Self-Efficacy and Its Relationship with Competitive Behavior among Handball Players of the University of Wasit

Abstract

This study aimed to assess self-efficacy and competitive behavior among the members of the University of Wasit handball team during the 2025–2026 academic year and to examine the nature of the relationship between these two variables. To achieve these objectives, the researcher employed a descriptive methodology incorporating both the survey method and correlational analysis. The study population comprised the players of the University of Wasit handball team during the 2025–2026 academic year. Two research instruments were selected: a self-efficacy scale and a competitive behavior scale. Their suitability for administration to the university’s handball players was established before they were applied to the study population. The collected data were then subjected to appropriate statistical analyses, and the results were presented in tables, analyzed, and discussed. The study yielded several key conclusions. First, the University of Wasit handball team players demonstrated a high level of self-efficacy. Second, they exhibited a high level of competitive behavior. Third, higher levels of self-efficacy were associated with a greater tendency among the players to adopt competitive behavior. These findings highlight the relationship between athletes’ beliefs in their own capabilities and their behavioral responses in competitive sporting contexts.