Keegan, Richard and Spray, Christopher and Harwood, Chris and Lavallee, David (2010) The motivational atmosphere in youth sport: coach, parent, and peer influences on motivation in specializing sport participants. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 22 (1). pp. 87-105. ISSN 1041-3200

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Abstract

This study qualitatively examined the motivationally relevant behaviors of key social agents in specializing sport participants. Seventy-nine participants (9-18 years old) from 26 sports participated in semi-structured focus-groups investigating how coaches, parents, and peers may influence motivation. Using a critical-realist perspective, an inductive content-analysis indicated that specializing athletes perceived a multitude of motivationally-relevant social cues. Coaches’ and parents’ influences were related to their specific roles: instruction/assessment for coaches, support-and-facilitation for parents. Peers influenced motivation through competitive behaviors, collaborative behaviors, evaluative communications, and through their social relationships. The results help to delineate different roles for social agents in influencing athletes' motivation.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This study qualitatively examined the motivationally relevant behaviors of key social agents in specializing sport participants. Seventy-nine participants (9-18 years old) from 26 sports participated in semi-structured focus-groups investigating how coaches, parents, and peers may influence motivation. Using a critical-realist perspective, an inductive content-analysis indicated that specializing athletes perceived a multitude of motivationally-relevant social cues. Coaches’ and parents’ influences were related to their specific roles: instruction/assessment for coaches, support-and-facilitation for parents. Peers influenced motivation through competitive behaviors, collaborative behaviors, evaluative communications, and through their social relationships. The results help to delineate different roles for social agents in influencing athletes' motivation.
Keywords:	Social motivational influences, achievement motivation, self-determination, youth, coaches, parents, peers, qualitative analysis
Subjects:	C Biological Sciences > C600 Sports Science C Biological Sciences > C880 Social Psychology C Biological Sciences > C810 Applied Psychology C Biological Sciences > C890 Psychology not elsewhere classified
Divisions:	College of Social Sciences > Faculty of Health & Social Sciences > School of Sport & Exercise Science
Depositing User:	Users 2206 not found.
Date Deposited:	14 May 2010 11:13
Last Modified:	13 Mar 2013 08:37
URI:	http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/2450

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