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Examining the Relationship Between Basic Psychological Needs and Athlete Identity During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Patti C Parker1, Adam M Beeby1, Lia M Daniels1
1Alberta Consortium for Motivation and Emotion, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Objectives:
During COVID-19 athletes have had games canceled, seasons postponed, and social supports lost. These changes negatively impact their motivation, and potentially identity, as athletes. We draw on self-determination theory to examine motivation in sport and its relationship with athlete identity during COVID-19.
Design:
A cross-sectional study design was employed consisting of online quantitative surveys.
Method:
We gathered background engagement and motivation data from 115 athletes involved in organized sport. They responded to questions on basic psychological needs satisfaction (competence, relatedness, autonomy) and athlete identity.
Results:
When reflecting on their basic psychological needs during the pandemic, most athletes considered them important. Athletes' competence and relatedness in sport were associated with social-related athlete identity, but not autonomy. Only relatedness in sport was associated with exclusivity-related social identity.
Conclusions:
Using a self-determination theoretical lens, our findings contribute to understanding athlete motivation and identities when sport is interrupted.
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