Predicting occurrence of and responses to psychological difficulties: The interplay between achievement goals, perceived ability, and motivational climates among Korean athletes

Abstract

The present study investigated the interrelationship of goal orientations, perceived ability, and perceived motivational climate to the experience of stress, perceived controllability, and choice of coping strategies. A total of 404 Korean intercollegiate athletes participated in the study. The results from moderated multiple regression analyses revealed that the experience of psychological difficulties was positively predicted by a perceived ego-involving climate and negatively predicted by perceived ability. The perceived controllability over stress was highest among athletes who had higher levels of task and ego orientation in a more task-involving atmosphere. Athletes used more approach coping as they perceived a higher level of task orientation regardless the level of perceived ability, and when they indicated higher task orientation scores in a low ego-involving environment. The avoidance/withdrawal coping strategies were positively related to an ego-involving climate. The findings implied that an examination of cultural variations in motivational factors and coping process among sport participants in a different culture may further extend theoretical applicability across diverse populations.

Keywords:

• goal orientation
• motivational climate
• stress
• coping strategies

Notes

Over arousal: Physical feelings such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, tense muscles, dry mouth, etc., and/or being mentally too intense and/or excited.

Performance worries: Feeling extremely worried and concerned about the competition and/or your performance.

Distraction/loss of concentration: Feeling that you are unable to concentrate on what you have to do, and/or that you are easily distracted.

Low confidence: Not believing you possess the ability to be successful or perform well in the competition.

Frustration: A negative mood that is a result of making mistake(s), the inability to meet your goals and expectations, and/or the feeling that “things are not going your way.”

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