A Comparative Analysis of Sport Participation Motivations of NCAA Division I Student-Athletes: An International Focus

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to (a) examine the sport participation motivations of current NCAA Division I international student-athletes to participate in their college sport and (b) to compare the sport participation motivations of international student-athletes competing in the NCAA Division I with the sport participation motivations of domestic NCAA Division I student-athletes. The theoretical framework for this study is self-determination theory, which is a method for understanding human motivation that focuses on the direction of motivation and factors that influence behavior (). The continuum of motivation ranges from amotivation to extrinsic motivation to intrinsic motivation. A total of 486 student-athletes completed the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS) originally developed by Briere, Vallerand, Blais, and . Results did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference between intrinsic motivation (F = 0·90; p = 0·34) for domestic (M = 5·37; SD = 1·18) and international (M = 5·49; SD = 1·11) student-athletes; however, international student-athletes reported significantly higher levels of introjected regulation. The findings of this study may assist intercollegiate coaches and athletic administrators to understand how student-athletes are motivated and allow them to develop strategies that increase motivation.