Authenticity and Mental Toughness in Athletes: An Empirical Model

The study explores the role of personal authenticity in the psychological training of athletes, focusing on its relationship with intrinsic motivation, mental skills — including stress resilience — and mental toughness. Drawing on data from 355 male athletes (18-26 years) across various sports, standardized tools like the Moscow Authenticity Scale, Mental Strength Scale, Sports Motivation Scale, Ottawa Mental Skills Test, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were employed. Path regression analysis revealed an empirical model that showcases how authenticity linked directly and indirectly to mental toughness through fostering intrinsic motives like self-development, enjoyment of sports, and resilience against stress. While direct contributions of authenticity to mental toughness are modest, its cumulative impact, factoring in mediating effects, is substantial. Notably, authenticity holds more weight for less experienced athletes in developing mental skills and toughness. These findings offer valuable insights for psychologists focused on the psychological training of athletes, especially in managing mental processes crucial for sport performance.

1. Alekseev A.V. Preodoleisebya. Psikhologicheskaya podgotovka v sporte. Moscow: Feniks, 2006. 370 p. (In Russ.).
2. Bochaver K., Dovzhik L., Bondarev D. Psikhologicheskaya diagnostika v sporte. Moscow, Sport, 2023. 228 p. (In Russ.).
3. Bochaver K.A., Reznichenko S.I. Lichnostnaya autentichnost' kak resurs preodoleniya sindroma professional'nogo vygoraniya [Personal authenticity as a resource for coping with burnout syndrome]. Psikhologicheskii zhurnal = Psychological Journal, 2022. Vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 61—71. DOI:10.31857/S020595920019413-0 (In Russ., Abstr. In Engl.).
4. Gissen L. Vremyastressov. Obosnovanie i prakticheskie rezul'taty psikhoprofilakticheskoi raboty v sportivnykh komandakh. Moscow: Sport, 2022. 200 p. (In Russ.).
5. Mil'man V.E. Stress i lichnostnye factory regulyatsii deyatel'nosti. In Yu.L. Khanin (ed.). Stress itrevoga v sporte: sb. nauch. tr. Moscow: Fizkul'tura i sport, 1983. Pp. 24—26. (In Russ.)
6. Nartova-Bochaver S.K., Irkhin B.D., Reznichenko S.I. Dispozitsional'naya autentichnost' vo vnutrilichnostnom prostranstve [Trait authenticity in the intrapersonal space]. Zhurnal Vysshei shkoly ekonomiki = Psychology. Journal of the Higher School of Economics, 2020. Vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 500—519. DOI:10.17323/1813-8918-2020-3-500-519 (In Russ., Abstr. In Engl.).
7. Puni A.Ts. Psikhologicheskaya podgotovka k sorevnovaniyu v sporte. Moscow: Fizkul'tura i sport, 1969. 88 p. (In Russ.)
8. Bandura C.T., Kavussanu M. Authentic leadership in sport: Its relationship with athletes’ enjoyment and commitment and the mediating role of autonomy and trust. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching,Vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 968—977.
9. Barkoukis V., Mallia L., Lazuras L., Ourda D., Agnello S., Andjelkovic M., Bochaver K., Folkers D., Bondarev D., Dikic N. Dreiskaemper D., Pedroczi A., Strauss B., Zelli, A. The role of comprehensive education in anti-doping policy legitimacy and support among clean athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2022. No. 60, pp. 102—173. DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102173
10. Bochaver K.A., Dovzhik L.M., Bondarev D.V., Savinkina A.O. Mental Skills of an Athlete as a Resource of Professional Longevity in Sport.Experimental Psychology, 2021. Vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 58—75. DOI:10.17759/exppsy.2021140403 (In Russ., А In Engl.).
11. Bondarev D., Barkoukis V., Lazuras L., et al.Behaviours and beliefs related to whistleblowing against doping in sport: A cross-national study. Frontiers in Psychology, 2022. Vol. 13, Article 835721. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.835721
12. Bondarev D., Bochaver K.A., Barkoukis V. The Phenomenon of Anti-Doping Policy Legitimacy in the Social Psychology of Sports. Clinical Psychology and Special Education, 2021. Vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 100—131. DOI:10.17759/cpse.2021100106 (In Russ., А In Engl.).
13. Durand-Bush N., Salmela J.H., Green-Demers I. The Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool (OMSAT-3). Sport Psychologist, 2001. Vol. 15(1), pp. 1—19. DOI:10.1123/tsp.15.1.1
14. Geurin-Eagleman A.N., Burch L.M. Communicating via photographs: A gendered analysis of Olympic athletes’ visual self-presentation on Instagram. Sport management review,Vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 133—145.
15. Grégoire B., Laure G., Sarah M., Séverine C., Evelyne F. Role of psychological ownership and authenticity strength in the relationship between authentic leadership and sport team performance: A multilevel analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 2021. Vol. 56, pp. 1—36.
