Mindfulness as a Mediator Between Neurotic Perfectionism, Fear of Negative Evaluation, and Competitive State Anxiety in Anxious Adolescent Athletes

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Department of Counseling, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran.

2 Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan. C., Islamic Azad University, Ardakan, Iran.

10.22091/frs.2025.14096.1117

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between neurotic perfectionism, fear of negative evaluation, and competitive state anxiety in anxious adolescent athletes.
Methods: This research employed a descriptive–correlational design using path analysis. The statistical population consisted of adolescent athletes aged 15 to 18 in Meybod, Iran, from which 305 participants were voluntarily selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research instruments included the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2, the Neurotic Perfectionism Questionnaire, the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and the Mindfulness Questionnaire.
Results: The results indicated that neurotic perfectionism did not show a significant direct relationship with competitive state anxiety; however, it indirectly predicted higher competitive state anxiety through mindfulness. Fear of negative evaluation directly and indirectly through mindfulness predicted competitive state anxiety. Furthermore, mindfulness was found to be negatively and significantly associated with competitive state anxiety.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the protective role of mindfulness against the adverse effects of neurotic perfectionism and fear of negative evaluation, suggesting its potential as a moderating mechanism for anxiety in adolescent athletes. From an applied perspective, mindfulness-based training programs could be implemented as effective strategies to reduce competitive state anxiety and improve athletic performance.

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History

  • Receive Date: 05 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 04 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 21 December 2025
  • Publish Date: 21 March 2026

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