engleski

Gender differences in motivational tendencies of young track-and-field athletes

Regarding high rate of children’s dropout from sports and prevention of consecutive change of motivation, it is important to understand children’s perception of sports situation and their motivational concepts (Roberts, 1993). Competitive sport is achievement–oriented context and could be determined with two predominant goal orientations, namely task and ego. These goal perspectives influence athlete’s achievement beliefs and behavior, and are furthermore related to the level of satisfaction and intrinsic enjoyment experienced in sports situations. Previous studies (e.g. Deci & Ryan, 1985; Duda, 1989) showed that gender has a significant effect on goal orientations as well as on the intrinsic motivation factors. The aim of contribution is therefore to study gender differences in goal orientations and indicators of intrinsic motivation of pre-pubertal boys and girls, who are engaged in track-and-field athletics. The sample consists of 246 Croatian primary school pupils (97 boys and 149 girls) enrolled in track-and-field practicing in school or sport’s club environment. The participants were mostly beginners in track-and field, aged between 11-15 years (M=12.95, SD=1.27). Young athlete’s goal orientation was assessed with Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ), while Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) was used for assessment their intrinsic motivation. The effect of gender on intrinsic motivation factors and goal orientations was computed using one-way between subjects ANOVA. The results of ANOVA show that gender has a significant effect on task (F=15.96, p<0.01) and ego orientations (F=4.79, p<0.05) in sports. Girls who participate in track-and-field are more focused on learning and personal improvement than boys of the same age, who are more ego oriented in sport. These gender differences are congruent with the findings of Baric (2000) and Deci & Ryan (1985). Gender also significantly influences two components of intrinsic motivation, namely enjoyment/interest (F=9.80, p<0.05) and pressure/tension (F=7.54, p<0.01). These results show that girls perceive sports activity as more enjoyable and interesting than boys. Boys find active sports involvement in track-and-field to be a greater source of stress. During sports activity, boys more often feel nervousness and pressure than girls. Stronger feelings of pressure and nervousness, that accompany active sports involvement of boys, were also found in the studies of Deci & Ryan (1985) and Duda and her associates (1989). Other factors of intrinsic motivation, particularly perceived competence and effort/importance, are not influenced by gender in young track-and-field competitors. This means that pubertal boys and girls perceive their competence in sport and exerted effort in a similar way. REFERENCES  Baric, R. (2000). Promjene u intrinzickoj motivaciji kod djece koja biraju razlicite programe vjezbanja [Changes in intrinsic motivation in children engaged in different sport programs]. Unpublished Master’s thesis. University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.  Deci, E.L., & Ryan, R.M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum Press.  Duda, J. L. (1989). Goal perspectives, participation and persistence in sport. Int. J of Sport and Exercise Psych., 11, 318-335.  Roberts, G. (1993): Motivation in sport: understanding and enhancing the motivation and achievement of children. In: Singer, R.N., Murphey, M., Tennant, L.K.: Handbook of research in sport psychology, 517-586, New York, Macmillian Publ. Company.

track-and-field children; motivational tendencies

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