Exploring the determinants of wellbeing in university athletes: roles of athletic identity, mental energy, and social support.

BACKGROUND: University athletes face psychological challenges such as role conflict, sports burnout, and emotional fluctuations while managing the demands of athletic training and academic responsibilities. These challenges can negatively affect their wellbeing, which influences athletic performance, academic adaptation, and long-term psychological health. This study aims to investigate the effects of athletic identity, mental energy, and social support on the wellbeing of university athletes. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used with 1,025 Chinese university athletes recruited via convenience sampling. Participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring social support, athletic identity, mental energy, and wellbeing. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using Mplus 8.3 to examine direct and indirect relationships among these variables. Model fit was evaluated using CFI, TLI, RMSEA, and SRMR indices. RESULTS: The final SEM showed excellent fit: CFI = 0.989, TLI = 0.988, SRMR = 0.021, and RMSEA = 0.020. Athletic identity positively predicted mental energy (β = 0.491, p < 0.001) and wellbeing (β = 0.113, p = 0.016). Social support had a strong direct effect on wellbeing (β = 0.435, p < 0.001) and indirect effects through athletic identity (β = 0.067, p = 0.016), mental energy (β = 0.066, p < 0.001), as well as a sequential mediation pathway via both variables (β = 0.087, p < 0.001). Mental energy also independently predicted wellbeing (β = 0.301, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Social support, athletic identity, and mental energy play key roles in enhancing university athletes' wellbeing. Social support contributes to wellbeing through both direct and indirect pathways, including strengthening athletic identity and activating mental energy. The findings establish an integrated theoretical framework that offers a scientific basis and practical guidance for targeted psychological interventions aimed at improving athlete wellbeing in university sports settings.