Differences in the relationship among grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and sport confidence across performance levels: a multi-group analysis

Abstract In the literature on high-competition sports, some evidence has been suggested regarding the relationships between athletes’ grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and confidence. However, there has been a lack of integrated approaches to examine the relationships among these varia...

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Main Authors: Yong-Quan Shen, Young-Kyun Sim, Junsu Bae, In-Ju Bang, Jae-Pil Seo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16448-w
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author Yong-Quan Shen
Young-Kyun Sim
Junsu Bae
In-Ju Bang
Jae-Pil Seo
author_facet Yong-Quan Shen
Young-Kyun Sim
Junsu Bae
In-Ju Bang
Jae-Pil Seo
author_sort Yong-Quan Shen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In the literature on high-competition sports, some evidence has been suggested regarding the relationships between athletes’ grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and confidence. However, there has been a lack of integrated approaches to examine the relationships among these variables, and the performance level of athletes have not been considered. Therefore, this study (a) analyzed the structural relationships between grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and confidence, and (b) investigated how these relationships vary according to athletes’ performance levels. Participants were 270 student-athletes (209 males, 61 females) from various sports, all of whom were involved in highly competitive sports in South Korea. Athletes who had won at least one national-level competition were classified into the medal winner group (n = 112), while those without such experience were classified into the non-medal winner group (n = 158). Multi-group analysis showed that the structural relationships among grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and confidence varied according to the athletes’ performance levels. In the medal winner group, self-regulation fully mediated the effect of competition preparation on confidence, whereas in the non-medal winner group, the mediation was partial. Furthermore, the path estimates for self-regulation, competition preparation, and confidence were found to be greater in the medal winner group. This study highlights that coaches should understand athletes’ performance levels and apply appropriate strategies accordingly.
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spelling doaj-art-7e56e37bffec4ff2923e6e974d45b7a32025-08-24T11:22:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-16448-wDifferences in the relationship among grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and sport confidence across performance levels: a multi-group analysisYong-Quan Shen0Young-Kyun Sim1Junsu Bae2In-Ju Bang3Jae-Pil Seo4 Physical Education Institute, Yancheng Polytechnic CollegeDepartment of Sports Welfare Convergence Research Institute, Woosuk UniversityInstitute of Sports Contents, Gyeongkuk National UniversityDepartment of Taekwondo, Korea National Sport UniversitySports & Leisure Studies, Gimcheon UniversityAbstract In the literature on high-competition sports, some evidence has been suggested regarding the relationships between athletes’ grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and confidence. However, there has been a lack of integrated approaches to examine the relationships among these variables, and the performance level of athletes have not been considered. Therefore, this study (a) analyzed the structural relationships between grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and confidence, and (b) investigated how these relationships vary according to athletes’ performance levels. Participants were 270 student-athletes (209 males, 61 females) from various sports, all of whom were involved in highly competitive sports in South Korea. Athletes who had won at least one national-level competition were classified into the medal winner group (n = 112), while those without such experience were classified into the non-medal winner group (n = 158). Multi-group analysis showed that the structural relationships among grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and confidence varied according to the athletes’ performance levels. In the medal winner group, self-regulation fully mediated the effect of competition preparation on confidence, whereas in the non-medal winner group, the mediation was partial. Furthermore, the path estimates for self-regulation, competition preparation, and confidence were found to be greater in the medal winner group. This study highlights that coaches should understand athletes’ performance levels and apply appropriate strategies accordingly.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16448-wPerseveranceLong-term goalSelf-controlPre-competitionPerformance level
spellingShingle Yong-Quan Shen
Young-Kyun Sim
Junsu Bae
In-Ju Bang
Jae-Pil Seo
Differences in the relationship among grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and sport confidence across performance levels: a multi-group analysis
Scientific Reports
Perseverance
Long-term goal
Self-control
Pre-competition
Performance level
title Differences in the relationship among grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and sport confidence across performance levels: a multi-group analysis
title_full Differences in the relationship among grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and sport confidence across performance levels: a multi-group analysis
title_fullStr Differences in the relationship among grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and sport confidence across performance levels: a multi-group analysis
title_full_unstemmed Differences in the relationship among grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and sport confidence across performance levels: a multi-group analysis
title_short Differences in the relationship among grit, self-regulation, competition preparation, and sport confidence across performance levels: a multi-group analysis
title_sort differences in the relationship among grit self regulation competition preparation and sport confidence across performance levels a multi group analysis
topic Perseverance
Long-term goal
Self-control
Pre-competition
Performance level
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16448-w
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AT junsubae differencesintherelationshipamonggritselfregulationcompetitionpreparationandsportconfidenceacrossperformancelevelsamultigroupanalysis
AT injubang differencesintherelationshipamonggritselfregulationcompetitionpreparationandsportconfidenceacrossperformancelevelsamultigroupanalysis
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