Ekizoglu, Ozlem; Tetik, Sibel; Zambak, Omer; Temur, Canan Sayin; Can, Yusuf; Isik, Utku; Koc, Mustafa Can

Background/objective Psychological well-being disorders are increasingly prevalent among young people. While physical activity is known to benefit psychological well-being, the mechanisms-particularly the role of physical self-perception and gender in recreational context remain underexplored. Grounded in the Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory, this study investigates the mediating role of physical self-perception in the relationship between recreational physical activity and psychological well-being and examines whether gender moderates this mediation among youth aged 15-24.Methods A descriptive-relational survey design was employed. The sample comprised 468 young adults (58.5% male, 41.5% female; M_age = 20.08) who regularly participated in recreational physical activities. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP), and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS macro-Models 4 and 7.Results The direct effect of physical activity on psychological well-being was not significant. However, physical self-perception fully mediated the relationship between physical activity and psychological well-being (indirect effect: beta = 0.219, 95% CI [0.151, 0.290]). Among the sub-dimensions of physical self-perception, body attractiveness had the strongest mediating effect. Moderation analysis revealed that gender did not significantly moderate the mediation pathways (a path: p = 0.156; b path: p = 0.954). The mediation mechanism operated with similar strength in both males and females.Conclusion Recreational physical activity improves psychological well-being entirely through the enhancement of physical self-perception, supporting the COR theory that physical activity acts as a resource investment. This mechanism is universal across genders in recreational settings. Interventions aiming to improve youth psychological well-being should not only promote physical activity but specifically focus on fostering positive physical self-perception and body image in inclusive, non-judgmental environments.

Kaçay, Zülbiye; Seçer, Emrah; Işık, Özkan; Şahinler, Yunus; Talaghir, Laurentiu-Gabriel; Constantinescu, Mariana; Benţea, Cristina-Corina; Iconomescu, Teodora Mihaela

Introduction – The present study aimed to examine the effect of sport mindfulness on athlete burnout among Olympic combat sport athletes and to investigate the mediating role of athlete self-compassion and the moderating role of emotion regulation in this relationship. Methods – This study employed a cross-sectional correlational research design and included 379 athletes (279 men and 100 women) actively competing in Olympic combat sports. Data were collected using the Mindfulness Inventory for Sport, the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire, the Self-Compassion Scale–Athlete Version-Short Form and the Athlete Emotion Regulation Scale. The construct validity of the measurement instruments was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Relationships among the study variables were examined using Pearson correlation analysis. The proposed hypotheses were tested using the PROCESS macro, specifically Models 4, 1, and 14. Results – The findings indicated that sport mindfulness positively and significantly predicted athlete self-compassion (B = 0.155, p < 0.001). Athlete self-compassion, in turn, was found to have a significant negative effect on athlete burnout (B = −0.798, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the interaction between athlete self-compassion and emotion regulation significantly predicted athlete burnout (B = −0.060, p < 0.001). The moderated mediation analysis demonstrated that emotion regulation significantly moderated the indirect association between sport mindfulness and athlete burnout (Index = −0.009). Examination of the conditional indirect effects revealed that the burnout-reducing effect of sport mindfulness through athlete self-compassion was stronger among athletes with higher levels of emotion regulation. Conclusion – The findings suggest that the association between sport mindfulness and athlete burnout cannot be explained solely by a direct relationship. Rather, this relationship operates through athlete self-compassion and varies according to athletes' levels of emotion regulation. These findings underscore the importance of integrating mindfulness-based skills, self-compassion development, and emotion regulation capacity into interventions designed to enhance psychological resilience and prevent burnout among combat sport athletes.

Akın, Esra Başer; Karaca, Safiye Yanmış; Mollaoğlu, Mukadder

Introduction – Patients’ psychological well-being, social functioning, and treatment adherence are all adversely impacted by the stigma associated with dialysis. For the purpose of recognizing stigma and directing nursing interventions, accurate and culturally relevant measurement instruments are crucial. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Dialysis-Related Stigma Scale (DRSS) in Turkish. Methods – This methodological study was conducted at a private dialysis facility in Sivas, Turkiye, between July and September 2025. Data were collected from 92 participants using the “Patient Information Form” and the “DRSS.” Language validity, content validity, item analyses, internal consistency tests, and test–retest reliability analyses were carried out using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0 software during the scale’s validity and reliability stage. Content validity was evaluated using the Content Validity Index (CVI), construct validity was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and reliability was examined using internal consistency and test–retest analyse analyses. Results – With a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.89 (McDonald’s omega = 0.894), the scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency. The scale’s content validity index of the Turkish version was 0.91. Test–retest analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.967, p < 0.05). Discussion – Finally, the Turkish version of the DRSS was found to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring stigma in dialysis patients.

