Mental Toughness and Psychological Well-being among National-Level Para-Athletes: The Moderating Role of Coaching Style

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18454303

Akash Kumar, Chetna Jaiswal, Dharmendra Kumar Singh, Nishi Srivastava, and Zameel M M (Department of Psychology, Central University of South Bihar, Gaya)

Athlete development in para-sport has progressed beyond a narrow emphasis on performance outcomes to incorporate psychological well-being as a key indicator of long-term success and sustainability. Para-athletes often encounter additional physical, social, and structural challenges, making the development of psychological resources particularly important for sustained engagement in competitive sport. Mental toughness is widely regarded as a vital psychological strength that enables para-athletes to manage competitive demands, persist through adversity, and adapt to intensive training environments. However, the extent to which mental toughness contributes to psychological well-being may be influenced by contextual factors within the sporting environment, particularly the coaching style experienced by para-athletes. The present study examines the association between mental toughness and psychological well-being and explores the role of coaching style as a moderator among national-level para-athletes. A cross-sectional design was applied, and data were collected by standardized questionnaires. The findings indicated a positive but weak correlation, suggesting that mental toughness contributes to well-being, but it’s not the only dominant factor; there are also several other potential factors. And the coaching style was not found as a significant moderator between mental toughness and psychological well-being, showing there is an influence that may be indirect or situation-specific. The results highlighted the multifaceted role of psychological well-being among para-athletes towards the role of broader psychosocial factors. This study contributes to the growing literature on para-sport psychology in India and emphasizes the need for athlete-centered and context-sensitive interventions to enhance well-being among para-athletes.