Motivational climate structures, competitive outcome, gender, and the psychological well-being of individuals engaged in a coordination task: A self-determination approach

Martyn Standage, Joan Duda, Anne Pensgaard

Research output: Contribution to journalAbstract

Abstract

The present study examined the effect of differing aspects of the competitive setting, outcome, and gender on various psychological needs and indices of subjective well-being. Participants (M age = 19.99; SD = 1.60; 74 M, 106 F) participated in a physical coordination task in one of four competitive conditions: (1) an ego-involving individual competition; (2) an ego-involving two-person team competition; (3) a task-involving individual competition; or (4) a task-involving two-person team competition. Bogus win/loss feedback was provided. Results revealed that participants in the ego-involving individual competition setting were the most motivationally “at risk” (lower scores on positive affect and vitality, higher scores on negative affect) when compared to the other groups. Winning (relative to losing) led to higher levels of competence, relatedness, vitality, and positive affect, whereas losing led to higher levels of negative affect. Results also revealed that females experienced higher levels of autonomy than males, while males reported greater levels of positive affect in the ego-involving two-person team condition. Additionally, SEM analysis supported a model of motivational processes grounded in self-determination theory in which situational elements that satisfied the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness enhanced the participants’ reported vitality and positive affect, χ2 (135) = 217.55, p < .001 (CFI = .96; TLI = .95; SRMR = .08; RMSEA = .058, 90%, CI = .044–.072). Perceptions of an ego-involving climate had a direct impact on reported negative affect.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S128
Number of pages1
JournalJournal of sport & exercise psychology
Volume24
Issue numberS1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2002

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