Mental Toughness describes an individual's ability to deal with stress, pressure and challenge irrespective of the circumstances in which they find themselves. It contributes significantly to understanding why some people succeed whilst others under-perform when exposed to the same experiences - even when those who under-perform have equal or greater innate abilities.
Research in the Psychology Department at the University of Hull - under the direction of Dr. Peter Clough Ch. Psych. - let to the first working definition of Mental Toughness along with a valid and reliable psychometric to measure an individual's Mental Toughness, the MTQ48. Together these were presented to the BPS conference in 2003 - to general acclaim.
Originally developed for application in the occupational sector and the sports sector (where lay its origins), recent work has shown that there are clear & valuable applications in the world of Education. Research has shown that Mental Toughness is closely related to:
- Academic performance - verbal, non-verbal and quantitative abilities
- Reduction in negative behaviour
- Wellbeing - including less perceived bullying & more positive career aspirations
- Student drop-out rates in Further Education
Leading edge work with Knowsley Borough Council shows that there is clear relationship between Mental Toughness and young people's career aspirations as well as a direct relationship with their performance in education.
Carla Cavanagh is an Occupational Psychologist, specialising in the development and delivery of the Mental Toughness range of products and services. Since joining AQR Ltd in Jan 2007 she has been involved in applying Mental Toughness in a range of occupational settings, and in furthering its application in other sectors. She is responsible for developing the use of Mental Toughness for the Education and Development of Young People. | 
