A comparative study on selective psychological variables among the team game and individual game athletes

1. A Comparative Study on Selective Psychological Variables among the Team
Game and Individual Game Athletes
Rajshree Pandey1, Inderpreet Kaur Nanda2, Malika Sharma3, Dr. Sarita Tyagi4
1Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education & Sports Sciences
University of Delhi, Delhi-110058
rajshree2pandey@gmail.com
2 Assistant Professor, S.G.T.B. Khalsa College
University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
preet.ashi@gmail.com
3 Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of Physical Education & Sports Sciences
University of Delhi, Delhi -110058
malikasharma1635@gmail.com
4 Associate Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education & Sports Sciences
University of Delhi,Delhi-110058
sarita.igipess@gmail.com
Abstract
There are certain moments during competition that appear to carry great psychological
significance, when the momentum starts to shift in one direction or another. These situations
require athletes to remain completely focused and calm in the face of difficult circumstances. In
concept mental toughness and anxiety play most important role in competition and these are
most important part of competition. The purpose of the study was to compare psychological
differences between team game players & individual game players. The data was collected on
selected psychological parameter namely Anxiety (somatic state anxiety, cognitive state anxiety,
self confidence) and Mental toughness (self confidence, motivation, attention control, goal
setting, visual & imaginary, attitude control). For the purpose of this study a total of 80 players
who have played at the inter college level of University of Delhi categorized as Team Game and
Individual Game (40 in each continuum). The subjects were further sub-categorized as Male and
Female. The data pertaining to psychological difference was collected by administering the
competitive state Anxiety Inventory-2(CSAI - 2) for measuring cognitive anxiety, somatic
anxiety, self confidence, and Mental Toughness Questionnaire for measuring mental toughness
along with the sub variables, self confidence, motivation, attention control, goal setting, visual &
imaginary, attitude control. Psychological variables and sub-variables were analyzed statistically
by using Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and two-way ANOVA. Within the
limitations of the study it was found that there was No significance difference was found in the
variables of Mental Toughness and anxiety between Team and Individual Games.
Keywords: Mental Toughness, Anxiety, Team Game, Individual Game

2. INTRODUCTION
A sport is an over expanding avenue of human life. From very simple beginning it has evolved a
highly organized activity of human society. The success and failure of an athlete is dependent on
the blending of physical ability, conditioning, training, mental preparation and the ability to
perform well under pressure. Competitive sports demand a high level physical ability, and at the
same time, they require a sharp mental focus. In a world where many athletes are physically,
technically and tactically increasingly similar, it is the mind which offers perhaps the greatest
scope for a competitive advantage.
Player are subject to performance evaluation by coaches, manager, fellow team-mates, spectators
, press & media which occur before, during and post-performance player are expected to make a
split second judgment and accurate movement or reaction to the opponent’s move, often under
immense pressure and tough situation, which can have far reaching effects with sports at all
levels. Anxiety is one of the deferent’s to good performance. At worst the effect of anxiety gets
the athlete so tied up in knots that he is frozen in fear. In the best, anxiety subtly impairs
Performance by distracting the attention. The anxiety is basically of two types: state anxiety and
trait anxiety refers to an existing or immediate emotional state characterterized by apprehension,
fear, and tension and increase in physiological arousal. Mental toughness term is commonly
used by coaches, sports psychologist, sports commentator, and leaders-generally describes a
collection of attributes that allow a person to persevere through difficult circumstances (such as
difficult training or difficult competitive situation in games) and emerge without losing
confidence. Mental toughness surface to an individual an inner drive to succeed particularly
when going in challenging. It explains when it is possible to place two individual in to the same
working environment and see that one find it difficult to cope with pressure and one thrives
Mental toughness also illustrates a strong link between stress management & peak performance
development where the letter can’t be achieved without performer.
OBJECTIVES
There is a dearth of research exploring the factors that impact the development and performance
of sports; few consider psychological factors are of more importance to examine the behavior of
players during or after the competitions. Thus, the aim of the present study was to compare and
study selective psychological variables among the team game and individual game athletes.
PROCEDURE & METHODOLOGY
A total of 80 players belonging to various colleges of Delhi University who played at the inter
college level in session 2011-2012 and were categorized under Team Games and Individual
Games (40 in each continuum). The subjects were further sub-categorized as Male and Female.
A demographic questionnaire was created by the authors to gather information about age, grade
level, sport, and years participating in sport. The anxiety performance relationship is what is
being measured in the CSAI – II (from D). To evaluate the mental toughness among player
selected from various sports groups mental toughness questionnaire in sports developed by
Tiwari, Sharma, and Solanki was employed. This mental toughness test was scientifically
authenticated by the authority by establishing its reliability, Validity along with developing
norms and was developed on subject of Indian origin. The 48 statement questionnaire have been

