The relationship between athletic identity and passion with psychological responses to sport injury in elite karate athletes

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between athletic identity and passion with psychological responses to sport injury in elite karate athletes. Subjects were 190 elite Karate Ka of East Azerbaijan province that were chosen through available sampling from among the various clubs and completed Passion Scale, Athletic Identity Measurement Scale and Sports Inventory for Pain. ). Independent t-test and Pearson correlation test at a significance level of α < 0/05 for data analysis was used. Results showed there is the significant relationship between athletic identity with both Harmonious and Obsessive passion but the athletic identity in Obsessive Karate –is more than Harmonious Karate. Results also showed that there is the significant relationship between sport identity and psychological responses to sport injury in Harmonious and obsessive Karate but the relationship was stronger in obsessive karate elite athletes. T -test results showed obsessive karate use more psychological responses include coping, cognitive strategy and Catastrophizing and Harmonious karate use more psychological responses include Avoidance and body awareness. In general, the results indicate that obsessive karate use psychological responses that may threaten karate –ka health. This results supports Vallrand (2003) passion approach.