16. Guenther C.L., Zhang Y., Sedikides C. The authentic self is the self-enhancing self: A self-enhancement framework of authenticity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2023. 49, no. 3, pp. 1—15. DOI:10.1177/01461672231160653
17. Hanin Yu.L. Coping with anxiety in sport. Coping in sport: Theory, Methods, and Related Constructs / A.R. Nicholls (Ed.). London: Nova Science Publishers Inc., 2010. Pp. 159—175.
18. Hardy L., Parfitt G. A catastrophe model of anxiety and performance. British Journal of Psychology, 1991. Vol. 82(pt. 2), pp. 163—178. DOI:10.1111/j.2044-8295.1991.tb02391.x
19. Hill A.P., Mallinson-Howard S.H., Jowett G.E. Multidimensional perfectionism in sport: A meta-analytical review. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, Vol. 7, no. 3. DOI:23510.1037/spy0000125
20. Hsieh Yu.-C., Lu F., Gill D., et al. Effects of mental toughness on athletic performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2023, pp. 1—22. DOI:10.1080/1612197X.2023.2204312
21. Jackson S.A., Csikszentmihalyi M. Flow in sports. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1999. 340 p.
22. Kamata A., Tenenbaum G., HaninYu.L. Individual zone of optimal functioning (IZOF): A probabilistic estimation. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 2002. Vol. 24(2), pp. 189—208. DOI:10.1123/jsep.24.2.189
23. Kernis M.H., Goldman B.M. A Multicomponent conceptualization of authenticity: Theory and research. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 2006. Vol. 38, pp. 283—357. DOI:10.1016/S0065-2601(06)38006-9
24. Kontro T.K., Bondarev D., Pyykönen K.M., vonBonsdorff M., Laakso L., Suominen H., Korhonen M. Motives for competitive sports participation in masters track and field athletes: Impact of sociodemographic factors and competitive background. Plos One,Vol. 17, no. 11. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0275900
25. Lesyk J.J. The nine mental skills of successful athletes. Annual Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology. Hyannis, MA, 1998. Pp. 1—13.
26. Mann A., Narula B. Positive psychology in sports: An overview. International Journal of Social Sciences, 2017. Vol. 6(2), pp. 153—158. DOI:10.5958/2321-5771.2017.00017.5
27. Martin J.J., Gill D.L. The relationships among competitive orientation, sport-confidence, self-efficacy, anxiety, and performance. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1991. Vol. 13(2), pp. 149—159. DOI:10.1123/jsep.13.2.149
28. Nartova-Bochaver S., Korneev A., Bochaver K. Validation of the 10-item Connor—Davidson Resilience Scale: the case of Russian youth. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2021. Vol. 12, Article 611026. DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.611026
29. Nartova-Bochaver S., Reznichenko S., Maltby J. The Authenticity Scale: Validation in Russian culture. Frontiers in Psychology, 2021. Vol. 11. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.609617
30. Orlick T., Partington J. Mental links to excellence. Sport Psychologist, 1988. Vol. 2(2), pp. 105—130. DOI:10.1123/tsp.2.2.105
31. Pelletier L.G., Tuson K.M., Fortier M.S. et al. Toward a new measure of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation in sports: The Sport Motivation Scale (SMS). Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1995. Vol. 17, pp. 35—53. DOI:10.1123/jsep.17.1.35
32. Petróczi A. Boardley I.D. The Meaning of «Clean» in Anti-doping Education and Decision Making: Moving Toward Integrity and Conceptual Clarity. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2022. 4. DOI:10.3389/fspor.2022.869704
33. Reznichenko S.I., Nartova-Bochaver S.K., Irkhin B.D. Do authentic people care about the environment? A view from two paradigms. Psychology in Russia: State of the Art, 2021. Vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 81—102. DOI:10.11621/pir.2021.0305
34. Ryan R.M., LaGuardia J.G., Rawsthorne L.J. Self-complexity and the authenticity of self-aspects: Effects on well-being and resilience to stressful events. North American Journal of Psychology, 2005. Vol. 7(3), pp. 431—447.
35. Swart E.Values inconsistency between work and home: Evaluating the impact on stress and well-being, and the role that authenticity has to play (Thesis, Master of Applied Psychology (MAppPsy). Hamilton, New Zealand: The University of Waikato, 2020.
36. Wood A.M., Linley P.A., Maltby J. et al. The authentic personality: A theoretical and empirical conceptualization and the development of the Authenticity Scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 2008. Vol. 55(3), 385—399. DOI:10.1037/0022-0167.55.3.385
37. Woolway T., Elbe A.-M., Barkoukis V., Bondarev D., Hudson A., Petroczi A. One does not fit all: European study shows significant differences in value-priorities in clean sport. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 2021. DOI:10.3389/fspor.2021.662542