The effect of athletic mental energy on wrestlers’ sports courage and attitudes toward wrestling

Abstract

Background and Study Aim: This study aimed to determine whether athletic mental energy played a mediating role between wrestlers’ sports courage and attitudes toward wrestling. Material and Methods: The study developed an original theoretical model, which was tested using the Sobel test. The sample consisted of 247 wrestlers in the Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling Leagues, U-23, 1. League, 2. League, and Stars Wrestling Leagues of the 2021-2022 Turkish Wrestling Federation. Participants were recruited using random sampling. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, the Guttman Attitude Scale Towards Wrestling (GAS), the Sports Courage Scale-31 (SCS-31), and the Athletic Mental Energy Scale (AMES). Results: There was a positive correlation between attitudes toward wrestling and athletic mental energy. There was a positive correlation between athletic mental energy and sports courage. There was a positive correlation between attitudes toward wrestling and sports courage. Moreover, athletic mental energy played a fully mediating role between sports courage and attitudes toward wrestling Conclusions: The results confirmed the theoretical model. Authorities should inform wrestlers about the relationship between athletic mental energy, mental training, and sports courage.