Psychological mechanism of character strengths and psychological stress affecting the athletic performance in swimmers
Abstract This study investigated the effects of swimmers’ character strengths (CS) on athletic performance and examined multiple mediating effects of psychological stress (PS), future self-continuity (FSC), and self-efficacy (SE) to reveal how psychological traits influence performance. Professional...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11936-5 |
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| author | Ze Wang Jirong Wang Jian Ma Tianyi Chen Haoxuan Yang Jiahui Liu Mo Sha Jizhao Li Lin Zhang |
| author_facet | Ze Wang Jirong Wang Jian Ma Tianyi Chen Haoxuan Yang Jiahui Liu Mo Sha Jizhao Li Lin Zhang |
| author_sort | Ze Wang |
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| description | Abstract This study investigated the effects of swimmers’ character strengths (CS) on athletic performance and examined multiple mediating effects of psychological stress (PS), future self-continuity (FSC), and self-efficacy (SE) to reveal how psychological traits influence performance. Professional swimmers (n = 603, M = 374, F = 229, age = 18.07 ± 3.43) were assessed using the Future Self Continuity Scale, Chinese Virtues Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Athlete Stress Evaluation Scale. Pearson tests and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) examined correlations and mediation. Athlete level correlated positively with CS, SE, FSC dimensions (affinity, vitality, willpower) and challenge appraisal, and negatively with threat and injury appraisal. Athletic performance was positively associated with CS, FSC, SE, and challenge appraisal (r = 0.024–0.562, p < 0.05) and negatively with threat and injury appraisal (r = -0.501 to -0.036, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed six pathways: affinity influenced performance via SE (indirect effect = 0.030, direct effect = 0.070, proportion = 29.99%), vitality via SE (0.033, 0.073, 31.03%), willpower via SE (0.034, 0.096, 25.90%), challenge appraisal via FSC (0.027, 0.090, 23.31%), threat appraisal via FSC (-0.014, -0.063, 18.71%), and injury appraisal via FSC (-0.022, -0.078, 22.14%). Affinity, vitality, and willpower increase with performance. CS positively predicts performance. PS predicts performance bidirectionally. SE and FSC mediate effects between CS, PS, and performance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dfb569d696cb404193339428854a24b0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-dfb569d696cb404193339428854a24b02025-08-20T03:45:59ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-11936-5Psychological mechanism of character strengths and psychological stress affecting the athletic performance in swimmersZe Wang0Jirong Wang1Jian Ma2Tianyi Chen3Haoxuan Yang4Jiahui Liu5Mo Sha6Jizhao Li7Lin Zhang8School of Police Law Enforcement Abilities Training, People’s Public Security University of ChinaSchool of Police Law Enforcement Abilities Training, People’s Public Security University of ChinaCollege of P.E and Sports, Beijing Normal UniversityCollege of P.E and Sports, Beijing Normal UniversityNewcastle Business School, Newcastle UniversityPhysical Education Department Baoding UniversityDepartment of Physical Education, Communication University of ChinaSchool of Martial Art and Traditional Chinese Sport, Beijing Sport UniversityDepartment of Rehabilitation, West China Hospital Sichuan University Jintang Hospital, Jintang First People’s HospitalAbstract This study investigated the effects of swimmers’ character strengths (CS) on athletic performance and examined multiple mediating effects of psychological stress (PS), future self-continuity (FSC), and self-efficacy (SE) to reveal how psychological traits influence performance. Professional swimmers (n = 603, M = 374, F = 229, age = 18.07 ± 3.43) were assessed using the Future Self Continuity Scale, Chinese Virtues Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Athlete Stress Evaluation Scale. Pearson tests and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) examined correlations and mediation. Athlete level correlated positively with CS, SE, FSC dimensions (affinity, vitality, willpower) and challenge appraisal, and negatively with threat and injury appraisal. Athletic performance was positively associated with CS, FSC, SE, and challenge appraisal (r = 0.024–0.562, p < 0.05) and negatively with threat and injury appraisal (r = -0.501 to -0.036, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed six pathways: affinity influenced performance via SE (indirect effect = 0.030, direct effect = 0.070, proportion = 29.99%), vitality via SE (0.033, 0.073, 31.03%), willpower via SE (0.034, 0.096, 25.90%), challenge appraisal via FSC (0.027, 0.090, 23.31%), threat appraisal via FSC (-0.014, -0.063, 18.71%), and injury appraisal via FSC (-0.022, -0.078, 22.14%). Affinity, vitality, and willpower increase with performance. CS positively predicts performance. PS predicts performance bidirectionally. SE and FSC mediate effects between CS, PS, and performance.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11936-5Character strengthsFuture self-continuityParallel multiple mediationPsychological stressSelf-efficacyswimmer |
| spellingShingle | Ze Wang Jirong Wang Jian Ma Tianyi Chen Haoxuan Yang Jiahui Liu Mo Sha Jizhao Li Lin Zhang Psychological mechanism of character strengths and psychological stress affecting the athletic performance in swimmers Scientific Reports Character strengths Future self-continuity Parallel multiple mediation Psychological stress Self-efficacy swimmer |
| title | Psychological mechanism of character strengths and psychological stress affecting the athletic performance in swimmers |
| title_full | Psychological mechanism of character strengths and psychological stress affecting the athletic performance in swimmers |
| title_fullStr | Psychological mechanism of character strengths and psychological stress affecting the athletic performance in swimmers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychological mechanism of character strengths and psychological stress affecting the athletic performance in swimmers |
| title_short | Psychological mechanism of character strengths and psychological stress affecting the athletic performance in swimmers |
| title_sort | psychological mechanism of character strengths and psychological stress affecting the athletic performance in swimmers |
| topic | Character strengths Future self-continuity Parallel multiple mediation Psychological stress Self-efficacy swimmer |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11936-5 |
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