Lopez-Walle, J. M., Mahoney, M., & Morales, P. (2006). Psychological skills by Mexican universities athletes University of Nuevo León. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38(5), Supplement abstract 1540.

This study investigated the psychological skills of representative teams of the University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, previously the 2003 National Universiade. Ss were 265 athletes (average age = 19.87 years; 70% males and 30% females). Categories of performance were: elite athletes had participated in international competitions; pre-elite athletes had competed in national competitions; and non-elite athletes had competed in regional competitions. Ss were assessed using the Psychological Skills Inventory for Sports. Testing was administered in collective or individual form in the different sports centers or at practices according to training schedules. The average time to respond to the questionnaire was 10 minutes.

Females scored higher in skill of confidence, but men scored higher on team emphasis The skill of team emphasis was greater in the individual sports, and smaller in the group sports (a counter-intuitive finding). Motivation skills were higher in group than in individual sports. Elite athletes significantly outperformed both pre-elite and non-elite athletes in concentration skills and mental preparation.

Implication Mental/psychological skills are different between gender, type of sport, and performance level.

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