Crenças sobre a capacidade desportiva em atletas de diversas modalidades: Relações com a autoeficácia, autoavaliações nucleares, grit e orientações motivacionais
Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Understanding the mechanisms that affect behaviour and motivation is fundamental in the sports context. Furthermore, it is necessary, as in physical capacity training, to identify the cognitive aspects associated with achieving better performance results, so that athletes can develop the psychological skills necessary to achieve them. This dissertation aimed to characterize the beliefs, motivation, and individual characteristics of athletes in Portugal (study 1) and to identify ways to stimulate individual characteristics associated with better performance results (study 2). Participants completed scientifically validated questionnaires and scales. Descriptive analyses, correlation analyses, cluster analysis, t-tests, multiple hierarchical regression, and serial mediation were performed. The results of study 1 revealed that task orientation and perceived generalized self-efficacy were significant predictors of the entity conception, with the former also predicting the incremental conception. Cluster analysis identified two distinct profiles, highlighting the maladaptive effects of the entity conception on motivation and self-concept. The results of Study 2 revealed that the belief in the stable and innate nature of sports abilities (ΔR² = .435) negatively predicted core self-evaluations, with mediating effects on generalized self-efficacy and grit. Incremental beliefs (ΔR² = .395) did not significantly affect core self-evaluations. Therefore, to fully realize the potential of Portuguese athletes, sports agents should encourage adherence to incremental beliefs, increase perceived self-efficacy, and adopt a task orientation. These beliefs appear to increase levels of perceived competence, persistence of effort, consistency of interest, self-worth, and perceived control over one's life.
Author: Nuno Miguel Simões Araújo
Language: Portuguese
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7154428997