Abstract
The current study aims to understand the relationship between perceived threat appraisal and negative emotions in elite football players before the event. It also analyzes the moderator role of mindfulness in the relationship between the variables of this study in elite football players. Thus, a cross-sectional study consisting of 299 elite football players playing in Turkish football leagues was conducted. SEM model was employed for the analysis of the data. The findings of this study demonstrated that mindfulness is negatively associated with both threat appraisal and negative emotions. A positive correlation was also found between threat appraisal and negative emotions. In addition, it was determined that mindfulness had a moderator role in the relationship between threat appraisal and negative emotions. As a result of the study, the emotional states of the athletes may be regulated in sportive events where pressure and struggle are intense. This study offers several practical implications to athletes and managers. With more comprehensive longitudinal and experimental studies to be done in the future, the effects of threat appraisal on athletes should be investigated in detail and different solutions may be offered.