Comparisons between Asian and German male adolescent athletes on goal orientation, physical self-concept, and competitive anxiety

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to look for differences and similarities in motivation, self-concept, and competitive anxiety between adolescent German and Chinese soccer and Pakistani hockey players. This comparison is done within the cross-cultural framework of individualism/collectivism with Germans regarded as representatives of an individualistic country, and Chinese and Pakistani players as representatives of collectivist countries. Measures were subscales of the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire, the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire, and the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory 2 in Chinese, German, or English versions. Chinese and Pakistani players reported higher ego- and lower task-orientation and higher cognitive anxiety than German players. Results in somatic anxiety were mixed with Germans scoring higher than Chinese, but lower than Pakistani athletes. With respect to physical self-concept, there were large differences in all subscales between German and Chinese players, and smaller, but significant differences in three subscales between German and Pakistani players, with Germans always scoring higher. Results are discussed based on the framework of individualism and collectivism and on the demands of competitive sports.