Comparative analysis of psychological competitive abilities in South Korean, Chinese, and Japanese youth soccer players

This study analyzed and compared the psychological competitive abilities of 466 youth soccer players from South Korea ( n = 152), China ( n = 151), and Japan ( n = 163) using the Diagnostic Inventory of Psychological Competitive Ability (DIPCA.3) as the measurement tool. The results revealed significant cross-cultural differences: Chinese players exhibited greater patience (M = 4.42) than South Korean (M = 4.09) and Japanese players (M = 3.94, p < 0.001). South Korean and Japanese players showed significantly higher volition for winning (M = 4.31 and 4.37, respectively) than their Chinese counterparts (M = 3.94, p < 0.001). South Korean athletes also reported the highest levels of confidence (M = 4.29, p < 0.001) and cooperation (M = 4.73, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the need for culturally tailored psychological interventions to optimize coaching strategies across East Asian soccer academies.