Research article - (2010)09, 231 - 238
Motivational Cluster Profiles of Adolescent Athletes: An Examination of Differences in Physical-Self Perception
Emine Çağlar1,, F. Hülya Aşçı2
1Kırıkkale University, School of Physical Education and Sport, Kırıkkale, Turkey
2Başkent University, Sport Sciences Department, Turkey

Emine Çağlar
✉ Kırıkkale University, School of Physical Education and Sport, Yahşihan, 71450, Kırıkkale, Turkey
Email: eminecaglar@kku.edu.tr
Received: 12-01-2009 -- Accepted: 08-03-2010
Published (online): 01-06-2010

ABSTRACT

The primary purpose of the present study was to identify motivational profiles of adolescent athletes using cluster analysis in non-Western culture. A second purpose was to examine relationships between physical self-perception differences of adolescent athletes and motivational profiles. One hundred and thirty six male (Mage = 17.46, SD = 1.25 years) and 80 female adolescent athletes (Mage = 17.61, SD = 1.19 years) from a variety of team sports including basketball, soccer, volleyball, and handball volunteered to participate in this study. The Sport Motivation Scale (SMS) and Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP) were administered to all participants. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed a four-cluster solution for this sample: amotivated, low motivated, moderate motivated, and highly motivated. A 4 x 5 (Cluster x PSPP Subscales) MANOVA revealed no significant main effect of motivational clusters on physical self-perception levels (p > 0.05). As a result, findings of the present study showed that motivational types of the adolescent athletes constituted four different motivational clusters. Highly and moderate motivated athletes consistently scored higher than amotivated athletes on the perceived sport competence, physical condition, and physical self-worth subscales of PSPP. This study identified motivational profiles of competitive youth-sport participants.

Key words: Motivational profile, cluster, adolescent athletes, physical self-perception

Key Points
  • Highly motivated athletes have a tendency to perceive themselves competent in psychomotor domains as compared to the amotivated athletes
  • As the athletes feel more competent in psychomotor domain, they are more intrinsically motivated.
  • The information about motivational profiles of adolescent athletes could be used for developing strategies and interventions designed to improve the strength and quality of sport participants’ motivation.








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