Perceived Social Support and Psychological Resilience among Pakistani Women Cricketers

Abstract

Women cricketers in Pakistan frequently compete under demanding conditions characterized by limited resources and social challenges. Drawing on Conservation of Resources Theory, this study examined the association between perceived social support and psychological resilience among Pakistani women cricketers. Using a cross-sectional comparative design, 114 women cricketers (national-level, n = 57, club-level, n = 57) completed the Perceived Available Support in Sport Questionnaire (PASS-Q) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between perceived social support and psychological resilience (r = .797, p < .001). Tangible support showed the strongest association with resilience (r = .791, p < .001). National-level players reported significantly higher levels of perceived social support (d = 0.875) and psychological resilience (d = 1.064) than club-level players. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences in perceived social support across age and playing experience groups; however, psychological resilience did not differ significantly across these demographic groups. These results highlight the importance of social support, particularly its tangible dimension, as a critical psychological resource for women cricketers and suggest practical directions for athlete development and welfare programs.