The Effect of Self- Forgiveness Training on Sports Burnout Among Adolescent Female Soccer Players

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

1 Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Arak University, Arak, Iran

2 Department of Motor Behavior and Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

10.22091/frs.2026.14099.1120

Abstract

Objective: Forgiveness is one of the concepts recently introduced in positive psychology, aimed at enhancing individual talents when facing challenges. Athletes use forgiveness as a way to reduce negative factors and emotions. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of self-forgiveness training on the sports burnout of female soccer players.
Methods: The study employed a quasi-experimental design. Soccer players (N = 28) were purposively and voluntarily selected, and then randomly divided into either an experimental or control condition. Pre-tests showed that the two groups had similar scores on the Heartland Forgiveness Questionnaire (2005) and Raedeke and Smith's Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (2001). Self-forgiveness training was provided only to the experimental group in three sessions per week, each lasting half an hour, for two weeks. Post-test questionnaires were completed by both groups. The data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS software version 27 at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The findings revealed differential intervention effects across burnout dimensions. While no significant effects were found for physical-emotional exhaustion or reduced sense of accomplishment, a large and significant intervention effect was observed for sport devaluation, with the forgiveness training successfully lowering negative attitudes toward sports participation (p=0.008).
Conclusion: Self-forgiveness training affected players’ sports burnout. The implications are that coaches pay special attention to self-forgiveness training in order to improve the player's mental health.

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History

  • Receive Date: 06 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 19 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 02 January 2026
  • Publish Date: 21 March 2026

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