The Contribution of Design Thinking to Reducing Excessive Sensitivity to Criticism Among Athletes in Selected Track and Field Events

The study sought to develop two measurement scales—design thinking and excessive sensitivity to criticism—and to determine their levels among athletes participating in selected track and field events. In addition, to examine the role of design thinking in reducing excessive sensitivity to criticism among these athletes. The methodology is descriptive, employing a correlational approach was adopted. The population consisted of athletes in selected track and field events representing clubs in Baghdad Governorate, youth category, who were actively training during the local sports season. The population included 186 athletes distributed across various sprint distances, hurdle races of different distances, shot put, discus throw, and javelin throw. All athletes were intentionally as the primary research sample, which was divided into three sub-samples. the data were analyzed using SPSS software. The results showed that the measures of design thinking and excessive sensitivity to criticism had an appropriate degree of validity and validity, allowing them to be used with confidence to measure these two variables among athletes in the selected track and field events. moreover, the sample members possessed acceptable levels of design thinking and hypersensitivity to criticism, with a significant inverse correlation, as higher design thinking was associated with lower hypersensitivity to criticism