Sport Psychology Studies

Sport Psychology Studies

Structural Modelling of Political Trust Prediction Based on Justice in Access to Sports Facilities: Investigating the Mediating Role of Psychological Capital

Document Type : Original research

Authors
1 MS, Department of Sports Pathology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to predict political trust based on equitable access to sports facilities with the mediating role of psychological capital.

Methods: The study had an applied objective and employed a descriptive-correlational research design. The statistical population consisted of professional athletes in Tehran in 2025, from whom 320 participants were selected through convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Political Trust Questionnaire, the Equitable Access to Sports Facilities Questionnaire, and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using path analysis through SPSS-22 and AMOS-24 software.

Results: The direct path coefficient from access to sports facilities to political trust was positive and significant at the 0.01 level (β = 0.398, p = 0.001). The direct path coefficient from psychological capital to political trust was also positive and significant at the 0.01 level (β = 0.401, p = 0.001). Furthermore, the indirect path coefficient from access to sports facilities to political trust through the mediating role of psychological capital was positive and significant at the 0.01 level (β = 0.269, p = 0.001).

Conclusion: The findings indicated that enhancing equitable access to sports facilities and strengthening psychological capital can contribute to increasing political trust among professional athletes. Accordingly, policymakers and sport managers may foster more positive social and political attitudes in this group by ensuring a fairer distribution of sports facilities and implementing supportive psychological programs.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 June 2026

  • Receive Date 01 November 2025
  • Revise Date 13 May 2026
  • Accept Date 14 June 2026