Association between obligatory instrumental ties and competitive performance in DanceSport couples and mediation of athlete engagement: An actor–partner interdependence mediation model

Abstract

Background: The obligatory instrumental ties between DanceSport couples has an important impact on the competitive performance(CP). The purpose of this research is to study the mechanism of the dyadic influence of the obligatory instrumental ties' influence on competitive performance. Methods: The participants included 67 dyads of Chinese elite dancers aged 16 to 30 years. The Obligatory Instrumental Ties Questionnaire (QIT), the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire (AEQ), and the Competitive Performance Questionnaire (CPQ) is used to collect data on DanceSport couples. The structural equation model was employed in the dyadic analysis based on the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. Results: Regarding the actor effects, male’(β=0.223, P=0.017) and female’ (β=0.241, P=0.012) perceived obligatory instrumental ties quality was positively associated with competitive performance; the males’ AE partially mediated the effect of obligatory instrumental ties on competitive performance [indirect effect=0.147, SE=0.081, 95% confidence intervals (CI)=0.010,0.359]. The female’ athlete engagement mediated the effect of her perceived obligatory instrumental ties quality on her competitive performance [indirect effect=0.328, SE=0.328, 95% confidence intervals (CI)= 0.072,0.513]. Regarding the partner effects, female’ athlete engagement partially mediated the effect of her perceived obligatory instrumental ties quality on male’s competitive performance [indirect effect=0.315, SE=0.083, 95% confidence intervals (CI)=0.155,0.547]. Conclusions: The results of this study not only verify the views of the theory of self-determination, but more importantly provide evidence to enrich and improve the theory of self-determination to a certain extent, requiring that the theory of self-determination should fully consider the gender characteristics of individuals.