Self-confidence and perceived fatigue as predictors of performance satisfaction in trained swimmers.

Introduction: Pre-competitive anxiety and self-confidence are key psychological factors influencing athletic performance. While anxiety was traditionally seen as harmful, recent biopsychosocial models suggest its effects depend on athletes' interpretation of arousal and their confidence level. This study examined whether pre-competitive self-confidence and perceived fatigue predicted post-competition satisfaction and results in trained youth swimmers, considering differences between individual and team formats. Methods: The sample consisted of 147 trained swimmers of national level (70 males and 77 females; Age = 16.1 ± 1.3 years) from Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. Participants took part in two major official competitions during the 2023-2024 season. Before and after each competition, they completed measures of somatic and cognitive anxiety, self-confidence, perceived fatigue, and satisfaction with their performance, using the CSAI-2R and complementary questionnaires. Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were conducted. Exploratory group comparisons were also performed across event distance (sprint, middle, long) and competition type (individual vs. team). Results: Self-confidence significantly predicted lower pre-competition perceived fatigue, and cognitive anxiety showed a small additional negative effect. In turn, both self-confidence and perceived fatigue predicted post-competition satisfaction, whereas anxiety dimensions did not contribute unique variance. An exploratory model showed that perceived fatigue was the dominant perceptual predictor of objective performance (Δ%), with no independent effects of confidence or anxiety. No differences in psychological variables or performance emerged across distance groups or competition formats. Conclusion: Pre-competition self-confidence and perceived fatigue are key psychological indicators of swimmers' perceived performance and satisfaction, while anxiety plays only a minor role. Monitoring these perceptual states may help anticipate athletes' readiness and guide targeted psychological interventions during competition.