A Multidimensional Analysis of Self-Perceived Performance in Competitive Athletes: Psychometric Evaluation and Associations with Athlete Characteristics

Self-perceived athletic performance complements objective indicators by reflecting athletes’ physical, technical, tactical, psychological, and environmental evaluations. This cross-sectional study evaluated the internal consistency and factorial validity of the Self-Perceived Performance Scale (SAPÖ) and its associations with athlete characteristics. Participants competed in football, karate, judo, volleyball, basketball, or athletics in Türkiye (N = 370; age M = 21.38, SD = 4.30 years; 219 men [59.2%] and 151 women [40.8%]; 272 local-level [73.5%], 48 national-level [13.0%], and 50 international-level [13.5%] athletes; sport experience M = 6.17, SD = 4.03 years). Analyses included Cronbach’s α, McDonald’s ω, WLSMV confirmatory factor analysis, and Type III MANCOVA. Internal consistency was acceptable to good for the subscales (α = .758–.844; ω = .770–.848) and high for the total score (α = .937; ω = .959). Although CFI and TLI were strong (.971 and .967), elevated RMSEA and SRMR values, near-unity latent-factor correlations, and a non-positive definite latent covariance matrix indicated mixed evidence and unresolved structural limitations. Sport discipline, age, and sport experience were associated with the combined SAPÖ profile; sex, competition level (p = .054), and national-team status were not significant. The smallest unadjusted follow-up p values occurred for Physical Perception; without multiplicity control across outcomes, these analyses were exploratory. Scores were internally consistent, but unresolved factorial limitations and the cross-sectional design preclude causal or stand-alone diagnostic interpretation. SAPÖ scores may provisionally complement objective indicators and athlete–practitioner discussion, but not independently determine selection, diagnosis, ranking, or training modification.