Contextual Influences and Goal Perspectives among Female Youth Sport Participants

Abstract

This study investigated two research questions: (1) do goal involvement and state anxiety vary between athletic games and athletic practices? and (2) do goal orientations change over the course of a competitive season as a function of the perceived team motivational climate? Middle school athletes (n = 127) were assessed on goal orientations, goal involvement, state anxiety, and motivational climate. Results indicated that athletes were more task involved and less anxious in practice than in game situations, and task goal orientation changed over the season relative to perceptions of mastery and performance climates. These results may indicate that sport offers an environment different from the academic setting and that mainstream psychology theories need to be adapted for the sport context.

Key Words:

• goal involvement
• goal orientation
• state anxiety
• motivational climate