Psychological Need Thwarting in the Sport Context: Assessing the Darker Sideof Athletic Experience

Research in self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2002) has shown that satisfac­tion of autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs in sport contexts is associated with enhanced engagement, performance, and well-being. This article outlines the initial development of a multidimensional measure...

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Main Authors: Bartholomew, K., Ntoumanis, Nikos, Ryan, R., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie
Format: Journal Article
Published: Human Kinetics 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36189
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author Bartholomew, K.
Ntoumanis, Nikos
Ryan, R.
Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie
author_facet Bartholomew, K.
Ntoumanis, Nikos
Ryan, R.
Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie
author_sort Bartholomew, K.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Research in self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2002) has shown that satisfac­tion of autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs in sport contexts is associated with enhanced engagement, performance, and well-being. This article outlines the initial development of a multidimensional measure designed to assess psychologi­cal need thwarting, an under-studied area of conceptual and practical importance. Study 1 generated a pool of items designed to tap the negative experiential state that occurs when athletes perceive their needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness to be actively undermined. Study 2 tested the factorial structure of the questionnaire using confirmatory factor analysis. The supported model comprised 3 factors, which represented the hypothesized interrelated dimensions of need thwarting. The model was refined and cross-validated using an independent sample in Study 3. Overall, the psychological need thwarting scale (PNTS) demonstrated good content, factorial, and predictive validity, as well as internal consistency and invariance across gender, sport type, competitive level, and competitive experi­ence. The conceptualization of psychological need thwarting is discussed, and suggestions are made regarding the use of the PNTS in research pertaining to the darker side of sport participation.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-361892017-01-30T13:54:14Z Psychological Need Thwarting in the Sport Context: Assessing the Darker Sideof Athletic Experience Bartholomew, K. Ntoumanis, Nikos Ryan, R. Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie Research in self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2002) has shown that satisfac­tion of autonomy, competence, and relatedness needs in sport contexts is associated with enhanced engagement, performance, and well-being. This article outlines the initial development of a multidimensional measure designed to assess psychologi­cal need thwarting, an under-studied area of conceptual and practical importance. Study 1 generated a pool of items designed to tap the negative experiential state that occurs when athletes perceive their needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness to be actively undermined. Study 2 tested the factorial structure of the questionnaire using confirmatory factor analysis. The supported model comprised 3 factors, which represented the hypothesized interrelated dimensions of need thwarting. The model was refined and cross-validated using an independent sample in Study 3. Overall, the psychological need thwarting scale (PNTS) demonstrated good content, factorial, and predictive validity, as well as internal consistency and invariance across gender, sport type, competitive level, and competitive experi­ence. The conceptualization of psychological need thwarting is discussed, and suggestions are made regarding the use of the PNTS in research pertaining to the darker side of sport participation. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36189 Human Kinetics restricted
spellingShingle Bartholomew, K.
Ntoumanis, Nikos
Ryan, R.
Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Cecilie
Psychological Need Thwarting in the Sport Context: Assessing the Darker Sideof Athletic Experience
title Psychological Need Thwarting in the Sport Context: Assessing the Darker Sideof Athletic Experience
title_full Psychological Need Thwarting in the Sport Context: Assessing the Darker Sideof Athletic Experience
title_fullStr Psychological Need Thwarting in the Sport Context: Assessing the Darker Sideof Athletic Experience
title_full_unstemmed Psychological Need Thwarting in the Sport Context: Assessing the Darker Sideof Athletic Experience
title_short Psychological Need Thwarting in the Sport Context: Assessing the Darker Sideof Athletic Experience
title_sort psychological need thwarting in the sport context: assessing the darker sideof athletic experience
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36189