Relationships between Resilience with Psychological Wellbeing among Adolescent Athletes during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mediating Role of Distress Tolerance

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant source of anxiety and discomfort, influencing individuals’ capacity to manage distress effectively. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between resilience with psychological wellbeing among adolescent athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic with considering the mediating role of distress tolerance. Methods: This research employed a descriptive-correlational approach utilizing structural equation modeling. A sample of 115 male athletes, aged between 15 and 17, was selected through convenience sampling. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Psychological Well-Being Scale, and The Distress Tolerance Scale were applied to measure the research variables, and the data analysis was performed using Smart PLS statistical software version 4, with a significance threshold set at 0.05.Results: The results revealed a significant positive structural relationship between resilience and psychological well-being (t=6.897, b=0.617, P=0.000), as well as between resilience and distress tolerance (t=7.874, b=0.728, P=0.000). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation is observed between distress tolerance and psychological well-being (t=5.412, b=0.547, P=0.000). Notably, distress tolerance acts as a significant mediating variable in the relationship between resilience and psychological well-being (t=4.174, b=0.398, P=0.000). Conclusion: These findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected adolescent athletes, highlighting the potential role of resilience and distress tolerance in enhancing psychological well-being. It is essential for sports psychologists, coaches, and trainers to implement strategies aimed at fostering resilience and improving distress tolerance among adolescent athletes to support their mental health and overall psychological well-being.