Abstract
This study investigated the effects of swimmers' character strengths (CS) on athletic performance and examined multiple mediating effects of psychological stress (PS), future self-continuity (FSC), and self-efficacy (SE) to reveal how psychological traits influence performance. Professional swimmers (n = 603, M = 374, F = 229, age = 18.07 ± 3.43) were assessed using the Future Self Continuity Scale, Chinese Virtues Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Athlete Stress Evaluation Scale. Pearson tests and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) examined correlations and mediation. Athlete level correlated positively with CS, SE, FSC dimensions (affinity, vitality, willpower) and challenge appraisal, and negatively with threat and injury appraisal. Athletic performance was positively associated with CS, FSC, SE, and challenge appraisal (r = 0.024-0.562, p < 0.05) and negatively with threat and injury appraisal (r = -0.501 to -0.036, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed six pathways: affinity influenced performance via SE (indirect effect = 0.030, direct effect = 0.070, proportion = 29.99%), vitality via SE (0.033, 0.073, 31.03%), willpower via SE (0.034, 0.096, 25.90%), challenge appraisal via FSC (0.027, 0.090, 23.31%), threat appraisal via FSC (-0.014, -0.063, 18.71%), and injury appraisal via FSC (-0.022, -0.078, 22.14%). Affinity, vitality, and willpower increase with performance. CS positively predicts performance. PS predicts performance bidirectionally. SE and FSC mediate effects between CS, PS, and performance.