Relationship of Narcissism and Coping Strategies with Competitive Stress among Female Elite Athletes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between narcissism and coping strategies with competitive stress in elite athletes. This research was a descriptive-correlation research method (structural equation modeling). In terms of purpose, the present study was an applied type of research and, in terms of time, was a kind of future research. The statistical population of this study was all elite male and female athletes of East Azarbaijan province in two age groups of youth and adults from team who participated in the championship of 2019. According to the Cochran formula 270 athletes were selected as a sample size. To collect demographic information and measure variables, Individual information form, narcissism and coping strategies in sports competition questionnaires were used. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (KS) was used to verify the natural distribution of data, Cronbach's alpha coefficient to calculate the internal consistency of instrument, Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the correlation between variables, Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to study the structural equation modeling and (SEM) models to test the fitting of the base model with the data and to determine the structural relationships between the variables at 95 confidence level, using SPSS22 and Liserl software version 8.53. The results showed that pride had with the greatest impact and the most important role on thought control strategy, imagery, logical analysis, search support, evacuation of unpleasant emotions, distraction of mind and surrender/withdrawal. To be Right had the greatest impact and the most important role on relaxation strategy, efforts to deal with competitive stress in elite athletes.