Examining the Relationship Between Problem-Solving Style, Resiliency, Winning Percentage, and Injury

Abstract

Collegiate Division I wrestling is a physically and mentally demanding sport caused by weight cutting, injuries, academic pressure, performance pressure, and grueling workouts. These demands make resilience and problem-solving skills pivotal to finding success at such a high level. This study has the purpose of examining relationships between problem-solving style, resiliency, winning percentage, and injury. The study used the tools of Kirton’s AdaptionInnovation Inventory (KAI) and Connor Davidson’s Resilience scale to find correlations between problem-solving styles and resilience regarding performance outcomes in a high stress collegiate athletic context. The participants in the study included 21 male NCAA Division I wrestlers from a southern land-grant university during the 2024-2025 season. The results found a moderate positive correlation between KAI and CD-RISC-10 (r= 0.53) indicating more innovative problem-styles were linked to higher resilience. Small positive correlations were seen between KAI and winning percentage (r= 0.19) and resilience and winning percentage (r= 0.15). Lastly a moderately positive correlation was found between resilience and injury (r= 0.39). These findings are helpful in the effort of increasing the success of both adaptive and innovative individuals as they perform in NCAA Division I wrestling. This study has implications for coaching strategies and development.