The Impact of Social Support on Athletic Commitment, Exercise Adherence, and Performance among Collegiate Athletes

This study investigated the relationships among social support, athletic commitment, exercise adherence, and performance in collegiate athletes. The purpose of the study was to determine which specific dimensions of social support influence athletic commitment, exercise adherence, and performance, thereby establishing a theoretical and empirical foundation for understanding the crucial role of social support in athletic contexts. Study participants were collegiate athletes from six universities located in Gyeonggi Province, North Jeolla Province, North Gyeongsang Province, Seoul, and Busan. A total of 295 valid responses were obtained and used for the final analysis. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27.0. Frequency analysis was conducted to examine participant characteristics, while exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis were employed to assess validity and internal consistency. Additionally, correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to test the hypothesized relationships, yielding the following findings. First, appraisal, tangible, and informational support significantly influenced athletic commitment among collegiate athletes. Second, tangible and informational support significantly affected exercise adherence. Finally, all dimensions of social support emotional, appraisal, informational, and tangible significantly affected athletic performance among collegiate athletes.