Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Vision Training Methods for Sports Concussion Mitigation and Management
Published on: May 5, 2015
Enhancing Mental Toughness and Strength and Conditioning Performance in Collegiate Athletes Through Pressure Training
Chad Workman1,2, Andreas Stamatis1,3
1Department of Health and Sports Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
Abstract:
This study is the first to investigate the role of mental toughness (MT) in predicting strength and conditioning (S&C) performance outcomes and the impact of pressure training (PT) on MT development among NCAA athletes. A women's Division I field hockey team (n = 15) participated in five 1- hour sessions focused on psychological skills training to enhance MT, followed by two S&C sessions under PT conditions. Using the Mental Toughness Index, MT was assessed after the workshops/before PT and following PT. Regression analysis revealed that pre-PT MT scores predicted S&C performance outcomes during PT sessions (F(1, 16) = 4.67, p = .0499, 95% CI [0.154, 0.803]), with a positive correlation between MT scores and performance (R2 = 0.26, β = 0.07, 95% CI [0.00, 0.15]). A paired samples t-test revealed a significant increase in MT scores post-PT (t(12) = -3.34, p = .006, d = 0.93, 95% CI [-3.31, -0.69]), suggesting PT effectively enhances MT. PT sessions incorporated relevant-to-the-team demands and consequences, incidentally leading to increased athlete engagement and performance intensity. Overall, the findings demonstrate the relevance of PT as an innovative and practical tool for S&C coaches, offering initial evidence of its capability to enhance athlete development and optimize performance under high-stake conditions with strong ecological validity due to its application in real-world training environments. Future research should explore the longitudinal application of PT across larger samples, diverse sports, and its long-term effects on performance outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Cognitive Dissonance
Social Facilitation
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques II
Type A Personality: Driven and Easily Stressed
Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly competitive and ambitious and operate with a strong sense of urgency. Commonly labeled as...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I
Conscientiousness
Conscientious individuals tend to be organized, responsible, and disciplined. They prioritize completing tasks and following structured routines,...

