Developing Mental Toughness in Young People

Dr Peter Clough is a Chartered Sport and Exercise psychologist and a Chartered Occupational psychologist. He is a senior lecturer at the University of Hull, and his main research interests are in performance in high pressure environments. He is also co-developer, with Keith Earle, of the mental toughness model and of the MTQ48 mental toughness questionnaire. His consultancy experience in the world of work embraces a wide variety of projects with major organisations in the UK and elsewhere, including the design and implementation of Assessment and Development Centres, Work Place Counselling, Employee and Culture Surveys, Leadership development, and Psychometric testing and training. In collaboration with AQR international, he supervises the ongoing development of the world's first integrated psychometric measure for Leadership Style and Behaviour. His first degree is in Psychology and his Masters degree (awarded by Sheffield University) is in Occupational Psychology. Peter earned his PhD at Aberdeen University. Doug Strycharczyk is recognised as a leading authority on the application of mental toughness into many different areas of society and the economy. He is the CEO for AQR international, an innovative test publisher whose focus is on improving performance, well-being and positive behaviours. He has a background in OD and People Development with global blue chip organisations, and together with Dr Peter Clough has been instrumental in taking the concept of mental toughness and its associated measure MTQ48 into the Education Sector in more than eighty countries. He holds a first class honours degree in Economics and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development and a member of the Institute for Leadership and Management. He has authored, with Peter Clough, 'Developing Mental Toughness' (2012) and co-authored a chapter in 'Coaching in Education' (Karnac 2011).

Foreword -- Introduction -- Background -- What is mental toughness? -- The four C’s model -- Mental toughness: its relevance to teaching -- Research using the MTQ48 -- Assessing mental toughness—MTQ48 -- MTQ48 report types and handling feedback -- Mental toughness—its links to current thinking -- Applied Perspectives -- Evaluation and Return On Investment (ROI) -- Developing mental toughness in young people: coaching as an applied positive psychology -- Social mobility and managing shift -- Employability and young people -- Practical applications: young people, teachers, and school leaders -- Parents’ role in developing young people -- Applied Case Studies and Research Case Studies -- Mental toughness in secondary schools -- Mental toughness in Higher Education -- Boosting career decision making and employability through mental toughness -- Sex gender identity and mental toughness -- Sport and its role in developing young people -- Performance, behaviour, and career aspirations of students in secondary education—mental toughness case study -- Developing Mental Toughness -- Can mental toughness be developed in young people? -- Positive thinking -- Anxiety and anxiety control -- Goal setting -- Attentional control -- Mindfulness for young people