Need Satisfaction, Well-Being, and Perceived Return-to-Sport Outcomes Among Injured Athletes

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to examine whether components of psychological well-being (i.e., positive affect, negative affect, self-esteem, and vitality) mediated the relationship between self-determination theory (SDT) basic needs (competence, autonomy and relatedness) and perceived return-to-sport outcomes. Competitive athletes (n = 204) from Australia, Canada, and the United States completed an injury need satisfaction scale, psychological well-being inventories, and a measure of perceived return-to-sport outcomes. Mediation analysis (Baron & Kenny, 1986) revealed that positive affect partially mediated the relationship between competence and autonomy need satisfaction and a renewed perspective on sport, while negative affect, self-esteem, and vitality fully mediated the relationship between relatedness need satisfaction and return concerns. Interpretation of the findings suggests the importance of components of well-being in mediating relatedness need satisfaction on “return concerns” in a sport injury context. Prospective longitudinal designs using an SDT framework are discussed to further research in this area.

Funds for this research were provided by a Charles Sturt University Faculty of Education Seed Grant. The author would like to thank Bernice Strauss, Hope Parker, Laurie Freebairn, Allan Best, and Mike Jones for their assistance in recruiting participants. Appreciation is also extended to James Dimmock for his valuable feedback on this manuscript.

Notes

∗p < .05.

∗∗p < .01.

∗p < .05.

∗∗p < .01.

¹Age was included in the regression analyses.

²Sex was included in the regression analyses.