Violence in sports: A look at mental endurance, problem-solving, and violent tendencies in young active athletes
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the relationship between mental endurance, problem-solving skills, and attitudes toward violence in sports among young active athletes. The study population consisted of individuals aged 15–35 residing in Ankara Province, and the sample included 101 volunteer athletes training in various sports branches at the Youth and Sports Club in the Etimesgut district. Data were collected using a demographic information form, the Mental Endurance Inventory, the Independent–Reciprocal Problem-Solving Scale, and semi-structured interviews. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (v. 22.0), while the qualitative data were evaluated through thematic analysis. The findings indicated that the athletes generally demonstrated above-average levels of mental endurance and problem-solving skills, while their tendencies toward violence were relatively low. Moreover, athletes who scored higher in the sub-dimensions of emotional control and stress management were better able to regulate negative emotions such as anger during competition and were less prone to aggressive behavior. Our findings highlight the crucial role of psychological resilience and social support in preventing violence in sports. Therefore, investing in the mental and social development of young athletes—by all stakeholders, including coaches, sports psychologists, families, and sports administrators—appears to be one of the most effective strategies to combat violence in the sporting arena.
Downloads
-
Abstract102
-
PDF104
References
Alpman, C. (1972). Eğitimin bütünlüğü içinde beden eğitimi ve çağlar boyunca gelişimi. Millı̂ Eğitim Basımevi.
Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2002). The effects of media violence on society. Science, 295(5564), 2377-2379. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1070765
Anderson-Butcher, D. (2019). Youth sport as a vehicle for social development. Kinesiology Review, 8(3), 180-187. https://doi.org/10.1123/kr.2019-0029
Anthony, D. R., Gordon, S., Gucciardi, D. F., & Dawson, B. (2018). Adapting a behavioral coaching framework for mental toughness development. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 9(1), 32-50. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2017.1323058
Bandura, A. (1976). Self-reinforcement: Theoretical and methodological considerations. Behaviorism, 4(2), 135-155.
Bredemeier, B. J. L. (1994). Children's moral reasoning and their assertive, aggressive, and submissive tendencies in sport and daily life. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 16(1), 1-14.
Çimen, E., Bozgüney, R., & Çiçeksöğüt, R. (2023). Spor bilimleri fakültesinde öğrenim gören öğrencilerin zihinsel antrenman becerisi ile bilinçli farkındalık düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Spor Bilimleri Dergisi, 6(4), 42-52.
Connaughton, D., Hanton, S., & Jones, G. (2010). The development and maintenance of mental toughness in the world’s best performers. The Sport Psychologist, 24(2), 168-193. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.24.2.168
Crust, L., & Clough, P. J. (2011). Developing mental toughness: From research to practice. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 2(1), 21-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2011.563436
Culyba, A. J., Miller, E., Albert, S. M., & Abebe, K. Z. (2019). Co-occurrence of violence-related risk and protective behaviors and adult support among male youth in urban neighborhoods. JAMA Network Open, 2(9), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.11375
Erdoğan, E., & Karataş, Ş. (2019). Kadin Sporcularin Şiddet Eğilimi İle Psikolojik Durumlarinin Bazi Değişkenlere Göre İncelenmesi. Spor ve Rekreasyon Araştırmaları Dergisi, 1(2), 37-46.
Fidan, B., & Serin, N. B. (2021). An examination of the relationship between anger, aggression, and problem solving skills in secondary school students. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 11(63), 577-590.
Gervis, M., Rhind, D. & Luzar, A. (2016). Perceptions of emotional abuse in the coach athlete relationship in youth sport: the influence of competitive level and outcome. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 11(6), 772-779. https://doi.org/10.1177/174795411667610
Gould, D., Griffes, K., & Carson, S. (2012). Mental toughness as a life skill. In Mental toughness in sport (pp. 163-186). Routledge.
