Understanding the relationship between sport-related psychological safety and mental toughness in male elite athletes
Abstract: Background: Mental health in elite sport has gained recognition, highlighting the need for supportive competitive environments. This study investigates whether psychological safety related to mental health in elite sport is associated with reduced psychological distress and increased menta...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Hogrefe AG
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Sports Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/10.1024/2674-0052/a000116 |
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| Summary: | Abstract: Background: Mental health in elite sport has gained recognition, highlighting the need for supportive competitive environments. This study investigates whether psychological safety related to mental health in elite sport is associated with reduced psychological distress and increased mental toughness, potentially by facilitating help-seeking and stigma reduction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based survey of 541 Japanese male rugby players, including the Kessler Distress Scale (K10), a 15-item mental toughness scale (MT), and the Sport Psychological Safety Inventory (SPSI). Mediation analysis assessed the direct and indirect association of SPSI with MT through K10, using a Sobel test for significance. A sensitivity analysis adjusted for covariates. Results: The analysis included 220 players with no missing values (response rate: 40.6%). Higher SPSI scores were associated with lower K10 scores (β = −0.367, p < 0.001). Lower K10 scores were associated with higher MT (β = −0.286, p < 0.001), and higher SPSI scores were directly associated with higher MT (β = 0.539, p < 0.001). The Sobel test confirmed a significant indirect effect of SPSI on MT via K10 (z = 2.818, p < 0.01), which remained significant after adjusting for covariates (z = 2.97, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A psychologically safe environment may enhance mental toughness among elite athletes both directly and indirectly by reducing psychological distress. These findings highlight the role of psychological safety in supporting both mental health and performance and suggest the importance of implementing interventions and policies that foster psychological safety within competitive sports environments. |
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| ISSN: | 2674-0052 |