International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

A Study on Selected Psychological Profile of Uttar Pradesh Male Football Players

Background: Psychological factors play a decisive role in determining athletic performance in competitive football. The mental readiness of players often distinguishes successful teams from their counterparts, particularly at the state level where physical and technical abilities are relatively comparable. Purpose: This study examined selected psychological variables including competitive state anxiety, big five personality traits, mental toughness, and team cohesion among 100 State-level male football players aged 18-25 years of Uttar Pradesh. Methods: Players were selected from five districts representing different regions of the state: Gorakhpur (20), Varanasi (20), Lucknow (25), Faizabad (15), and Bareilly (20). Standardized psychological tools namely the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), Big Five Inventory (BFI), Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ), and Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ) were administered. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's product-moment correlation were employed for data analysis. Results: Findings revealed a significant negative association between competitive anxiety and mental toughness (r = -0.48, p < 0.01), and a significant positive association between mental toughness and team cohesion (r = 0.52, p < 0.01). Among personality dimensions, conscientiousness showed positive correlation with mental toughness, while neuroticism demonstrated positive correlation with competitive anxiety. Regional variations were observed across the five districts. Conclusion: The study establishes that psychological variables are significantly interrelated among Uttar Pradesh football players, suggesting that comprehensive psychological skills training programs should be incorporated into regular coaching regimens to enhance both individual and team performance outcomes.