Positive body image, multidimensional sport-confidence and subjective performance in Botswana athletes: The contributing role of perceived body acceptance by coaches and teammates

This study extended the Sport-Confidence Model to Botswana athletes by examining a model of associations among perceived body acceptance by coaches and teammates, positive body image, multidimensional sport-confidence (SC-physical skills & training, SC-cognitive efficiency, and SC-resilience) and performance evaluations. A purposive sample of 508 Botswana athletes (65.3% male, M_age = 25.32, SD = 7.10) completed survey measures in a cross-sectional design. Perceived body acceptance by coaches (B = 0.18, p =.032) and teammates (B = 0.16, p =.032) exerted direct effects on body appreciation, whereas only perceived body acceptance by teammates exerted a direct effect on functionality appreciation (B = 0.16, p =.012). While body appreciation exerted direct effects on all sport-confidence domains, functionality appreciation only exerted direct effects on SC-physical skills and training (B = 1.12, p =.034) and SC-cognitive efficiency (B = 0.74, p =.040). Of the sport-confidence domains examined, only SC-cognitive efficiency exerted a direct effect on sport performance evaluations (B = 0.32, p =.008). These findings highlight SC-cognitive efficiency as important for successful performance among Botswana athletes, alongside promoting body acceptance from coaches and teammates to nurture positive body image and facilitate multidimensional sport-confidence.