A framework of mental toughness in the world's best performers

Abstract

This paper sought to develop a framework of mental toughness with a sample of the world’s best sports performers. Findings verified Jones, Hanton, & Connaughton’s (2002) definition of mental toughness and identified 30 attributes that clustered under four separate dimensions within the overall framework: attitude/mindset, training, competition, post-competition. The findings provide a lucid definition of mental toughness, in what settings specific attributes are necessary, and have the potential to assist performers in articulating how specific components of mental toughness may be developed. Connaughton contributed to the question generation, collected and analysed the data, and wrote parts of the manuscript.