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Journals / Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi / 2025 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 4

The Mediating Role of Mental Toughness in the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Psychological Resilience Among Athletes

Sporcularda Duygusal Zekâ ile Psikolojik Sağlamlık Arasındaki İlişkide Zihinsel Dayanıklılığın Aracı Rolü

Tarkan Havadar(KAFKAS ÜNİVERSİTESİ SARIKMIŞ SPOR BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0003-3122-0324
Nurgül Kaya(KAFKAS ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0004-8918-8667
Pages
47–64
Publication Date
2025-12-31
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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

Conclusion: The findings indicate that emotional intelligence predicts athletes’ psychological resilience levels in a significant and direct manner, but that this relationship is not explained through an indirect pathway via mental toughness.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological resilience in university athletes and to test the mediating role of mental toughness in this relationship.
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Key Findings & Data:Method: The research is based on a correlational survey model and includes 514 university student-athletes.
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Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: The findings indicate that emotional intelligence predicts athletes’ psychological resilience levels in a significant and direct manner, but that this relationship is not explained through an indirect pathway via mental toughness.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:duygusalzeka · psikolojik sağlamlık · zihinsel dayanıklık

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological resilience in university athletes and to test the mediating role of mental toughness in this relationship. Method: The research is based on a correlational survey model and includes 514 university student-athletes. The Emotional Intelligence Scale, Psychological Well-Being Scale, and Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire were used as data collection tools. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS Macro 4.2. Since the data were normally distributed, Pearson correlation and mediation analysis were conducted Results: A strong positive relationship was found between emotional intelligence and psychological resilience (r=0.715), and a weak but significant positive relationship was found between emotional intelligence and mental toughness (r=0.278). However, the indirect effect of mental toughness on psychological resilience was not statistically significant (B = -0.005; 95% CI: -0.029 to 0.017). Conclusion: The findings indicate that emotional intelligence predicts athletes’ psychological resilience levels in a significant and direct manner, but that this relationship is not explained through an indirect pathway via mental toughness. These results suggest that, in sport psychology practice, structured training and intervention programs focusing on the development of emotional intelligence should be prioritized, particularly within efforts aimed at strengthening psychological resilience.

Özet

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı, üniversite düzeyinde spor yapan bireylerde duygusal zekâ ile psikolojik sağlamlık arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemek ve bu ilişkide sporda zihinsel dayanıklılığın aracı rolünü test etmektir Yöntem: Araştırma ilişkisel tarama modeline dayalıdır ve örneklemi 514 üniversite öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Veri toplama aracı olarak Duygusal Zekâ Özelliği Ölçeği, Psikolojik İyi Oluş Ölçeği ve Sporda Zihinsel Dayanıklılık Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Veriler, SPSS 26.0 ve PROCESS Macro 4.2 programlarıyla analiz edilmiştir. Verilerin normal dağılım gösterdiği belirlenmiş ve analizlerde Pearson korelasyon ve aracılık (mediation) testi uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Duygusal zekâ ile psikolojik sağlamlık arasında yüksek düzeyde (r=0,715), duygusal zekâ ile zihinsel dayanıklılık arasında ise düşük düzeyde (r=0,278) pozitif yönde anlamlı ilişki bulunmuştur. Ancak zihinsel dayanıklılığın psikolojik sağlamlık üzerindeki dolaylı etkisi istatistiksel olarak anlamlı çıkmamıştır (B = -0,005; %95 GA: -0,029 – 0,017). Sonuç: Elde edilen bulgular, duygusal zekânın sporcularda psikolojik sağlamlık düzeylerini anlamlı ve doğrudan biçimde yordadığını, ancak bu ilişkinin zihinsel dayanıklılık aracılığıyla dolaylı bir yol üzerinden açıklanmadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bu sonuçlar, spor psikolojisi uygulamalarında duygusal zekânın geliştirilmesine odaklanan yapılandırılmış eğitim ve müdahale programlarının, özellikle psikolojik sağlamlığı güçlendirmeye yönelik çalışmalar içinde önceliklendirilmesi gerektiğine işaret etmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Havadar, T., Kaya, N. (2025). The Mediating Role of Mental Toughness in the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Psychological Resilience Among Athletes. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 4, 47–64. https://ajindex.com/articles/1471827

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