How passion shapes motivation and promotes well-being in young football players

This study examines the influence of passion on motivational regulation and subjective well-being in young footballers, drawing on the Dualistic Model of Passion (DMP), Self-Determination Theory (SDT), and Organismic Integration Theory (OIT). A total of 390 male youth football players (aged 13–17) completed validated measures assessing harmonious and obsessive passion, motivation regulation, life satisfaction, and affect. Structural equation modeling revealed that harmonious passion positively predicted self-determined motivation and negatively predicted non-self-determined motivation. In turn, self-determined motivation was associated with higher life satisfaction and positive affect, and lower negative affect. Obsessive passion demonstrated the opposite pattern. Mediation analyses confirmed the indirect effects of passion on well-being through motivational regulation. These findings underscore the importance of promoting harmonious passion and autonomous motivation to foster well-being in youth sports. Practical implications for coaches and sports psychologists are discussed, emphasizing strategies for cultivating adaptive passion and motivational profiles.