Extending the understanding of the impact of conscientiousness on individual soccer performance: examining the mediating role of mental toughness

Background Drawing upon Motowidlo et al.’s theory of individual differences in performance, the current study aims to con-tribute a better understanding relationship between conscientiousness and soccer by exam-ining whether mental toughness, posited as characteristic adaptation, acts psychological mechanism underlying this link. Participants procedure Relying concurrent validity design, 130 players completed survey including measures conscientious-ness toughness. were also instructed provide subjective assessment their self-rating physical, technical tactical performance levels. Their objective was measured total amount minutes each player participated official games, during first half-season. Results The findings showed that toughness represent significant meaningful predictors both gathered, i.e. performance. As expected, further mediation analyses influence on is totally indirect, via Still, for criterion, only direct effect supported. Conclusions These support merits valid predictor human across achievement con-texts, namely sports settings specifically domain soccer. They suggest while personality factor exerts impact it seems play more distal per-formance, enacting resources. Major theoretical applied research implications are dis-cussed.