An Investigation into the Mindful Awareness and Sportsmanship Orientations of Students Competing in University Sports Teams

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between mindful awareness and sportsmanship orientations among university athletes actively engaged in individual and team sports. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 401 university students, including 51 female and 350 male athletes, who were actively participating in sports. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form (PIF), the Athlete Mindful Awareness Scale (AMAS), and the Multidimensional Sportsmanship Orientation Scale (MSOS). The analyses were conducted using the statistical software JASP version 0.19.3. Independent samples t-tests were employed to determine group differences, while Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine relationships between variables. According to the findings, the participants' levels of mindful awareness did not significantly differ by gender (p > 0.05). However, in terms of sportsmanship, female athletes scored significantly higher than their male counterparts in the subdimensions of “Compliance with Norms,” “Respect for Rules and Authority,” and “Respect for Opponents,” as well as in overall sportsmanship scores (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in mindful awareness levels based on the type of sport (individual vs. team sports) (p > 0.05). Nonetheless, participants engaged in individual sports reported significantly higher scores in the “Respect for Opponents” subdimension and in total sportsmanship scores compared to those involved in team sports (p < 0.05). One of the key findings of the study is the presence of a statistically significant, moderate, and positive correlation between athletes' mindful awareness levels and their sportsmanship orientations (p < .001). This suggests that mindful awareness may serve as a supportive factor in promoting sportsmanlike behavior. In conclusion, the study findings indicate that mindful awareness skills may play an important role in fostering ethical values and sportsmanship behaviors among athletes. In this context, the implementation and widespread adoption of mindfulness-based training and mental skills programs for athletes may contribute not only to individual development but also to the cultivation of an ethical sporting environment.