Mental Toughness dan Psychological Well-being pada Atlet Penyandang Disabilitas: Tinjauan Literatur Sistematis

Abstract

Background: Mental toughness has been identified as a crucial psychological construct influencing athletic performance and well-being. However, limited systematic evidence exists regarding its role in athletes with disabilities, who face unique psychological challenges in competitive sport environments. Objectives: This systematic literature review aims to synthesize current knowledge on mental toughness and its relationship with psychological well-being among athletes with disabilities, examine protective and risk factors, and identify evidence-based interventions for this population. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using Scopus database following PRISMA guidelines. Search terms included "psychology," "mental toughness," "sport," "disability," and related terms. Studies published between 2020-2024 in English, open-access journal articles were included. Quality assessment was performed using appropriate methodological appraisal tools. Results: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 1,847 participants across various disability types and sports. Findings revealed significant positive associations between mental toughness, resilience, and psychological well-being in para-athletes. Key themes included gender differences in psychological self-regulation, protective factors against mental ill-health, the mediating role of social support, and sport-specific adaptations in mental toughness development. Conclusion: Mental toughness serves as a crucial protective psychological resource for athletes with disabilities, significantly contributing to enhanced well-being outcomes. However, disability-specific frameworks and targeted interventions require further development to optimize psychological support in para-sport contexts.

Keywords: mental toughness; psychological well-being; athletes with disabilities; para-sport, resilience; systematic review; disability sport psychology