Investigation of Mental Toughness and Competition Stress Levels Between Italian and Turkish Fencers

Investigation of Mental Toughness and Competition Stress Levels Between Italian and Turkish Fencers | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Investigation of Mental Toughness and Competition Stress Levels Between Italian and Turkish Fencers Enver YILDIRIM, Büşra UMAY, Hürmüz KOÇ This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7095808/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the mental endurance and competition stress levels of Italian and Turkish fencers. Using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), psychological responses were evaluated in a sample of 121 athletes. The results revealed no significant differences in anxiety or resilience levels based on nationality, fencing discipline, or competitive level. However, cognitive and somatic anxiety were positively correlated, whereas both were negatively associated with self-confidence. These findings suggest that psychological patterns in fencing may remain consistent across demographic and performance-related variables. This study emphasizes the importance of individualized mental training programs to increase resilience and manage competitive stress. Fencer mental toughness competition stress INTRODUCTION In recent years, numerous scientific studies have been conducted to determine the conceptual framework of mental toughness ( 1 – 3 ). When studies conducted in the field are examined, many researchers have stated that mental toughness is a conceptual framework that includes psychological characteristics that affect athletic performance ( 4 , 5 ). Jones et al. (2002) defined mental toughness as a developed psychological power that allows athletes to cope better with their mental needs than their opponents in competition, training and other conditions; to be more focused on their tasks than their opponents; to be more self-confident; and to be in control under pressure and continue ( 6 ). Gould et al. (2002) emphasized concepts such as persistence and stubbornness for mental toughness in their study on the basis of the opinions of elite athletes ( 7 ). In a study conducted by Gucciardi and colleagues (2009) with individuals who have elite-level coaching and athletic experience, mental toughness was defined as behaviors that provide the highest level of concentration and motivation to overcome and consistently achieve goals when faced with any obstacle, difficulty or pressure ( 8 ). Mental toughness and competition-related stress are critical factors influencing athletic performance, particularly in high-intensity sports such as fencing. Fencing demands a combination of physical agility, strategic thinking, and psychological resilience ( 9 ). Athletes must maintain composure under pressure, effectively manage anxiety, and exhibit mental strength to perform at their peak level ( 3 ). Previous research has highlighted the role of mental toughness in sports performance, with findings indicating that higher levels of resilience and stress management contribute to improved outcomes in competitive settings ( 10 ). Additionally, cross-cultural studies in sports psychology suggest that factors such as training environments, coaching styles, and cultural attitudes toward competition can influence an athlete's psychological preparedness ( 7 , 11 ). This study aims to compare mental toughness and competitive stress levels between Italian and Turkish fencers via the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). By examining differences in stress and resilience levels, this research seeks to provide insights into how athletes from different training backgrounds cope with competition pressures. Understanding these psychological factors can help coaches, sports psychologists, and athletes develop more effective mental preparation strategies tailored to specific cultural and competitive contexts. METHODS Participants The study involved a total of 121 competitive fencers, 67 Turkish and 54 Italian, aged 14–20, who participated in the study. Participants were recruited from national and regional fencing clubs in both countries. The selection criteria required all athletes to have at least three years of competitive experience. Variables and Protocol Data were collected through online and in-person surveys administered before major competitions. The participants were given detailed instructions and assurances of confidentiality before completing the questionnaires. The surveys were conducted in the native languages of the participants (Turkish and Italian), ensuring linguistic and cultural appropriateness. The responses were anonymized and analyzed to determine differences in mental toughness and anxiety levels between the two groups. Before beginning the questionnaire, each participant was given a detailed explanation of the instructions and the completion process, with the opportunity to ask questions if anything was unclear. Two validated ( 12 , 13 ) psychological scales were used to assess mental toughness and competition stress levels: Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) : This widely used scale measures three components of competition anxiety—cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence. It consists of 27 items rated on a Likert scale. Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) : The BRS is a six-item measure designed to assess an individual’s ability to recover from stress and adversity. Higher scores indicate greater resilience. Statistical analysis The data were evaluated via the SPSS package. The normal distribution of the data was tested via Shapiro‒Wilk histogram Q‒Q (quantile‒quantile) tests. The results are presented as arithmetic means and standard deviations. Variance analysis was used to determine the difference in multiple measurements. