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The Relationship Between Avoidance Goals and Goal Attainment: A Moderated Mediation Analysis
Keita Kinoshita1, Eric MacIntosh1, Shintaro Sato2
1University of Ottawa.
Avoidance goals in sports can positively impact goal attainment through effort, especially when combined with external regulation. This challenges previous assumptions about negative outcomes associated with avoidance goals.
Area of Science:
- Sport Psychology
- Motivation Science
Background:
- Achievement Goal Theory (AGT) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT) provide frameworks for understanding motivation.
- Past research often associates avoidance goals with negative outcomes in various domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between "what" (mastery- and performance-avoidance goals) and "why" (external regulation) in sport participants' goal attainment.
- To test the hypothesis that avoidance goals positively influence goal attainment via effort, moderated by external regulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mediation and moderated mediation analyses.
- Sample comprised 390 sport participants.
Main Results:
- Both mastery- and performance-avoidance goals were positively linked to goal attainment through effort.
- These positive relationships were moderated by high and moderate levels of external regulation.
Conclusions:
- Contrary to common assumptions, avoidance goals are not always detrimental.
- The combination of avoidance goals and external regulation can positively associate with goal attainment in sports.
- While potentially effective in the short term, these associations may represent an unhealthy performance enhancement strategy.
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