Sports Ability-Beliefs, Goal Orientation, and Exercise Adherence among Korean Golfers: A Causal/Multiple Mediation Model Using Phantom Variables

Continual exercise has become an important concept for mental as well as physical health, with sporting industries and communities interested in promoting exercise adherence. This study examined the causal relationship among sports ability-beliefs, achievement goal orientation, and exercise adherence among Korean recreational golfers. Data from 806 golfers were collected after Institutional Review Board deliberation and approval. To reflect the characteristics of frequent participation, golfers were limited to those who had been registered members of a golf practice facility for more than three months. The measurements included the sports ability-belief scale, the achievement goal orientation scale, and the exercise adherence scale, with evidence of construct validity based on confirmatory factor analysis. The research questions were verified through a measurement model and structural model validation. The results showed that the learning factor under incremental beliefs explained task orientation (β = 0.417, p < 0.001). Conversely, the gift factor under entity beliefs explained ego orientation (β = 0.169, p < 0.001). Thus, the significant relationship between learning and task orientation implied that consistent practice and effort in golf could enhance the positive meaning of golf participation and the perception of achievement in golfers. Conversely, the static explanation of ego orientation of gift suggested that individuals with strong beliefs in their innate golf abilities or the influence of their motor skills on golf performance experienced a sense of achievement by comparing themselves with others. Secondly, when the sub factors of sports ability-beliefs were controlled, both task orientation (β = 0.420, p < 0.001) and ego orientation (β = 0.159, p < 0.001) were statistically significant in terms of exercise adherence. Thirdly, in the relationship between sports ability-beliefs and exercise adherence, both task orientation (indirect effect: 0.074, p < 0.001) and ego orientation (indirect effect: 0.012, p < 0.05) had complete mediation effects. Ultimately, the study confirmed that the relevance of sports ability-beliefs and achievement goal orientation for exercise adherence in elite sports could also be applicable in the realm of recreational sports.