Purpose: This study examined the predictive relationship between mental toughness and competitive anxiety in adolescent soccer players, with sports self-confidence as a potential mediator, to better understand psychological resilience mechanisms in youth athletes. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed with 312 competitive soccer players aged 12-16 years (M = 14.2, SD = 1.3) from regional academies. Participants completed validated measures of mental toughness (MTQ-18), sports self-confidence (TSCI), and competitive anxiety (CSAI-2R). Path analysis with maximum likelihood estimation tested the proposed mediation model while controlling for the competitive level. Results: Mental toughness showed a significant direct negative effect on competitive anxiety (β = -0.35, p < 0.01) and a positive association with sports self-confidence (r = 0.21, p < 0.05). Self-confidence partially mediated the relationship, accounting for 25.5% of the total effect (indirect β = -0.12, p < 0.05). The final model explained 24.6% of anxiety variance (R² = 0.246) with excellent fit indices (CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.06). Notably, the direct mental toughness-anxiety path remained significant after accounting for mediation (β = -0.35 vs total β = -0.47), suggesting additional protective mechanisms beyond confidence enhancement. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that mental toughness operates through dual pathways to reduce competitive anxiety in adolescent athletes, highlighting the importance of integrated psychological interventions that develop both resilience skills and confidence-building strategies during this critical developmental period. Youth coaches should incorporate mental skills training that simultaneously targets these complementary psychological resources for optimal anxiety management.
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Ahmadi,A and Fahimi,M . (2026). Relationship between Mental Toughness and Competitive Anxiety in Adolescent Soccer Players: The Mediating Role of Sports Self-Confidence. Sport Psychology Studies, 15(55), 67-83. doi: 10.22089/spsyj.2025.1795.1192
MLA
Ahmadi,A , and Fahimi,M . "Relationship between Mental Toughness and Competitive Anxiety in Adolescent Soccer Players: The Mediating Role of Sports Self-Confidence", Sport Psychology Studies, 15, 55, 2026, 67-83. doi: 10.22089/spsyj.2025.1795.1192
HARVARD
Ahmadi A, Fahimi M. (2026). 'Relationship between Mental Toughness and Competitive Anxiety in Adolescent Soccer Players: The Mediating Role of Sports Self-Confidence', Sport Psychology Studies, 15(55), pp. 67-83. doi: 10.22089/spsyj.2025.1795.1192
CHICAGO
A Ahmadi and M Fahimi, "Relationship between Mental Toughness and Competitive Anxiety in Adolescent Soccer Players: The Mediating Role of Sports Self-Confidence," Sport Psychology Studies, 15 55 (2026): 67-83, doi: 10.22089/spsyj.2025.1795.1192
VANCOUVER
Ahmadi A, Fahimi M. Relationship between Mental Toughness and Competitive Anxiety in Adolescent Soccer Players: The Mediating Role of Sports Self-Confidence. Sport Psychology Studies. 2026;15(55):67-83 (In Persian). doi: 10.22089/spsyj.2025.1795.1192
