The mediating role of coping strategies in the relationship between passion and anxiety in adult athletes

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of coping strategies in the relationship between passion and anxiety in adult athletes. The stduy was also aimed to examine differences in passion, coping strategies and anxiety in terms of sex, sport type and sport experiences. Methods: One hundred forty seven female (Mage= 20,65 ± 3,76) and 190 male (Mage= 21,02 ± 3,90) and in total 337 adult athletes (Mage= 20,86 ± 3,84) voluntarily participated in this study. Passion Scale, Coping Inventory for Competitive Sport, Sports Anxiety Scale-2 and Demographic Information form were administered to the participants. The independent sample t test and Bootstraping method were used to analyze the data. Results: There was a significant difference in coping and anxiety subscales in terms of gender, sport type and sports experince (p < 0,05). The passion scores were differed with regard to sport type and sport experince (p< 0,05), but not sex. The mediation analysis showed mediating role of coping strategies between passion and anxiety. The relationships of harmonious passion with somatic anxiety, concentration disruption and total anxiety were mediated by the disengagement strategy. The relationship between harmonious passion and worry was mediated by the seeking support and disengagement strateies. The relationship between obsessive passion and worry was mediated by the seeking support strategy; the relationship between obsessive passion and concentration disruption was mediated by the social withdrawal strategy, and the relationship between obsessive passion and total anxiety was mediated by the thought control strategy. Conclusion: It can be concluded that adult athletes' passion to the sport effects their anxiety through coping strategies.