Both the “What” and “Why” of Youth Sports Participation Matter; a Conditional Process Analysis

Siv Gjesdal,Paul R Appleton,Yngvar Ommundsen

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00659

Siv Gjesdal, Paul R Appleton + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00659

Copy DOI

Abstract

This study builds on previous research combining achievement goal orientation from Achievement Goal Theory and motivational regulation from Self-Determination Theory. The aim was to assess the combination of the “what” and “why” of youth sport activity, and how it relates to the need for competence and self-esteem. Achievement goal orientation, specifically task and ego, was employed to represent the “what”, whilst intrinsic and external regulation reflected the “why”. Based on a sample of 496 youth sports participants, structural equation modeling with a bootstrapping procedure was used to examine whether the indirect relationship between achievement goal orientation and self-esteem was conditional to motivational regulation. The results show partial support for the conditional process models. Specifically, task orientation was indirectly linked with self-esteem through competence need, and the relationship was stronger with higher levels of intrinsic regulation for sport. Furthermore, ego orientation was negatively associated with self-esteem through a positive relationship with competence frustration. However, this relationship emerged only for those higher in intrinsic regulation. External regulation did not emerge as a moderator, but presented a positive relationship with competence frustration. Findings are discussed in light of both Achievement Goal Theory and Self-Determination Theory, and underline the importance of considering both the “what” and “why” when attempting to understand motivation in youth sport.

Highlights

Understanding motivation requires addressing both the direction of behavior; the “what”, and its energizing aspect; the “why” (Deci and Ryan, 1985)
The present study examined several conditional process models in which the association between achievement goal orientation and self-esteem functioned through competence need satisfaction or frustration, conditional upon the levels of intrinsic or external regulation for sport
Intrinsic regulation appeared to moderate the relationship between task orientation and competence need, and the relationship between ego orientation and competence frustration, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Understanding motivation requires addressing both the direction of behavior; the “what”, and its energizing aspect; the “why” (Deci and Ryan, 1985). Inspired by Vansteenkiste et al (2014a), the purpose of the present study was to combine two prominent theories of motivation; namely Self-Determination Theory (SDT; Deci and Ryan, 2000) and Achievement Goal Theory (AGT; Nicholls, 1984), in order to investigate both aspects of motivation in the context of youth sports. The conceptual basis for the study included motivational regulations from SDT, reflecting “why” one is participating, and goal orientation from AGT to represent the “what” one is trying to achieve. We drew upon SDT as a theoretical basis for the “why”, which posits that motivation varies in the degree of self-determination This can be seen on a continuum from extrinsic to intrinsic, along several distinct dimensions of motivation differing in quality depending on the underlying regulatory processes (Deci and Ryan, 2000). Intrinsic regulation reflects complete self-determination, i.e., acting due to interest and enjoyment inherent in the activity itself, in the absence of external prompts and rewards

Objectives

Results

Conclusion