Maria Kavussanu

Correlates of achievement goal orientations in physical activity: A systematic review of research

There has been a plethora of studies in the past decade investigating task and ego achievement goal orientations in physical activity settings and how they might be associated with various cognitive, affective and behavioral variables. Although comprehensive narrative reviews of the field exist, no systematic review has been reported except one meta-analysis on only goals and affect. The present paper, therefore, reports a systematic review of 10 correlates of achievement goal orientations across 98 studies and 110 independent samples (total N = 21,076). Studies are invariably cross-sectional, leading to an inability to conclude causal effects, and are biased towards young people. Frequencies and effect size calculations show associations of varying magnitude between a task orientation and (a) beliefs that effort produces success (positive association: +); (b) motives of skill development and team membership (+); (c) beliefs that the purpose of sport/PE is for fostering mastery, fitness, and self-esteem (+); (d) perceptions of competence (+); (e) positive affect (+); (f) negative affect (negative association: -); (g) parental task orientation (+); and (h) various measures or markers of behavior (+). Associations of varying magnitude were found between an ego orientation and (a) beliefs that possessing ability produces success (+); (b) motives of status/recognition and competition (+); (c) beliefs that the purpose of sport/PE is for social status (+); (d) perceptions of competence (+); (e) unsportspersonlike attitudes, endorsement of intentionally aggressive sport acts, and the display of aggressive behaviors in sport (+); and (f) parental ego orientation (+).

Goal orientations and moral identity as predictors of prosocial and antisocial functioning in male association football players

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of task and ego goal orientation and moral identity on prosocial and antisocial judgement and behaviour in football. The interaction between task and ego orientation in predicting these variables was also examined. Participants were 210 adult male footballers (age 25 ± 6 years) competing at recreational (n = 133) and semi-professional (n = 77) levels. They completed questionnaires measuring task and ego goal orientation, the importance of moral identity, prosocial and antisocial judgement, frequency of prosocial and antisocial behaviours in football, and social desirability. Regression analysis revealed no main effects for goal orientations and moral identity on prosocial judgement and behaviour. However, a significant interaction effect between task and ego orientation emerged in relation to prosocial judgement. Specifically, task orientation positively predicted prosocial judgement only at low levels of ego orientation. Ego orientation emerged as a positive predictor of antisocial judgement and behaviour, whereas moral identity negatively predicted these variables. The differentiation between prosocial and antisocial aspects of morality was supported. It was concluded that examining moral identity and interactions between task and ego orientation adds to our understanding of the influence of these variables on prosocial and antisocial functioning in sport.

Observed Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviors in Male Soccer Teams: Age Differences across Adolescence and the Role of Motivational Variables

This study examined the frequency of observed prosocial and antisocial behaviors in soccer teams, age differences in observed behaviors and motivational variables, and whether motivational variables account for age differences in observed behaviors. Participants were 313 adolescent soccer players, recruited from three age groups: under 13, under 15, and under 17. Each age group was represented by eight teams. Players were filmed during a game and completed questionnaires after the game. Videotaped games were analyzed by two observers, who recorded behaviors for each team rather than each individual player; therefore, all data were analyzed only at the group level. Observed antisocial behaviors were more frequent than prosocial ones. Significant differences were also identified among the three age groups with the oldest group displaying more frequent antisocial and less frequent prosocial behaviors and perceiving a stronger performance climate and a weaker mastery climate in their team compared to the two younger groups. A series of ANCOVAs using motivational variables as covariates indicated that mastery climate followed by performance climate accounted for the largest decrease in the variance of both prosocial and antisocial behaviors attributed to the age group factor. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for promoting fair play in sport.

Motivational predictors of prosocial and antisocial behaviour in football

Abstract This study examined (a) the main and interactive effects of goal orientations and perceived motivational climate on prosocial and antisocial behaviour, and (b) whether number of seasons one has played for the team interacts with motivational climate in predicting prosocial and antisocial behaviour in association football. Participants were 325 male association football players, whose age ranged from 12 to 17 years. Athletes completed questionnaires measuring frequency of prosocial and antisocial behaviours in football, goal orientation, motivational climate and social desirability, and indicated the number of seasons they had played for their current team. Regression analyses revealed that task orientation and mastery climate were positive predictors of prosocial behaviour, whereas ego orientation and performance climate were positive predictors of antisocial behaviour. In addition, task orientation negatively predicted antisocial behaviour, while ego orientation negatively predicted prosocial behaviour. No significant interactions between task and ego orientation and mastery and performance motivational climate were found. Finally, mastery climate negatively predicted antisocial behaviour for those who had played many seasons for the team. In conclusion, strengthening task orientation and mastery climate and weakening ego orientation may enhance prosocial behaviour. However, for antisocial conduct to be eliminated from the context of association football, ego orientation and performance climate need to be tempered, as these constructs exert unique independent effects on antisocial behaviour.

