Implicit motives and basic need satisfaction in extreme endurance sports

J Sport Exerc Psychol. 2014 Jun;36(3):293-302. doi: 10.1123/jsep.2013-0191.

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the effects of basic psychological needs on the flow experience in sports are moderated by implicit motives. However, so far, only leisure and health-oriented sports have been analyzed. In a pilot study and a main study (N = 29, 93), we tested whether the implicit achievement and affiliation motives interact with the need for competence and the need for social relatedness satisfaction, respectively, to predict flow experience and well-being in extreme endurance athletes. Results showed that highly achievement-motivated individuals benefited more from the need for competence satisfaction in terms of flow than individuals with a low achievement motive did. In addition, highly affiliation-motivated individuals whose need for social relatedness is satisfied reported higher positive affect and lower exercise addiction scores than athletes with a low motive. We discuss the differential effects of the interplay between the achievement and affiliation motives and basic needs on different outcome variables.

MeSH terms

  • Achievement
  • Athletes / psychology
  • Athletic Performance / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation*
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Physical Endurance*
  • Running / psychology
  • Sports / psychology*