Validation of a Mental Toughness Scale for Adolescent: A Study of Islamic Boarding School Students in Indonesian
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Objective: The aim of this research is to develop the mental toughness instrument (MTS-A) beyond athletic education in Indonesia and countries with similar cultures, particularly for students attending Islamic boarding schools.
Methods and Materials: The selection of respondents from Islamic boarding school students was motivated by the high enthusiasm of Indonesian society for these schools. This study developed the Mental Toughness Scale for Adolescents (MTS-A) for use in Indonesian Islamic boarding schools. The scale was validated through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with 234 students from final-year levels.
Findings: The results showed that the MTS-A is a valid instrument for assessing mental toughness in this population. The number of respondents was 234 students, who were at the final education level in Islamic boarding schools. The model fit indices are CMINDF = 1.886, RMSR = 0.043, RMSEA = 0.062, GFI = 0.914, CFI = 0.910, and IFI = 0.912. The CFA results showed that the model fit indices (e.g., CMINDF = 1.886, RMSEA = 0.062) were within acceptable ranges, indicating that the instrument is valid and suitable for use in Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia.
Conclusion: The instrument has accurately reflected the theoretical latent construct, as demonstrated by the following positive model results. The validated MTS-A can now be used in future research and practical applications to assess mental toughness in adolescents, particularly in non-Western educational contexts.
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