The Mediating Role of Positive Self-Perception on Psychological Distress, Empathy and Mental Toughness in Athletes

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the mediating role of positive self-perception on psychological distress, empathy, and mental resilience in athletes. The relational screening model was used in the study. The research group consists of 303 athletes studying at a state university in the Aegean Region in the fall semester of 2024. Data were collected via Google Form through an online survey form prepared with the approval of the ethics committee. Oxford Positive Self Scale, Empathy in Sports Environment Scale, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale, and Mental Toughness Scale were used as data collection tools. Data were evaluated with independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression analyzes via SPSS program. According to the findings, positive significant relationships were determined between positive self-perception and empathy and mental resilience, and negative significant relationships were determined between positive self-perception and psychological distress. Regression analyses revealed that positive self-perception significantly predicted empathy and mental resilience, and was also effective in reducing psychological distress. These results suggest that positive self-perception plays an important role in athletes' psychological resilience and social-emotional skills.

Keywords

• Athlete
• self-perception
• distress
• empathy
• mental toughness

Sporcularda Pozitif Benlik Algısının Psikolojik Sıkıntı, Empati ve Zihinsel Dayanıklılık Üzerindeki Aracı Rolü

Öz

Bu araştırmanın amacı, sporcularda pozitif benlik algısının psikolojik sıkıntı, empati ve zihinsel dayanıklılık üzerindeki aracı rolünü incelemektir. Çalışmada ilişkisel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırma grubunu, 2024 yılı güz döneminde Ege Bölgesindeki bir devlet üniversitesinde öğrenim gören 303 sporcu oluşturmaktadır. Veriler, etik kurul izni alınarak hazırlanan çevrim içi anket formu aracılığıyla Google Form üzerinden toplanmıştır. Veri toplama aracı olarak Oxford Pozitif Benlik Ölçeği, Spor Ortamında Empati Ölçeği, Depresyon-Anksiyete-Stres Ölçeği ve Zihinsel Dayanıklılık Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Veriler, SPSS programı aracılığıyla bağımsız örneklem t-testi, tek yönlü ANOVA, Pearson korelasyon ve basit doğrusal regresyon analizleri ile değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, pozitif benlik algısı ile empati ve zihinsel dayanıklılık arasında pozitif yönlü anlamlı ilişkiler, pozitif benlik algısı ile psikolojik sıkıntı arasında ise negatif yönlü anlamlı ilişkiler belirlenmiştir. Regresyon analizleri, pozitif benlik algısının empatiyi ve zihinsel dayanıklılığı anlamlı düzeyde yordadığını, aynı zamanda psikolojik sıkıntının azalmasında etkili olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Bu sonuçlar, pozitif benlik algısının sporcuların psikolojik sağlamlıkları ve sosyal-duygusal becerileri üzerinde önemli bir rol oynadığını göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sporcu
• benlik algısı
• sıkıntı
• empati
• zihinsel dayanıklılık

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