The association between psychological capital and sport performance in elite athletes: the chain mediating role of sport self-efficacy and sport self-handicapping.
- 1Physical Education, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
Elite athletes are continuously exposed to high-intensity training, competitive pressure, and public evaluation. Sport performance is influenced not only by physical fitness and technical-tactical competence but also by psychological resources. As a positive psychological resource, psychological capital may contribute to the maintenance of stable sport performance under stressful conditions. However, existing research has primarily focused on the direct association between psychological capital and sport performance, while the underlying mechanisms, particularly the roles of sport self-efficacy and sport self-handicapping, remain underexamined. This study aimed to investigate the association between psychological capital and sport performance among elite athletes and further examine the mediating and chain mediating roles of sport self-efficacy and sport self-handicapping. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 410 elite athletes. The instruments included the Psychological Capital Scale, Sport Self-Efficacy Scale, Sport Self-Handicapping Scale, and Sport Performance Scale. Correlation analysis, regression analysis, and Bootstrap chain mediation effect testing were conducted to examine the associations among psychological capital, sport self-efficacy, sport self-handicapping, and sport performance. The results indicated that psychological capital was not only directly associated with elite athletes' sport performance but also indirectly associated with sport performance through enhanced sport self-efficacy and reduced sport self-handicapping. This study elucidates the psychological mechanism of "enhanced positive capability beliefs-reduced defensive strategies" through which psychological capital is associated with sport performance, providing a theoretical basis for psychological training and performance interventions among elite athletes.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026association,
title = {{The association between psychological capital and sport performance in elite athletes: the chain mediating role of sport self-efficacy and sport self-handicapping.}},
author = {Duo Zhang and Weijie Gao and Lumin Liu and Xue Li and Hengyu Li and Huairan Wang and Jin Hwang},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1883522},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42996224},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The association between psychological capital and sport performance in elite athletes: the chain mediating role of sport self-efficacy and sport self-handicapping.
AU - Duo Zhang
AU - Weijie Gao
AU - Lumin Liu
AU - Xue Li
AU - Hengyu Li
AU - Huairan Wang
AU - Jin Hwang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Frontiers in psychology
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1883522
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42996224
AB - Elite athletes are continuously exposed to high-intensity training, competitive pressure, and public evaluation. Sport performance is influenced not only by physical fitness and technical-tactical competence but also by psychological resources. As a positive psychological resource, psychological capital may contribute to the maintenance of stable sport performance under stressful conditions. However, existing research has primarily focused on the direct association between psychological capital and sport performance, while the underlying mechanisms, particularly the roles of sport self-efficacy and sport self-handicapping, remain underexamined. This study aimed to investigate the association between psychological capital and sport performance among elite athletes and further examine the mediating and chain mediating roles of sport self-efficacy and sport self-handicapping. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 410 elite athletes. The instruments included the Psychological Capital Scale, Sport Self-Efficacy Scale, Sport Self-Handicapping Scale, and Sport Performance Scale. Correlation analysis, regression analysis, and Bootstrap chain mediation effect testing were conducted to examine the associations among psychological capital, sport self-efficacy, sport self-handicapping, and sport performance. The results indicated that psychological capital was not only directly associated with elite athletes' sport performance but also indirectly associated with sport performance through enhanced sport self-efficacy and reduced sport self-handicapping. This study elucidates the psychological mechanism of "enhanced positive capability beliefs-reduced defensive strategies" through which psychological capital is associated with sport performance, providing a theoretical basis for psychological training and performance interventions among elite athletes.
SN - 1664-1078
ER -