AUTHOR=Perry John L. , Strycharczyk Doug , Dagnall Neil , Denovan Andrew , Papageorgiou Kostas A. , Clough Peter J. 

TITLE=Dimensionality of the Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ48)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.654836

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.654836

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Currently there is debate as to whether MT is a unidimensional or multidimensional construct To investigate dimensionality, we examined data from a sample of 78,947 participants, completed the mental toughness questionnaire-48 (MTQ48), a widely used measure of mental toughness. A series of exploratory structural equation models were tested to examine unidimensional, multidimensional, and bifactor solutions. Overall, the results show support for the multi-dimensional conceptualization of mental toughness, either as six independent but related factors, or as a bifactor model. We conclude that mental toughness should be considered as an umbrella term to represent a range of related constructs that provide a psychological advantage in performance and promote positive mental health. We also identify the limitations in existing measurement of mental toughness, and propose necessary future directions.