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine relationships. The significance level will be accepted as p < 0,05. RESULTS Table 1 Numerical distribution of survey participants Cognitive State Anxiety Somatic State Anxiety Self-Confidence BRS N 121 121 121 121 Mean 2,57 2,30 2,55 2,95 S D 0,621 0,588 0,630 0,370 Min 1,00 1,00 1,00 1,50 Max 3,89 3,89 4,00 3,83 The descriptive statistics of the participants’ anxiety and resilience levels are presented in Table 1 . When the table was examined, a total of 121 people took part in the study. The average Cognitive State Anxiety of the 121 volunteers who participated in the study was 2,57 ± 0,62 (Min: 1-Max: 3,89), the average Somatic State Anxiety was 2,30 ± 0,58 (Min: 1 - Max: 3,89), the average Self-Confidence was 2,55 ± 0,63 (Min: 1,00 - Max: 4,00), and the average BRS was 2.95 ± 0.37 (Min: 1,50 - Max: 3,83). Table 2 Distribution of Group Differences by Nationality Variables Mean df p Cognitive State Anxiety 0,6739 119 0,502 Somatic State Anxiety -0,0168 119 0,987 Self-Confidence -1,5023 119 0,136 BRS -1,2708 119 0,206 Table 2 summarizes the comparison results between nationalities. As a result of the statistical analyses conducted to examine whether there was a difference between Italian (n = 54) and Turkish (n = 67) fencers in terms of cognitive state anxiety, somatic state anxiety, self-confidence and BRS, no statistically significant difference was found in any variable (p > 0,05). According to these results, the nationality variable does not have a significant effect on the levels of cognitive state anxiety, somatic state anxiety, self-confidence or BRS variables in fencers. Table 3 Numerical Distribution of Fencing Disciplines Variables Mean F p Cognitive State Anxiety 1,3125 28,5 0,285 Somatic State Anxiety 0,0857 30,1 0,918 Self-Confidence 1,7475 29,6 0,192 BRS 0,6345 26,2 0,538 The effect of fencing discipline on psychological variables is given in Table 3 . According to the results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) conducted to examine the effect of fencing disciplines (foil, epee, sabre) in terms of cognitive state anxiety, somatic state anxiety, self-confidence and BRS variables, no statistically significant difference was found in any variable (p > 0,05). Table 4 Numerical Distribution of Fencing Levels (Amateur, National, International) Variables χ² d p Cognitive State Anxiety 4,32 2 0,115 Somatic State Anxiety 1,83 2 0,400 Self-Confidence 3,77 2 0,152 BRS 3,66 2 0,161 Table 4 presents the results of the Kruskal-Wallis test for fencing level differences. As a result of the nonparametric Kruskal‒Wallis test, which was used to examine whether there were differences in terms of cognitive state anxiety, somatic state anxiety, self-confidence and BRS variables according to the amateur, national and international levels of the athletes, it was determined that there was no significant difference in any variable (p > 0,05). Table 5 Distribution of Correlations between Fencing Training Age and Mental Toughness and Competition Stress Variables Cognitive State Anxiety Somatic State Anxiety Self-Confidence BRS Age Fencing Age Cognitive State Anxiety - Somatic State Anxiety 0,529*** - Self-Confidence -0,630*** -0,536*** - BRS 0,013 0,016 0,064 - Age -0,024 -0,044 -0,050 0,085 - Fencing Age -0,050 -0,106 0,078 0,111 0,688*** - p < 0,05, ** p < 0,01, *** p < 0,001 Correlations between training age, resilience, and anxiety are reported in Table 5 . When the Pearson correlation analysis results were examined, no significant correlation was found between age or years of fencing experience and mental endurance or competition stress. When the correlations between age, years of experience and psychological variables were examined, cognitive state anxiety was found to be positively correlated with somatic anxiety (r = 0,529, p < 0,001) and negatively correlated with self-confidence (r = -0,630, p < 0,001). A significant positive correlation was found between Somatic State Anxiety and Self-Confidence (r = 0,53, p < 0,001). DISCUSSION The findings of this study suggest consistent psychological profiles among competitive fencers in both groups, regardless of their national background. Despite cultural and training environment differences, fencers displayed similar levels of mental toughness and competition-related anxiety. The positive correlation observed between cognitive and somatic anxiety aligns with the literature, suggesting that these stress components are interrelated. According to Martens et al. (1990), cognitive and somatic anxiety are distinct yet interconnected constructs that collectively influence performance in competitive settings ( 14 ). Similarly, Doron and Martinent (2021) reported a significant positive association between the two dimensions among elite fencers, noting that these stress responses were linked to emotional fluctuations and performance outcomes. However, research also suggests that the strength and direction of this relationship may vary depending on sport type, age group, or individual differences ( 15 ). For example, athletes in team sports may exhibit greater somatic anxiety, whereas those in individual sports such as fencing might show elevated cognitive anxiety. The inverse relationship between self-confidence and both types of anxiety highlights the critical role of psychological support programs in reinforcing athletes’ self-perceptions and regulating stress. O’Neil and Michael (2019) emphasize that inner confidence is a cornerstone of effective coping under pressure ( 16 ). Nonetheless, Beilock and Carr (2001) caution that even high-confidence athletes may experience performance decreases due to pressure-induced breakdowns—a phenomenon known as “choking under pressure” ( 17 ). This underscores the necessity for multifaceted psychological interventions that go beyond confidence enhancement. Interventions such as mindfulness-based programs ( 18 ) have been shown to improve both confidence and emotional regulation in competitive athletes. The lack of significant differences across fencing disciplines or competitive levels suggests that psychological constructs such as resilience and anxiety may be stable across skill categories. This finding is supported by Doron and Martinent (2021), who demonstrated that stress appraisal and coping patterns remain relatively consistent across competitive contexts. However, findings from Nishihata and Otani (2024) in the context of powerlifting highlight that competitive level can significantly impact athletes’ strategic decision-making and psychological stress responses. These discrepancies suggest that psychological resilience is influenced by a complex interplay of individual and contextual factors, cautioning against overly generalized interpretations. In summary, the present study highlights the interconnected nature of cognitive and somatic anxiety and their inverse relationship with self-confidence while also highlighting the limited impact of sport discipline and competition level on these psychological variables. These results reinforce the need for personalized, culturally informed, and multidimensional mental training programs that target individual athletes’ psychological needs. Future research should expand on these findings by incorporating longitudinal designs and mixed-method approaches. Qualitative interviews could help uncover nuanced psychological patterns and cultural influences on stress perception and resilience development. CONCLUSION This study provides valuable insight into the psychological characteristics of competitive fencers from Italy and Türkiye. Mental toughness and stress regulation emerge as key areas for targeted psychological interventions, which can be designed independently of athletes' competitive levels or fencing disciplines. