Affect and achievement goals in physical activity: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Sport and Exercise Psychology
• Motivation Theory
• Affective Science

Background:

• Achievement goal orientation theory is crucial for understanding motivation in physical activity.
• Previous research presents conflicting evidence on the links between achievement goals and emotions.
• Identifying motivational antecedents of affect is important for physical activity contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To meta-analytically examine the relationship between achievement goals (task and ego orientation) and emotions (positive and negative affect).
• To identify potential moderators influencing these relationships in physical activity.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis of 41 independent samples using Hunter and Schmidt formulas.
• Correlations were corrected for sampling and measurement errors.
• Structural equation modeling was used to analyze relationships concurrently.

Main Results:

• Task orientation showed a moderate-to-high positive correlation with positive affect and a small-to-moderate negative correlation with negative affect.
• Ego orientation exhibited very small positive correlations with both positive and negative affect.
• Several moderators, including affect timeframe and physical activity setting, were examined due to heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

• Task orientation is a significant predictor of positive affect in physical activity.
• The influence of ego orientation on affect appears minimal.
• Understanding these motivational and affective links is key for optimizing physical activity experiences.