Document Type : Original Research
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Sports Psychology, Sport Sciences Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Counselling Education, Fatemeh Al-Zahra Campus, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.
3
Department of Sport Management,Qor.c.,Islamic Azad University,Qorveh,Iran
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to compare early maladaptive schemas among sports referees, coaches, and managers, with a focus on gender differences.
Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, 355 sports professionals from Iran, including nearly equal numbers of men and women, were recruited through convenience sampling. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF 75-item). Data were analyzed using SPSS, including MANOVA, ANOVA, and Scheffé post-hoc tests.
Results: Overall, professional role (referee, coach, manager) did not have a significant effect on the overall severity of EMSs. However, at the subscale level, coaches and managers scored significantly higher than referees on the ‘Hypervigilance/inhibition’ and ‘Unrelenting standards’ schemas. Gender emerged as a significant determinant: women scored higher on ‘Defectiveness/shame’ and ‘Emotional deprivation’ schemas, while men scored higher on ‘Entitlement/grandiosity’. The ‘Dependence/incompetence’ and ‘Defectiveness/shame’ schemas had the highest mean scores in the sample.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that in sports settings, early maladaptive schemas are influenced more by gender and socio-cultural factors than by professional role. They highlight the need for gender-specific psychological interventions to enhance the mental health of sports professionals.
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