Mental toughness and mood states in male under-18 field athletes: event-specific differences at the 2024 Sabah Championship

Mental toughness, which refers to the athlete's strength to stay concentrated, confident, and resilient under pressure circumstances, and mood states, since they are temporary emotional states, are effective predictors of performance in competitive sport. Mental toughness and mood states were tested in this study among 105 male under-18 field athletes participating at the 2024 Sabah School Sports Council Championship, across differences in event type, achievement rank, and age. Mental toughness was also measured using the Mental Toughness Questionnaire (MTQ18) and mood states were measured using the Profile of Mood States (POMS). The findings revealed the negative correlation of mental toughness with negative mood states, particularly tension, and the suggestion that stronger athletes will presumably cope better with the pressure of competition. Event-based differences were uncovered with javelin throwers demonstrating greater mental toughness and lower negative mood levels than high and long jumpers. Statistical differences were not discovered between achievement rank or age levels. Malay-translated MTQ18 was low on reliability, but structural validity was acceptable, whilst POMS was highly reliable. Overall, the research indicates the necessity for event-specific psychological preparation alongside culturally appropriate testing practice in Malaysian youth sport. Imagery and stress management skills may be utilized to enhance psychological readiness among athletes to perform during competition.