Evaluation of Mental Toughness in Mexican Sport through Two Measures: MTI and SMTQ

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Mental Toughness Index (MTI) and Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ), for their adaptation and use in the field of Mexican sport. The MTI consists of eight items and constitutes a one-dimensional measure of mental toughness. The SMTQ is composed of 14 items, with three factors (confidence, constancy, and control). The sample was composed of 375 athletes from different sports. The results indicated appropriate characteristics of MTI and its one-dimensional structure, with a reliability of α=.81, adequate factor loads, satisfactory goodness and fit indices, and convergent validity. The SMTQ presented inferior results, with α=.69 for total scale, and low reliability of constancy and control. Fit indices were not optimal, and there were low correlations between scales and discriminant validity problems.