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This study examines the development of achievement motivation and self-efficacy beliefs among athletes in elite sports schools.

July 5, 2026Behavioral SciencesOpen Access

Mental Skills Training: An Often-Overlooked Aspect of Preparation for Future High-Performing Athletes in Sports Schools

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Randomized trial analyzes achievement motivation and self-efficacy in elite sports schools, suggesting psychological training improves performance.

This study examines the development of achievement motivation and self-efficacy beliefs among athletes in elite sports schools.
Analyzed 658 athletes from Year 5 onwards in track and field performance assessments.
Documented achievement motivation, self-efficacy beliefs, and psychological factors from 2016 to 2025.
Performed statistical analyses including Kruskal–Wallis test to assess gender and performance level differences.
Found small effects in fear of failure and confidence with effect sizes between 0.175 to 0.25 (p=0.001, p=0.026).
Identified significant differences in self-discipline (p=0.010), goal setting (p=0.013), and confidence (p=0.029) among performance levels, with modest effect sizes (0.08 to 0.14).
Top athletes showed a significantly different psychological profile compared to others at time t1 (p=0.001).

Schröder et al. (2026) studied this question.

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Randomized trial analyzes achievement motivation and self-efficacy in elite sports schools, suggesting psychological training improves performance.