Impact of a Talent Development Environment on Sport Commitment: The Case of Chinese Athletes

The study aimed to examine the effect of various factors in the talent development environment (TDE) on the sport commitment of Chinese athletes and whether this effect differed across various sport levels. We surveyed 176 Chinese athletes using a questionnaire. Stepwise regression and five-fold cross-validation were used to identify key factors in the TDE that influenced sport commitment. Multiple linear regression was then used to examine differences across sport levels. Long-term development focus had a significant positive effect on the sport commitment of sub-elite and elite athletes (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). The support network negatively affected sport commitment only in sub-elite athletes (p < 0.01), while long-term development fundamentals positively influenced sport commitment only in elite athletes (p < 0.05). Creating a TDE that aligns with the requirements of long-term development focus is beneficial for enhancing sport commitment. The application of support networks should be directed toward long-term success while avoiding excessive emphasis on short-term success. Although the stage-specific nature of athlete development and the unique characteristics of the China's sports system may limit the immediate effect of long-term development fundamentals on sport commitment in the early stages of an athlete's career, their role in preventing burnout underscores their continued importance. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for enhancing sport commitment and offers a potential pathway to addressing premature retirement among Chinese athletes.