MID05310 Developing a Test for Mental Toughness: The Mental Toughness Inventory (MTI) Simon C. Middleton, Herb W. Marsh, Andrew J. Martin, Garry E. Richards, and Clark Perry SELF Research Centre, University of Western Sydney, Australia The Mental Toughness Inventory (MTI) is a 67-item self-report paper and pencil test that assesses 12 characteristics of mental toughness (self-efficacy, potential, mental self-concept, task familiarity, value, personal bests, goal commitment, perseverance, task focus, positivity, stress minimisation, and positive comparisons) along with one global mental toughness factor (Middleton et al., 2004a). The purposes of the current study were to (a) refine the size of the MTI whilst maintaining its strong psychometric properties, and (b) assess the equivalence of the MTI factor structure across sub-elite to elite athletes. The MTI was administered to 438 aspiring elite athletes (aged 12 to 18 years) based at an elite sports high school along with 292 elite athletes (aged 11 to 38 years) from various institutes of sport around Australia (including the Australian, NSW and WA Institute of Sport, NSW and WA Institute of Sports, ACT Academy of Sport, Australian Rugby Union Wallabies, and Australian Cricket). A series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) produced a 36-item MTI measuring all 12 factors of mental toughness. The reliability coefficients for each of the factors ranged from .82 to .94 across both sub-elite and elite athlete samples Goodness of fit for the CFA was good for each sample individually, but also multi-group CFA proved the MTI factor structure to be stable across both groups. This research aimed to refine the already developed Mental Toughness Inventory (MTI) and to assess its psychometric properties across sub-elite to elite athletes. Earlier qualitative research defined mental toughness as an unshakeable perseverance and conviction towards some goal despite pressure or adversity (Middleton, Marsh, Martin, Richards & Perry, in press, 2004b). The authors also identified a 12 factor model of mental toughness. This 12 factor model was utilised to guide the development of the Mental Toughness Inventory (MTI; see Middleton et al., 2004a), producing a 67-item MTI specifically designed to measure twelve components of mental toughness (Self-Efficacy, Future Potential, Mental Self- Concept, Task Familiarity, Value, Personal Best Motivation, Goal Commitment, Task Specific Attention, Perseverance, Positivity, Positive Comparisons, Stress Minimisation) along with one global mental toughness factor. This 67-item MTI was piloted with 438 athletes enrolled at an elite sports high school in Sydney (Age range= 12-19 years, mean= 14.29, SD= 1.54 years) and also with 292 elite athletes from various institutes of sport such as the Australian Institute of Sport and the Australian Rugby Union team the Wallabies (Age range= 11-38, mean= 18.55, SD= 4.48 years). Analysis revealed reliability coefficients for each of the factors ranging from .82 to .94 and acceptable goodness of fit for the confirmatory factor analysis. The current study seeks to further refine the number of items whilst maintaining the instrument’s strong psychometric properties. The current study also seeks to evaluate the equivalence of the MTI as a test of mental toughness across different athlete samples (such as elite and sub-elite athletes). An Historical Perspective In early work on mental toughness, Loehr (1982, 1986) emphasised that athletes and coaches felt that at least fifty percent of success is due to psychological factors that reflect mental toughness. Similarly, Gould, Hodge, Peterson, and Petlichkoff (1987) emphasised that coaches feel that mental toughness is important in achieving success, while Norris (1999) has emphasised the importance of mental toughness in developing champion athletes. Despite widespread agreement on the importance and benefits of mental toughness (Goldberg, 1998; Hodge, 1994; Jones, Hanton, & Connaughton, 2002; Loehr, 1982, 1986) and calls to identify psychological attributes that create champions, high quality research into mental toughness is limited. Recently, Middleton et al. (2004c) completed a series of in-depth qualitative interviews, drawing on the experience of elite athletes and coaches to unearth a conceptualisation and definition of mental toughness. The interviews of 33 elite athletes and coaches (including 25 current or former elite athletes, of whom 15 had achieved an Olympic Gold Medal or World Champion status) were transcribed verbatim and analysed qualitatively to reveal underpinning components of mental toughness. Components of mental toughness were allowed to emerge from the interview data, whilst the interpretation of these components was guided by relevant theory. The strength of this approach to data analysis is that it allows the researcher to benefit from both qualitative experience and established sources of theory. The results indicated that mental toughness is multi-dimensional and consists of twelve components, including: self-efficacy, potential, mental self-concept, task familiarity, value, personal bests, goal commitment, perseverance, task focus, positivity, stress minimisation, and positive comparisons. Mental toughness was defined as an unshakeable perseverance and conviction towards some goal despite pressure or adversity. The researchers foreshadowed the development of the Mental Toughness Inventory (MTI) based on their conceptualisation of mental toughness.