3. categorized into seven sub-scale namely confidence, Motivation control, attention control, Goal
setting, Visual and imaginary, Attitude control. The index of reliability of the questionnaire that
is the validity of the questionnaire stated was 0.98. The data was analyzed with the help of
descriptive statistics (mean & standard deviation) and 2-way ANOVA for comparison of selected
psychological variables among team game and individual game. For testing the significant
differences on the various psychological parameters i.e., Mental Toughness and Anxiety among
Team and Individual Game respectively, the level of significance chosen was 0.05 levels.
RESULTS & DISSCUSSION
After analyzing the data, the findings pertaining to different questions have been presented as
follows:
MENTAL TOUGHNESS
Table No. 1
Descriptive Analysis on various variables of Mental Toughness for Team and Individual Game
Variables Game Gender Mean Std. Deviation N
Self Confidence Team Male 28.28 4.138 25
Female 27.20 4.246 15
Total 27.87 4.158 40
Individual Male 28.70 3.022 23
Female 27.47 3.590 17
Total 28.17 3.289 40
Total Male 28.48 3.614 48
Female 27.34 3.849 32
Total 28.02 3.728 80
Motivation Team Male 34.48 5.157 25
Female 32.47 6.368 15
Total 33.72 5.648 40
Individual Male 34.52 3.812 23
Female 34.12 3.982 17
Total 34.35 3.840 40

4. Total Male 34.50 4.515 48
Female 33.34 5.215 32
Total 34.04 4.809 80
Attention Team Male 35.04 6.804 25
Female 32.87 3.833 15
Total 34.22 5.907 40
Individual Male 35.74 4.191 23
Female 32.59 3.954 17
Total 34.40 4.337 40
Total Male 35.38 5.655 48
Female 32.72 3.837 32
Total 34.31 5.150 80
Goal Setting Team Male 33.04 8.044 25
Female 30.47 6.885 15
Total 32.08 7.644 40
Individual Male 31.26 3.646 23
Female 27.12 4.859 17
Total 29.50 4.635 40
Total Male 32.19 6.330 48
Female 28.69 6.040 32
Total 30.79 6.413 80
Visual n imagery Team Male 21.96 3.007 25
Female 19.93 3.150 15
Total 21.20 3.180 40
Individual Male 23.65 3.084 23
Female 20.82 4.261 17
Total 22.45 3.849 40
Total Male 22.77 3.130 48

5. Female 20.41 3.749 32
Total 21.82 3.564 80
Attitude Control Team Male 21.24 4.034 25
Female 21.80 2.651 15
Total 21.45 3.551 40
Individual Male 22.00 2.541 23
Female 20.29 3.619 17
Total 21.28 3.121 40
Total Male 21.60 3.388 48
Female 21.00 3.243 32
Total 21.36 3.323 80
Table 2
Overview of Sample Means and Standard Deviations for Mental Toughness
Variables Mean S.D N
Self Confidence
28.02 3.728 80
Motivation 34.04 4.809 80
Attention 34.31 5.150 80
Goal Setting 30.79 6.413 80
Visual Imagery 21.82 3.564 80
Attitude Control 21.36 3.323 80
Table 2 presents an overview of sample means and standard deviations for the variables of Mental Toughness under
consideration in this study. The means are located between 21.36 and 34.31 whereas mean and standard deviation
for Self Confidence is 28.02 ± 3.728, Motivation is 34.04 ± 4.809, Attention is 34.31 ± 5.150, Goal setting is 30.79
± 6.413, Visual imagery is 21.82 ± 3.564, and Attitude Control is 21.36 ± 3.323 respectively for all the selected
subjects for the study.
Table 3
Overview of Means and Standard Deviations for Mental Toughness between Team and Individual game
Variables Team Individual
Mean S.D N Mean S.D N
Self Confidence 27.87 4.158 40 28.17 3.289 40
Motivation 33.72 5.648 40 34.35 3.840 40
Attention 34.22 5.907 40 34.40 4.337 40
Goal Setting 32.08 7.644 40 29.50 4.635 40

