The study explores the factors influencing perceived athletic competence among Chinese university students, focusing on sports knowledge, training quality, psychological preparation, peer support, goal setting, and external motivation. A total of 1200 questionnaires were distributed, and 927 fully completed responses were collected from universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Wuhan. The study used a stratified sampling technique and structured questionnaire to ensure demographic representation. Results from Structural Equations Modeling (SEM) revealed significant relationships: sports information (β = 0.32, p 0.95, and SRMR < 0.08, demonstrating the appropriateness of the measurement and structural models. These findings emphasize the need for personalized, contextualized sports development intervention and increase the understanding of the complex processes affecting athletic performance.
Yang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.