Toward a cognitive-developmental understanding of mental toughness

Mental toughness (MT) is a crucial psychological construct that enables athletes to perform high-level sports. Despite extensive research, MT suffers from conceptual ambiguity that oscillates between trait- and state-based interpretations. Despite this controversy, a widely accepted developmental framework of mental toughness, known as the Mental Toughness Pyramid has received widespread acceptance in the scientific field of sport psychology, delivering its fundamentals to researchers and practitioners.

The aim of this study is to critically reflect on existing research, theoretical models, and approaches regarding the concept of MT to provide new theoretical evidence that will help extend and specify the current understanding and work in the specific field. Specifically, our attempt is to enhance Mental Toughness Pyramid model precision by adding a cognitive-affective perspective and experience level. This approach can facilitate the work of researchers and practitioners.

A semantic analysis and review of existing literature with the help of a database search was conducted primarily using Google Scholar and PubMed to identify relevant studies on the topic of MT and applied sport psychology. The initial focus was on review articles and foundational literature, which served as the basis for expanding the search to additional relevant sources. This approach ensured a thorough understanding of the current state of research and key theoretical frameworks in the field. In order to elaborate on existing findings, a link to further domains (e.g., psychological skills training, routine, and self-regulation) was established.

The debate now shifts from a trait vs. state dichotomy to understanding MT as a multifaceted construct shaped by dynamic interactions among environment, personality, cognition, behavior, learning, and experience. From this point of view, we suggest an extension of Mental Toughness Pyramid in order to enhance the precision of researchers' and practitioners' work.