Sport Sciences Research institute Sport Psychology Studies 2345-2978 14 52 2025 06 22 Modelling Psychological Factors Affecting the Sustainable Development of Sports Entrepreneurship among Iraqi Athletes Modelling Psychological Factors Affecting the Sustainable Development of Sports Entrepreneurship among Iraqi Athletes 108 122 4597 10.22089/spsyj.2025.17824.2557 FA Akram Jabar Razagh Ph. D. student in Sports Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Isfahan Branch (Khorasgan), Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran Mina Mostahfezian Associate Professor of Sports Management, Sports Medicine Research Center, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran 0000-0002-0226-6246 Hussein Hassoon Abbas Professor of Sports Management, Karbala Faculty of Educational Sciences, Karbala University, Karbala, Iraq Rasool Nazari Associate Professor of Sports Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Isfahan Branch (Khorasgan), Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran Journal Article 2025 02 26 This study aimed to model the psychological factors affecting the sustainable development of sports entrepreneurship among elite Iraqi athletes. The research method was qualitative with a thematic analysis approach and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 19 elite Iraqi athletes, managers, and coaches who are active in the field of sports entrepreneurship. Purposive and snowball sampling was used and data analysis was performed using thematic analysis method in MAXQDA Pro software. The validity and reliability of the data were confirmed. The research findings showed that the sustainable development of sports entrepreneurship is influenced by seven key psychological factors including personal motivation and commitment, self-confidence and personal control, resilience and coping with challenges, creativity and innovation, communication and social abilities, risk-taking and decision-making, and planning and goal-setting. These factors were identified and categorized into 15 organizing themes and 48 basic themes. The results showed that entrepreneurial athletes have characteristics such as intrinsic motivation, perseverance, and tolerance for failure, ability to adapt to changes, creative thinking, strong communication skills, risk-taking, and long-term planning ability. The findings of this study can be used by sports policymakers, coaches, and economic institutions active in the field of sports to formulate support and development strategies. This study aimed to model the psychological factors affecting the sustainable development of sports entrepreneurship among elite Iraqi athletes. The research method was qualitative with a thematic analysis approach and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 19 elite Iraqi athletes, managers, and coaches who are active in the field of sports entrepreneurship. Purposive and snowball sampling was used and data analysis was performed using thematic analysis method in MAXQDA Pro software. The validity and reliability of the data were confirmed. The research findings showed that the sustainable development of sports entrepreneurship is influenced by seven key psychological factors including personal motivation and commitment, self-confidence and personal control, resilience and coping with challenges, creativity and innovation, communication and social abilities, risk-taking and decision-making, and planning and goal-setting. These factors were identified and categorized into 15 organizing themes and 48 basic themes. The results showed that entrepreneurial athletes have characteristics such as intrinsic motivation, perseverance, and tolerance for failure, ability to adapt to changes, creative thinking, strong communication skills, risk-taking, and long-term planning ability. The findings of this study can be used by sports policymakers, coaches, and economic institutions active in the field of sports to formulate support and development strategies. https://spsyj.ssrc.ac.ir/article_4597_aaebdb8bb6b0e73f6c3c54a0ab0c6415.pdf