The Relationship Between Cognitive Flexibility and Psychological Well-being in Female Athletes: The Mediating Role of Self-compassion
Keywords:
Cognitive flexibility, psychological well-being, self-compassionAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between cognitive flexibility and psychological well-being in female athletes.
Methodology: A descriptive-correlational research design with path analysis was used. The statistical population included all female athletes registered in sports clubs in Bojnord during the second half of 2024 (n=980). A total of 269 participants were selected via cluster sampling. The instruments included the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010), the Psychological Well-being Scale (Tennant et al., 2007), and the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (Raes et al., 2011). Data were analyzed using AMOS version 26.
Findings: Path analysis revealed a well-fitted model. Cognitive flexibility had a significant direct effect on both self-compassion (β=0.296, p<0.001) and psychological well-being (β=0.298, p<0.001). Self-compassion also had a significant direct effect on psychological well-being (β=0.112, p=0.047). Bootstrap results confirmed a significant indirect effect of cognitive flexibility on psychological well-being through self-compassion (β=0.033, p<0.01).
Conclusion: The study highlights the mediating role of self-compassion in the link between cognitive flexibility and psychological well-being among female athletes. Enhancing cognitive flexibility may promote psychological well-being via greater self-compassion. These findings underscore the importance of implementing self-compassion training interventions to support mental health in this population.
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