DERY RIMASA, FIRMANSYAH DLIS, IWAN SETIAWAN
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17947387This study investigated the role of self-regulation, attentional control, and psychological momentum in sustaining peak performance among competitive fencers. A total of 178 fencers (96 males, 82 females) representing épée (37%), foil (33%), and sabre (30%) participated, with an average age of 21.8 years (SD = 3.2) and 6.4 years (SD = 2.7) of competitive experience. All psychological measures demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.86–0.91). Using structural equation modeling (SEM), the findings revealed that self-regulation significantly predicted peak performance (β = 0.41, p < .001), emphasizing the importance of goal setting, self-monitoring, and adaptive behavior. Attentional control also had a significant positive effect (β = 0.36, p < .01), confirming that cognitive focus and stability enhance decision accuracy during bouts. Furthermore, psychological momentum exhibited a moderate-to-strong impact (β = 0.39, p < .001) on sustaining motivation and performance, aligning with flow-state and confidence theories. Intercorrelations among the three constructs revealed a synergistic relationship in which self-regulation enhanced attentional control (β = 0.47, p < .001), which subsequently strengthened psychological momentum (β = 0.44, p < .001). The overall model explained 64% of the variance (R² = 0.64) in peak performance, underscoring the integrative nature of cognitive, emotional, and motivational mechanisms. The study culminated in the formulation of the Integrated Performance Sustainability Model (IPSM), which conceptualizes sustained peak performance as a product of self-regulated strategy, attentional focus, and psychological momentum working in cognitive-emotional synergy. These findings offer valuable insights for coaches, sport psychologists, and athletes in designing training strategies that foster long-term performance excellence.
