Abstract
Previous investigations have found hardy personalities to be positively related to sport performance. Studies have also shown the psychological construct of hardiness to be existentially developed. However, the link between hardiness levels and participation in sport, specifically triathlon, is undetermined. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of hardiness levels to the experience of participation in triathlon. West Coast Collegiate Triathlon Conference athletes (n=29), both male and female, completed the Demographic Questionnaire and the Personal Views Survey prior to and at mid-triathlon season. Individual performance statistics were obtained and converted into seconds. It was hypothesized that (a) experienced triathletes would report higher hardiness scores than novice triathletes, (b) novice and experienced triathletes would report an increase in the stress resistance resources of hardiness, ( c) hardiness levels would predict mid-season performance of novice triathletes, ( d) hardiness levels would predict mid-season performance of experienced triathletes, and (e) female triathletes would report higher hardiness levels compared to male triathletes. Results did not support a relationship between hardiness levels and triathlon participation, nor did they support the predictive capabilities of hardiness on athletic performance. Females did not reveal higher hardiness scores in comparison to males. Each hypothesis was rejected. However, the means for hardiness levels and the subscales increased in novice, experienced, and female triathletes from pre to mid-season. Although these increases were not significant, it may suggest a positive trend between sport participation and hardiness that warrants further investigation.