The Relationship between Training Duration and Mental Toughness in Adolescent Soccer Players

Mental toughness in adolescents comprises key psychological attributes, including challenge, commitment, self-confidence, and control. Studies show that characteristics of mental toughness begin to develop in childhood, with prosocial behavior and low levels of internalizing and externalizing problems at the age of five predicting mental toughness at the age of fourteen. This study aims to examine mental toughness in adolescent soccer players based on the length of their training experience in a sports club. This study employed a descriptive research design to determine whether participation in soccer activities contributes to the development of mental toughness. The participants were 77 adolescents aged 15 years who were actively involved in soccer clubs and had accumulated between one and ten years of training experience. Based on the data analysis, a statistically significant difference in mental toughness was found between the two groups. Players with more than five years of training experience demonstrated a higher score range, indicating the potential for better mental performance compared to those with less than five years of experience. These findings suggest that integrating sports activities into educational curricula may provide significant benefits for the development of mental toughness in adolescents.