Network structure and latent profile analysis of adolescent sports moral character, goal orientations, and self-efficacy

This study examined 1,659 students in grades 5–12 to explore the network relationships among sports moral character, goal orientations, self-efficacy, and grade level in adolescents, and differences across subgroups. Network analysis identified task orientation and sports moral identity as core nodes with the highest centrality and bridge expected influence; moral variables formed a cohesive subnetwork, while grade was peripheral and negatively correlated with physical self-efficacy. Latent profile analysis revealed three profiles: Low Moral–Low Efficacy (10.25%), Moderate Moral–Moderate Efficacy (38.70%), and High Moral–High Efficacy (51.06%). Cross-group comparisons showed that as moral and efficacy levels increased, network integration improved, with task orientation centrality strengthening and ego-orientation centrality weakening. Regression analyses indicated that task orientation significantly predicted sports moral character (β=0.54, p<.001), with general and physical self-efficacy as positive mediators and ego-orientation as a negative mediator. The findings elucidate network mechanisms underlying these psychological traits, highlighting that adolescent sports moral character is shaped by goal orientations and self-efficacy, with task orientation as the key driver, providing a basis for network-based precision interventions in sports moral education.