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. 2025 May 6:16:1536743.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1536743. eCollection 2025.

The structural relationship between achievement goal orientation and perceived performance among swimmers: a chain multiple mediation model

Yuanjiao Zhu  1 , Weipeng Zhang  2 , Hao Liu  3 , Huitao Song  2
Affiliations

The structural relationship between achievement goal orientation and perceived performance among swimmers: a chain multiple mediation model

Yuanjiao Zhu et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Background: Achievement goal orientation (AGO) has been identified as an important determinant of Perceived Performance (PP) in athletes. However, there is limited research analyzing this relationship through multiple mediation models.

Methods: In this study, data from 377 competitive swimmers (45.1% female, 54.9% male, aged 18-22 years old) from Tianjin and Beijing universities were collected through questionnaires, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationship between AGO, Sports Enthusiasm (SE), Sports Commitment (SC), and Grit and PP.

Results: AGO significantly elevated PP (β = 0.116, p ≤ 0.001), explaining 76.6% of the total effect of AGO on PP through the chain-mediated effects of SE (β = 0.472, p ≤ 0.001), SC (β = 0.448, p ≤ 0.001) and Grit (β = 0.165, p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion: The chain mediation model of this study suggests that AGO enhances swimmers 'PP through SE, SC, and Grit, guiding coaches' goal setting, swimmers 'progress tracking, and psychologists' reassessment strategies.

Keywords: achievement goal theory; competitive swimming; goal orientation; motivation in sports; sports psychology; structural equation modeling.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hypothetical model diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structural equation model Diagr 1. cmean: achievement goal orientation; qmean: sports enthusiasm; tmean: sports commitment; ymean: grit; rmean: perceived performance.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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