DefinePK

Abstract

This research examines the role of social support (SS), sexual harassment (SH), and general self-efficacy (GSE) on self-rated performance (SRP) in female volleyball players in Pakistan. The study was based on the Social Exchange Theory and Self- Efficacy theory, and the quantitative survey method was used where 309 female volleyball players of various sports institutions in, Pakistan agreed to the survey. The analyses through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) showed that both the social support and self-efficacy have a substantial positive impact on SRP, with sexual harassment having a substantial negative impact. These results highlight the critical role of psychosocial and contextual determinants in the perceptions of female athletes in terms of performance. In theory, the research will expand the horizons of self-efficacy and social exchange theories to the context of sports performance among women, thus emphasizing the role played by psychological resources and safe environmental situations. In practice, the findings support the proposal of supportive infrastructures, confidence-enhancement programs, and zero-tolerance harassment practices to enhance greater participation and performance of female athletes in competitive sports. Despite the restrictions of the cross-sectional design and use of self-reported data, the study provides meaningful information to policy makers, sports administrators and researchers working on this issue in the future to enhance the performance and well-being of women in sports.