A Conditional Process Model of Children’s Behavioral Engagement and Behavioral Disaffection in Sport Based on Self-Determination Theory

作者：Thomas Curran, Andrew P. Hill, Christopher P. Niemiec · 发表于：Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology · 年份：2013 · DOI：10.1123/jsep.35.1.30 · 被引用次数：129 · 研究领域：Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports、Youth Development and Social Support、Behavioral Health and Interventions

The potential benefits of children's engagement in sport for their psychological, social, and physical health are well established. Yet children may also experience psychological and social impairments due, in part, to a variety of detrimental coach behaviors. In the current study, we proposed and tested a conditional process model of children's self-reported behavioral engagement and behavioral disaffection in sport based on self-determination theory. Results from a sample of 245 youth soccer players suggested that structure from coaches related positively to behavioral engagement and negatively to behavioral disaffection, and that these relations were mediated by athletes' basic psychological need satisfaction. Importantly, and in line with our hypotheses, these indirect effects were moderated by autonomy support from coaches, such that the mediation was evident only among those who reported higher levels of autonomy support. These findings underscore the importance of coaches' providing guidance, expectations, and feedback (i.e., structure) in a way that respects athletes' volition (i.e., autonomy support).