The impact of religious-psychological factors on self-perceived sport performance among religious athletes in Malaysia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2024
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which religious-psychological factors contribute to self-perceived sport performance among religious athletes. Methods: The participants consisted of 612 athletes (310 males, 302 females) aged 12-70 years (mean age = 25.33; SD = 8.99) who were competing in sport competitions at the time, either individually or in a team, or both, and who had formally registered in local, regional, or national sport federations in Malaysia. They completed the Athletic Religious Faith Scale (ARFS) and a self-perceived sport performance questionnaire. Results: The results showed that religious-psychological factors explain around 21% of the variance in selfperceived sport performance among religious athletes. Only three religious-psychological factors (i.e., religious coping, athletic identity, and religious dietary practices) contributed to the stimulation of self-perceived sport performance; in particular, religious coping was the most predictable factor, whereas the other factors (i.e., dependence on faith, flow, religious mental healing, and religious psychological effects) had no meaningful relationship with self-perceived sport performance. Conclusions: This finding suggests that sport psychologists, coaches, and other professionals should consider the importance of religious faith and help religious athletes practice positive religious coping (e.g., religious social support or religious meditation) to enhance athletes' well-being and athletic performance.
Keywords
Religious coping, Athletic identity, Religious mental healing, Flow, Religious dietary practices, Sport performance
Divisions
Socialprevent,1234
Funders
Ministry of Education, Malaysia (FRGS/1/2020/SS0/UM/02/2)
Publication Title
Psychology of Sport and Exercise
Volume
72
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Location
RADARWEG 29, 1043 NX AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS