The role of parent initiated motivational climate in athletes’ engagement and dispositional flow

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of parent-initiated motivational climate on athletes’ dispositional flow and sport engagement. For this purpose, a total of one hundred and eighty athletes (age, M=17.48, SD=3.39 years; sport experience, M=6.48, SD=3.75 years) voluntarily participated in this study. The participants were recruited voluntarily from team and individual sports. A personal information form, Parent-Initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire-2, Athlete Engagement Questionnaire, and Short Dispositional Flow Scale 2 were used as the data collection tool. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis. According to the Pearson correlation analysis, confidence, dedication, vigor, enthusiasm, global engagement, and dispositional flow were found to be positively and significantly correlated with parent-initiated task-involving climate. Parent-initiated ego-involving climate did not significantly correlate with any engagement or flow variables. According to the results of multiple regression analysis, parental task-involving climate significantly contributed to athletes’ confidence, dedication, vigor, enthusiasm, global engagement, and dispositional flow. Overall, the results showed that parents’ task-involving motivational climate contributed to athletes’ engagement and dispositional flow. In line with these findings some suggestions for parents are proposed.