Complete State” of Mental Health and Association between Resilience and Performance

Abstract

Keyes’ (2005) mental health model comprises two distinct but related dimensions: mental health (MH) and psychological distress (PD), with PD conceptualised as reflecting mental illness in this study. This study explores associations between MH, performance, and resilience in athletes, along with the impact of PD on performance. Participants (female, n = 21; male, n = 19) were adult athletes aged 18+, from both individual and team sports (N = 40). The survey comprised measures of MH (Keyes, 2011), PD (CORE-10; Barkham & Connell, 2012), resilience (Connor & Davidson, 2003), and subjective performance satisfaction (PS; Bandura, 2006). Participants were classified by MH and PD levels using standard cut-off scores (Keyes, 2011; Barkham & Connell, 2012). Some individuals (10%) reported moderate PD while still flourishing in MH. A modest, negative relationship (r = –.437, p = .005) between MH and PD also supports Keyes’ model. Resilience was associated with MH (r = .749, p < .001), and PD (r = –.354, p = .025). Zero-order correlations between PS and MH (r = .639, p < .001), and between PS and PD (r = –.437, p = .005) are qualified by partial correlation analyses. The correlation between MH and PS remains significant when PD is controlled (r = .554, p = .001). When MH is controlled, the relationship between PD and PS (r = –.228, p = .162) is attenuated. Regression analysis showed MH significantly predicted PS (b = .64, p < .001), explaining 40.9% of the variance (R² = .409). Collectively, results support considering PD and MH as separate factors influencing PS in athletes.