• A Charles Sturt University student research project explores ‘mental toughness’ in the general population beyond the sporting context
• Australian participants aged 18 and older needed for the online research survey
• The research aims to contribute to a broader understanding of the concept of mental toughness

A Charles Sturt University student seeks adult Australian participants for her research into ‘mental toughness’ in the general population and the potential pitfalls and benefits of being mentally tough outside of sporting contexts.

Master’s student Ms Jemma Doley (pictured, inset) in the Charles Sturt School of Psychology said her study will also examine whether the presence of high levels of mental toughness can lead to differences in levels of mental health.

“The study also aims to explore whether there is a relationship between mental toughness and self-compassion and levels of a selection of personality traits, and whether that relationship impacts levels of mental health,” Ms Doley said.

The research project, ‘Mental toughness and its relationship with self-compassion, mental health and personality’, needs Australian residents aged 18 years or older to complete an online survey as part of Ms Doley’s Master of Clinical Psychology under the supervision of Dr Rachel Hogg.

“It is important for potential participants to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve,” Ms Doley said.

“Participation in this research provides a valuable opportunity to contribute to important psychological research, and to contribute to a broader understanding of the concept of mental toughness.

“Mental toughness is defined as a collection of personal resources and characteristics that allow individuals to consistently perform at a high level.

“The topic has been widely researched among athlete populations and has been associated with multiple benefits in the sporting field, including improved performance, increased perseverance, and increased ability to cope with the demands of high-performance sports.”

Ms Doley said the study involves providing some basic demographic information then answering an anonymous online survey which will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

Full details are on the survey form and potential participants can contact Ms Jemima Doley with any questions via email jemmadoley@hotmail.com, or alternatively contact the research supervisor Dr Rachel Hogg via (02) 6933 2748 or via rhogg@csu.edu.au.

The survey concludes on Monday 15 August.