PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE AND COMPETITIVE ANXIETY REGULATION IN YOUNG ATHLETES: AN IMRAD-BASED INTEGRATIVE STUDY

Abstract

This article examines psychological resilience and competitive anxiety regulation in young athletes as interdependent determinants of sustainable sport performance, educational adaptation, and long-term athlete development. The central argument is that anxiety is not simply a negative emotional state to be suppressed, but a psychophysiological signal that becomes constructive or destructive depending on the athlete's coping repertoire, coaching climate, parental expectations, recovery habits, and interpretation of competitive pressure. On the basis of an integrative review of contemporary sport psychology literature, international physical activity guidelines, and applied recommendations for athlete mental health, the study develops a structured model in which resilience is treated as a dynamic capacity formed through self-regulation, meaning-making, social support, autonomy-supportive coaching, sleep discipline, load monitoring, and reflective learning. The article uses the IMRAD logic to synthesize evidence and proposes pedagogical and psychological mechanisms for reducing maladaptive anxiety without weakening competitive motivation. The findings indicate that resilient young athletes are not those who never experience fear, but those who can transform uncertainty into task-oriented attention and recover psychologically after defeat. Practical recommendations are offered for coaches, physical education teachers, parents, and sport institutions.