The mediating role of anxiety in the relationship between self-compassion and flow in adult athletes

Introduction: Flow is related to athletes' emotions, thoughts, and behaviours as well as to their athletic performance. In this study, a mediation model was created to examine the role of self-compassion and anxiety in explaining flow in athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of anxiety (somatic anxiety, worry and concentration disruption) in the relationship between self-compassion and flow in athletic sample. Methods: A total of 301 adult athletes (Mage= 21.60±4.32), 188 male (Mage= 22.18±4.79) and 113 female (Mage= 20.64±3.21), voluntarily participated in this study. Self compassion scale- athlete version - short form, dispositional flow scale 2 - short form, sport anxiety scale 2 were used for data collection. In the mediation model of this study, self-compassion was independent variable, anxiety was mediating variable and flow was dependent variable. The mediation model was analyzed using PROCESS macro with bootstrapping and 95% confidence interval. Results: Self-compassion negatively predicted somatic anxiety (B= -0.28, p< 0.001), worry (B= -0.31, p< 0.001) and concentration disruption (B= -0.32, p< 0.001). Somatic anxiety (B= -0.003, p> 0.05) and worry (B= 0.13, p> 0.05) had no significant role on flow, but concentration disruption negatively predicted flow (B= -0.23, p< 0.01). On flow, the direct effect of self-compassion (B= 0.29, p< 0.001) and the indirect effect through concentration disruption (B= 0.07, 95% CI [0.025 – 0.129]) were significant. Conclusion: In conclusion, self-compassion is related to flow directly and indirectly through concentration disruption. It can be said that self-compassion is an important variable in both reducing anxiety and increasing flow in athletes. In future research, it is recommended to test self-compassion-focused intervention approaches in studies focused on improving flow by reducing concentration disruption in athletes.