Student-Athletes’ Road to Success in College Life: Factors Influencing Psychological Well-being, Athletic, and Academic Performance

This study examined factors influencing college student-athletes’ athletic and academic performance built upon self-determination theory and the theory of planned behavior. With intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for collegiate athletics, student-athletes can shape attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control, fostering psychological well-being. Psychological well-being could influence performance in athletics and academic achievements. Voluntary student-athletes contacted by coaches participated in the survey. A total of 262 responses from NCAA Division I schools were collected. A mixed-methods approach, consisting of survey responses and interview data, was implemented. Results found psychological well-being played the most salient role in explaining student-athletes' athletic and academic performance self-assessments. With self-growth motivation (intrinsic), the "I can do" spirit was positively related to their psychological well-being, which triggered better athletic and academic performance. Inspirational role models (extrinsic motivation) also prompted psychological well-being. Intrinsic motivation independently affected student-athletes’ self-assessed academic performance. The findings suggest self-reliant growth, supportive inspiration, and a success mindset explain student-athletes’ disciplined fulfillment, competence, and compassion for current and future development in collegiate athletic and academic lives.