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Sciences Ethics Committee of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (Decision No: 03/13, Project No: 2025-YÖNP-0101, Approval Date: June 11, 2025; Document Verification Code: 4U33DFU). This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. All participants provided informed consent before participating in the study. Consent for publication Not applicable. Availability of data and materials The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Funding This study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Authors’ contributions E.Y. collected the data and performed the statistical analyses. B.U. wrote and edited the manuscript. H.K. provided supervision, designed the research plan, and guided the statistical methodology. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sinan Uğraş for his valuable contributions to the statistical analysis section of this study. References Clough P, Earle K, Sewell D. Mental toughness: The concept and its measurement. Solutions in sport psychology. 2002;1(1):32-46. Thelwell R, Weston N, Greenlees I. Defining and understanding mental toughness within soccer. Journal of applied sport psychology. 2005;17(4):326-32. Jones G, Hanton S, Connaughton D. A framework of mental toughness in the world’s best performers. The sport psychologist. 2007;21(2):243-64. Butt J, Weinberg R, Culp B. Exploring mental toughness in NCAA athletes. Journal of intercollegiate sport. 2010;3(2):316-32. Mahoney JW, Gucciardi DF, Mallett CJ, Ntoumanis N. Adolescent performers’ perspectives on mental toughness and its development: The utility of the bioecological model. The Sport Psychologist. 2014;28(3):233-44. Jones G, Hanton S, Connaughton D. What is this thing called mental toughness? An investigation of elite sport performers. Journal of applied sport psychology. 2002;14(3):205-18. Gould D, Dieffenbach K, Moffett A. Psychological characteristics and their development in Olympic champions. Journal of applied sport psychology. 2002;14(3):172-204. Gucciardi DF, Gordon S. Development and preliminary validation of the Cricket Mental Toughness Inventory (CMTI). Journal of Sports Sciences. 2009;27(12):1293-310. Turner A, James N, Dimitriou L, Greenhalgh A, Moody J, Fulcher D, et al. Determinants of olympic fencing performance and implications for strength and conditioning training. The journal of strength & conditioning research. 2014;28(10):3001-11. Nicholls AR, Polman RC, Levy AR, Backhouse SH. Mental toughness in sport: Achievement level, gender, age, experience, and sport type differences. Personality and individual differences. 2009;47(1):73-5. Gucciardi DF, Zhang C-Q, Ponnusamy V, Si G, Stenling A. Cross-cultural invariance of the mental toughness inventory among Australian, Chinese, and Malaysian athletes: A Bayesian estimation approach. Journal of sport and exercise psychology. 2016;38(2):187-202. REID C, DEBELISO M. The reliability of the CSAI-2 among preadolescent female gymnasts: pilot study short report. Journal of Physical Education Research. 2019;6(3):9-17. Fung S-f. Validity of the brief resilience scale and brief resilient coping scale in a Chinese sample. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2020;17(4):1265. Martens R, Vealey RS, Burton D. Competitive anxiety in sport. 1990. Kais K, Raudsepp L. Intensity and direction of competitive state anxiety, self-confidence and athletic performance. Kinesiology. 2005;37(1.):13-20. O'Neil AM. Conceptualizing Mastery: A Thematic Analysis of the Long Term Pursuit Towards Performance Excellence: Fielding Graduate University; 2019. Beilock SL, Carr TH. On the fragility of skilled performance: What governs choking under pressure? Journal of experimental psychology: General. 2001;130(4):701. Sondt N, Bernier M, Kermarrec G, Vacher P. Exploring the role of mindfulness in the stress-recovery balance: 10-Day monitoring of young BMX riders in an intensive training center during a pre-competition cycle. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2024;74:102680. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. 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When studies conducted in the field are examined, many researchers have stated that mental toughness is a conceptual framework that includes psychological characteristics that affect athletic performance (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJones et al. (2002) defined mental toughness as a developed psychological power that allows athletes to cope better with their mental needs than their opponents in competition, training and other conditions; to be more focused on their tasks than their opponents; to be more self-confident; and to be in control under pressure and continue (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e). Gould et al. (2002) emphasized concepts such as persistence and stubbornness for mental toughness in their study on the basis of the opinions of elite athletes (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e). In a study conducted by Gucciardi and colleagues (2009) with individuals who have elite-level coaching and athletic experience, mental toughness was defined as behaviors that provide the highest level of concentration and motivation to overcome and consistently achieve goals when faced with any obstacle, difficulty or pressure (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMental toughness and competition-related stress are critical factors influencing athletic performance, particularly in high-intensity sports such as fencing. Fencing demands a combination of physical agility, strategic thinking, and psychological resilience (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e). Athletes must maintain composure under pressure, effectively manage anxiety, and exhibit mental strength to perform at their peak level (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). Previous research has highlighted the role of mental toughness in sports performance, with findings indicating that higher levels of resilience and stress management contribute to improved outcomes in competitive settings (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e). Additionally, cross-cultural studies in sports psychology suggest that factors such as training environments, coaching styles, and cultural attitudes toward competition can influence an athlete's psychological preparedness (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study aims to compare mental toughness and competitive stress levels between Italian and Turkish fencers via the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). By examining differences in stress and resilience levels, this research seeks to provide insights into how athletes from different training backgrounds cope with competition pressures. Understanding these psychological factors can help coaches, sports psychologists, and athletes develop more effective mental preparation strategies tailored to specific cultural and competitive contexts.