The Relationship Between Fear of Failure and Attributional Styles with the Mediating Role of Competitive State Anxiety in Karate Athletes in Gilan Province

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: The present study aimed to determine the relationship between fear of failure and attributional styles through the mediating role of competitive state anxiety in karate athletes.

Methodology: This applied study employed a correlational design using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all karate athletes in Gilan province during 2024–2025, from which 250 participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Fear of Failure Questionnaire (Conroy et al.), Attributional Style Questionnaire (Anderson & Arnoult), and Competitive State Anxiety Inventory. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling in SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 24 .

Findings: The results indicated that fear of failure had no significant direct effect on attributional styles (p > 0.05). However, fear of failure had a significant positive direct effect on competitive state anxiety (p < 0.05). Furthermore, competitive state anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between fear of failure and several dimensions of attributional styles, including locus, stability, and globality in success situations, and controllability in failure situations (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The findings suggest that although fear of failure does not directly influence attributional styles, it exerts indirect effects through increasing competitive state anxiety; therefore, managing competitive anxiety may play a critical role in improving attributional patterns and psychological functioning in athletes.