Associations of harmonious and obsessive passion with attitudes toward playing through pain and injury among Chinese collegiate pickleball athletes: the mediating role of pain catastrophizing

A recent study investigating the psychological landscape of competitive collegiate pickleball in China has shed light on the complex interplay between an athlete’s passion for the sport, their perception of pain, and their willingness to play through discomfort and injury. The research, published in Frontiers in Psychology, explored how different types of passion—harmonious and obsessive—influence athletes’ attitudes towards continuing play despite pain, with pain catastrophizing identified as a key, albeit modest, mediator.

Key Findings Emerge in Growing Pickleball Scene

The study, which surveyed 500 Chinese collegiate pickleball athletes, found a significant divergence in how harmonious and obsessive passion relate to playing through pain. Harmonious passion, characterized by a balanced and self-determined engagement with the sport, was linked to a stronger opposition to playing through pain and injury. Conversely, obsessive passion, marked by a more compulsive and less controllable urge to play, was associated with a greater acceptance of participating despite pain.

"This distinction is crucial for understanding athlete well-being in emerging sports like pickleball," stated Dr. Inae Yoon, a senior author on the study and an expert in sport psychology. "Harmonious passion allows athletes to integrate pickleball into their lives without letting it dominate, fostering a more adaptive approach to physical signals. Obsessive passion, however, can create a pressure cooker where pushing through pain becomes almost a necessity, regardless of the potential consequences."

The research also delved into the role of pain catastrophizing, a cognitive-affective response involving rumination, magnification, and feelings of helplessness when experiencing pain. The study hypothesized that higher pain catastrophizing would lead to weaker acceptance of playing through pain. However, the findings revealed the opposite: pain catastrophizing was associated with stronger acceptance of playing through pain and injury. This unexpected result challenges conventional fear-avoidance models of pain in sport.

Contextualizing the Rise of Pickleball in China

Pickleball, a sport combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, has seen a meteoric rise in global popularity. In China, its presence in university and competitive sport settings has been notably amplified. Official reports highlight the growing scale of collegiate pickleball, with the 2025 Chinese Collegiate Pickleball Championship reportedly involving over 100 universities and more than 1,000 participants. This surge in organized play underscores the increasing importance of understanding the specific challenges and psychological factors affecting these young athletes. As participation expands, so too does the potential for overuse injuries and the pressure to compete even when discomfort arises.

Passion’s Dual Nature: Driving Force or Potential Pitfall?

The study’s foundation lies in the dualistic model of passion, which differentiates between harmonious and obsessive passion. Harmonious passion is typically associated with autonomous motivation, flexibility, and greater psychological well-being. Athletes with harmonious passion engage in their sport because they genuinely enjoy it and it aligns with their broader life values.

Obsessive passion, on the other hand, is linked to controlled motivation, rigidity, and potentially negative psychological outcomes. These athletes feel compelled to engage in their sport, often experiencing anxiety or guilt when unable to do so. This internal pressure can lead to a disregard for personal limits and an increased propensity for risky behaviors, including playing through pain.

"The data clearly indicates that not all passion is created equal when it comes to navigating the physical demands of a sport," explained Dr. Ping Cui, the lead author. "While harmonious passion seems to act as a protective factor, encouraging sensible decision-making regarding pain, obsessive passion appears to fuel a mindset where ‘playing hurt’ is an accepted, even expected, norm."

Pain Catastrophizing: An Unexpected Correlation

The finding that pain catastrophizing was linked to greater acceptance of playing through pain and injury defied initial hypotheses. Typically, intense negative appraisals of pain (catastrophizing) are expected to lead to avoidance of painful stimuli. However, within the competitive sports context, especially at the collegiate level, a different dynamic may be at play.

Researchers suggest that in environments where team contribution, sacrifice, and a strong sport ethic are highly valued, athletes might experience pressure to downplay their pain. Social influences from coaches, teammates, and even the broader sport culture can reinforce the idea that playing through pain is a sign of commitment and toughness. In this scenario, an athlete might catastrophize their pain—magnifying its perceived severity or their helplessness to control it—but still choose to play due to external or internalized pressures, rather than withdrawing.

"This is where the sport context becomes critical," commented Dr. Kevin Jiang, a co-author. "In many sports, there’s an implicit or explicit message that ‘playing hurt’ is part of the game. Athletes who catastrophize their pain might be doing so intensely, but their decision to play could be driven by social norms or a desire to meet expectations, overriding their internal pain signals in a potentially detrimental way."

The study’s analysis revealed that while pain catastrophizing acts as a modest partial mediator, its direct impact on attitudes toward playing through pain was significant and contrary to initial expectations. This suggests that while passion quality is a primary driver, the way athletes cognitively process pain adds another layer of complexity.

Methodology and Rigor

The study employed robust statistical methods, including confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, to test the hypothesized relationships. Data were collected from 500 Chinese collegiate pickleball athletes who met specific criteria, including regular training and competitive participation, and prior experience with pickleball-related pain or injury. Standardized and validated scales were used to measure harmonious passion, obsessive passion, pain catastrophizing, and attitudes toward playing through pain and injury. Reliability and validity of the measures were thoroughly assessed, and steps were taken to control for common method bias.

The analysis also considered covariates such as self-rated pickleball level, recency of injury, and self-reported injury severity. These covariates generally did not alter the primary findings, reinforcing the significance of passion quality and pain catastrophizing in shaping attitudes.

Implications for Athlete Support and Coaching

The findings carry significant implications for how coaches, trainers, and sport psychologists support collegiate athletes. The study suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach to pain management and injury advice is insufficient.

"Coaches and support staff need to be attuned to the nuances of athlete motivation," Dr. Yoon advised. "Simply telling athletes to ‘tough it out’ could be counterproductive, especially for those with obsessive passion or high levels of pain catastrophizing, who might interpret such advice as validation for risky behavior. Instead, fostering an environment where athletes feel safe to communicate their pain and receive balanced guidance is paramount."

The research advocates for communication strategies that encourage athletes to critically evaluate pain signals and understand the long-term implications of playing through injury. For athletes with harmonious passion, messages that promote self-awareness and balanced risk assessment might be most effective. For those with obsessive passion, more direct interventions focusing on understanding pain signals and managing compulsive tendencies may be necessary.

Future Directions and Limitations

While this study provides valuable insights, it is not without limitations. The cross-sectional design means that causal relationships cannot be definitively established. Longitudinal studies are needed to track athletes over time and confirm the direction of influence. Additionally, the study focused solely on Chinese collegiate pickleball athletes, and its generalizability to other sports, competitive levels, or cultural contexts requires further investigation. Future research could also explore additional influencing factors such as training load, specific coaching styles, and the broader social pressures within different athletic environments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study by Cui, Jiang, and Yoon underscores that an athlete’s passion for pickleball is not a monolithic entity. The quality of that passion—whether harmonious or obsessive—profoundly shapes their attitudes towards playing through pain. Coupled with the complex role of pain catastrophizing, these psychological factors offer a nuanced understanding of why collegiate athletes might choose to persist despite physical discomfort. As pickleball continues its ascent, these findings provide a critical framework for fostering healthier, more informed approaches to injury prevention and athlete well-being within the sport.