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"METHODS","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eParticipants\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe study involved a total of 121 competitive fencers, 67 Turkish and 54 Italian, aged 14–20, who participated in the study. Participants were recruited from national and regional fencing clubs in both countries. The selection criteria required all athletes to have at least three years of competitive experience.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVariables and Protocol\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eData were collected through online and in-person surveys administered before major competitions. The participants were given detailed instructions and assurances of confidentiality before completing the questionnaires. The surveys were conducted in the native languages of the participants (Turkish and Italian), ensuring linguistic and cultural appropriateness. The responses were anonymized and analyzed to determine differences in mental toughness and anxiety levels between the two groups.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBefore beginning the questionnaire, each participant was given a detailed explanation of the instructions and the completion process, with the opportunity to ask questions if anything was unclear.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo validated (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e) psychological scales were used to assess mental toughness and competition stress levels:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCompetitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2)\u003c/b\u003e: This widely used scale measures three components of competition anxiety—cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence. It consists of 27 items rated on a Likert scale.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrief Resilience Scale (BRS)\u003c/b\u003e: The BRS is a six-item measure designed to assess an individual’s ability to recover from stress and adversity. Higher scores indicate greater resilience.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe data were evaluated via the SPSS package. The normal distribution of the data was tested via Shapiro‒Wilk histogram Q‒Q (quantile‒quantile) tests. The results are presented as arithmetic means and standard deviations. Variance analysis was used to determine the difference in multiple measurements. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine relationships. The significance level will be accepted as p \u0026lt; 0,05.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"RESULTS","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumerical distribution of survey participants\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomatic State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-Confidence\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBRS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e121\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e121\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e121\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e121\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,57\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,55\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2,95\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eS\u003csub\u003eD\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,621\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,588\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,630\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,370\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMin\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMax\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,89\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,89\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4,00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,83\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe descriptive statistics of the participants\u0026rsquo; anxiety and resilience levels are presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. When the table was examined, a total of 121 people took part in the study. The average Cognitive State Anxiety of the 121 volunteers who participated in the study was 2,57\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,62 (Min: 1-Max: 3,89), the average Somatic State Anxiety was 2,30\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,58 (Min: 1 - Max: 3,89), the average Self-Confidence was 2,55\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0,63 (Min: 1,00 - Max: 4,00), and the average BRS was 2.95\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.37 (Min: 1,50 - Max: 3,83).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDistribution of Group Differences by Nationality\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003edf\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ep\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,6739\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e119\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,502\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomatic State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0,0168\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e119\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,987\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-Confidence\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-1,5023\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e119\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,136\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBRS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-1,2708\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e119\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,206\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e summarizes the comparison results between nationalities. As a result of the statistical analyses conducted to examine whether there was a difference between Italian (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;54) and Turkish (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;67) fencers in terms of cognitive state anxiety, somatic state anxiety, self-confidence and BRS, no statistically significant difference was found in any variable (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0,05). According to these results, the nationality variable does not have a significant effect on the levels of cognitive state anxiety, somatic state anxiety, self-confidence or BRS variables in fencers.