Gucciardi, D. F., Hanton, S., Gordon, S., Mallett, C. J., & Temby, P. (2015). The concept of mental toughness: Tests of dimensionality, nomological network, and traitness. Journal of Personality, 83(1), 26-44.
Gucciardi, D. F., Jackson, B., Hodge, K., Anthony, D. R., & Brooke, L. E. (2015). Implicit theories of mental toughness: Relations with cognitive, motivational, and behavioral correlates. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 4(2), 100–112. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000024
Gustafsson, H., Sagar, S. S., & Stenling, A. (2017). Fear of failure, psychological stress, and burnout among adolescent athletes competing in high level sport. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(12), 2091–2102. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12797
Hodge, K., & Gucciardi, D. F. (2015). Antisocial and prosocial behavior in sport: The role of motivational climate, basic psychological needs, and moral disengagement. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 37(3), 257–273. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.2014-0225
Hosseini, S. A., & Besharat, M. A. (2010). Relation of resilience whit sport achievement and mental health in a sample of athletes. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 5, 633-638.
İşler, S., Çoksevim, M., Akman, T., Ünver, Ş., Öner, B., & Bilgici, A. (2025). The Effects of Endurance Training and High-Intensity Resistance Training on Pulse Wave Velocity and QT Dispersion. Healthcare, 13(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13020161
Kafalı S., Hünkar İ., Keçeci O., & Demiray E. (2017). Bireysel spor ve takım sporu yapan sporcuların saldırganlık düzeylerinin araştırılması. Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 10(50), 36-390.
Karayel, E., Adilogullari, I., & Senel, E. (2024). The role of transformational leadership in the associations between coach-athlete relationship and team resilience: A study on elite football players. BMC Psychology, 12(1), 1-10.
Kavussanu, M., & Boardley, I. D. (2009). The Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Sport Scale. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 31(1), 97–117. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.31.1.97
Kerr, G. A., & Stirling, A. E. (2008). Child protection in sport: Implications of an athlete-centered philosophy. Quest, 60(2), 307-323.
Kerr, G., Stirling, A., & MacPherson, E. (2014). A critical examination of child protection initiatives in sport contexts. Social Sciences, 3(4), 742-757. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci3040742
Khatri, B., Arora, S., & Goyal, A. (2022). Association between Outcomes of Physical activities and Sports on Work-Life Balance of Employees. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 10(2), 316-323.
Knight, C. J., Dorsch, T. E., Osai, K. V., Haderlie, K. L., & Sellars, P. A. (2016). Influences on parental involvement in youth sport. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, 5(2), 161–178. https://doi.org/10.1037/spy0000053
Koc, M. C., Talaghir, L. G., Pekel, A., Cetin, A., & Stoica, L. (2024). My sweetheart has a basketball match: The relationship between love-hate and identification of individuals attending a euroleague match for recreational purposes. PloS One, 19(7), 1-16.
Laborde, S., Dosseville, F., Guillén, F., & Chávez, E. (2014). Validity of the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire in sports and its links with performance satisfaction. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 15(5), 481-490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.05.001
Liew, G. C., Kuan, G., Chin, N. S., & Hashim, H. A. (2019). Mental toughness in sport: Systematic review and future. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, 49(4), 381-394.
Lu, F. J., Lee, W. P., Chang, Y. K., Chou, C. C., Hsu, Y. W., Lin, J. H., & Gill, D. L. (2016). Interaction of athletes' resilience and coaches' social support on the stress-burnout relationship: A conjunctive moderation perspective. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 22, 202-209.
