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The origins of mental toughness–internalizing and externalizing problems at the age of 5 years predict higher mental toughness scores at the age of 14 years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

D. Sadeghi Bahmani ,
M. Hatzinger ,
M. Gerber ,
S. Lemola ,
P.J. Clough ,
S. Perren ,
K. von Klitzing ,
A. von Wyl ,
E. Holsboer-Trachsler  and
S. Brand
D. Sadeghi Bahmani*
Affiliation:
University of Basel Psychiatric Hospital, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders ZASS, Basel, Switzerland
M. Hatzinger
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Services Solothurn, Department of Adult Psychiatry, Solothurn, Switzerland
M. Gerber
Affiliation:
University of Basel, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Sport Science Section, Basel, Switzerland
S. Lemola
Affiliation:
University of Warwick, Department of Psychology, Coventry, United Kingdom
P.J. Clough
Affiliation:
Manchester Metropolitan University, Department of Psychology, Manchester, United Kingdom
S. Perren
Affiliation:
University of Konstanz, Department of Psychiatry, Konstanz, Germany
K. von Klitzing
Affiliation:
University of Leipzig, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Leipzig, Germany
A. von Wyl
Affiliation:
University of Zurich, Institute of Psychology, Zurich, Switzerland
E. Holsboer-Trachsler
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Basel, Switzerland
S. Brand
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Basel, Switzerland
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Background

The concept of mental toughness has gained increasing importance among non-elite athletes for its psychological importance and explanatory power for a broad range of health-related behaviors. On the flip side, no study has focused so far on the psychological origins of mental toughness. Therefore, the aims of the present study were three-fold: to explore, to what extent psychological profiles of preschoolers at the age of five years predicted mental toughness scores and sleep disturbances at the age of 14 years, and to explore possible gender differences.

Method

Nine years after their first assessment at the age of five years (preschoolers), a total of 77 adolescents (mean age: 14.35 years; SD = 1.22; 42% females) took part in the present follow-up study. At baseline, both parents and teachers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), covering internalizing and externalizing problems, hyperactivity, negative peer relationships, and prosocial behavior. At follow-up, participants completed a booklet of questionnaires covering socio-demographic data, mental toughness, and sleep disturbances.

Results

Preschoolers with high prosocial behavior and low internalizing and externalizing problems, as rated by parents and teachers, at the age of 14 years self-reported higher mental toughness and lower sleep disturbances. At the age of 14 years, and relative to their male counterparts, female participants reported lower MT scores and higher sleep disturbances.

Conclusions

The pattern of results suggests that mental toughness traits during adolescence have their origins during pre-school years.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-Poster viewing: child and adolescent psychiatry
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 41 , Issue S1: Abstract of the 25th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2017 , pp. S452 - S453
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
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