Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Akdeniz Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, cilt.6, sa.1, ss.38-51, 2023 (Hakemli Dergi)
The main purpose of this research is to identify the mediator function performed by perceived stress level in the relationship between positive and negative emotions and mental toughness. 383 athletes voluntarily participated in the research, 252 (65.7%) male and 131 (34.2%) female. The athletes’ ages are between 15 and 55 (19.41±5.57). As part of the convenience sampling approach, data were collected from 40 of Turkey’s 81 provinces online (using a web-based Google form). The questionnaire consists of two parts. In the first part, there are questions about the demographic characteristics of the athletes. In the second part, some questions measure perceived stress, positive/ negative emotions, and mental toughness information in sports. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to understand whether the scales were suitable for the sample group and to increase the reliability of the mediator model. In the study, the effect of negative and positive emotions on mental toughness was tested with Simple Linear Regression Analysis. The mediating function of perceived stress in the relationship between positive and negative emotions and mental toughness was evaluated using the SPSS PROCESS macro (Model 4; Hayes, 2018). The direct effect of negative emotions on mental toughness was statistically significant (β=-0.2629; p<0.05). In addition, the direct effect of positive emotions on mental toughness was statistically significant (β=0.3720; p<0.05). Increased negative emotions in athletes were associated with increased perceived stress, predicting lower mental toughness. Once again, increased positive emotions in athletes were associated with a partial effect with reduced perceived stress, predicting relatively higher mental toughness.