Effect Of Mental Toughness Levels On State Anxiety Under Stress

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of mental toughness on state anxiety under stress in female athletes of Tabriz University. For this reason, 30 students with an average age of 18-27 years participated in this study. Participants were divided into two groups of high and low mental toughness using mental toughness questionnaire 48 (Clough et al 2002).Subject's state and trait anxiety was assessed using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety questionnare andmental stress was applied through spectators and competition for prize. The state Anxiety was assessed after applying the mental stress. ANCOVA analysis indicated that there was significant difference between groups in state anxiety. Under the mental stress the participants with low levels of mental toughness showed greater state anxiety. The results of Pearson correlation test also revealed that there was strong negative relationship between mental toughness subscales and trait and state anxiety in normal condition and under stress (p