Mental Toughness and Competitive Anxiety in Ethiopian Football

Mental toughness and competitive anxiety are two critical factors that can impact the performance of football players. In Ethiopian football, these factors have not been extensively studied. Seid Suleiman Mohammed conducted a research study to investigate the relationship between mental toughness and competitive anxiety in Ethiopian football players.

The study involved 180 male football players aged between 18 and 35 years. The participants were asked to complete two questionnaires: the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2). The SMTQ assessed the players’ mental toughness levels, while the CSAI-2 evaluated their anxiety levels before and during the game.

The results of the study showed a significant negative correlation between mental toughness and competitive anxiety. This means that football players with higher levels of mental toughness experience lower levels of competitive anxiety. The study also found that there were no significant differences in mental toughness and competitive anxiety levels between professional and amateur football players.

Overall, the study highlights the importance of mental toughness in Ethiopian football players’ performance and the need for strategies to improve mental toughness levels and reduce competitive anxiety.