TY - JOUR
T1 - A three-wave longitudinal test of self-determination theory’s mediation model of engagement and disaffection in youth sport
AU - Curran, Thomas
AU - Hill, Andrew P
AU - Ntoumanis, Nikos
AU - Hall, Howard K
AU - Jowett, Gareth E.
PY - 2016/1/31
Y1 - 2016/1/31
N2 - Research adopting self-determination theory (SDT) supports a mediation model whereby coach motivational styles (autonomy support and interpersonal control) predict athletes’ engagement and disaffection in youth sport via the satisfaction and frustration of psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). Our study extends this research by examining SDT’s mediation model longitudinally with three-waves of data. Two-hundred and fifty-two youth sports participants (Mage = 12.98; SD = 1.84; range = 11-17; female n = 67) completed measures of study variables at the start, middle, and end of a competitive soccer season. Cross-lagged path analyses revealed that associations between the two coach motivational styles and athletes’ engagement were mediated by psychological need satisfaction. Furthermore, a positive reciprocal association between psychological need satisfaction and engagement emerged over time. This study therefore supports the temporal assumptions underpinning SDT’s mediation model but, importantly, evidences a mutually reinforcing interplay between athletes’ psychological needs and their engaged behavior.
AB - Research adopting self-determination theory (SDT) supports a mediation model whereby coach motivational styles (autonomy support and interpersonal control) predict athletes’ engagement and disaffection in youth sport via the satisfaction and frustration of psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). Our study extends this research by examining SDT’s mediation model longitudinally with three-waves of data. Two-hundred and fifty-two youth sports participants (Mage = 12.98; SD = 1.84; range = 11-17; female n = 67) completed measures of study variables at the start, middle, and end of a competitive soccer season. Cross-lagged path analyses revealed that associations between the two coach motivational styles and athletes’ engagement were mediated by psychological need satisfaction. Furthermore, a positive reciprocal association between psychological need satisfaction and engagement emerged over time. This study therefore supports the temporal assumptions underpinning SDT’s mediation model but, importantly, evidences a mutually reinforcing interplay between athletes’ psychological needs and their engaged behavior.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84963542453
U2 - 10.1123/jsep.2015-0016
DO - 10.1123/jsep.2015-0016
M3 - Article
SN - 0895-2779
VL - 38
SP - 15
EP - 29
JO - Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
JF - Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology
IS - 1
ER -