Research has shown that mental toughness (MT) may be a protective factor for depressive symptoms, however, we know little about how this relationship may emerge. The aim of this preliminary cross-sectional study was to explore potential indirect relationships between MT and depressive symptoms via brooding and reflective rumination. A total of 113 Icelandic national team athletes participated in the study, of which 80 were women (70. 8%) and 33 were men (29. 2%). Prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was 4. 5% (5. 13% females and 3. 03% males), with non-significant mean differences between genders in total symptom scores. The indirect association between MT and depressive symptoms via brooding was negative, with the confidence interval excluding zero, b = -0. 03, 95% CI -0. 07, 0. 01. The confidence interval (95% CI -0. 16, -0. 01), and the standardized coefficient (βᵢndirect = -0. 08) was consistent with a small indirect association. In contrast, the indirect association between MT and depressive symptoms via reflective rumination was not supported, as the confidence interval included zero. These findings suggest that MT may be associated with depressive symptoms in part through its negative relationship with brooding rumination. These findings should, however, be considered preliminary and limited due to the relatively small sample size and cross-sectional design. We also discuss how MT may overlap with other cognitive-affective constructs and how this conceptual breadth may introduce challenges to its current applied utility. Addressing these conceptual aspects with longitudinal and experimental research would benefit future applied efforts aimed at supporting athlete mental health.
Tahtinen et al. (2026) studied this question.