Comparative Analysis of Frustration Tolerance and SelfEfficacy among Individual, Combat and Team University Sportspersons

Abstract

Psychological functioning can influence how athletes respond to blocked goals, pressure, error and repeated competitive demands. This analytical study compares frustration tolerance and generalized self-efficacy among university sportspersons representing individual, combat and team sports. The approved design comprises 300 athletes aged 19–25 years from selected Haryana universities, with 100 participants in each sport category and an equal male–female distribution. Frustration tolerance is assessed through the S. N. Rai frustration-tolerance instrument and self-efficacy through the 10- item General Self-Efficacy Scale of Schwarzer and Jerusalem. Group differences are examined through descriptive statistics, Welch independent-samples t-tests, Cohen’s d and supplementary one-way ANOVA. In the model analytical dataset used in the thesis draft, combat sportspersons record the highest mean frustration tolerance (M=71.97) and self-efficacy (M=32.35), team sportspersons occupy an intermediate position (M=68.37 and 31.46), and individual sportspersons record the lowest means (M=64.76 and 29.91). Overall pairwise tests show significant differences for all three frustration-tolerance comparisons, while self-efficacy differs significantly for individual–team and individual–combat comparisons but not for combat–team. Gender-specific findings are more differentiated, especially among female participants. The pattern indicates that the psychological demands associated with direct opposition, personal responsibility and interdependence may coexist with different profiles of persistence and coping confidence. Practical implications emphasize sport-specific mental-skills preparation, mastery-oriented feedback and structured routines for recovery from error.