Comparative and Correlative Study of Psychological Hardiness and Competitiveness among Female Student Athletes in Individual and Team Sports

Abstract

The aims of this study were to identify psychological hardiness and competitiveness profiles and to investigate the relationship between these variables among female student athletes in individual and team sports and also to compare them in these variables. In this descriptive (correlative and comparative) type of study two standard questionnaires assessing psychological hardiness (Zarere, 2011) and competitiveness (Ganji, 2012) with reliability scores of f 0.78 and 0.81 respectively were used. Statistical Population of the Study consisted of all female student-athletes who competed in high school student national sport tournament in the 2012-2013 school years. Statistical sample of the study was 269 athletes (79 individual sports, 190 team sports) who were selected according to Morgan table using a stratified sampling method proportional to size. Both descriptive statistics (frequency tables and index (mean) and dispersion) and inferential statistics (Kolomogorov–Smirnov test to determine normal or abnormal distribution of variables and Pearson’s correlation, independent t test were used to analyze the data. Results of the study showed significant differences between female student athletes in individual and team sports regarding psychological hardiness and competitiveness. Individual sports athletes were more competitive and hard headed than team sports athletes. Significant correlation was observed between these variables in female student athletes in individual and team sports.