Nicolas Gillet, Sophie Berjot and Elisabeth Rosnet
Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
Citation
Gillet, N., Berjot, S., Rosnet, E. (2009). An analysis of the impact of environmental conditions on the relationships between need satisfaction and intrinsic motivation in sport. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 40(2), 249-269.
Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to test the relationships between perceptions of competence, autonomy and relatedness, and intrinsic motivation according to the nature of sport activities (i.e., individual versus team sports), sport structures (i.e., competitive versus recreational activities) and level of competition (i.e., district, regional, and national). These relationships were examined in two studies. In Study 1, we examined the links between the three perceptions and intrinsic motivation with regard to the nature of sport activities and sport structures while, in Study 2, we examined these relationships according to the level of competition. In Study 1, results from moderated hierarchical regression analyses revealed that perceptions of autonomy were not a significant predictor of intrinsic motivation. In addition, the present results showed that there were no significant differences in the relationships between basic need satisfaction and intrinsic motivation as a function of the nature of sport activities and sport structures. Results from Study 2 confirmed that perceived autonomy was not the most significant determinant of intrinsic motivation and also showed that the influence of perceived competence and relatedness on intrinsic motivation varied as a function of the level of competition. Results are discussed in light of self-determination theory.
Keywords: Self-Determination Theory, Basic Need Satisfaction, Motivation, Sport