Validation of the Lithuanian Version of the Coach-Created Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire (EDMCQ-C).

Saulius Sukys,Enrika Kromerova-Dubinskiene,Paul R Appleton

doi:10.3390/ijerph17103487

Abstract

Based on Duda’s conceptualization of the motivational climate, the Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire-Coach (EDMCQ-C) is a recently developed scale that assesses junior athletes’ perception of the social environmental dimensions proposed by achievement goal theory and self-determination theory. The goal of the current investigation was to evaluate the Lithuanian translation of the EDMCQ-C and more broadly extend the validity and reliability of this questionnaire in sport participants. 712 adolescents from different sport teams in Lithuanian were the participants in this study. Exploratory structural equation modelling provided an acceptable fit of a two-factor model (i.e., empowering and disempowering) of EDMCQ-C. Reliability analysis revealed good levels of internal consistency for the empowering and disempowering climate factors. Discriminant validity was confirmed by a negative correlation between empowering and disempowering climate subscales. Correlations between empowering and disempowering subscales with values, motivation and self-esteem constructs demonstrate convergent validity. Associations between the climate dimensions and prosocial and antisocial behaviour in sport demonstrate predictive validity of EDMCQ-C. The evidence from this study suggests the Lithuanian version of EDMCQ-C is a promising scale for the assessment of athletes’ perceptions of the empowering and disempowering features of the motivational climate created by their coach.

Highlights

Participation in sport is one of the most widespread ways of self-realization and a phenomenal context contributing to the development of human physical abilities [1] and social skills [2], as well as impacting attitude and motivation [3] and improving one’s health and well-being [4]
An examination of the relationships between the climate dimensions proposed within self-determination theory (SDT) and achievement goal theory (AGT) in previous research in sport confirms interdependent but not perfect associations (i.e., r < 1). These findings suggest the motivational climate dimensions proposed by AGT and SDT are inter-related but when considered simultaneously, each dimension holds important implications for athletes’ basic psychological needs [39]
The findings reported by Appleton et al [39] indicate that, in its current format, two composite factors may better represent the structure of the Empowering and Disempowering Motivational Climate Questionnaire (EDMCQ) whereby task-involving, autonomy-support and socially-supportive items load onto an empowering factor and ego-involving and controlling items load onto a disempowering factor

Summary

Introduction

Participation in sport is one of the most widespread ways of self-realization and a phenomenal context contributing to the development of human physical abilities [1] and social skills [2], as well as impacting attitude and motivation [3] and improving one’s health and well-being [4]. Sport activities can provide positive emotions, encourage self-esteem, strengthen socialization and help to establish and to maintain long-lasting interpersonal relationships [5,6]. While the decision to quit a sport can be influenced by many reasons, it is argued that enjoyment, perceptions of competence [9,10], social pressure, competing priorities and physical factors [9] are the most important in evaluating athletic experience and making decisions about the future. By its very nature, sport has a broad social context and its participants interact and can influence each other’s experiences and motivation. Studies show that personal motivation is an essential component in understanding and predicting various experiences and outcomes in sport [11]

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Discussion

Conclusion