Examination of Mental Resilience Levels in Veteran Tennis Player

Öz

This research aimed to explore the disparities in mental resilience levels among veteran tennis players concerning age, gender, and weekly training frequency. The survey method was employed, utilizing a survey technique as part of the screening process. The study involved 358 volunteer veteran tennis players, with 85 females and 273 males, who completed the mental resilience scale. The "Sports Mental Resilience Scale" and a researcher-prepared personal information form were used. The scale showed good reliability with Cronbach's Alpha coefficients of 0.81 for Confidence, 0.74 for Persistence, and 0.71 for Control. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0. Normal distribution was confirmed through Skewness, Kurtosis values, and the Levene Test. Parametric tests, such as Independent Sample T Test and One Way ANOVA, were used when significant differences emerged between groups. The Scheffe test was applied to identify the sources of differences. Results revealed no statistically significant difference in average mental resilience scores based on gender (p>0.05). However, significant differences were found in Confidence and Persistence sub-dimensions based on age (p<0.05), as well as in the Confidence sub-dimension and total scores based on weekly training frequency (p<0.05). In summary, this study investigated the relationship between mental resilience levels and variables like gender, age, and weekly training frequency among veteran tennis players. It found that these factors indeed impact the mental resilience of veteran tennis players, contributing new insights to the field and future research.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Veteran
• Tennis
• Mental Resilience

Kaynakça

1. Altıntaş, A. & Koruç, P. B. (2016). Sporda zihinsel dayanıklılık envanteri’nin psikometrik özelliklerinin incelenmesi (SZDE). Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 27(4), 163-171.
2. Bayrakdaroğlu, S. (2014). Taekwondocuların psikolojik sağlamlık ve öz-anlayış düzeylerinin takım sporcularıyla karşılaştırılması. Yayımlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi, Muğla.
3. Bektaş, M. & Özben, Ş. (2016). Evli bireylerin psikolojik dayanıklılık düzeylerinin bazı sosyo-demografik değişkenler açısından incelenmesi. Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 14(1). 216-240
4. Brewer, B. W. (2009). International olympic committee handbook of sports medicine and science. United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
5. Connaughton, D., Wadey, R., Hanton, S. & Jones, G. (2008). The development and maintenance of mental toughness: perceptions of elite performers. Journal of sports sciences, 26(1), 83–95. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410701310958
6. Crust, L. & Clough, P. (2011). Developing mental toughness: from research to practice. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 2 (1), 21-32.
7. Fernandez, J., Mendez-Villanueva, A. & Pluim, B. M. (2006). Intensity of tennis match play. British journal of sports medicine, 40(5), 387–391. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2005.023168.
8. Gelen, E., Mengütay, S. & Karahan, M. (2009). Teniste servis performansını belirleyen fiziksel uygunluk ve biyomekaniksel faktörlerin incelenmesi. Uluslararası İnsan Bilimleri Dergisi, 6(2):668.

9. Gibson, A. (1998). Mental Toughness. New York: Vantage Press.
10. Gökmen, B. (2014). Özel eğitim okulu yöneticilerinin psikolojik dayanıklılık ve iş doyumları arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi (İstanbul örneği). Yayınlanmamış yüksek lisans tezi. İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, İstanbul.
11. Gucciardi, D. F. & Gordon, S. (2011). Mental toughness in sport: developments in theory and research. United Kingdom: Routledge.
12. İlhan, A. (2015). Tenis oyuncularının zihinsel dayanıklılık düzeyleri. Journal of Global Sport and Education Research, III (2):28-35.
13. Jones, G., Hanton, S. & Connaughton, D. (2002). What is this thing called mental toughness? An Investigation of elite sport performers. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14, 205-218. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10413200290103509.
14. Jones, G., Hanton, S. & Connaughton, D. (2007). A framework of mental toughness in the world's best performers. The Sport Psychologist, 21(2), 243–264. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.21.2.243.
15. Juan, M. V T. & Lopez, A. (2015). Mental Toughness of Scholar Athletes. Researchers World, 6(3), 22.