The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support in the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Sportsmanship Among Sports Science Students

This study was conducted to determine the effect of perceived stress on sportsmanship behaviour and the mediating role of perceived social support in this effect. This study used quantitative research methods and a survey design. The study group consisted of 268 university students enrolled in sports science faculties (175 male, 93 female). Data were collected using the Perceived Stress Scale, the Physical Education Course Sportsmanship Behavior Scale, and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale. During the analysis, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted in AMOS 21 to validate the scales' factor structure. To test the study's hypotheses, correlation analysis was performed in SPSS 25, and Bootstrap-based regression analysis (model 4) was applied using the Process Macro add-on developed by Hayes (2022). The study found statistically significant positive correlations between PS and SB, between PS and PSS, and between PSS and SB. Bootstrap regression analysis revealed that PS had a significant effect on PSS. When no mediating variable was added to the model, it was determined that PS was not a predictor of SB. When PS was held constant, PSS was found to have a significant effect on SB. Finally, it was found that PS had a significant indirect effect on SB through PSS. The study found that perceived stress does not directly affect sportsmanship behaviour among sports science students, but that perceived social support, as a mediating variable, increases this behaviour.