Comparative analysis of will to win, aggression, mental toughness, and anxiety in national swimmers and para swimmers

Abstract

This study investigates the psychological factors of "Will to Win," "Aggression," "Mental Toughness," and "Anxiety" in a sample of 20 male national swimmers compared to 20 male para swimmers.The analysis using t-tests revealed significant differences between the two groups in "Will to Win," "Mental Toughness," and "Anxiety."Swimmers had a notably higher "Will to Win" (t = 5.01, p< .05)and greater mental toughness (t = 3.34, p< .05),indicating a stronger competitive drive and resilience.They also exhibited higher levels of anxiety (t = 3.72, p< .05)compared to para swimmers.However, aggression levels did not show a significant difference (t = 1.91, p = .06),suggesting both groups have similar levels of aggression.Descriptive statistics show that swimmers have a higher mean score for "Will to Win" (M = 10.15) and mental toughness (M = 37.05), while para swimmers have lower scores for these factors but lower anxiety (M = 16.80).These results highlight the distinct psychological profiles of swimmers and para swimmers, emphasizing the need to address their unique psychological needs to optimize their performance and well-being.