughness and mental health were conflicting ideas and the effect it had on elite athletes in sport.

Despite there being limited studies regarding mental toughness and mental health being opposing theories, the collaboration between mental toughness and mental health are hard to ignore. Mental toughness utilizes mental health strategies to overcome adversary, such as utilizing positive framing techniques. While mental health strategies play a large role in building mental toughness, the idea behind mental toughness is the athlete’s ability to use learned psychological strengths to achieve individual and team goals while battling through present barriers.

One of the biggest issues facing elite athletes and their ability to recognize the need for mental health services is the negative stigma attached to receiving mental health services. There is a stigma attached to elite athletes that they need to be the strongest mentally, physically and emotionally and show no weakness. Therefore, there is a common belief amongst elite athletes that receiving and verbalizing the need for mental health services creates an aura of weakness. That weakness could then be used by opponents, both on the court and off, as a way to disrupt an athletes performance and psyche. As an elite performer prepares themselves to succeed on the court, any crack of the confidence foundation can lead that athlete to stumble and fail. The hope is that utilizing different mental health strategies, such of visualization, positive self-talk, etc., can help the elite athlete regain focus and composure, while achieving success both on-and-off the court. Furthermore, by embracing mental health strategies, the elite athlete would better be able to overcome adversity while in the midst of a contentious game.

While some consider that mental toughness differs from mental health, there is a belief mental toughness is an extension of mental health. Within the study that Gucciardi, Hanton and Fleming completed, they were able to identify that elite athlete that tested amongst the highest of mental toughness also received lower scores in negative thought patterns. Furthermore, elite athletes with high levels of mental toughness and positive mental health attributes were more goal oriented and had a higher success rate regarding their performance.

Despite a negative emphasis on the effect of sport subculture and the negative stigma applied to mental health, it can be concluded that mental health and mental toughness are not contradictory concepts, but rather likeminded concepts that can better help an elite athlete utilize their learned psychological strengths to overcome adversities and achieve great success.

__________________________________________________________

Gucciardi DF, Hanton S, Fleming S. Are mental toughness and mental health contradictory concepts in elite sport? A narrative review of theory and evidence. J Sci Med Sport. 2017;20(3):307-311. doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2016.08.006

Related Research