Perceived autonomy support and subjective sport performance evaluation: serial mediation via exercise self-efficacy, autonomous exercise motivation, behavioral engagement, and concentration ability

Objectives: Drawing on self-determination theory, self-efficacy theory, and research on exercise-related attentional control, this study examined the mechanism through which perceived autonomy support influences subjective sport performance evaluation, and tested the serial mediating roles of exercise self-efficacy, autonomous exercise motivation, exercise behavioral engagement, and exercise concentration ability. Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to adult recreational sport participants, yielding 532 valid responses. The measures included perceived autonomy support, exercise self-efficacy, autonomous exercise motivation, exercise behavioral engagement, exercise concentration ability, and the subjective sport performance evaluation scale. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were conducted using AMOS 26 to evaluate the reliability and validity of the measurement model. Serial mediation effects were tested using bias-corrected bootstrap procedures. Results: Perceived autonomy support was significantly and positively associated with subjective sport performance evaluation (β = 0.263, SE = 0.057, 95% CI [0.149, 0.378]). Exercise self-efficacy and autonomous exercise motivation constituted a significant serial mediating pathway between perceived autonomy support and subjective sport performance evaluation (β = 0.029, SE = 0.009, 95% CI [0.015, 0.052]). Exercise behavioral engagement and exercise concentration ability also formed a significant serial mediating pathway linking perceived autonomy support to subjective sport performance evaluation (β = 0.025, SE = 0.007, 95% CI [0.013, 0.043]). Conclusion: Perceived autonomy support was directly associated with adult recreational sport participants' subjective sport performance evaluation. It was also indirectly related to this evaluation through multiple psychological and behavioral mechanisms. These findings provide theoretical support and practical implications for creating supportive environments in recreational sport contexts.