Education
Volume: 174 , Issue: 1 , June Published Date: 04 June 2025
Publisher Name: IJRP
Views: 32 , Download: 45 , Pages: 54 - 66
DOI: 10.47119/IJRP1001741620258039
Publisher Name: IJRP
Views: 32 , Download: 45 , Pages: 54 - 66
DOI: 10.47119/IJRP1001741620258039
Authors
| # | Author Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Doreen S. Socobos |
| 2 | Bryan L. Cancio |
Abstract
This study explored the level of fighting spirit among dance sports athletes in public secondary schools in Region XI (Davao Region), Philippines, and examined whether differences exist based on demographic profiles such as age, sex, and year level. Fighting spirit—a psychological construct encompassing mental resilience, motivation, emotional well-being, and confidence—is critical to athletic performance, especially in high-pressure, performance-oriented sports like dance. Despite global recognition of the importance of mental skills training, Filipino dance sports athletes face limited access to structured psychological support, with cultural values and contextual factors influencing their mental fortitude. Using a quantitative, descriptive-comparative research design, the study employed a purposive sampling technique to survey 50 student-athletes through an adapted Fighting Spirit Scale. Data were analyzed using frequency, mean, t-tests, and ANOVA to determine significant differences across demographic variables. Results revealed that dance sports athletes exhibited a very high overall level of fighting spirit (M = 4.28), particularly in motivation and commitment (M = 4.38), mental resilience (M = 4.35), and self-efficacy and confidence (M = 4.33). Emotional well-being and team dynamics were also rated high but slightly lower. Statistical analyses indicated no significant differences in fighting spirit across age, sex, or year level, suggesting a consistent level of psychological strength among the athletes regardless of demographic profile. Based on these findings, the study recommends a comprehensive intervention plan focusing on mental resilience training, motivation enhancement, team dynamics improvement, and confidence building. These initiatives aim to strengthen the mental readiness and psychological well-being of dance sports athletes, with culturally contextualized strategies tailored to the unique environment of Davao City. The study contributes to the limited body of research on Filipino dance sports psychology and provides a foundation for developing localized, evidence-based mental skills training programs.