Achievement Goals of Adolescent Figure Skaters: Impact on Self-Confidence, Anxiety, and Performance

Abstract

This study was conducted to (a) determine what achievement goal orientations are present in adolescent figure skaters, (b) examine the relationship between the goal orientations conceptualized by Maehr and Nicholls (1980) and those conceptualized by Vealey (1986), and (c) investigate the influence of different goal orientations on the precompetitive self-confidence, precompetitive anxiety, and actual performance of adolescent skaters. Subjects included 106 youth figure skaters participating in regional competition. Skaters were found to have two achievement goal orientations which were termed extrinsic and task orientations. Some support was found for the relationship between the achievement orienta-tions and the sport-confidence/competitive orientation constructs of Vealey. Also, a multivariate relationship was supported between the sport-confidence/achievement orientation predictor constructs and the self-confidence, anxiety, and performance of adolescent figure skaters in sport competition. Results were discussed based on developmental characteristics of adolescent athletes and the socially evaluative achievement context of sport. The need to decrease the threatening nature of competitive sport for adolescents by emphasizing intrinsic enjoyment and the pursuit of personal performance goals is advocated.