Relationship between sports motivation, perceived stress, and athletic performance among Delhi government school athletes

Sports motivation and psychological stress are critical determinants of athletic performance, particularly during adolescence. School athletes often face academic pressure, competition stress, and performance expectations that influence their psychological state and sporting outcomes. The present study examined the relationship between sports motivation, perceived stress, and athletic performance among athletes of Delhi government schools. A descriptive correlational research design was adopted. The sample comprised 400 school athletes selected through stratified random sampling from government schools of Delhi. Data were collected using standardized tools, namely the Sports Motivation Scale (SMS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and standardized athletic performance scores obtained from inter-school competitions. Descriptive statistics, normality testing, and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation were employed for data analysis using SPSS. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between sports motivation and athletic performance (r = 0.671, p< 0.01) and a significant negative relationship between perceived stress and athletic performance (r = -0.642, p< 0.01). The findings highlight the importance of enhancing motivation and managing stress to improve athletic performance among government school athletes.