title: Understanding the relationship between perceived development of the competition plan and sport performance: mediating effects of self-efficacy and state depression.
abstract: The effectiveness of competition plans on athletes' performance outcomes was assessed while accounting for the mediating influence of state depression and self-efficacy. Competition plans reflect an integrated and personalized plan that consists of a set of decision-making rules based on the principles of self-control and self-efficacy development that are tailored to the specific demands of an upcoming competition in a given sport and highly individualized to take into account the specific qualities of the athlete. The relationship between the development of a competition plan and athletes' evaluations of their competitive outcomes was of interest. 11 elite athletes participating in 104 competitions involving 7 different sports participated. Results support the beneficial effect of a well-developed competition plan in affecting athletes' perceived performance; the relationship was mediated by state depression and self-efficacy. Coaches and sport psychologists should devote increased attention to the development and refinement of athletes' precompetition performance plans while also considering participants' self-efficacy and mood characteristics.
authors.affiliation: University of País Vasco.
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Arruza
authors.forename: Saioa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Telletxea
authors.forename: Lorena Gil
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: De Montes
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arribas
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balagué
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Brustad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires