Perceived Motivational Climate and Satisfaction of Sports Activity Among Competitors From Team Sports

Abstract

Satisfaction is seen as an important determinant of motivation for sports. The motivational climate is related to the subjective assessment of environmental factors. The aim of this study was to reveal the relationships between motivational climate and satisfaction of athletes differentiated by sex, kind of sport, and sports results. The research was done among 101 athletes practicing team sports (70 men, 31 women) with a mean age of 2.3 years (±5.4). We used the following questionnaires: Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire-2 (PMCSQ-2) and Athlete Satisfaction Questionnaire (ASQ). Satisfaction with individual performance is enhanced by a perceived motivational climate oriented towards mastery (β=.440**), cooperative learning (β=.424**), the importance of each athlete for the success of the team (β=.201*), investment of effort and improvement (β=.411**). The structuring of team actions through training and instruction is enhanced by perceiving a motivational climate oriented towards mastery (β=.208*) and cooperative learning (β=.263**). Unequal recognition reduces satisfaction with team performance (β=-.232*), but collaborative learning (β=.298**), effort and improvement (β=.267**), and mastery of motivational climate (β=.283**) increase it. Satisfaction with personal treatment decreases with the dominance of a performance motivational climate (β=-.216**) and application of punishment for mistakes (β=-.208**) and increases with effort and improvement (β=.283**). The results of this study give grounds to assume that the perceived motivational climate plays a significant role in shaping satisfaction with sports activities. They are a guide to creating an appropriate motivational climate related to optimal sports performance and satisfaction.