title: [Importance of perceived competition and motivation to the mental health of college athletes].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This research analyzes the direct and indirect relationships among self-motivation, perceived competition and psychological well-being and ill-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 491 Spanish college students (299 men and 192 women) who practice sports were collected using a cross-sectional design. Statistical analyses were carried out using structural equation modeling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Psychological well-being was directly fostered by perceived competition and indirectly by self- motivation. Furthermore, perceived competition was negatively associated with psychological ill-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived competition and self-motivation are important to the psychological well-being of college students and to avoiding ill-being.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España. Isabel.Castillo@uv.es
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Molina-García
authors.forename: Octavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009042:Motivation; D012938:Social Perception; D013030:Spain; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult