Effects of Physical Fitness and Mental Hardness on the Performance of Elite Male Basketball Players

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to study the effects of physical fitness and mental hardness on the performance of elite basketball players in Turkey. The research included a population of 80 elite male athletes, and the size of the population and the sample size were equal and the method of selection was purposeful one. The instruments consisted of physical fitness measurements. Goldberg General Health Questionnaire and hardiness questionnaire with components of challenge, control, trust, excitement, self-confidence and commitment with the reliability of 0.88 and the exercise performance questionnaire were used to evaluate the performance and practice variables with a reliability of 0.82 which all of them were more than 0.78 in the preliminary design. Pearson correlation analysis and structural equations were used to answer the hypotheses. Physical fitness had affected psychological characteristics and performance. Since their importance is clear to everybody, we need to plan to enhance their psychological and mental health.