Relationship Between Mental Toughness and Psychological Well-Being in Students: the Intermediate Role of Physical Activity

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between mental toughness and psychological well-being among students with the intermediate role of physical activity. The research method was descriptive-correlational. Statistical population included all of the students of Shahid Chamran university of Ahvaz among which 201 participants were selected through convenient sampling method (age mean: 23/05 ± 3/37). The participants completed psychological well-being, mental toughness and international physical activity questionnaires. Pearson’s correlation coefficient, goodness indices and bootstrap were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that physical activity mediate the relationship between mental toughness and psychological well-being (P<0/05). Correlation coefficients also showed significant relationships between majority of mental toughness and psychological well-being subscales (no relationships were reported between self-acceptance and control of emotion and interpersonal confidence, positive relation with others and interpersonal confidence, environmental mastery and interpersonal confidence (0/190<r<0/320, P<0/05). The strongest relationship was found between life control and self-determination (r=0/320). The finding suggests that encouragement of students to engage in sport and physical activities in youth and adolescence period enhances mental health and psychological well-being .