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumerical Distribution of Fencing Disciplines\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eF\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ep\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,3125\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28,5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,285\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomatic State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,0857\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30,1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,918\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-Confidence\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,7475\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e29,6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,192\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBRS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,6345\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e26,2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,538\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe effect of fencing discipline on psychological variables is given in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e. According to the results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) conducted to examine the effect of fencing disciplines (foil, epee, sabre) in terms of cognitive state anxiety, somatic state anxiety, self-confidence and BRS variables, no statistically significant difference was found in any variable (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0,05).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumerical Distribution of Fencing Levels (Amateur, National, International)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eχ\u0026sup2;\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ed\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ep\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4,32\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,115\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomatic State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1,83\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,400\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-Confidence\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,77\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,152\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBRS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3,66\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,161\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e presents the results of the Kruskal-Wallis test for fencing level differences. As a result of the nonparametric Kruskal‒Wallis test, which was used to examine whether there were differences in terms of cognitive state anxiety, somatic state anxiety, self-confidence and BRS variables according to the amateur, national and international levels of the athletes, it was determined that there was no significant difference in any variable (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0,05).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eDistribution of Correlations between Fencing Training Age and Mental Toughness and Competition Stress\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomatic State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-Confidence\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBRS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFencing Age\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomatic State Anxiety\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,529***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-Confidence\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0,630***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0,536***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBRS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,013\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,016\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,064\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0,024\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0,044\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0,050\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,085\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFencing Age\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0,050\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0,106\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,078\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,111\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0,688***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0,05, ** p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0,01, *** p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0,001\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCorrelations between training age, resilience, and anxiety are reported in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e. When the Pearson correlation analysis results were examined, no significant correlation was found between age or years of fencing experience and mental endurance or competition stress. When the correlations between age, years of experience and psychological variables were examined, cognitive state anxiety was found to be positively correlated with somatic anxiety (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0,529, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0,001) and negatively correlated with self-confidence (r = -0,630, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0,001). A significant positive correlation was found between Somatic State Anxiety and Self-Confidence (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0,53, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0,001).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe findings of this study suggest consistent psychological profiles among competitive fencers in both groups, regardless of their national background. Despite cultural and training environment differences, fencers displayed similar levels of mental toughness and competition-related anxiety.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe positive correlation observed between cognitive and somatic anxiety aligns with the literature, suggesting that these stress components are interrelated. According to Martens et al. (1990), cognitive and somatic anxiety are distinct yet interconnected constructs that collectively influence performance in competitive settings (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e). Similarly, Doron and Martinent (2021) reported a significant positive association between the two dimensions among elite fencers, noting that these stress responses were linked to emotional fluctuations and performance outcomes. However, research also suggests that the strength and direction of this relationship may vary depending on sport type, age group, or individual differences (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e). For example, athletes in team sports may exhibit greater somatic anxiety, whereas those in individual sports such as fencing might show elevated cognitive anxiety.