Sports Psychology

Sports Psychology

Relationship between Metacognitive Beliefs and Intolerance of Uncertainty with Health Anxiety among Athletes: Mediating Role of Physical Activity and Worry

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Parisa Karbalaie Hasani 1
Gholamreza Sanago Moharer 2
Mahmood Ajloo 3
Fatemeh Seyedi 4
1 M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology, Ashtian Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ashtian, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.
3 PhD student in General Psychology, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.
4 M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran.
10.48308/mbsp.2023.1065.1533
Abstract
Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the fit of a structural model examining the mediating role of physical activity and worry in the relationship between metacognitive beliefs and intolerance of uncertainty with health anxiety in athletes.
Methods: This research employed a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population consisted of all student-athletes in the city of Arak. A sample of 320 participants was selected using a convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the Health Anxiety Questionnaire (Salkovskis et al., 2002), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (Meyer et al., 1990), the Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (Wells & Cartwright-Hatton, 2004), and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (McLeod et al., 2009). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Results: The findings indicated that the indirect path coefficients between metacognitive beliefs and health anxiety, as well as between intolerance of uncertainty and health anxiety, through the mediators of physical activity and worry, were positive and statistically significant (P< 0.01).
Conclusion: Designing psychological and training interventions that simultaneously target worry regulation and the promotion of an active lifestyle may contribute to improving athletes’ mental health.
 
Keywords
Health Anxiety
Intolerance of Uncertainty
Metacognition
Physical Activity
Worry
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Sports Psychology
Volume 15, Issue 2
2023
Pages 236-254

  • Receive Date 23 September 2022
  • Revise Date 05 May 2023
  • Accept Date 12 May 2023