Open Access

The relationship between mindfulness and competition anxiety in male football players

1 Istanbul Topkapı University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Istanbul, Turkiye
2 Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Istanbul, Turkiye
3 Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Istanbul, Turkiye
4 Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Istanbul, Turkiye

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the role of mindfulness in predicting competition anxiety among amateur football players. The study sample consisted of 420 male amateur football players aged 12-18, selected through purposive sampling with criterion sampling. Participants were administered a personal information form, the "Sport Anxiety Scale-2," and " The Mindfulness Inventory for Sport." The research was designed using a relational research model. Independent sample t-tests and multiple linear regression analyses were applied in the data analysis. It was determined that football players' levels of mindfulness did not significantly differ based on variables such as education level, weekly training duration, and coaching duration. It was found that players' anxiety levels did not significantly differ according to weekly training frequency, but statistically significant differences were observed based on education level and coaching duration. The results showed that football players with a high school education experienced more anxiety than those with a middle school education, and players who had worked with their coach for over a year had lower anxiety levels. The variables of non-judgmental and refocusing were found to be significant predictors of anxiety. In conclusion, this research revealed that the levels of mindful awareness significantly affect anxiety levels in amateur football players, and that the players' anxiety levels differ based on their educational background and the duration of working with their coach.

Keywords

How to Cite

Aricioglu, B., Turksoy Isim, A., Tastan, Z., & Can, H. C. (2025). The relationship between mindfulness and competition anxiety in male football players. International Journal of Eurasia Social Sciences, 16(59), 335–347. https://doi.org/10.70736/ijoess.586

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