A person-centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players: Associations with motivation and mental toughness
Background: Research on achievement goal orientations in sport has typically relied on the use of variable-centered approaches that tend to overlook population heterogeneity. In this study, we used a person-centered approach to identify subgroups of competitive tennis players according to unique com...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Sport and Health Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254618300954 |
| _version_ | 1819296211310477312 |
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| author | Richard Gregory Cowden Nicolas Mascret Timothy Ryan Duckett |
| author_facet | Richard Gregory Cowden Nicolas Mascret Timothy Ryan Duckett |
| author_sort | Richard Gregory Cowden |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Research on achievement goal orientations in sport has typically relied on the use of variable-centered approaches that tend to overlook population heterogeneity. In this study, we used a person-centered approach to identify subgroups of competitive tennis players according to unique combinations of achievement goal orientations and tested for subgroup differences in motivation and mental toughness. Methods: A sample of 323 competitive tennis athletes (69.35% male) between 15 and 25 years of age (17.60 ± 2.40 years, mean ± SD) completed the 3 × 2 Achievement Goal Questionnaire for Sport, Sport Motivation Scale II, and Mental Toughness Index. Latent profile analysis was used to identify unique combinations of achievement goal orientations. Comparisons between latent subgroups on autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and mental toughness were performed using analysis of variance. Results: Latent profile analysis supported 3 distinct patterns of achievement goal profiles that were primarily distinguishable based on valence of competence (i.e., approach vs. avoidance). Analyses of variance indicated that athletes who were classified into subgroups that endorsed approach types of goals (regardless of the types of avoidance goals they endorsed) reported higher levels of autonomous motivation and mental toughness. Conclusion: Results indicated that athletes tend to pursue a number of achievement goals collectively rather than in isolation. Although approach goals are more commonly linked to adaptive psychological functioning and positive outcomes, avoidance goals may also be associated with desirable psychological characteristics if they are pursued in conjunction with approach types of achievement goals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:54:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-891441a36cab48e1ab818eef6678b9a6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2095-2546 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T04:54:30Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Sport and Health Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-891441a36cab48e1ab818eef6678b9a62022-12-21T17:14:27ZengElsevierJournal of Sport and Health Science2095-25462021-01-011017381A person-centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players: Associations with motivation and mental toughnessRichard Gregory Cowden0Nicolas Mascret1Timothy Ryan Duckett2Department of Behavioural Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal 4041, South Africa; Department of Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA; Corresponding author.Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ISM, Marseille 13007, FranceDepartment of Educational Foundations and Leadership, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43610, USABackground: Research on achievement goal orientations in sport has typically relied on the use of variable-centered approaches that tend to overlook population heterogeneity. In this study, we used a person-centered approach to identify subgroups of competitive tennis players according to unique combinations of achievement goal orientations and tested for subgroup differences in motivation and mental toughness. Methods: A sample of 323 competitive tennis athletes (69.35% male) between 15 and 25 years of age (17.60 ± 2.40 years, mean ± SD) completed the 3 × 2 Achievement Goal Questionnaire for Sport, Sport Motivation Scale II, and Mental Toughness Index. Latent profile analysis was used to identify unique combinations of achievement goal orientations. Comparisons between latent subgroups on autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and mental toughness were performed using analysis of variance. Results: Latent profile analysis supported 3 distinct patterns of achievement goal profiles that were primarily distinguishable based on valence of competence (i.e., approach vs. avoidance). Analyses of variance indicated that athletes who were classified into subgroups that endorsed approach types of goals (regardless of the types of avoidance goals they endorsed) reported higher levels of autonomous motivation and mental toughness. Conclusion: Results indicated that athletes tend to pursue a number of achievement goals collectively rather than in isolation. Although approach goals are more commonly linked to adaptive psychological functioning and positive outcomes, avoidance goals may also be associated with desirable psychological characteristics if they are pursued in conjunction with approach types of achievement goals.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254618300954Achievement goalsLatent profile analysisMental toughnessMotivationSport |
| spellingShingle | Richard Gregory Cowden Nicolas Mascret Timothy Ryan Duckett A person-centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players: Associations with motivation and mental toughness Journal of Sport and Health Science Achievement goals Latent profile analysis Mental toughness Motivation Sport |
| title | A person-centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players: Associations with motivation and mental toughness |
| title_full | A person-centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players: Associations with motivation and mental toughness |
| title_fullStr | A person-centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players: Associations with motivation and mental toughness |
| title_full_unstemmed | A person-centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players: Associations with motivation and mental toughness |
| title_short | A person-centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players: Associations with motivation and mental toughness |
| title_sort | person centered approach to achievement goal orientations in competitive tennis players associations with motivation and mental toughness |
| topic | Achievement goals Latent profile analysis Mental toughness Motivation Sport |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254618300954 |
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