Sport Psychology Studies

Sport Psychology Studies

The Role of Social Comparison Orientation, Self-Efficacy, and Competitive Anxiety in Enhancing Athletic Performance: A Psychological Model

Document Type : Original research

Authors
Leily Alizadeh 1
Sahar Mohammadzadeh 2
1 Assistant Professor of Motor Behavior, Sports Science Department, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor of Motor Behavior, Sports Science Department, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran.
10.22089/spsyj.2025.17558.2536
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of social comparison orientation on athletic performance, considering the mediating roles of self-efficacy and competitive anxiety among athletes.
Methods & Materials: The research was conceptually grounded in a model that explored the direct and indirect psychological determinants of athletic performance. Employing a descriptive-correlational design, the study involved 214 student-athletes (123 males and 91 females) participating in the 16th National Cultural-Sports Olympiad for University Students. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires assessing social comparison orientation, general self-efficacy, competitive anxiety, and athletic performance. Structural equation modeling and Sobel tests were employed for analysis.
Results: The findings revealed that social comparison orientation significantly influenced athletic performance directly and indirectly. The mediating role of self-efficacy was stronger than that of competitive anxiety. Specifically, self-efficacy positively and competitive anxiety negatively impacted athletic performance. Moreover, social comparison orientation positively affected self-efficacy while negatively influencing competitive anxiety. These results indicate that social comparison orientation can effectively enhance athletic performance by boosting self-efficacy and mitigating the adverse effects of competitive anxiety.
Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of psychological interventions in managing factors associated with athletic performance. Coaches and sports psychologists are encouraged to implement strategies aimed at strengthening self-efficacy and reducing competitive anxiety. Additionally, longitudinal studies are recommended to examine the stability of these relationships across different age groups and levels of athletic expertise.
Keywords
Social comparison
Self-efficacy
Competitive anxiety
Athletic performance
Psychological factors

Subjects

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Sport Psychology Studies
Volume 14, Issue 53
Summer 2025
Pages 82-99

  • Receive Date 17 December 2024
  • Revise Date 21 May 2025
  • Accept Date 10 June 2025