Peer-Mentoring and Motivational Regulation in Colombian Youth Swimmers

This completed study examined whether young competitive swimmers' reasons for participating in sport changed after a peer-mentoring programme. It was expected that intrinsic motivation and personally valued reasons for participating would increase after the programme. Twenty-nine Colombian swimmers aged 10-14 years participated. All swimmers received the same programme; there was no comparison group. The programme comprised 16 face-to-face group sessions delivered twice weekly over eight consecutive weeks. Each session lasted approximately 20-25 minutes and was led by an experienced swimmer acting as a peer mentor. Activities addressed communication, sport experiences, goal setting, reflection on competition, personal development and future planning. Participants completed the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS-28) before the first session and immediately after the sixteenth and final session. The questionnaire assessed seven forms of motivation: intrinsic motivation to know, intrinsic motivation to accomplish, intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation, identified regulation, introjected regulation, external regulation and amotivation. Changes in each form of motivation were examined separately. The study was registered retrospectively after participant enrolment, data collection and analysis had been completed. Registration was undertaken for research transparency and should not be interpreted as prospective registration or preregistration.

Inclusion Criteria: * Active competitive swimmer from the participating swimming club. * Originally intended age range of 11-14 years. * At least six months of competitive swimming training. * Parent or legal guardian provided written informed consent. * Participant provided written assent. * Participation in more than 80% of the mentoring sessions. Exclusion Criteria: * Absence of either the pre-intervention or post-intervention SMS-28 assessment.