Sustainable sport nutrition behaviors, mental resilience, and perceived athletic performance in competitive athletes.
- 1Education and Sports School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- 2Public Physical Education Department, Soochow College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
Abstract
Background
Sustainable dietary practices may influence athlete health, recovery, psychological stability, and environmental responsibility; however, evidence regarding their relationship with mental resilience and perceived athletic performance remains limited.Objective
This study investigated associations among sustainable sport nutrition practices, sustainability awareness, recovery quality, mental resilience, and perceived athletic performance in competitive athletes.Methods
A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted over 8 weeks. Of 300 invited athletes, 230 agreed to participate and 202 completed the full survey. Participants completed self-report measures assessing sustainable sport nutrition practices, sustainability awareness, recovery quality, mental resilience, and perceived athletic performance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 survey completers. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regression, while qualitative data were examined using reflexive thematic analysis and integrated through a joint display.Results
Sustainable sport nutrition practices were positively associated with mental resilience (r = 0.47, p < 0.001), recovery quality (r = 0.43, p < 0.001), and perceived athletic performance (r = 0.39, p < 0.001). Sustainability awareness was associated with sustainable nutrition practices (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that sustainable sport nutrition practices (β = 0.32, p < 0.001), recovery quality (β = 0.29, p < 0.001), and sustainability awareness (β = 0.21, p = 0.003) were positively associated with mental resilience, which was associated with perceived athletic performance (β = 0.36, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings indicated that structured nutrition routines supported mental preparation, recovery confidence, emotional regulation, and training discipline.Conclusion
Sustainable sport nutrition behaviors were associated with improved recovery quality, mental resilience, and perceived athletic performance. Findings should be interpreted as associations due to the cross-sectional design and self-report measures. Sustainable sport nutrition should emphasize performance compatibility, adequate energy availability, and sufficient protein intake rather than restrictive approaches.
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BibTeX
@article{xitong2026sustainable,
title = {{Sustainable sport nutrition behaviors, mental resilience, and perceived athletic performance in competitive athletes.}},
author = {Fan Xitong and Miao Cheng},
journal = {Frontiers in nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fnut.2026.1935463},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903112},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sustainable sport nutrition behaviors, mental resilience, and perceived athletic performance in competitive athletes.
AU - Fan Xitong
AU - Miao Cheng
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Frontiers in nutrition
DO - 10.3389/fnut.2026.1935463
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903112
AB - Background Sustainable dietary practices may influence athlete health, recovery, psychological stability, and environmental responsibility; however, evidence regarding their relationship with mental resilience and perceived athletic performance remains limited.Objective This study investigated associations among sustainable sport nutrition practices, sustainability awareness, recovery quality, mental resilience, and perceived athletic performance in competitive athletes.Methods A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted over 8 weeks. Of 300 invited athletes, 230 agreed to participate and 202 completed the full survey. Participants completed self-report measures assessing sustainable sport nutrition practices, sustainability awareness, recovery quality, mental resilience, and perceived athletic performance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 survey completers. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regression, while qualitative data were examined using reflexive thematic analysis and integrated through a joint display.Results Sustainable sport nutrition practices were positively associated with mental resilience (r = 0.47, p < 0.001), recovery quality (r = 0.43, p < 0.001), and perceived athletic performance (r = 0.39, p < 0.001). Sustainability awareness was associated with sustainable nutrition practices (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that sustainable sport nutrition practices (β = 0.32, p < 0.001), recovery quality (β = 0.29, p < 0.001), and sustainability awareness (β = 0.21, p = 0.003) were positively associated with mental resilience, which was associated with perceived athletic performance (β = 0.36, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings indicated that structured nutrition routines supported mental preparation, recovery confidence, emotional regulation, and training discipline.Conclusion Sustainable sport nutrition behaviors were associated with improved recovery quality, mental resilience, and perceived athletic performance. Findings should be interpreted as associations due to the cross-sectional design and self-report measures. Sustainable sport nutrition should emphasize performance compatibility, adequate energy availability, and sufficient protein intake rather than restrictive approaches.
SN - 2296-861X
ER -