Our purpose with this study was to analyze trail runners’ psychological variables of
mental toughness (MT) and resilience, and their associations with runners’ performances
within a quantitative cross-sectional study. In total, we analyzed data from 307
Portuguese trail runners (60 female, 247 male), aged between 20 to 66 years
(Mage = 41.98;SD= 7.74). The results showed that
the measurement model, including the factors of MT, resilience, and performance variables,
exhibited an adequate fit to the data:χ2= 150.01 (74);BS-p= .003; CFI= .953; TLI = .942; RMSEA = .058
90% (.045, .071) and SRMR= .042. Standardized direct effects revealed positive
associations between these variables. More specifically: (a) MT was significantly
associated with resilience; and (b) resilience was significantly associated with
performance. The indirect regression paths showed that MT was positively associated with
performance, with resilience considered a possible mediator (β= .09 IC =
.010, .168;p= .02). In total, considering direct and indirect effects,
the model explained 21% of performance variance among trail runners.