6. Visual Imagery 21.20 3.180 40 22.45 3.849 40
Attitude Control 21.45 3.551 40 21.28 3.121 40
Table 3 presents an overview of Team and Individual game means and standard deviations for the variables of
Mental Toughness under consideration in this study. In case of Teamgame the means are located between 21.20 and
34.22 whereas mean for Self Confidence is 27.87, Motivation is 33.72, Attention is 34.22, Goal setting is 32.08,
Visual imagery is 21.20, and Attitude Control is 21.45 respectively. Most of the standard deviations fall between
3.180 and 7.644 and S.D. for Self Confidence is 4.158, Motivation is 5.648, Attention is 5.907, Goal setting is
7.644, Visual imagery is 3.180, and Attitude Control is 3.551 respectively among Team game Intercollegiate
players. In case of Individual game the means are located between 21.28 and 34.40 whereas mean for Self
Confidence is 28.17, Motivation is 34.35, Attention is 34.40, Goal setting is 29.50, Visual imagery is 22.45, and
Attitude Control is 21.28 respectively. Most of the standard deviations fall between 3.121 and 4.635 and S.D. for
Self Confidence is 3.289, Motivation is 3.840, Attention is 4.337, Goal setting is 4.635, Visual imagery is 3.849, and
Attitude Control is 3.121 respectively among Individual game Intercollegiate players.
To find out significant difference between for Team and Individual players Two Way ANOVA was employed which
shown in the next table.
Table 4
Two way ANOVA of Game and Gender in Male and Female Team Game and Individual Game Players
Source Dependent
Variable
Type III Sum
of Squares
df Mean Square F Sig.
Game Self confidence 2.254 1 2.254 .160 .690
Motivation 13.712 1 13.712 .586 .446
Attention .847 1 .847 .033 .856
Goal setting 125.846 1 125.846 3.313 .073
Visual and
Imagery
31.912 1 31.912 2.835 .096
Attitude Control 2.662 1 2.662 .241 .625
Gender Self Confidence 25.426 1 25.426 1.805 .183
Motivation 27.966 1 27.966 1.194 .278
Attention 135.654 1 135.654 5.278 .024
Goal Setting 215.880 1 215.880 5.683 .020
Visual and
Imagery
112.812 1 112.812 10.021 .002
Attitude Control 6.283 1 6.283 .568 .453
*Significant at .05 level *f.05 (2.81) = 3.07
Table 4 presents an overview of the Test of between-Subjects Effects for Game and Gender for the variables of
Mental Toughness under consideration in this study. There came out to be no significant difference for the Test of
Between-Subjects Effects for the Game as the calculated value for each variable of Mental Toughness were, Self-
Confidence = 0.160; Motivation=0.568; Attention= 0.033; Goal Setting= 3.313; Visual and Imagery= 2.835;