Psychological, muscular and kinematic factors mediate performance under pressure

It is well established that performance is influenced by pressure, but the underlying mechanisms of the pressure-performance relationship are poorly understood. To address this important issue, the current experiment evaluated psychological, physiological, and kinematic factors as mediators of the pressure-performance relationship. Psychological, physiological, and kinematic responses to three levels of competitive pressure were measured in 23 males and 35 females during a golf putting task. Pressure manipulations impaired putting performance. Self-reported anxiety, effort, and perceived pressure were increased. Heart rate, heart rate variability, muscle activity, and lateral clubhead acceleration were also elevated. Mediation analyses revealed that effort, muscle activity, and lateral acceleration partially mediated the decline in performance. Results confirmed that pressure elicits effects on performance through multiple pathways.

Goal Orientations and Perceptions of the Motivational Climate Created by Significant Others

This study examined the relationship between goal orientation and perceptions of the motivational climate created by significant others among young athletes, and determined gender differences in dispositional goal orientation and perceptions of the motivational climate. Participants completed the Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire to determine dispositional goal orientation, two versions of the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire‐2 to assess perceptions of the motivational climate for a sport setting and a PE class, and the Parent‐Initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire‐2 to measure perceptions of the motivational climate created by parents. Results indicated that goal orientations were differentially related to the perceived motivational climate created by significant others. Specifically, task orientation was related to perceptions of a task involving climate created by the coach and by both parents. Ego orientation, on the other hand, corresponded to the perception o...

The influence of social variables and moral disengagement on prosocial and antisocial behaviours in field hockey and netball

Abstract In this study, we examined: (a) the effects of perceived motivational climate and coaching character-building competency on prosocial and antisocial behaviours towards team-mates and opponents in field hockey and netball; (b) whether the effects of perceived character-building competency on sport behaviours are mediated by moral disengagement; and (c) whether these relationships are invariant across sport. Field hockey (n = 200) and netball (n = 179) players completed questionnaires assessing the aforementioned variables. Structural equation modelling indicated that mastery climate had positive effects on prosocial and negative effects on antisocial behaviour towards team-mates, while performance climate had a positive effect on antisocial behaviour towards team-mates. Perceived character-building competency had a positive effect on prosocial behaviour towards opponents and negative effects on the two antisocial behaviours; all of these effects were mediated by moral disengagement. No effect was found for prosocial behaviour towards team-mates. The model was largely invariant across sport. The findings aid our understanding of social influences on prosocial and antisocial behaviours in sport.

Observed Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviors in Male and Female Soccer Players

This study investigated sex differences in observed prosocial and antisocial behaviors in soccer and the role of personal and social factors in explaining these differences. Male (n = 26) and female (n = 20) soccer teams, consisting of players (N = 464) whose age ranged from 15–47 years, participated in the study. For each team, a 90-min soccer game was videotaped, and questionnaires were administered to players measuring empathy, motivational climate, soccer experience, and demographics. Two observers recorded prosocial and antisocial behaviors for each team. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that males and females did not differ in prosocial behaviors, but males engaged in more antisocial acts than females. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that the effects of sex on antisocial behavior were substantially reduced when behavior scores were adjusted for empathy, perceived performance climate, or soccer experience. Our findings underscore the importance of these variables in explaining sex differences in antisocial behavior in soccer.

Moral behaviour in sport: a critical review of the literature

The moral domain comprises behaviours that have consequences for the rights and welfare of others (Turiel, 1983). In this review, research examining such behaviours in the sport context is discussed. Researchers have approached the study of moral behaviour in sport from different theoretical and methodological perspectives. Two approaches that have spawned a considerable number of studies in recent years are Rests (1984) four-component model of moral action and Banduras (1991) social cognitive theory of moral thought and action. Research emanating from these approaches is discussed followed by work on good and bad sport behaviours, fair play, and aggression. Within each perspective, the measurement approach to behaviour is described, findings of relevant studies are discussed, and strengths and weaknesses of these studies are identified. The review concludes by identifying emerging trends in the literature and offering directions for future research.

Physical Self-Perceptions in Adolescence Generalizability of a Hierarchical Multidimensional Model Across Three Cultures

This study examines the generalizability of the form, structural parameters, and latent means of a hierarchical multidimensional model of physical self-perceptions in adolescents from three cultures. A childrens version of the physical self-perception profile (PSPP-C) was administered to samples of British, Hong Kong, and Russian high school students. A structural equation model that hypothesized a hierarchical structure with global self-esteem as a super ordinate construct and physical self-worth as a domain-level construct governing the PSPP-C subdomains fit the data adequately. Tests of the cross-cultural generalizability of the proposed model supported the invariance of the factor pattern and model parameters across the samples. Latent means analysis suggested that the factor means were significantly higher in the British sample, a finding that supports the results of cross-cultural studies of self-esteem in other domains.