Peer-Mentoring and Motivational Regulation in Colombian Youth Swimmers

This single-group study examined whether young competitive swimmers' reasons for participating in sport changed after completing a peer-mentoring programme integrated into their regular swimming training. It was expected that intrinsic motivation and identified regulation would increase following the programme.

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. The activities addressed communication, sport experiences, goal setting, reflection on competition, personal development, future goals and career planning.

Twenty-nine swimmers aged 10-14 years completed the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS-28) before the first session and 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 from before to after the programme were examined separately for each form of motivation.

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.