Olga Kouli

Causal relationships of sport and exercise involvement with goal orientations, perceived competence and intrinsic motivation in physical education: A longitudinal study

Abstract Little information exists about the causal relationships of sport and exercise participation with goal orientations, perceived athletic competence and intrinsic motivation in physical education. A longitudinal study was conducted involving 882 Greek students who completed questionnaires on three occasions: 3 – 5 weeks into the academic year, 3 – 6 weeks before the end of the academic year, and 7 months later. The data were analysed using structural equation models, controlling for age. Task orientation and intrinsic motivation in physical education at the beginning of the academic year predicted sport and exercise participation 7 and 14 months later. Perceived athletic competence both at the beginning and end of the academic year predicted sport and exercise participation 7 and 14 months later, while ego orientation did not predict sport and exercise involvement at either time. Previous sport and exercise participation had positive effects on task orientation and perceived athletic competence 3 – 6 weeks before the end of the academic year and predicted all cognitive-affective constructs 7 months later. These results imply that the cultivation of task orientation, intrinsic motivation in physical education and perceived athletic competence will help to promote sport and exercise participation in adolescence.

Job security and job satisfaction among Greek fitness instructors.

In analyzing the relation between job satisfaction and job security, a sample of 97 Greek fitness instructors, 18 to 42 years of age, showed statistically significant positive correlations between job security and job satisfaction (p < .002). Particularly, job security was correlated with pay .54, promotion .43, job itself .41, and the organization as a whole .43.

Acculturation through sport: Different contexts different meanings

Research on the role of sport as a social integrative agent for migrants has provided equivocal results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between ethnic–cultural identity and sport environmental factors. Young migrant male athletes from two different societal and sport contexts were studied: migrants from Eastern European countries living in Greece (n = 60) and from Latin America living in Spain (n = 60). Participants completed measures of ethnic and cultural identity, task-oriented motivational climate, and autonomy-supportive coaching behaviour. Analysis of variance revealed that Eastern European inhabitants of Greece scored higher on fringe and assimilation, and lower on lack of interaction compared to Latin American inhabitants of Spain. In addition, for the former group, a mastery motivational climate and autonomy-supportive coaching predicted an integrative identity, whereas for the latter group, the motivational environment did not predict acculturation patterns. The results suggest that sport may serve different acculturation purposes, thus explaining to a degree the lack of consistent results regarding the integrative role of sport. The study provides preliminary support for the importance of the sport motivational environment for the facilitation of integration.

Evaluating the emotions of patients with chronic low back pain. A preliminary examination

The Emotions Scale (EMS) was developed to assess responses of patients with CLBP to pain in terms of positive and negative emotions. Such an evaluation may be able to provide an insight into the effectiveness of a rehabilitation programme in patients with CLBP. To determine the final number of factors, an initial principal component analysis without rotation was conducted. The EMS developed and validated in the present study for patients with CLBP is a tool that can be applied by all specialists and in all medical or rehabilitation settings because it is short and concise. At the same time it includes most of the main emotions affected by CLBP, so that with one tool, many assessments can be performed. The EMS may be used in controlled trials, or in observational and survey studies. The results revealed that two factors explained 56.31% of the total variance. Cronbach α coefficients were: 0.92 for factor “negative emotions” (12 items, e.g. “weak”) and 0.90 for factor “positive emotions” (8 items, e.g. “cheer”). Importantly, the component correlation matrix of the specific analysis showed a negative correlation between these two factors.

Intrinsic motivation, perception of sport competence, and life-satisfaction of children in a Greek summer sport camp

Abstract In the last 20 years, the Greek childrens summer sport camp industry has grown in numbers and significance and has become very competitive. Few studies have been conducted on sport camps, especially of their impact on childrens intrinsic motivation, their sport competence, and life satisfaction. The aim of this paper was to: (i) study the relationship between intrinsic motivation, perception of sport competence, and life satisfaction of children who participated in a sport camp; (ii) examine differences between boys and girls on these factors. Pearson Correlation analyses showed some relationship between intrinsic motivation, perception of sports competence, and life-satisfaction. Independent t-tests revealed differences between boys and girls in the way they perceive the above parameters during their stay in the camp. Sport camp managers and leaders can assist the intrinsic motivation of young sport campers by offering pleasurable, interesting, and manageable activities which help them to better appreciate their sporting competence and life satisfaction.