The effect of pessimism on mental health and tendency to physical violence: The mediating role of psychological strain

Abstract

This study examines the relationships between psychological strain, mental health, pessimism, and physical violence tendencies in athletes. The sample for the study consists of a total of 600 athletes, including 362 women and 238 men who participate in team sports in the university league. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses. The findings indicate a negative and significant relationship between pessimism and athletes' mental health, while no direct significant relationship was observed with physical violence tendencies. Furthermore, it has been determined that psychological strain acts as a mediating variable in the relationships between pessimism, athletes' mental health, and physical violence tendencies. These findings point to the importance of psychological support and stress management interventions aimed at protecting athletes' mental health and reducing their physical violence tendencies. The research offers important implications for future studies and applications in the field of sports psychology.