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe inverse relationship between self-confidence and both types of anxiety highlights the critical role of psychological support programs in reinforcing athletes\u0026rsquo; self-perceptions and regulating stress. O\u0026rsquo;Neil and Michael (2019) emphasize that inner confidence is a cornerstone of effective coping under pressure (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e). Nonetheless, Beilock and Carr (2001) caution that even high-confidence athletes may experience performance decreases due to pressure-induced breakdowns\u0026mdash;a phenomenon known as \u0026ldquo;choking under pressure\u0026rdquo; (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e). This underscores the necessity for multifaceted psychological interventions that go beyond confidence enhancement. Interventions such as mindfulness-based programs (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e) have been shown to improve both confidence and emotional regulation in competitive athletes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe lack of significant differences across fencing disciplines or competitive levels suggests that psychological constructs such as resilience and anxiety may be stable across skill categories. This finding is supported by Doron and Martinent (2021), who demonstrated that stress appraisal and coping patterns remain relatively consistent across competitive contexts. However, findings from Nishihata and Otani (2024) in the context of powerlifting highlight that competitive level can significantly impact athletes\u0026rsquo; strategic decision-making and psychological stress responses. These discrepancies suggest that psychological resilience is influenced by a complex interplay of individual and contextual factors, cautioning against overly generalized interpretations.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn summary, the present study highlights the interconnected nature of cognitive and somatic anxiety and their inverse relationship with self-confidence while also highlighting the limited impact of sport discipline and competition level on these psychological variables. These results reinforce the need for personalized, culturally informed, and multidimensional mental training programs that target individual athletes\u0026rsquo; psychological needs.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFuture research should expand on these findings by incorporating longitudinal designs and mixed-method approaches. Qualitative interviews could help uncover nuanced psychological patterns and cultural influences on stress perception and resilience development.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study provides valuable insight into the psychological characteristics of competitive fencers from Italy and T\u0026uuml;rkiye. Mental toughness and stress regulation emerge as key areas for targeted psychological interventions, which can be designed independently of athletes' competitive levels or fencing disciplines.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Sciences Ethics Committee of \u0026Ccedil;anakkale Onsekiz Mart University (Decision No: 03/13, Project No: 2025-Y\u0026Ouml;NP-0101, Approval Date: June 11, 2025; Document Verification Code: 4U33DFU).\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;All participants provided informed consent before participating in the study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;Not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;The authors declare that they have no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;This study did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026rsquo; contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;E.Y. collected the data and performed the statistical analyses. B.U. wrote and edited the manuscript. H.K. provided supervision, designed the research plan, and guided the statistical methodology. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u0026nbsp;The authors would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sinan Uğraş for his valuable contributions to the statistical analysis section of this study.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClough P, Earle K, Sewell D. Mental toughness: The concept and its measurement. Solutions in sport psychology. 2002;1(1):32-46.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThelwell R, Weston N, Greenlees I. Defining and understanding mental toughness within soccer. Journal of applied sport psychology. 2005;17(4):326-32.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJones G, Hanton S, Connaughton D. A framework of mental toughness in the world\u0026rsquo;s best performers. 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Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2024;74:102680.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Fencer, mental toughness, competition, stress","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7095808/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7095808/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe aim of this study was to investigate the mental endurance and competition stress levels of Italian and Turkish fencers. Using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), psychological responses were evaluated in a sample of 121 athletes. The results revealed no significant differences in anxiety or resilience levels based on nationality, fencing discipline, or competitive level. However, cognitive and somatic anxiety were positively correlated, whereas both were negatively associated with self-confidence. These findings suggest that psychological patterns in fencing may remain consistent across demographic and performance-related variables. This study emphasizes the importance of individualized mental training programs to increase resilience and manage competitive stress.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Investigation of Mental Toughness and Competition Stress Levels Between Italian and Turkish Fencers","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-08-13 12:53:49","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7095808/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"3c407abb-cf79-4bcb-a98e-c812ca42697b","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 13th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-10-31T02:08:49+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-08-13 12:53:49","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7095808","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7095808","identity":"rs-7095808","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}