The Mediating Role of Mental Fatigue Awareness in the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Psychological Well-Being Among Combat Athletes

Last registered on January 06, 2026
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The Mediating Role of Mental Fatigue Awareness in the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Psychological Well-Being Among Combat Athletes
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0017218
Initial registration date
November 11, 2025

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
November 17, 2025, 7:13 AM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated
January 06, 2026, 7:41 AM EST

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Country
Turkey
Region
GÜMÜŞHANE

Primary Investigator

Name
coşkun yılmaz
Affiliation
ev
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2025-09-05
End date
2025-10-26
Keywords
Education
Additional Keywords
Keywords: Wrestling, combat sports, psychological resilience, wellbeing, anxiety, mental health, adolescents
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
the Ethics Committee of Gümüşhane University (Approval No: 2025/6, June 25, 2025)
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Combat athletes face unique psychological demands, and stress can affect both their cognitive awareness and well-being. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of mental fatigue awareness in the relationship between perceived stress and psychological well-being, providing insights into the structure of psychological resilience in this population.
Methods: A total of 303 combat athletes voluntarily participated. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Mental Fatigue Awareness Scale, and Psychological Well-being Scale. Statistical analyses assessed the direct effects of perceived stress on psychological well-being, the effect of stress on mental fatigue awareness, and the potential mediating role of mental fatigue awareness.
Results: Perceived stress significantly increased mental fatigue awareness (b = 0.732 ± 0.064, β = 0.549, p = 0.001) and directly decreased psychological well-being (b = –0.488 ± 0.166, β = –0.191, p = 0.004). Mental fatigue awareness negatively affected psychological well-being (b = –0.374 ± 0.124, β = –0.195, p = 0.003) and partially mediated the relationship between stress and well-being (indirect effect: b = –0.274 ± 0.115, β = –0.107, p = 0.003; 95% CI = –0.504 to –0.049).
Conclusion: Perceived stress affects psychological well-being both directly and indirectly through increased mental fatigue awareness. These findings highlight the importance of supporting stress management and coping strategies for mental fatigue to maintain optimal psychological well-being in combat athletes.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
yılmaz, coşkun. 2026. "The Mediating Role of Mental Fatigue Awareness in the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Psychological Well-Being Among Combat Athletes." AEA RCT Registry. January 06. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.17218-1.1
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
A total of 303 individuals volunteered to participate in this study. All participants were athletes who actively trained in various combat sports disciplines (boxing, taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, etc.) and declared that they did not have any chronic psychological or neurological disorders. Prior to data collection, participants were informed about the purpose and procedures of the study; it was emphasised that participation was voluntary, and informed consent forms were obtained. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the relevant institution and the CONSORT guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ondokuz Mayıs University Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Decision No. 2025-648, 25 April 2025) prior to data collection. The data were collected individually via an online survey form. The data were collected between June 15, 2025, and July 25, 2025. The survey form consists of questions regarding demographic information, followed by scales measuring perceived stress, mental fatigue awareness, and psychological well-being. It took participants an average of 10–12 minutes to complete the survey.
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2025-09-07
Intervention End Date
2025-10-19

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Perceived Stress
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was developed by Cohen et al. (1983) to assess the extent to which individuals perceive situations in their lives as stressful. Its Turkish adaptation was carried out by Eskin et al. (2013). The scale consists of a total of 14 items, and participants respond to each item on a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from “Never (0)” to “Very often (4)”. Seven items with positive meanings (4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13) are reverse-scored, so that the total score indicates the individual’s stress level. The scale’s internal consistency coefficient was found to be 0.84.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Mental Fatigue Awareness
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
This scale, developed by Kara et al. (2024) to determine the level of awareness of mental fatigue experienced by athletes who actively participate in sports after training or competition, consists of 25 items, a single sub-dimension, and a 5-point Likert scale. The Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency coefficient for the scale was calculated to be 0.96.

