Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: The study aims to examine the motivation and self-efficacy of athletes who are practicing cycling and running using the person-centered approach. Methods: = 11.26). The online survey included the Sports Motivation Scale (SMS-28) and the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) to assess self-reported motivation for sports activity and the general sense of self-efficacy. Results: The K-means cluster analysis identified three groups of athletes based on their scores in sports motivation and self-efficacy. The first sample included "Internally motivated athletes," who scored high in self-efficacy and three scales of intrinsic motivation (to know, to accomplish, and to experience stimulation) and simultaneously scored low in three scales of external motivation (introjected, identified, and external regulation), and amotivation. The second group comprised "Externally motivated athletes," scoring high in all dimensions of extrinsic motivation while low in intrinsic motivation scales and self-efficacy. The third group of "Highly motivated athletes" scored high on self-efficacy and all dimensions of sports motivation. The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and one-way ANOVA showed several differences in sports motivation and self-efficacy between particular clusters. Discussion: Classifying athletes into three groups based on their motivation and self-efficacy can be utilized in sports psychology. In particular, those externally motivated athletes require psychological support to increase their intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy.
Source: Frontiers in Psychology
Authors: Elżbieta Tokarska, Aleksandra M. Rogowska
Institution: University of Opole
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4410032522