ABSTRACT

Mental toughness describes a set of positive psychological resources that predict a range of outcomes, including wellbeing. It has been conceptualized as a state, but research has not yet examined the impact of positive or adverse childhood experiences on its development. Such experiences are known to be important for wellbeing and mental health. The current study aimed to examine the relationships between adverse and positive childhood experiences and later mental toughness, and whether mental toughness mediated the relationship between childhood experiences and wellbeing. Three hundred and eleven participants (53 males and 256 females, with a mean of 35.5 years (SD 13.67) completed measures of childhood experiences, mental toughness, and wellbeing. Positive, but not adverse childhood experiences predicted mental toughness, and there was a significant indirect path from positive experiences to wellbeing via mental toughness. The results are discussed in terms of implications for the theory of mental toughness, and implications for supporting the development of mental toughness, which may in turn enhance wellbeing.

摘要

心理韧性描述了一组积极的心理资源，可以预测一系列结果，包括幸福感。它已被概念化为一种状态，但研究尚未检验正面或负面童年经历对其发展的影响。众所周知，这样的经历对幸福感和心理健康很重要。目前的研究旨在检验不良和积极的童年经历与后来的心理韧性之间的关系，以及心理韧性是否介导了童年经历与幸福感之间的关系。311 名参与者（53 名男性和 256 名女性，平均 35.5 岁（标准差 13.67））完成了童年经历、心理韧性和幸福感的测量。正面但不是负面的童年经历预示着心理韧性，并且通过心理韧性从积极体验到幸福有一条重要的间接途径。结果讨论了对心理韧性理论的影响，以及对支持心理韧性发展的影响，这反过来可能会提高幸福感。