Abstract
Objectives: Drawing from the Basic Needs Theory [BNT; Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2002). An overview of self-determination theory. In E. L. Deci & R. M. Ryan (Eds.), Handbook of self-determination research (pp. 3-33). Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press], the major purpose of the present study was to test a hypothesized sequence of temporal relationships between perceptions of coach autonomy support, basic need satisfaction and indices of well- and ill-being. A subsidiary aim was to ascertain the assumed mediational role of basic need satisfaction in explicating the perceived autonomy support and well-/ill-being relationships over time.
Method: Participants (N = 54 males) from an elite youth soccer academy in the UK completed a multi-section questionnaire tapping the targeted variables on six occasions across two competitive seasons.
Results: Multi-level regression analyses revealed that perceptions of coach autonomy support positively predicted within-person changes and between-person mean differences in basic need satisfaction and well-being over time.
Satisfaction scores for the needs for competence and relatedness were found to predict within-person changes in subjective vitality. These same needs partially mediated the coach autonomy support-subjective vitality link over the two seasons.
Conclusions: The findings partially support the tenets of BNT, and are discussed in terms of their practical application to participants involved in an elite youth sport setting.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 51-59 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Psychology of Sport and Exercise |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2012 |
Keywords
- Sport motivation
- Optimal functioning
- Self-determination
- Perceived coach-autonomy support
- Multi-level regression