Teammate Influence on Collegiate Swimmers’ Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction: A Qualitative Perspective

Abstract

To enhance student-athletes’ psychological welfare and motivation it is essential to foster positive relationships and interactions with those in their surroundings, especially when considering that others’ actions toward them can have a significant impact on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (Vallerand & Losier, 1999). Deci and Ryan’s (2000) self-determination theory offers an ideal lens to understand social influences as it suggests that various social factors have a direct influence on individuals’ basic psychological need satisfaction (Vallerand, 1997), which in turn affects the development of self-determined forms of motivation and well-being (Deci & Ryan, 2000). The purpose of the current research was to explore how teammates act as social factors for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I swimmers’ basic psychological need fulfillment. Eight NCAA Division I swimmers participated in semistructured interviews. Consensual qualitative research (Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997...