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Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos del Principado de Asturias).
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The mediating role of sport self-motivation between basic psychological needs satisfaction and athlete engagement

Cristina De Francisco1, Constantino Arce2, Elisa Isabel Sánchez-Romero1, and María del Pilar Vílchez1

1 Universidad Católica de Murcia and
2 Universidad de Santiago de Compostela

Background: Engagement could constitute a frame of reference for promoting positive experiences in sport, hence the importance of learning about what precedes it in order to promote its development. This study was conducted to examine the role of self-motivation as a mediator between basic psychological needs satisfaction and athlete engagement. Method: A sample of 426 male and female athletes from different sports were asked to complete three questionnaires measuring each of the study variables: The Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale, the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire and the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire. A structural relationships model between the constructs analyzed was specified and implemented. Results: High levels of self-motivation increased levels of athlete engagement and vice versa. Conclusion: Basic psychological needs satisfaction has a direct positive effect on athlete engagement and in turn, an indirect effect mediated by athletes’ self-motivation.

El rol mediador de la motivación autodeterminada entre la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas básicas y el engagement deportivo.  Antecedentes: el engagement es un marco de referencia para la promoción de experiencias positivas en el deporte, de ahí la importancia de conocer sus antecedentes con el objetivo de promover su desarrollo. El presente estudio se realizó con el propósito de examinar el papel de la motivación autodeterminada como mediadora entre la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas básicas y el engagement de los deportistas. Método: se utilizó una muestra de 426 deportistas, hombres y mujeres, de diferentes modalidades deportivas a los que les pidió que respondieran a tres cuestionarios que medían cada una de las variables de estudio: Basic Needs Satisfaction in Sport Scale, Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire y Athlete Engagement Questionnaire. Se especificó un modelo de relaciones estructurales entre los constructos analizados. Resultados: niveles altos de motivación autodeterminada incrementan los niveles de engagement del deportista mientras que niveles bajos de motivación autodeterminada los debilitan. Conclusión: existe un efecto directo de tipo positivo de la satisfacción de las necesidades psicológicas básicas de los deportistas sobre su grado de engagement deportivo y a la vez un efecto indirecto mediado por su motivación autodeterminada.

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