Socio-Cultural Support, Irrational Performance Beliefs and Performance Change among Competitive Shooters
Keywords:
socio-cultural support; shooters; irrational beliefs; performance change; competitive anxiety; regression; sport psychologyAbstract
This paper examines how socio-cultural support, anxiety reduction, irrational belief change and confidence relate to performance improvement among competitive shooters. Shooting performance is often treated as a technical matter, yet athletes train and compete within social environments shaped by family expectations, coaching communication, finance, equipment access, institutional support and selection pressure. The study used a pre-test and post-test design with psychological measures and performance scores. Reliability analysis showed high internal consistency for competitive anxiety, irrational performance beliefs, sport confidence and socio-cultural support scales. Correlation analysis indicated that anxiety reduction, irrational belief reduction and confidence change were positively related to performance change. Multiple regression explained 43 per cent of the variance in performance improvement, with anxiety reduction and irrational belief reduction emerging as significant predictors. Socio-cultural support showed a weak and non-significant direct relationship with performance change, suggesting that support may operate indirectly through psychological readiness rather than through immediate score improvement. The findings highlight the need to understand shooters as persons embedded in family, coaching and institutional systems. A cognitive-behavioural model that ignores socio-cultural pressures may remain incomplete, while a social support model that ignores irrational beliefs may fail to explain performance under pressure. The paper recommends integrated mental skills training, family sensitisation, coach education and regular assessment of support barriers in shooting academies.
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