Ashkinazi S.M., Dr. Hab., Professor
Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health, St. Petersburg
Saint-Petersburg State Academy of Veterinary Medicine, St. Petersburg

Sytnik G.V., PhD
Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health, St. Petersburg
Saint-Petersburg State Academy of Veterinary Medicine, St. Petersburg

Andreev Vit.V., PhD
Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health, St. Petersburg

Andreev V.Vit., PhD
Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health, St. Petersburg

Objective of the study was to analysis of the psychological nature of the phenomenon of faith, identification of its functions and disclosure of the mechanisms of its manifestation in real life situations of student-athletes.
Methods and structure of the study. The attitude of student-athletes to the phenomenon of «Faith» was determined by the following features: attitude to faith, need for faith, faith in God, degree of faith, attitude to omens, attitude to rituals, attitude to supernatural phenomena. The study involved 78 fifth-year student-athletes of NSU named after P.F. Lesgaft, St. Petersburg, 12 different specializations.
Results and conclusions. The phenomenon of faith reflects various aspects of mental reality. A connection was found between the need to actualize faith and certain life circumstances: most often, the need for faith arises in crisis situations. In the course of the study, four large blocks were identified for analyzing the phenomenon of faith: «spirituality block» (34,29%), «transpersonal block» (10,48%), «block of extrapsychic phenomena» (7,62%) and «block of mental phenomena» (47,62%). This systematization allows us to state that the phenomenon of faith is a purely mental formation. The central concept describing faith is «spirituality». The impact of faith on a person is manifested in the form of help, hope, accompaniment and general positive influence. Faith should be considered as an integral psychological characteristic that unites various manifestations of mental reality into a single whole. This integration can help in a deeper understanding of the role of faith in human life and its influence on the psychological aspects of being.

Keywords: faith, mental health, student-athletes, spirituality, mental resilience, social interactions, motivation, personal growth, transpersonal phenomena, psychological support.

References

1. Andreev, V. V., & Andreev, V. V. (2020). Sportivnyy ritual v strukture psikhologicheskoy podgotovki sportsmena [Sports ritual in the structure of psychological preparation of an athlete]. Vestnik Pskovskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya: Psikhologo-pedagogicheskiye nauki, 11, 36-47.