# The associations of AI assisted training on sport performance among student athletes based on a dual path chain mediation model with the moderating role of psychological adaptability

## TL;DR

This study explores how AI-assisted training improves student athletes' performance through two pathways, with psychological adaptability playing a key role.

## Contribution

The study introduces a dual-path chain mediation model to explain AI-assisted training effects, with a novel focus on psychological adaptability as a moderator.

## Key findings

- AI-assisted training is directly linked to improved sport performance (β = 0.124).
- Two indirect pathways (cognitive-skill and behavioral-psychological) also contribute to performance gains.
- Psychological adaptability strengthens the relationship between AI training and performance.

## Abstract

This study examines the associations between AI-assisted training and sport performance among student-athletes using a dual-path chain mediation framework. Specifically, it tests two hypothesized chain mediation pathways and examines the moderating role of psychological adaptability.

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 600 student-athletes from universities in three Chinese provinces using convenience sampling. Structural equation modeling and moderated regression analysis were employed to analyze the data.

AI-assisted training was significantly associated with higher sport performance, with evidence of a primary association (β = 0.124, 95% CI [0.091, 0.156], p = 0.0017) as well as weak additional associations transmitted through two chain mediation pathways—Path 1 (β = 0.003, 95% CI [0.002, 0.006], p = 0.0010) and Path 2 (β = 0.007, 95% CI [0.004, 0.011], p = 0.0012). The overall association was β = 0.135 (95% CI [0.101, 0.166], p = 0.0017). In addition, psychological adaptability was positively associated with the strength of this relationship, as reflected by a significant interaction term (β = 0.115, 95% CI [0.091, 0.138], p < 0.001).

AI-assisted training was associated with higher sport performance both directly and indirectly through two conceptual pathways—cognitive-skill and behavioral-psychological processes. Moreover, the strength of these associations varied as a function of athletes' psychological adaptability, indicating a significant moderating role.