This study investigates the psychological impact of basketball participation among Malaysian high school students. Drawing on Social Cognitive Theory and Self-Determination Theory, the research examines three core psychological constructs: self-efficacy, psychological resilience, and emotional regulation. A quasi-experimental design was employed, involving 240 students divided into two groups based on their involvement in structured basketball training. Validated psychometric scales were used to measure each construct, and statistical analyses included t-tests and ANCOVA to assess group differences while controlling for demographic variables. Findings indicate that students who regularly participated in basketball reported significantly higher levels of self-efficacy and resilience, as well as better emotional regulation, compared to their non-participating peers. These effects remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, and academic performance. The results support the role of school-based basketball programs as effective platforms for promoting adolescents’ psychological development. This study contributes to the limited body of research on youth sport psychology in Malaysia and offers practical implications for educators and policymakers seeking to enhance student well-being through physical education.

Yifei Chen,  Xinlin Li. Structured Sports and Adolescent Mental Strength: A Study on Malaysian High School Basketball Players. Frontiers in Sport Research (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 3: 1-5. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSR.2025.070301.

[1] Andreyo, E., Callahan, J., Tsang, C., & MacDonald, D. (2024). A needs analysis and training considerations for female adolescent basketball players. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 46(3), 320–337.

[2] Guimarães, E., Leite, N., Sáenz-López, P., Jiménez, S., Janeira, M. A., & Sampaio, J. (2021). The role of growth, maturation and sporting environment on the development of performance and technical and tactical skills in youth basketball players: The INEX study. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(9), 979–991. 

[3] Larkin, P., O’Connor, D., Mesagno, C., Berry, J., & Zuber, C. (2022). Talent identification in youth basketball: Talent scouts’ perceptions of the key attributes for athlete development. International Sport Coaching Journal, 10(2), 163–171.

[4] Williams, M. D., Hammond, A., & Moran, J. (2023). Beyond athletic development: The effects of parkour-based versus conventional neuromuscular exercises in pre-adolescent basketball players. PLOS ONE, 18(7), e0288439.

[5] Williams, M. D., Hammond, A., & Moran, J. (2021). Parkour-based activities in the athletic development of youth basketball players. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 771368.

[6] Gould, D., Martin, E. M., & Walker, L. F. (2022). A season long investigation of social emotional learning associated with high school basketball participation. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 34(6), 1102–1124.

[7] Pocius, E., & Malinauskas, R. (2024). Development of mental toughness among basketball sports school students. Behavioral Sciences, 14(4), 314.

[8] Sui, H., Liu, L., Zhang, X., & Chen, Y. (2023). The impact of basketball on the social adjustment of Chinese middle school students: The chain mediating role of interpersonal relationships and self-identity. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1205760.

[9] Pocius, E., & Malinauskas, R. (2023). Determining positive behavioral skills in different age groups of young basketball players during the pandemic. Children, 10(6), 914.

[10] Arede, J., Ferreira, A. P., Esteves, P. T., Oliveira, J., & Leite, N. (2021). A multi-block multivariate analysis to explore the influence of the somatic maturation in youth basketball. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 602576.

[11] Branquinho, D., Pimenta, M., Carvalho, H. M., & Marques, A. (2022). The development of basketball players: Current perspectives and future directions. Open Science Journal, 7(3).