Mental performance skills and athletic performance in combat athletes: the mediating role of mental toughness

Introduction Mental performance skills are recognized as critical for success in combat sports, yet the underlying mechanisms through which they influence performance remain poorly understood. This study examines the mediating role of mental toughness between mental performance skills and athletic performance within the framework of Conservation of Resources Theory. Method This quantitative research employed a correlational survey model. The study included 470 combat sport athletes (243 male, 227 female) from various universities in Türkiye. Participants completed the Mental Performance Skills Scale, the Mental Toughness Inventory, and the Athletic Performance Scale for Combat Athletes. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis and Structural Equation Modeling. Model fit indices were calculated as CFI = 0.983, TLI = 0.981, RMSEA = 0.08, and SRMR = 0.07. Results Correlation analysis revealed positive and significant correlations among all variables ( r = 0.394–0.445, p < 0.001). According to Cohen’s conventions, these values represent medium-to-large effect sizes. Structural equation modeling results indicated that mental performance skills had significant direct effects on athletic performance ( β = 0.353, p < 0.001) and on mental toughness ( β = 0.483, p < 0.001), and that mental toughness significantly predicted athletic performance ( β = 0.361, p < 0.001). Bootstrap analysis confirmed that mental toughness served as a significant mediator, as the indirect effect [ β = 0.174, 95% CI (0.111, 0.204)] did not contain zero. The direct effect ( β = 0.353, p < 0.001) remained significant after accounting for the indirect pathway. Conclusion In conclusion, mental performance skills strengthen mental toughness, and this enhanced mental toughness plays a significant mediating role in improving athletic performance. Structured mental skills training can improve not only competition results but also fundamental psychological capacities such as stress management and coping with challenging conditions.