A social-cognitive investigation of the coach-created motivational climate and coaching behavior in Norwegian youth swimming
Abstract
Previous research findings have indicated that coaches play an important role in the construction of the motivational climate (Ames, 1992b; Roberts, 1993; Brustad, Babkes & Smith, 2001; Treasure, 2001; Smith, Fry, Ethington & Li, 2005; Smith & Smoll, 2007; Smith, Smoll & Cumming, 2007). Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to examine how athletes perceived their coaches’ behavior and the corresponding motivational climate, and how these influenced a range of well-being parameters (e.g., athlete burnout, subjective vitality, as well as positive and negative affect). A total of 202 male and female Norwegian swimmers (ages 14-24) completed a battery of questionnaires (e.g., Motivational Climate Scale for Youth Sports, CBAS-PBS, Athlete Burnout Questionnaire, Subjective Vitality Scale, and the PANAS). Bivariate correlational analyses and a canonical correlation analysis were used to examine relationships between the variables. Consistent with earlier findings, athletes who perceived coaching behaviors that emphasized positive reinforcement, mistake-contingent encouragement, corrective instruction given in a positive and encouraging fashion, and proper technical instruction perceived a mastery climate (Smith et al., 2005; Smoll & Smith, 2006; Smith & Smoll, 2007; Duda & Balaguer, 2007). In contrast, coaching behaviors that emphasized punitive technical instruction were positively correlated with an ego climate. However, perception of a mastery climate was also positively correlated with coaching behaviors that emphasized non-reinforcement, punishment, and ignoring mistakes. Further, our findings indicated that there was a positive correlation between an ego climate and the three dimensions of burnout, as well as total burnout. We also found a positive correlation between a mastery climate, subjective vitality, and positive affect.
Description
Masteroppgave – Norges idrettshøgskole, 2009.