Kaçay, Zülbiye; Seçer, Emrah; Yıldız, Nuh Osman; Esentürk, Oğuz Kaan; Talaghir, Laurentiu-Gabriel; Bentea, Cristina Corina; Ivan, Paula; Cristea, Florentina

Introduction and aim – The present study aimed to examine the effect of enjoyment of physical activities on intention to continue sport participation and to determine the mediating role of sport engagement and the moderating role of perceived social support in this relationship. Methods – This correlational study included 748 athletes (445 males, 303 females, M = 23.10, SD = 5.59). The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale, Intention to Continue Sport Scale, Sport Engagement Scale, and Perceived Social Support Scale–Short Form were used as data collection instruments. The measurement model and construct validity of the scales were tested using confirmatory factor analysis (AMOS 21). Hypotheses were tested in SPSS 25 using PROCESS Macro models (4, 1, and 14). Results – To test the first hypothesis, the mediation effect was examined using PROCESS Model 4 (PACES → SES → ICSS). The indirect effect of PACES on ICSS via SES was found to be significant (b = 0.230, 95% CI [0.184, 0.279]). For the second hypothesis, PROCESS Model 1 was applied. The main effect of perceived social support (PSS) was not significant (b = 0.076, p > .05), whereas the interaction term representing the SES × PSS interaction was significant (b = −0.0147, 95% CI [−0.0245, −0.0049]), indicating that perceived social support moderated the relationship between sport engagement and intention to continue sport participation. To test the third hypothesis, a moderated mediation model (PROCESS Model 14) was conducted with PSS as a moderator. The index of moderated mediation was significant (b = −0.010, 95% CI [−0.020, −0.0005]), showing that perceived social support moderated the indirect effect of PACES on ICSS through SES. Conclusion – The findings revealed that the indirect effect of enjoyment of physical activities on intention to continue sport participation through sport engagement was stronger among athletes with lower perceived social support.

Sağar, Mehmet Enes; Ateş, Bünyamin

Introduction – Life satisfaction is an important indicator of psychological well-being among university students. Family social support and resilience are considered key protective factors that may contribute to higher levels of life satisfaction. This study aimed to test a hypothesized model examining the relationships among perceived family social support, resilience, and general life satisfaction in university students. Methods – The study group consisted of 357 students (146 males, 40.9%; 211 females, 59.1%; Mage = 22.43) enrolled in various faculties of public universities in Türkiye during the 2024–2025 academic year. Data were collected online via Google Forms using the Adult Life Satisfaction Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Adult Resilience Measure, and a Personal Information Form. The data were analyzed using SPSS and Mplus software. Results – The findings revealed statistically significant positive relationships between general life satisfaction and resilience, between general life satisfaction and perceived family social support, and between resilience and perceived family social support. Perceived family social support significantly and positively predicted resilience, while resilience significantly and positively predicted general life satisfaction. In addition, resilience was found to mediate the relationship between perceived family social support and general life satisfaction. The direct and indirect effects included in the model explained approximately 46% of the variance in general life satisfaction. Discussion – The findings underscore the important roles of perceived family social support and resilience in enhancing university students’ life satisfaction. The results suggest that interventions designed to strengthen family support and resilience may contribute to improving students’ psychological well-being and overall life satisfaction. Future research may further investigate these relationships across different cultural contexts and student populations.

Ekinci, Hasan Buğra; Birkok, Mehmet Cüneyt; Kaçay, Zülbiye; Işık, Özkan; Talaghir, Laurentiu Gabriel; Coja, Daniel Mădălin; Berdila, Anamaria; Olaru, Bogdan Sorin

Purpose – This study examined the relationship between social media addiction and cyberbullying sensibility among team sports athletes. In addition, the mediating role of digital literacy and the moderating role of difficulties in emotion regulation were investigated within this relationship. Methodology – The study included 265 licensed team sports athletes from Erzincan, Türkiye. Data were collected using measures of social media addiction, cyberbullying sensibility, digital literacy, and difficulties in emotion regulation. The construct validity of the scales was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Mediation, moderation, and moderated mediation analyses were conducted using PROCESS Macro Models 4 and 14 with bootstrap-based regression procedures. Result – The findings showed that social media addiction was significantly associated with digital literacy, and digital literacy showed a significant positive relationship with cyberbullying sensibility. The indirect relationship between social media addiction and cyberbullying sensibility through digital literacy was statistically significant. In addition, this indirect association was more pronounced among athletes with lower difficulties in emotion regulation, whereas it was not significant among those with higher difficulties in emotion regulation. These findings support a moderated mediation model based on conditional associations. Conclusion – The findings suggest that digital literacy plays a mediating role in the relationship between social media addiction and cyberbullying sensibility among team sports athletes. Furthermore, difficulties in emotion regulation appear to influence the strength of this indirect relationship. The study highlights the importance of considering both digital competencies and emotional processes in understanding athletes' experiences in digital environments.

Gayretli, Zafer; Secer, Emrah; Baic, Mario; Yavuz, Alisan; Koc, Mustafa Can; Isik, Ozkan

Purpose – This study aimed to examine the effect of mental wellbeing on anger and aggression among combat sports athletes and to investigate the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of professionalism in this relationship. The study sought to conceptually elucidate the associations between athletes’ psychological resources and their levels of anger and aggression. Method – The study was designed using a relational survey model and included 333 Olympic combat sports athletes (181 males, 152 females). Data were collected using the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale–Short Form, the Competitive Aggressiveness and Anger Scale, the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale–Short Form, and the Professionalism Scale for Athletes. The validity of the measurement models was tested through confirmatory factor analysis (AMOS 21). Hypotheses were tested using SPSS 25 and Hayes’ PROCESS Macro Models 4, 1, and 14. Results – The indirect effect of mental wellbeing on anger and aggression through psychological resilience was found to be significant (b = −0.302, 95% CI [−0.479, −0.148]), explaining approximately 9% of the total variance. The moderating effect of professionalism was examined, and the interaction between psychological resilience and professionalism was found to be statistically significant (b = −0.032, 95% CI [−0.051, −0.012]). Interaction analyses indicated that the effects were stronger at higher levels of professionalism. A conditional process analysis (PROCESS Model 14) revealed that professionalism moderated the indirect effect (b = −0.029, 95% CI [−0.047, −0.014]); specifically, the effect of mental wellbeing on anger and aggression through psychological resilience became more pronounced when professionalism was high. Conclusion – The findings demonstrate that mental wellbeing has a significant effect on anger and aggression among combat sports athletes through psychological resilience. This effect was stronger among athletes with higher levels of professionalism, highlighting its critical role in reducing anger and aggression. The results suggest that psychological resilience and professionalism are key factors in emotional regulation and performance management among athletes. Future studies may benefit from employing longitudinal and experimental designs to examine the effects of mental wellbeing on psychological resilience over time.

Secer, Emrah; Kacay, Zulbiye; Yildiz, Nuh Osman; Talaghir, Laurentiu-Gabriel; Cosoreanu, Dumitru Marius; Bentea, Cristina Corina

Background: This study examines the effect of physical activity (PA) on life satisfaction (LS), focusing on the mediating role of psychological resilience (PR) and the moderating role of mindfulness (MF). Method: Participants were 363 sports science students (240 male and 123 female). Data were collected through International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, the Life Satisfaction Scale, the Psychological Resilience Scale-Short Form and the Mindfulness Scale. The measurement model was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in AMOS 21 and hypothesis were analyzed using Hayes’ (2022) Process Macro models (4, 1, and 7). Results: The mediation effect (Model 4) indicated that the indirect effect of PA on LS through PR was significant. The moderation analysis (Model 1) showed that mindfulness significantly moderated the relationship between PA and PR. Finally, the moderated mediation model (Model 7) confirmed that the indirect effect of PA on LS via PR was stronger at higher levels of mindfulness. Although the effect size was small, it highlights the practical importance of integrating mindfulness in resilience pathways. Conclusion: These findings suggest that physical activity contributes to life satisfaction by enhancing resilience, and that this indirect effect is conditioned by mindfulness. These findings point to the potential value of resilience-building and mindfulness-based programs in educational and psychological practice. However, as the study sample consisted of sports science students from a single faculty, the results should be interpreted with caution regarding generalizability.

Akkaş, Ibrahim; Bulbuloglu, Semra; Aslan, Sinan; Cetintas, Ahmet

Introduction: High magnitude earthquakes are a natural disaster, often resulting in psychosocial and economic devastation. In patriarchal societies, women may suffer more losses than men and may be disadvantaged in earthquake management. Generation Z has more independent personal characteristics than previous generations, which may have an impact on gender perceptions and individual cultural values on earthquake management. Objective: This study aimed to examine the gender perception and individual cultural values of Generation Z earthquake victims on earthquake management. Method: This descriptive study was conducted in Malatya, one of the cities affected by the earthquake on February 6, 2023, 2 years after the earthquake, with the participation of n = 226 Generation Z earthquake victims who married or sharing a home with a partner for at least 6 months. Earthquake victim information form, Perception of Gender Role on Disaster Management Scale (PGR-DMS) and Individual Culture Values Scale (CVSCALE) were used for data collection. The PGR-DMS measures gender perception, and higher scores indicate a more positive gender perception. CVSCALE measures individual cultural values and has five sub-dimensions: Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Collectivism, Long-Term Orientation and Masculinity. Higher score on a subscale indicates that participants embrace the cultural value measured in that dimension for CVSCALE. Descriptive tests, Mann–Whitney U, Chi Squared and Spearman Rho correlation tests were used in data analysis. Results: 75.7% of the Generation Z earthquake victims who participated in the study were between 21 and 25 years old and 72.6% were female. 63.3% of Generation Z earthquake victims were high school graduates and 74.3% were employed. 20.8% of Generation Z earthquake victims had a chronic disease, and 15.5% of them had a spouse with a chronic disease. As a result of this study, the PGR-DMS was higher in earthquake victims whose spouses had chronic diseases and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.030). There was a statistically significant strong relationship between the number of children and PGR-DMS (r = 0.711, p = 0.014). There was a positive, strong and statistically significant correlation between PGR-DMS and Collectivism (r = 0.754, p = 0.021). Conclusion: As a result of this study, having a chronic disease in the spouse of Generation Z earthquake victims and an increase in the number of children positively increased the perception of gender in earthquake management. Generation Z earthquake victims’ perception of gender in earthquake management, Collectivism and Long-term orientation were above average. As the collectivism of Generation Z earthquake victims increased, the perception of gender in earthquake management raised positively.

Nurlu, Özge

Gender norms shape multiple domains, including mathematics—long framed as a male-dominated field—thereby fostering pervasive mathematical gender stereotypes (MGS) that affect individuals’ participation and achievement. This study aims to systematically synthesize empirical research published between 1999 and 2024, indexed in Web of Science, written in English, and available in full text. Only articles explicitly examining MGS were included; studies focused on broader STEM stereotypes, non-English publications, records without full-text access, and papers outside the specified time window were excluded. Limitations include the absence of protocol pre-registration—although inclusion/exclusion criteria and the analysis plan were specified in writing prior to the search and PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed—and the unavoidable subjectivity in interpretation and categorization despite established inter-coder reliability. Analyses indicate that most studies are situated in psychology, frequently employ experimental designs, and primarily sample university students. Surveys dominate data collection, and parametric inferential statistics are commonly used. Geographically, the literature is concentrated in Western countries—particularly the United States and Germany—with limited contributions from the Global South. Publication counts fluctuate over time, with notable peaks in 2012 and 2022. Conceptually, the literature converges on two principal axes: (i) belief/domain-ownership formulations centered on male superiority and (ii) process-based formulations centered on ST. Less frequently examined yet theoretically informative extensions include endorsement, internalization, counter-stereotypic role models, and stereotype lift. Across qualitative, descriptive, correlational, mediation, meta-analytic, and experimental evidence, findings consistently cluster around these axes, with stereotype endorsement and MGS occupying central positions. Taken together, the results underscore the need for future research that is more interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and methodologically diverse to more comprehensively address MGS.