Mira, T., Jacinto, M., Costa, A. M., Monteiro, D., Diz, S., Matos, R., & Antunes, R. (2023). Exploring the relationship between social support, resilience, and subjective well-being in athletes of adapted sport. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1266654
Murray, R. M., Dugdale, J. H., Habeeb, C. M., & Arthur, C. A. (2021). Transformational parenting and coaching on mental toughness and physical performance in adolescent soccer players: The moderating effect of athlete age. European Journal of Sport Science, 21(4), 580–589. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2020.1765027
Nicholls, A. R., & Polman, R. C. (2007). Coping in sport: A systematic review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 25(1), 11-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410600630654
Nicholls, A. R., Levy, A. R., Carson, F., Thompson, M. A., & Perry, J. L. (2016). The applicability of self-regulation theories in sport: Goal adjustment capacities, stress appraisals, coping, and well-being among athletes. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 27, 47–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2016.07.011
Purbaningsih, E. S., Muadi, M., & Kamila, S. (2024). Social Support and the Risk of Aggressive Behavior among Adolescents in Cirebon City. Journal of World Science, 3(12), 1690-1698. https://doi.org/10.58344/jws.v3i12.1249
Ramolale, M., Malete, L., & Ju, U. (2021). Mediational role of mental toughness on the relationship between self-efficacy and prosocial/antisocial behavior in elite youth sport. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.745323
Sarkar, M., & Fletcher, D. (2013). How should we measure psychological resilience in sport performers? Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 17(4), 264–280. https://doi.org/10.1080/1091367X.2013.805141
Sirin, Y. E., Aydin, Ö., & Bilir, F. P. (2018). Transformational-Transactional Leadership and Organizational Cynicism Perception: Physical Education and Sport Teachers Sample. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 6(9), 2008-2018.
Sønderlund, A. L., O'Brien, K., Kremer, P., Rowland, B., De Groot, F., Staiger, P., Zinkiewicz, L., & Miller, P. G. (2014). The association between sports participation, alcohol use and aggression and violence: a systematic review. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 17(1), 2–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2013.03.011
Uyar, D. T., & Ercan, Z. G. (2023). A study of preschool children’s social problem solving skills. Uluslararası Anadolu Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 7(2), 477-496.
Webborn, N., Williams, A., McNamee, M., Bouchard, C., Pitsiladis, Y., Ahmetov, I., Ashley, E., Byrne, N., Camporesi, S., Collins, M., Dijkstra, P., Eynon, N., Fuku, N., Garton, F. C., Hoppe, N., Holm, S., Kaye, J., Klissouras, V., Lucia, A., Maase, K., … Wang, G. (2015). Direct-to-consumer genetic testing for predicting sports performance and talent identification: Consensus statement. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(23), 1486–1491. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095343
The works and papers that are published in this Journal are subject to the following terms:
1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.
© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2013
2. The papers and works are to be published in the digital edition of the Journal under the license Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Sin Obra Derivada 3.0 España (legal text). The copying, using, spreading, transmitting and publicly displaying of the papers, works or publication are permitted as long as: i) the authors and original sources (Journal, publisher and URL of the publication) are quoted; ii) it is not used for commercial benefit; iii) the existence and specifications of this users license are mentioned.
3. Conditions of Self-Archiving. It is permitted and encouraged that the authors spread electronically the pre-print (before printing) and/or post-print (the revised, evaluated and accepted) versions of their papers or works before their publication since this favors their circulation and early diffusion and therefore can help increase their citation and quotation, and also there reach through the academic community.
The works and papers that are published in this Journal are subject to the following terms:
1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.
© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2013
2. The papers and works are to be published in the digital edition of the Journal under the license Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Sin Obra Derivada 3.0 España (legal text). The copying, using, spreading, transmitting and publicly displaying of the papers, works or publication are permitted as long as: i) the authors and original sources (Journal, publisher and URL of the publication) are quoted; ii) it is not used for commercial benefit; iii) the existence and specifications of this users license are mentioned.
3. Conditions of Self-Archiving. It is permitted and encouraged that the authors spread electronically the pre-print (before printing) and/or post-print (the revised, evaluated and accepted) versions of their papers or works before their publication since this favors their circulation and early diffusion and therefore can help increase their citation and quotation, and also there reach through the academic community.
