Mental toughness in the Football Association Women's Super League: relationships with playing experience, perceptions of club infrastructure, support mechanisms and self-esteem

Wheatley, Clare, Batey, Mark ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9818-7525, Denovan, Andrew and Dagnall, Neil (2023) Mental toughness in the Football Association Women's Super League: relationships with playing experience, perceptions of club infrastructure, support mechanisms and self-esteem. PLoS One, 18 (5). e0285594-e0285594. ISSN 1932-6203

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285594

Abstract

Previous research reports a positive association between possession of mental toughness (MT) and high performance in sportspersons. However, the extent to which MT is related to playing experiences and appreciation of club environment in elite women's football has received only limited research attention. Accordingly, the present study investigated MT in the context of the English Football Association Women's Super League (WSL). Specifically, this paper examined relationships between level of MT and external (playing experience, perceptions of club infrastructure, and appreciation of support mechanisms) and internal (self-esteem) factors. A sample of 63 elite female professional football players from the WSL, aged between 18 and 35 years (mean = 25.87, SD = 4.03), completed self-report measures. To objectively validate self-ratings, congruence between self and peer-rated was assessed. This revealed a strong degree of consistency. Subsequent analysis found positive correlations between MT, playing experience (number of years playing football, NoY; and highest level of football achieved, HLA), and External Support. Additionally, Self-Esteem correlated positively with MT, NoY, HLA, and External Support. Moderation analysis found MT interacted with NoY and predicted greater levels of Self-Esteem. Players with lower and mean MT, and more years as a professional were more likely to possess higher Self-Esteem (vs. less years). These outcomes indicated important relationships between MT, External Support, and Self-Esteem. Accordingly, WSL clubs can potentially apply the results of this study to enhance positive player mindset.

Item Type:	Article
Peer-reviewed:	Yes
Date Deposited:	26 May 2023 09:32
Publisher:	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Additional Information:	This is an Open Access article which appeared in PLoS One, published by the Public Library of Science
Divisions:	Faculties > Business and Law Faculties > Health and Education Research Centres > Decent Work and Productivity Research Centres > Health, Psychology and Communities
Subject terms:	Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Peer Group, Self Report, Soccer, Young Adult, Humans, Peer Group, Soccer, Adolescent, Adult, Female, Young Adult, Self Report, Humans, Female, Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult, Soccer, Self Report, Peer Group, General Science & Technology
Data Access Statement:	Data cannot be shared publicly due to concerns of participant anonymity. The athletes in this study are from an extremely rare and high profile population - female professional players in the Football Association's Women's Super League. The demographic data in the data file would lead to the athletes in the study being easily identified. This would be in breach of the ethical approval process and the briefings the athletes received about access to their data. Data are available from the Manchester Metropolitan University Research Ethics and Governance Committee (contact via FOBLEthicsEnquiries@mmu.ac.uk) for researchers who meet the criteria for access to confidential data.
URI:	https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/631981
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285594
ISSN	1932-6203
e-ISSN	1932-6203

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