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
A total of 303 individuals volunteered to participate in this study. All participants were athletes who actively trained in various combat sports disciplines (boxing, taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, etc.) and declared that they did not have any chronic psychological or neurological disorders. Prior to data collection, participants were informed about the purpose and procedures of the study; it was emphasised that participation was voluntary, and informed consent forms were obtained. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the relevant institution and the CONSORT guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ondokuz Mayıs University Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Decision No. 2025-648, 25 April 2025) prior to data collection. The data were collected individually via an online survey form. The data were collected between June 15, 2025, and July 25, 2025. The survey form consists of questions regarding demographic information, followed by scales measuring perceived stress, mental fatigue awareness, and psychological well-being. It took participants an average of 10–12 minutes to complete the survey.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
A total of 303 individuals volunteered to participate in this study. All participants were athletes who actively trained in various combat sports disciplines (boxing, taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, etc.) and declared that they did not have any chronic psychological or neurological disorders. Prior to data collection, participants were informed about the purpose and procedures of the study; it was emphasised that participation was voluntary, and informed consent forms were obtained. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the relevant institution and the CONSORT guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ondokuz Mayıs University Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Decision No. 2025-648, 25 April 2025) prior to data collection. The data were collected individually via an online survey form. The data were collected between June 15, 2025, and July 25, 2025. The survey form consists of questions regarding demographic information, followed by scales measuring perceived stress, mental fatigue awareness, and psychological well-being. It took participants an average of 10–12 minutes to complete the survey.
Randomization Unit
A total of 303 individuals volunteered to participate in this study. All participants were athletes who actively trained in various combat sports disciplines (boxing, taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, etc.) and declared that they did not have any chronic psychological or neurological disorders. Prior to data collection, participants were informed about the purpose and procedures of the study; it was emphasised that participation was voluntary, and informed consent forms were obtained. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the relevant institution and the CONSORT guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ondokuz Mayıs University Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Decision No. 2025-648, 25 April 2025) prior to data collection. The data were collected individually via an online survey form. The data were collected between June 15, 2025, and July 25, 2025. The survey form consists of questions regarding demographic information, followed by scales measuring perceived stress, mental fatigue awareness, and psychological well-being. It took participants an average of 10–12 minutes to complete the survey.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
A total of 303 individuals volunteered to participate in this study. All participants were athletes who actively trained in various combat sports disciplines (boxing, taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, etc.) and declared that they did not have any chronic psychological or neurological disorders. Prior to data collection, participants were informed about the purpose and procedures of the study; it was emphasised that participation was voluntary, and informed consent forms were obtained. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the relevant institution and the CONSORT guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ondokuz Mayıs University Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Decision No. 2025-648, 25 April 2025) prior to data collection. The data were collected individually via an online survey form. The data were collected between June 15, 2025, and July 25, 2025. The survey form consists of questions regarding demographic information, followed by scales measuring perceived stress, mental fatigue awareness, and psychological well-being. It took participants an average of 10–12 minutes to complete the survey.
Sample size: planned number of observations
A total of 303 individuals volunteered to participate in this study. All participants were athletes who actively trained in various combat sports disciplines (boxing, taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, etc.) and declared that they did not have any chronic psychological or neurological disorders. Prior to data collection, participants were informed about the purpose and procedures of the study; it was emphasised that participation was voluntary, and informed consent forms were obtained. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the relevant institution and the CONSORT guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ondokuz Mayıs University Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Decision No. 2025-648, 25 April 2025) prior to data collection. The data were collected individually via an online survey form. The data were collected between June 15, 2025, and July 25, 2025. The survey form consists of questions regarding demographic information, followed by scales measuring perceived stress, mental fatigue awareness, and psychological well-being. It took participants an average of 10–12 minutes to complete the survey.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
A total of 303 individuals volunteered to participate in this study. All participants were athletes who actively trained in various combat sports disciplines (boxing, taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, etc.) and declared that they did not have any chronic psychological or neurological disorders. Prior to data collection, participants were informed about the purpose and procedures of the study; it was emphasised that participation was voluntary, and informed consent forms were obtained. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the relevant institution and the CONSORT guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ondokuz Mayıs University Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Decision No. 2025-648, 25 April 2025) prior to data collection. The data were collected individually via an online survey form. The data were collected between June 15, 2025, and July 25, 2025. The survey form consists of questions regarding demographic information, followed by scales measuring perceived stress, mental fatigue awareness, and psychological well-being. It took participants an average of 10–12 minutes to complete the survey.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
A total of 303 individuals volunteered to participate in this study. All participants were athletes who actively trained in various combat sports disciplines (boxing, taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, etc.) and declared that they did not have any chronic psychological or neurological disorders. Prior to data collection, participants were informed about the purpose and procedures of the study; it was emphasised that participation was voluntary, and informed consent forms were obtained. The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the relevant institution and the CONSORT guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ondokuz Mayıs University Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Decision No. 2025-648, 25 April 2025) prior to data collection. The data were collected individually via an online survey form. The data were collected between June 15, 2025, and July 25, 2025. The survey form consists of questions regarding demographic information, followed by scales measuring perceived stress, mental fatigue awareness, and psychological well-being. It took participants an average of 10–12 minutes to complete the survey.
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

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IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

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