Motivation in physical activity contexts: The relationship of perceived motivational climate to intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy.

Examined the relationship between perceived motivational climate (PMC) and intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy (SE) and determined the role of dispositional goal orientation (DGO) and PMC in predicting intrinsic motivation and SE. 147 male and 119 female university students enrolled in tennis classes completed questionnaires assessing PMC, DGO, intrinsic motivation, SE, and perceived ability. Perceptions of mastery climate were positively associated with enjoyment, effort, perceived competence, and SE and were inversely related to tension. In males, DGO and PMC emerged as equally important predictors of intrinsic motivation, while mastery motivational climate was the only significant predictor of SE. In females, PMC was the strongest predictor of intrinsic motivation and SE. Perceived normative ability accounted for a substantial amount of unique variance in intrinsic motivation and SE in both males and females.