7. Attitude Control=0.241, for which the values computed at 0.05 level were found out to be insignificant between the
Team Game and Individual Game. There came out to be significant difference in the variables Attention, Goal
Setting and Motivation where as it was found out to be insignificant for the variables Self Confidence, Motivation
and Attitude Control for the Test of Between-Subjects Effects for the Gender. The calculated value for each variable
of Mental Toughness were Self Confidence = 1.805; Motivation = 1.194; Attitude Control = 0.563, computed at
0.05 level of significance were found out to be insignificant, where as, the values for Attention= 5.278; Goal
Setting= 5.683; Visual and Imagery= 10.021, computed were found significant at 0.05 level of significance.
Table 5
Post-Hoc Test for selected variables of Mental Toughness (Pair wise Comparison)
Dependent
Variable
(I)
Gender
(J)
Gender
Mean
Difference (I-J) Std. Error Sig.a
95% Confidence Interval for
Differencea
Lower Bound Upper Bound
selfconfidence male female 1.153 .858 .183 -.556 2.861
female male -1.153 .858 .183 -2.861 .556
motivation male female 1.209 1.106 .278 -.994 3.411
female male -1.209 1.106 .278 -3.411 .994
attention male female 2.662* 1.159 .024 .354 4.970
female male -2.662* 1.159 .024 -4.970 -.354
goalsetting male female 3.358* 1.409 .020 .553 6.164
female male -3.358* 1.409 .020 -6.164 -.553
visualnimagery male female 2.428* .767 .002 .900 3.955
female male -2.428* .767 .002 -3.955 -.900
attitudecontrol male female .573 .760 .453 -.941 2.087
female male -.573 .760 .453 -2.087 .941
*. The mean difference is significant at the .05 level.
To find out which specific group i.e. Team and Individual actually differ, it is essential to find out multiple
comparisons through Post hoc test. Fromresults of the above table it could be reflected that there were no significant
difference between the groups of Self Control as well as Total Mental Toughness. From the above table we found
there was significant difference between the Attention Control Team and Individual (P= 0.024), Goal Setting Team
and Individual (P= 0.020) and Visual & Imagery Team and Individual (P= 0.002) which is below 0.05 level.

8. ANXIETY
Table 6
Descriptive Analysis on various variables of Anxiety for Team and Individual Game
GAME GENDER Mean Std. Deviation N
COGINATIVE team male 23.60 4.830 25
female 22.87 3.777 15
Total 23.32 4.428 40
individual male 22.70 3.843 23
female 22.82 3.522 17
Total 22.75 3.664 40
Total male 23.17 4.363 48
female 22.84 3.584 32
Total 23.04 4.049 80
SOMATIC team male 19.64 4.508 25
female 19.47 2.503 15
Total 19.58 3.842 40
individual male 17.43 4.460 23
female 19.24 4.191 17
Total 18.20 4.386 40
Total male 18.58 4.575 48
female 19.34 3.451 32
Total 18.89 4.155 80
SELF-
CONFIDENCE
team male
30.20 4.233 25
female 27.20 4.057 15
Total 29.07 4.370 40
individual male 29.35 4.228 23
female 24.29 3.996 17

9. Total 27.20 4.800 40
Total male 29.79 4.207 48
female 25.66 4.224 32
Total 28.14 4.657 80
Table 7
An Overview of Sample Means and Standard Deviations for Anxiety
Variables Mean S.D N
Cognitive
23.04 4.049 80
Somatic 18.89 4.155 80
Self Confidence 28.14 4.657 80
Table 7 presents an overview of sample means and standard deviations of the overall data for the selected variables
of Anxiety under consideration in this study. The means and standard deviation for Cognitive is 23.04 ± 4.049,
Somatic is 18.89 ± 4.155 and Self Confidence is 28.14 ± 4.657 respectively among Individual and Team game
intercollegiate players respectively among Individual and Team game intercollegiate players.
Table 8
Overview of Means and Standard Deviations for Anxiety of Team and Individual game
Variables Team Individual
Mean S.D N Mean S.D N
Cognitive 23.32 4.428 40 22.75 3.664 40
Somatic 19.58 3.842 40 18.20 4.386 40
Self Confidence 29.07 4.370 40 27.20 4.800 40
Table 8 presents an overview of Team and Individual game means and standard deviations for the variables of
Anxiety under consideration in this study. In case of Team game mean for Cognitive is 23.32 ± 4.428, Somatic is
19.58 ± 3.842 and Self Confidence is 29.07 ± 4.370 respectively for the intercollegiate players respectively among
team games. In case of Individual game the mean and standard deviation Cognitive is 22.75 ± 3.664, Somatic is
18.20 ± 4.386 and Self Confidence is 27.20 ± 4.800 respectively among Individual game intercollegiate players.
Table 9
Two way ANOVA of Game and Gender in Male and Female Team Game and Individual Game Players for
selected variables of Anxiety
Source
Dependent
Variable
Type III Sum of
Squares df Mean Square F Sig.
GAME COG 4.296 1 4.296 .254 .615
SOM 28.411 1 28.411 1.668 .200
SC 67.584 1 67.584 3.923 .051
GENDER COG 1.754 1 1.754 .104 .748

