Mental toughness in higher education: exploring the roles of flow and feedback

Previous research has found that mental toughness is a predictor of attainment in higher education, but there little empirical investigating the underpinnings this. Two studies were therefore conducted to explore why may be important. In Study 1, 123 undergraduates completed measures toughness, flow, engagement with feedback, and reported their academic attainment. Components particularly commitment, related performance. Flow feedback significant mediators relationship between commitment component 2, 79 participants measure assigned high or low groups. They then two mathematics tasks, received either positive, negative, no tasks. Those lower perform less well following negative than those toughness. The results are discussed terms implications for educators who provide seek encourage students engage feedback.