Psychological resilience, empathy, and sensitivity to violence against children in coach candidates: An examination of the indirect association

Yurtseven C. N., Biçer Baikoğlu S., Gül O., Dal S.

Journal of Sports and Physical Activity, cilt.2, sa.2, ss.68-81, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

Background: Safe sport requires coaches to recognize and respond appropriately to behaviors that may threaten athletes’ well-being, particularly in child and adolescent sport settings. Aim: This study examined the relationships among psychological resilience, empathy, and sensitivity to violence against children in coach candidates, with particular focus on the statistical mediating role of empathy. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was employed with 183 undergraduate students enrolled in Coaching Education. Data were collected using the Brief Resilience Scale, Empathy Assessment Scale, Sensitivity to Violence Against Children Scale, and a demographic information form. Independent-samples t tests, one-way ANOVA, and Hayes’ PROCESS Model 4 were used. Results: Empathy was positively associated with sensitivity to violence against children (B = 0.328, p < .001). Psychological resilience did not significantly predict empathy (p = .055) or sensitivity to violence directly (p = .147). However, the indirect effect of psychological resilience on sensitivity to violence through empathy was significant (B = -0.077, 95% CI [-0.156, -0.008], p = .015). Conclusion: Empathy showed a significant statistical indirect association in the relationship between psychological resilience and sensitivity to violence against children. Given the cross-sectional design, this finding should not be interpreted as evidence of causal mediation or a temporal mechanism. These findings highlight the potential relevance of empathy and safe-sport education in coach education. However, longitudinal and intervention-based studies are needed to determine whether such approaches influence sensitivity to violence.