Abstract
This study aims to examine the relationship between psychological hardiness and physical self-esteem among mixed martial arts (MMA) practitioners in Algeria, as well as to analyse the correlations between the three dimensions of psychological hardiness (commitment, challenge and control) and physical self-esteem.
A descriptive-correlation approach was adopted. The sample consisted of 30 mixed martial arts athletes selected from three clubs in eastern Algeria. Data were collected using the psychological hardiness Scale (Makhmar, 2002) and the Physical Self-Esteem Scale developed by Mohamed Allaoui, Issam al-hilali and Taymour Ahmed Ragheb. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was applied to test the research hypotheses.
The results revealed a statistically significant inverse correlation between commitment and physical self-esteem (r = -0.631, p < 0.001), a statistically significant positive correlation between challenge and physical self-esteem (r = 0.537, p = 0.003), and a non-statistically significant relationship between control and physical self-esteem (r = -0.359, p = 0.069).
Overall, the results suggest that psychological hardiness is not a uni-dimensional construct in its relationship with physical self-esteem. Rather, its effects vary across its dimensions. The challenge dimension appears to enhance physical self-esteem, whilst commitment shows a contradictory inverse association in this context.