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Journals / SPORMETRE Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 24 Sayı: 1

COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY AS A PROTECTIVE SHIELD? THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF INJURY ANXIETY ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN ACTIVE ATHLETES

Nuriye Şeyma Kara(Hatay Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Yüksekokulu)0000-0003-0460-2263
Pages
137–151
Publication Date
2026-03-28
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results show that a substantial portion of injury anxiety's impact on psychological well-being operates through cognitive flexibility mechanisms.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The present investigation examines the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between injury anxiety and psychological well-being among active athletes.
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Key Findings & Data:Data collection involved 384 licensed athletes competing across diverse sporting disciplines throughout Turkey.
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Conclusion & Impact:The results show that a substantial portion of injury anxiety's impact on psychological well-being operates through cognitive flexibility mechanisms.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Bilişsel esneklik · psikolojik iyi oluş · yaralanma kaygısı

Abstract

The present investigation examines the mediating role of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between injury anxiety and psychological well-being among active athletes. A predictive correlational design within the relational survey framework guided the methodological approach. Data collection involved 384 licensed athletes competing across diverse sporting disciplines throughout Turkey. The primary measurement instruments were the Sport Injury Anxiety Scale, Psychological Well-being Scale, and Cognitive Flexibility Scale. Statistical analyses employed SPSS and PROCESS Macro (Hayes, Model 4) through Jamovi 2.6.2 software, with structural equation modeling constructed following assumption testing procedures. The findings demonstrate that injury anxiety exerts a significant negative effect on cognitive flexibility, while cognitive flexibility significantly and positively predicts psychological well-being. Injury anxiety also exhibits a direct negative influence on psychological well-being. Mediation analysis indicates that cognitive flexibility assumes a partial mediating role in the relationship between injury anxiety and psychological well-being. The total effect within the model comprises 38.2% indirect effects and 61.8% direct effects. The results show that a substantial portion of injury anxiety's impact on psychological well-being operates through cognitive flexibility mechanisms. In conclusion, the development of psycho-educational programs designed to enhance athletes' cognitive flexibility represents a critical intervention domain for strengthening psychological well-being. The evidence suggests that cognitive flexibility functions as a protective psychological resource, buffering the deleterious effects of injury-related concerns on athletes' overall mental health.

Özet

Bu araştırmanın amacı, aktif sporcularda yaralanma kaygısı ile psikolojik iyi oluş arasındaki ilişkide bilişsel esnekliğin aracı rolünü incelemektir. Araştırma, ilişkisel tarama modellerinden yordayıcı korelasyonel desen kullanılarak yürütülmüştür. Veriler, Türkiye genelinde farklı branşlarda spor yapan 384 lisanslı sporcudan elde edilmiştir. Veri toplama araçları olarak Spor Yaralanması Kaygı Ölçeği, Psikolojik İyi Oluş Ölçeği ve Bilişsel Esneklik Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Araştırma, SPSS, PROCESS Macro (Hayes, Model 4) Jamovi 2.6.2 yazılımı aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilmiş olup, sayıltı analizleri sonrası yapısal eşitlik modellemesi oluşturulmuştur. Ulaşılan bulgular, yaralanma kaygısının bilişsel esneklik üzerinde negatif ve anlamlı bir etkiye sahip olduğunu; bilişsel esnekliğin ise psikolojik iyi oluşu pozitif yönde ve anlamlı şekilde yordadığını ortaya koymuştur. Yaralanma kaygısının psikolojik iyi oluş üzerindeki doğrudan etkisi de negatif yönlü anlamlıdır. Aracılık analizine göre, bilişsel esneklik bu ilişki üzerinde kısmi bir aracı rol üstlenmektedir. Modeldeki toplam etkinin %38.2’si dolaylı, %61.8’i ise doğrudan etkiden oluşmaktadır. Sonuçlar sporcuların yaralanma kaygısının psikolojik iyi oluş üzerindeki etkisinin önemli bir kısmının bilişsel esneklik yoluyla gerçekleştiğini göstermektedir. Araştırma bulguları doğrultusunda, sporcuların bilişsel esnekliğini desteklemeye yönelik psiko-eğitim programlarının geliştirilmesi, psikolojik iyi oluşlarını güçlendirmek açısından önemli bir müdahale alanı olarak değerlendirilmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Kara, N. Ş. (2026). COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY AS A PROTECTIVE SHIELD? THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF INJURY ANXIETY ON PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN ACTIVE ATHLETES. SPORMETRE Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 24 Sayı: 1, 137–151. https://doi.org/10.33689/spormetre.1759431

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