Influence of Psychological Factors on Performance in Volleyball Among Student-Athletes in University of Ilorin

This study examined the influence of psychological factors on the performance of student-athletes in volleyball at the University of Ilorin. Psychological readiness has increasingly been recognized as a critical component of athletic success, particularly in competitive team sports where mental stability, focus, and interpersonal dynamics play a significant role. The research focused on six core psychological variables: motivation, self-confidence, anxiety, stress, mental toughness, and team cohesion. These factors were analyzed to determine their impact on individual and team performance during volleyball competitions. A descriptive survey research design was employed for the study. The target population comprised volleyball players who were bonafide student-athletes of the University of Ilorin. Sixty (60) participants were selected using purposive sampling. A structured questionnaire was utilized to gather relevant data, and its reliability was confirmed through a pilot test and expert validation. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages to summarize responses, and inferential statistics specifically Chi-square and Pearson correlation to test the research hypotheses and determine significant relationships between psychological variables and volleyball performance. The findings indicated that: student-athletes’ motivation significantly exerts influence on performance outcomes in university-level volleyball among athletes in University of Ilorin as the result indicated that χ2(4) = 27.50, p