The Role of Sleep Quality on Mental Toughness Among Football Players of Both Genders
Poster Presentation
Paper ID : 1180-SSRC
Authors
1,Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Science, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences - University of Tehran-Iran
2sport psychology, ,Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences - University of Tehran-Iran
3Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences,, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran-, Iran
Abstract
Research context: In the highly demanding world of football, players are constantly seeking ways to maximize their physical and mental performance. Among the array of recovery techniques available, sleep is frequently identified as a critical and consistently highlighted factor that significantly impacts both physical and cognitive functions of athletes.
Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationship between sleep quality and mental toughness (MT), while also considering the variable of playing positions among football players.
Method: A total of 473 Iranian football players, consisting of 287 male and 186 female athletes, participated by responding to two specialized questionnaires aimed at evaluating their sleep quality, using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and their MT, through the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ-14).
Results: The findings revealed that athletes with high subjective sleep quality and longer sleep duration demonstrated high levels MT. Moreover, defenders and attackers exhibited the highest levels of both MT compared to other playing positions. Significantly, male players reported superior sleep quality and stronger MT compared to their female counterparts.
Conclusion: the study emphasized the crucial relationship between sleep quality and MT in football players. Both male and female exhibited high level of MT when blessed with superior sleep quality and longer sleep duration. Despite gender-based variations favoring male players in overall scores, defenders, regardless of gender, consistently showed the highest MT levels, surpassing the other playing positions. These insights underscore the vital role of sleep quality in shaping the MT of football players, offering valuable considerations for coaches and sports professionals alike.
Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationship between sleep quality and mental toughness (MT), while also considering the variable of playing positions among football players.
Method: A total of 473 Iranian football players, consisting of 287 male and 186 female athletes, participated by responding to two specialized questionnaires aimed at evaluating their sleep quality, using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and their MT, through the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ-14).
Results: The findings revealed that athletes with high subjective sleep quality and longer sleep duration demonstrated high levels MT. Moreover, defenders and attackers exhibited the highest levels of both MT compared to other playing positions. Significantly, male players reported superior sleep quality and stronger MT compared to their female counterparts.
Conclusion: the study emphasized the crucial relationship between sleep quality and MT in football players. Both male and female exhibited high level of MT when blessed with superior sleep quality and longer sleep duration. Despite gender-based variations favoring male players in overall scores, defenders, regardless of gender, consistently showed the highest MT levels, surpassing the other playing positions. These insights underscore the vital role of sleep quality in shaping the MT of football players, offering valuable considerations for coaches and sports professionals alike.
Keywords