a comparison of time perspective dimensions between elite and non-elite taekwondo athletes

Background :the theory of zimbardo's time perspectives (tp) has attracted considerable attention in fields such as education and health; however, its role in athletic performance remains underexplored. objectives :this study aimed to compare tp dimensions between elite and non-elite taekwondo athletes. methods :this comparative cross-sectional study purposively sampled 300 male taekwondo athletes in tehran, including 105 elite (with national team experience) and 195 non-elite athletes. the tp were assessed using zimbardo's time perspective inventory (ztpi). data were analyzed via multivariate analysis of variance (manova) using spss 26 (α = 0.05). results :significant differences emerged between elite and non-elite athletes across several tp dimensions. elite athletes scored significantly higher in past-positive (pp), present-hedonistic (ph), and future (f) dimensions, while non-elite athletes scored higher in present-fatalistic (pf) and past-negative (pn) dimensions. conclusions :these findings underscore the practical relevance of tp theory in sports. psychological interventions promoting a balanced tp may enhance athletes' focus, motivation, and mental resilience. coaches and sport psychologists can leverage these insights to support performance and long-term development, especially in competitive disciplines like taekwondo.