Effects of sport psychological capital and athletic burnout on athletic performance among collegiate taekwondo athletes

Abstract

This study examines the relationships among Sport Psychological Capital, athletic burnout, and Athletic Performance among collegiate Taekwondo athletes. An online questionnaire survey using convenience sampling was conducted with athletes competing in the collegiate open division in Taiwan. A total of 103 valid questionnaires were collected, resulting in a valid response rate of 98.09%. The results showed that Sport Psychological Capital had a significant negative effect on athletic burnout, suggesting that athletes with higher levels of psychological capital, including hope, optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy, were less likely to experience physical and emotional exhaustion and sport devaluation. Sport Psychological Capital also had a significant positive effect on Athletic Performance,
indicating that positive psychological resources were associated with better competitive performance and greater technical stability. In contrast, athletic burnout had a significant negative effect on Athletic Performance, indicating that physical and psychological exhaustion was associated with poorer Athletic Performance. In addition, athletic burnout partially mediated the relationship between Sport Psychological Capital and Athletic Performance. Overall, the findings suggest that Sport Psychological Capital is related to Athletic Performance both directly and indirectly through reduced athletic burnout. Thus, reducing athletic burnout may be an important pathway through which athletes can better translate their psychological resources into Athletic Performance. Coaches and sports teams are therefore encouraged to incorporate psychological capital development and systematic recovery management into regular training programs to help athletes maintain stable competitive performance.