Development and preliminary validation of the Cricket Mental Toughness Inventory (CMTI)

The purpose of this research project was to develop a psychometrically sound measure of mental toughness in cricket, using amulti-method research design. Two qualitative studies in which current and former cricketers’ (n¼16) perceptions of thekey components of mental toughness in cricket and the suitability of an item pool to target those key components (n¼9)were assessed. We then conducted two quantitative studies to examine both the within- and between-network properties ofthe Cricket Mental Toughness Inventory (CMTI) using confirmatory factor analysis and correlations. Support for theexistence of a five-factor, 15-item model was revealed with three independent samples of cricketers; two contained cricketersfrom several different countries (n¼285 and 285), whereas one contained Australian cricketers only (n¼433). Each of thefive subscales (affective intelligence, attentional control, resilience, self-belief, and desire to achieve) were positivelycorrelated with dispositional flow, hardiness, and resilience and negatively correlated with athlete burnout. Althoughrequiring replication and extension, the results of the present study provide preliminary support for the factor structure,internal reliability, and construct validity of the CMTI.