Effect of Para Athletes’ Positive Psychological Capital on Athletic Performance: The Mediating Effects of Exercise Immersion and Sports Confidence

This research analyzed the impact of positive psychological capital on the athletic performance of Para athletes and explored the mediating roles of exercise immersion and sports confidence.The study population consisted of para-athletes with physical, cerebral, auditory, and visual impairments who participated in the 2023 National Para Games.Three hundred thirty-six survey responses were collected, and 306 valid responses were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and Amos 18.0.The analysis revealed that the sub-factors of positive psychological capital-hope, self-efficacy, optimism, and resilience-significantly influenced athletic performance.Among the mediating factors, cognitive immersion, a sub-component of exercise immersion, and social support, a sub-component of sports confidence, positively influenced athletic performance.In contrast, only cognitive immersion had a significant mediating effect on perceived performance, while self-efficacy and resilience directly affected performance.Structural equation modeling confirmed positive psychological capital directly influenced athletic performance, with exercise immersion and sports confidence as mediators.These findings emphasize the importance of psychological support in Para sports and suggest strategies such as developing psychological training programs, enhancing coach education, and improving access to resources.This research is a foundational reference for improving psychological support systems in Para sports.