The relationship between performance strategies and mental toughness in team and individual sports of young adult athletes

Objectives The aim of this research is to examine the relationship between performance strategies and mental toughness in team and individual sports of young adult athletes. Methods This research was conducted with a sample of athletes active in various teams and clubs in Antalya. In this study, 249 athletes participated ((k) over bar Age: 23.62 + 4.466), 44.6% (n = 111) of them were female and 55.4% (n = 138) were male athletes. The data collection tools included "Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire-SMTQ-14", "The Test of Performance Strategies Questionnaire (TOPS)", and "Personal Information Form" prepared for the purpose of the research. Furthermore, Independent sample T-test, One-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis were used in this study. The analyzes were made in the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and the significance level in the research was p<0.05. Results A significant difference was found in imagery and activation sub-scales in terms of team and individual sports variables. In addition, in terms of the branch, gender, and experience variables, it was found that the scores of goal setting, imagery, activation, self-talk, attentional control, relaxation, emotional control, automaticity, confidence, control, and constancy did not differ significantly. Conclusions As a result, it was found that both mental toughness and performance strategies did not differ in terms of branch, gender, and experience variables. The results of the study related to psychological performance strategies and differentiation of mental toughness contradict with the relevant literature. However, there is a low positive correlation between mental toughness and psychological performance strategies. The skill of self-talk positively affects constancy, confidence, and control of mental toughness.