Factors Influencing the Motivation to Choose Basketball as a Sport Among Athletes at Chengdu Sport University

Abstract

This study examined the factors associated with basketball motivation among student-athletes at Chengdu Sport University, integrating psychological, social, and environmental perspectives within a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires from 100 purposively selected athletes, while qualitative insights were obtained from semi-structured interviews with 10 participants and observations during training contexts. All instruments were validated through the Item–Objective Congruence method with satisfactory indices. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation testing, and multiple regression, where model assumptions and multicollinearity diagnostics were reviewed to ensure analytical validity. Several variables, including self-confidence, family support, coach guidance, teammate relationships, and training environment, demonstrated moderate to high bivariate correlations with motivation. In the multivariate model, only self-confidence showed a statistically significant association, whereas the remaining predictors became non-significant once shared variance was accounted for. The high overall model fit was interpreted with caution due to the sample size, possible multicollinearity, and the study's cross-sectional design. Qualitative findings highlighted the importance of psychological readiness, personal goals, and supportive social relationships, which offered explanatory depth for quantitative patterns and clarified inconsistencies in the regression outcomes. Overall, the results suggested that basketball motivation among university athletes was influenced by an interplay of psychological and relational factors, although conclusions remained limited by nonprobability sampling and the absence of longitudinal evidence. The study underscored the practical value of strengthening athletes’ psychological competence, improving training environments, and fostering supportive team dynamics while calling for broader, multi-site, and longitudinal research to substantiate these preliminary insights.