The relationship between mindfulness, competitive anxiety, and self-efficacy in Taekwondo athletes with/without injury: The moderated mediation model.
Jeffrey Yu, Jui-Ti Nien, Mu-Yen Chu, Yi-Zhen Yang, Yi-Chih Ko, Yun-Han Chen, Nai-Chi Chen, Yu-Kai Chang
Psychology of Sport And Exercise January 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2026.103080 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey with moderated mediation analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 105 |
| Population | Collegiate Taekwondo athletes |
| Topics | Meditation Anxiety |
| Keywords | Combat sports Injured Self-regulation Stress |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness enhances pre-event self-efficacy by reducing cognitive anxiety, and this effect on cognitive anxiety is stronger among injured athletes. |
Abstract
Combat sports athletes are exposed to higher rates of injury, often resulting in increased anxiety and decreased pre-event self-efficacy. Mindfulness may serve as a protective buffer against these psychological effects. This study aimed to examine the relationship between athletic mindfulness and pre-event self-efficacy through competitive anxiety, as well as the moderating role of injury status among Taekwondo athletes. Collegiate Taekwondo athletes (N = 105) completed measures of athletic mindfulness, competitive anxiety, pre-event self-efficacy, and injury status prior to a national competition. A moderated mediation model was tested using PROCESS Models 4 and 59. Athletic mindfulness significantly predicted pre-event self-efficacy through cognitive anxiety. Although injury status did not moderate the overall mediation pathway, it moderated the relationship between athletic mindfulness and cognitive anxiety. These findings suggest a pathway through which mindfulness enhances pre-event self-efficacy by reducing cognitive anxiety among combat sports athletes. Regardless of its moderation of the mediation effect, injury status revealed that mindfulness exerted a stronger influence on reducing cognitive anxiety among injured athletes.