10. SOM 12.670 1 12.670 .744 .391
SC 310.392 1 310.392 18.019 .000
Table 9 presents an overview of the Test of between-Subjects Effects for Game, Gender and Game*Gender
interaction for the variables of Anxiety under consideration in this study. There came out to be no significant
difference for Test Between-Subjects Effects for the Game as calculated value for each variable of Anxiety were
Cognitive = 0.254; Somatic = 1.668; Self Confidence = 3.923, for which the values computed at 0.05 level were
found out to be insignificant between the Team Game and Individual Game.There came out to be significant
difference in the variable Self Confidence where as it was found out to be insignificant for the variables Cognitive
and Somatic Control for the Test of Between-Subjects Effects for the Gender. The calculated value for the variables
Cognitive=0.104; Somatic= 0.744, computed at 0.05 level of significance were found out to be insignificant, where
as, the value for the variable Self Confidence = 18.019, computed were found significant at 0.05 level of
significance.
Table 10
Post-Hoc Test for selected variables of Anxiety (Pair Wise Comparisons)
Dependent
Variable
(I)
GENDER
(J)
GENDER
Mean
Difference (I-J) Std. Error Sig.a
95% Confidence Interval for
Differencea
Lower Bound Upper Bound
COG male female .303 .939 .748 -1.568 2.173
female male -.303 .939 .748 -2.173 1.568
SOM male female -.814 .943 .391 -2.692 1.065
female male .814 .943 .391 -1.065 2.692
SC male female 4.027* .949 .000 2.137 5.916
female male -4.027* .949 .000 -5.916 -2.137
To find out which specific group i.e. Male or Female actually differ, it is essential to find out multiple comparisons
through Post hoc test. From results of the above table it could be reflected that there were no significant difference
between the groups of Cognitive and Somatic for Anxiety. From the above table we found there was significant
difference between the Self
Confidence for Male and Female (P= 0.000), which is below 0.05 level.
CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of the study following conclusions were drawn:
Mental Toughness
 No significance difference was found in the variables of Mental Toughness between
Team and Individual Games.
 The variable of attention, goal setting, and visual imaginary was found to be significant in
context of Gender i.e., between male and female players in team and individual game
viz., the values for Attention= 5.278; Goal Setting= 5.683; Visual and Imagery= 10.021,

11. computed were found significant at 0.05 level of significance. And other variables were
insignificant at the .05 level of significance.
 There was an insignificant difference between gender and games at the .05 level of
significance.
Anxiety
 No significant difference between team games and individual games was found in the
variables of Anxiety.
 The self confidence calculated was P=0.000 which was significant between male and
female players at 0.05 level of significance but the other variables i.e., Cognitive and
Somatic, were found out to be insignificant.
 There were insignificant differences between the gender and games (Team games &
Individual games).
REFERENCES
1. Encyc/sports-psychology-and mental toughness-14
2. http://www noaxiety .com/anxiety-and-stress/trait-state-anxiety
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental toughness
4. Lalit Sharma, “attribution in physical Education”. Delhi sport publication, 1998, p.-1.
5. M.L.Kamlesh , “Psychology in physical education and sports” (3rd Ed) 1998, p.2-3.
6. www.performingmind.co.za/index,php/the-sports-psychologist.