Gender Differences in Mental Toughness and Coping with Injury in Runners

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine differences in Mental Toughness (MT) and coping with injury between male and female runners at different levels of experience. Methods: 478 runners were categorized into beginners (n=47), intermediate (n=294) and advanced (n=137). All participants had sustained an injury during their running career. The present study utilized Survey Monkey™, which is an online survey collection service. Participants completed two questionnaires-the Psychological performance inventory (PPI-A) which measured MT and the Coping Inventory for Competitive Sport (CICS), which measured task, distancing and disengagement coping strategies. Results: MANCOVA revealed that males had significantly higher total MT (p<0.001) and composite MT than females (p=0.001). Further ANCOVA analysis revealed that males had significantly higher self belief(p=0.001) and visualization (p=0.002) compared to females. With regards to coping, males had statistically higher composite task orientated coping than females (p<0.001) and further ANCOVA analysis showed that males used more mental imagery (p<0.001) to deal with injury than females. There was no difference between genders in terms of distancing orientated coping. However, MANCOVA did reveal a difference in the disengagement coping composite (p<0.001) and further ANCOVA analysis found that females used more disengagement and resignation coping (p=0.00002) compared to males. Conclusion: This study has provided evidence for how MT differences between male and female runners may be related to different coping strategies to deal with injury. More specifically males used more task orientated coping whereas females used more disengagement coping in order to deal with injury. Further research should examine how injury appraisal is related to different coping strategies in males and females.