Background & Purpose: This research aims to investigate the mediating role of rumination in enduring emotional distress and cognitive flexibility with existential anxiety among adolescent athletes in Aliabadkatol city.
Method: The research was applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-correlational in terms of method. The statistical population includes 3800 young athletes of Ali Abadkatol city. The sample size is estimated at 350 people. A simple random sampling method was used to select the sample. Data collection was done by the emotional distress tolerance questionnaire of Simmons and Gaher (2005), the psychological flexibility questionnaire of Dennis and Vanderwaal (2010), the rumination questionnaire of Nolen Hoeksma and Maro (1991) and the existential anxiety questionnaire of Weems (2004). For data analysis, structural equation modeling was used using Smart-PLS software.
Results: The results of the structural equation model showed that there is a significant relationship between emotional distress tolerance and cognitive flexibility with rumination (P>0.05). There is a significant relationship between rumination, tolerance of emotional distress and cognitive flexibility with existential anxiety (P>0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of the study of rumination factors, distress tolerance, cognitive flexibility and existential anxiety can have different effects on each other among teenage athletes.