Self-Efficacy, Future Expectation, and Perceived Stress in High School Student-Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY, vol.0, no.0, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 0 Issue: 0
- Publication Date: 2026
- Journal Name: FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
- Journal Indexes: Scopus, Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), IBZ Online, Linguistic Bibliography, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Psycinfo, Directory of Open Access Journals, MLA International Bibliography
- Istanbul Gelisim University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Background Adolescence is a period in which beliefs about personal capability and expectations for the future develop alongside increasing academic and, for student-athletes, sporting demands. This study examined the associations among self-efficacy, future expectation, and perceived stress in high school student-athletes. Methods This cross-sectional study included 425 high school student-athletes who completed measures of self-efficacy, future expectation, and perceived stress. Confirmatory factor analyses and multivariable regression models were used to examine domain-and component-level associations. Results Self-efficacy dimensions were positively associated with several future-expectation domains, with social self-efficacy showing the most consistent pattern after FDR correction. Emotional self-efficacy was negatively associated with Perceived Distress, whereas no self-efficacy dimension remained significantly associated with Perceived Coping after FDR correction. Future-expectation domains were not significantly associated with either perceived-stress component in the adjusted models after FDR correction. Female gender and higher grade level were associated with greater Perceived Distress. Conclusion Self-efficacy showed domain-specific associations with future expectation and perceived stress in high school student-athletes. Emotional self-efficacy was associated with lower Perceived Distress, whereas future-expectation domains showed no significant adjusted associations with either perceived-stress component after FDR correction. Given the cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as contemporaneous associations rather than causal effects.