The psychological foundations of moral disengagement: the dynamic relationships between state desperation, psychological flexibility, and mental well-being

Abstract

Background: Moral disengagement has been linked to unethical behaviors in sport, yet the mechanisms through which acute psychological states, such as state desperation, influence these behaviors remain underexplored, particularly among professional athletes. Objective: This study investigated the serial mediating role of psychological flexibility and mental well-being levels in the relationship between state desperation and moral disengagement behaviors among professional footballers. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study and included 474 voluntarily participating professional football players who played in professional leagues across Turkey in the 2024–2025 season and were selected by a convenience sampling method. Participants completed a demographic form and scales assessing state desperation, psychological flexibility, mental well-being, and moral disengagement. Data were analyzed using SPSS v22. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships between the variables, and regression analysis was used to assess the effect of state desperation on moral disengagement. Regression analysis based on the indirect effect approach, using the bootstrap method, was performed with the PROCESS v3.5 macro. Model 6 assessed the serial mediating effects of psychological flexibility and mental well-being. The 95% confidence interval values obtained from this analysis should not include zero. Results: The study found a negative relationship between state desperation and psychological flexibility, indicating that higher desperation is associated with reduced flexibility. Additionally, psychological flexibility was positively associated with mental well-being, while moral disengagement was positively correlated with feelings of desperation. These results suggest that individuals with a tendency to engage in desperate behavior are more likely to justify unethical actions, and improving psychological flexibility can enhance both mental health and ethical decision-making. Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of enhancing football players’ psychological flexibility and mental health to reduce moral disengagement and promote more ethical decision-making. It also shows that age, experience, and position have a significant impact on players’ performance and decision-making, underscoring the need for individual and team performance interventions.