Sport Psychology Studies

Sport Psychology Studies

Structural Model of the Effect of Psychological Competencies of Sports Managers on Sustainable Team Performance: The Mediating Role of Psychological Safety in Sports.

Document Type : Original research

Authors
1 Department of Physical Education, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Physical Education, Farhangian University, P.O. Box 889-14665 Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of psychological competencies of sports managers on the sustainable performance of teams and the mediating role of psychological safety. The innovation of this study is in presenting an integrated structural model that, for the first time, explains the role of psychological safety in the link between psychological competencies of managers and the sustainable performance of sports teams.

Research Methodology: The present research method was cross-sectional, correlational-causal. The statistical population of the study included managers and members of professional and semi-professional team sports teams in Tabriz, of which 160 people were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using standard questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling in Amos 24 software.

Results: The results showed that psychological competencies of managers have a direct and positive effect on the sustainable performance of teams (β = 0.38). Also, psychological competencies had a positive and significant effect on team psychological safety (β = 0.45), and psychological safety itself had a positive and significant effect on team sustainable performance (β = 0.42). The indirect effect of psychological competencies through psychological safety was also significant (β = 0.19), indicating the effective mediating role of psychological safety in the relationship between managers' competencies and team performance.

Conclusion: The findings emphasize that the combination of developing managers' psychological competencies and creating a psychologically safe environment provides an effective strategy for improving the sustainable performance of sports teams.
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  • Receive Date 29 December 2025
  • Revise Date 04 February 2026
  • Accept Date 15 February 2026